Fertility of a red earth soil of Mid-Cape York Peninsula

Abstract

The nutrient status and fertiliser requirements of a red earth soil (Gn 2.14) were examined in glasshouse and field experiments in northern Queensland. From soil analyses and glasshouse experiments, deficiencies of phosphorus, potassium, sulfur and zinc were expected. However, the only nutrients limiting growth of Stylosanthes scabra cv. Seca pastures under field conditions were phosphorus and sulfur. In the first 2 years of the field experiments, applications of 20 kg/ha of phosphorus and sulfur (equivalent to 220 kg/ha of single superphosphate) gave near maximum response in DM yield of Seca. Fine elemental sulfur was as effective as gypsum as a sulfur source.