Register      Login
Soil Research Soil Research Society
Soil, land care and environmental research
Shopping Cart: ( empty )
You are here: Home > Journals > SR > SR06087
RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 45(2)

Phosphorus accumulation and other changes in soil properties as a consequence of vegetable production, Sydney region, Australia

K. Y. Chan A B G , C. G. Dorahy A C , S. Tyler A B D , A. T. Wells E , P. P. Milham F and I. Barchia C
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Centre for Recycled Organics in Agriculture.

B NSW Department of Primary Industries, Locked Bag 4, Richmond, NSW 2753, Australia.

C NSW Department of Primary Industries, PMB 8, Camden, NSW 2570, Australia.

D Current address: 432 Zara Rd., Chillingham, NSW 2484, Australia.

E NSW Department of Primary Industries, Locked Bag 26, Gosford, NSW 2250, Australia.

F NSW Department of Primary Industries, Forest Rd, Orange, NSW 2800, Australia.

G Corresponding author. Email: yin.chan@dpi.nsw.gov.au

Australian Journal of Soil Research 45(2) 139-146 https://doi.org/10.1071/SR06087
Submitted: 12 July 2006  Accepted: 16 February 2007   Published: 28 March 2007

Abstract

A survey of 34 farms covering the major soil types used for growing vegetables within the greater Sydney metropolitan region (New South Wales, Australia) was undertaken to determine the effect of vegetable production on soil chemical and physical properties. Comparison of farmed ‘vegetable’ v. unfarmed ‘reference’ sites revealed that the soils used for vegetable production had extremely high concentrations of total P, Colwell-P, and CaCl2-extractable P (mean 1205, 224, and 4.3 mg/kg in the 0–0.30 m layer, respectively). In the 0–0.30 m soil layer, mean bicarbonate-extractable P (Colwell-P) concentrations have increased to up to 44 times that of the unfarmed reference soils and exceed that required for adequate vegetable nutrition. Concentrations of P in the soil solution (CaCl2-P) were up to 230 times that of the unfarmed reference soils. Moreover, the vegetable soils had low total soil carbon concentrations (mean 14.1 g/kg in the 0–0.10 m layer, only 57% of the mean concentration of the reference soils). These soils exhibited extremely low structural stability, which is likely to reduce soil infiltration rates and increase the potential for runoff. Marked changes in soil pH, EC, and exchangeable cations (Ca, Mg, and K) were also observed as a consequence of vegetable production.

All of these changes are a consequence of current management practices used in vegetable production, which include application of high rates of inorganic fertilisers and poultry manure, as well as excessive cultivation. Excessive accumulation of P, to at least 0.30 m depth, coupled with a loss of soil structural stability, is of particular environmental concern. Options such as adopting minimum tillage, in conjunction with using alternative inputs such as low P composts and cover crops, as a means of improving soil structure and reducing the extent of P accumulation in these soils require further investigation.

Additional keywords: anthropogenic soils, Fimic Anthrosols, eutrophication, soil carbon, compost, organic fertilisers, land use.


Acknowledgments

Financial support of the Department of Environment and Conservation (NSW) and NSW Treasury for this project is acknowledged. We thank all the owners of the vegetable farms in participating in this survey. We also thank Leigh James, Ashley Senn, Cedric Hawkins, and Stephen Ng for their assistance in identifying the sites used in this survey.


References


Dalal RC, Hallsworth EG (1976) Evaluation of the parameters of soil phosphorus availability factors in predicting yield response and phosphorus uptake. Soil Science Society of America Journal 40, 541–546. open url image1

Dorahy C , Chan KY , Gibson TS , Tyler S (2005) Identifying potential agricultural and horticultural markets for composted garden organics in New South Wales. Consultancy report prepared for Department of Environment and Conservation (NSW) by the NSW Department of Primary Industries, Richmond, NSW.

Dougherty WJ, Nash DM, Chittleborough DJ, Cox JW, Fleming NK (2006) Stratification, forms and mobility of phosphorus in the topsoil of a Chromosol used for dairying. Australian Journal of Soil Research 44, 277–284.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Erskine WD, Mahmoudzadeh A, Myers C (2002) Land use effects on sediment yields and soil loss rates in small basins of Triassic sandstone near Sydney, NSW, Australia. CATENA 49, 271–287.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Gillespie PD , Mason D (2003) ‘The value of agriculture in the Sydney region.’ (NSW Agriculture (Environmental Planning and Management Sub-program): Windsor, NSW)

Gillman GP, Sumpter EA (1986) Modification to the compulsive exchange method for measuring exchange characteristics of soils. Australian Journal of Soil Research 24, 61–66.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Griffiths N (2004) ‘Best practice guidelines for using poultry litter on pastures.’ (NSW Agriculture) www.agric.nsw.gov.au/reader/871

Handreck K (1997) Phosphorus requirements of Australian native plants. Australian Journal of Soil Research 35, 241–289.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Helyar KR, Spencer K (1977) Sodium bicarbonate soil test values and phosphate buffering capacity of soils. Australian Journal of Soil Research 15, 263–273.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Holford ICR (1997) Soil phosphorus—its measurement, and its uptake by plants. Australian Journal of Soil Research 35, 227–239.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Hollinger E, Cornish PS, Baginska B, Mann R, Kuczera G (2001) Farm-scale stormwater losses of sediment and nutrients from a market garden near Sydney. Agricultural Water Management 47, 227–241.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Huang B, Shi X, Yu D, Oborn I, Blomback K, Pagella TF, Wang H, Sun W, Sinclair FL (2006) Environmental assessment of small-scale vegetable farming systems in peri-urban areas of the Yangtze River Delta Region, China. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment 112, 391–402.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Isbell R (1996)  ‘The Australian soil classification.’ Australian Soil and Land Survey Handbook. pp. 15–17. (CSIRO Publishing: Melbourne, Vic.)

Jaszberenyi J , Loch J (1997) Soil phosphate adsorption and desorption in 0.01 m calcium chloride electrolyte. In ‘ Soil and plant analysis in sustainable agriculture and environment’. (Eds TM Hood, JB Jones) pp. 279–293. (Marcel Dekker: New York)

Jinadasa KBPN, Milham PJ, Hawkins CA, Cornish PS, Williams PA, Kaldor CH, Conroy JP (1997) Survey of Cadmium levels in vegetables and soils of Greater Sydney, Australia. Journal of Environmental Quality 26, 924–933. open url image1

Moody PW, Aitken RL, Compton BL, Hunt S (1988) Soil phosphorus parameters affecting phosphorus availability to, and fertiliser requirements of maize (Zea mays). Australian Journal of Soil Research 26, 611–622.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Moody PW, Dickson T, Dwyer JC (1990) Predicting yield responsiveness and phosphorus fertilizer requirements of soybeans from soil tests. Australian Journal of Soil Research 28, 399–406. open url image1

Nelson DW , Sommers LE (1982) Total carbon, organic carbon and organic matter. In ‘Methods of soil analysis. Part 2’. (Ed. AL Page) pp. 539–579. (ASA and SSSA: Madison, WI)

NSW Agriculture(1997) ‘Best practice guidelines for growing vegetables.’ (NSW Agriculture: Orange, NSW)

Phillips IR (2002) Phosphorus sorption and nitrogen transformation in two soils treated with piggery wastewater. Australian Journal of Soil Research 40, 335–349.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Pote DH, Daniel TC, Nichols DJ, Sharpley AN, Moore PA, Miller DM, Edwards DR (1999) Relationship between phosphorus levels in three Ultisols and phosphorus concentrations in runoff. Journal of Environmental Quality 28, 170–175. open url image1

Rayment GE , Higginson FR (1992) ‘Australian laboratory handbook of soil and water chemical methods.’ (Inkata Press: Melbourne, Vic.)

Redding MR, Biggs A, Gardener T, Duperouzel D (2002) An overview of land application of pig effluent-P using P chemistry and mass balance calculations. Australian Journal of Soil Research 40, 81–91.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Reddy KR, Overcash MR, Khaleel R, Westerman PW (1980) Phosphorus adsorption-desorption characteristics of two soils utililised for disposal of animal wastes. Journal of Environmental Quality 9, 86–92. open url image1

Sarooshi RA, Cresswell GC, Tesorriero L, Milham PJ, Barchia I, Harris AM (2002) Effect of biosolids compost on two NSW coastal soils used to grow vegetables. Australian Journal of Soil Research 40, 761–774.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

USEPA (1996) ‘Acid digestion of sediments, sludge and soils.’ USEPA Method 3050B, Test methods for evaluating solid waste, physical/chemical methods. (US Government Printing Office: Washington, DC)

VSN International Ltd (2003) ‘Genstat for Windows.’ 7th edn (Lawes Agricultural Trust: Rothamsted, UK)

Walker PH (1960)  ‘A soil survey of the County of Cumberland – Sydney Region, New South Wales.’  Soil Survey Unit, Bulletin No. 2. (New South Wales Department of Agriculture:  Sydney, NSW)

Wells AT, Chan KY, Cornish PE (2000) Impact of different conventional and alternative farming systems on soil quality. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment 80, 47–60.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Zhang M, Ma L, Li W, Chen B, Jia J (2003) Genetic characteristics and taxonomic classification of Fimic Anthrosols in China. Geoderma 115, 31–44.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1