Extractant efficacy in assessing bioavailable phosphorus in tropical soils fertilised with alternative sources and cultivated with maize
Rodrigo Nogueira de Sousa A * and Luís Reynaldo Ferracciú Alleoni AA
Abstract
Phosphorus (P) is a vital element for plant growth across all soil types. In highly weathered soils, P levels are frequently insufficient, with detrimental impacts on plant development and crop yields. There are various methods to analyse soil P availability, each providing unique insights into its availability and dynamics under different soil conditions.
Our objective was to systematically evaluate the effectiveness of different P extractants in quantifying the available P in two soil types with contrasting textures. Additionally, the influence of different P fertilisers on the extraction efficiency of these extractants was assessed.
Three extraction methods were evaluated to predict plant-available P: resin, Mehlich-1, and Mehlich-3. A sandy loamy and a clayey soil were amended with organomineral, struvite, thermophosphate, and triple superphosphate under greenhouse conditions, and two successive maize crops were grown.
The resin method had the highest correlation with plant P uptake, showcasing its effectiveness for highly weathered soils. Mehlich-1 and Mehlich-3, however, seemed to overestimate P values, likely because they dissolved soil minerals and organic matter, and released P bound to colloid surfaces.
Extractant efficiency varied depending on the P fertiliser source applied. Additionally, lime rates affected extractant performance, especially Mehlich-1, due to interactions between acid P extractants and calcium-bound P.
This study underscores the importance of selecting the appropriate P measurement method for effective agricultural management and environmental conservation.
Keywords: alternative fertilisers, anionic resin, environmental impacts, fertilisers’ efficiency, Mehlich-1, Mehlich-3, P assessment, P management, P-index.
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