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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 60(2)

Agronomic management options for phosphorus in Australian dryland organic and low-input cropping systems

A. M. McNeill A C and C. M. Penfold B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Soil & Land Systems, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Glen Osmond, SA 5064, Australia.

B Agronomy and Animal Sciences, School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, The University of Adelaide, Roseworthy Campus, SA 5371, Australia.

C Corresponding author. Email: ann.mcneill@adelaide.edu.au

Crop and Pasture Science 60(2) 163-182 https://doi.org/10.1071/CP07381
Submitted: 12 November 2007  Accepted: 1 August 2008   Published: 27 February 2009

Abstract

Maintenance of available phosphorus (P) is a problem faced by both conventional and organic systems but it is exacerbated in the latter given that manufactured inorganic sources of P fertiliser are not permitted under the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements certification guidelines. The focus of this paper is a discussion of potential agronomic strategies to assist in sustainable management of the soil P resource in organic and low-input broadacre farming systems within the Australian rain-fed cereal–livestock belt. The paper considers three broad strategies for agronomic management of P in this context and draws on reported research from overseas and within Australia. An analysis of the current knowledge suggests that the option most likely to ensure that soluble P is not a limitation in the system is the importation of allowable inputs that contain P from off-farm, although for much of the Australian cereal–livestock belt the immediate issue may be access to economically viable sources. Research targeted at quantifying the economic and biological benefits to the whole-farm system associated with the adoption of these practices is required. Improving the P-use efficiency of the system by incorporating species into rotation or intercropping systems that are able to use P from less soluble sources has been a successful strategy in parts of the world with climate similar to much of the Australian cereal–sheep belt, and deserves further research effort in Australia. Agronomic management to maximise quantity and quality of pasture and crop plant residues undoubtedly builds labile soil organic matter and facilitates P cycling, but the strategy may be of limited benefit in low-rainfall areas that do not have the capacity to produce large biomass inputs. Evidence that organic or low-input systems naturally increase the numbers and diversity of soil organisms is sparse and published studies from Australian systems suggest that P nutrition is not enhanced. However, seed and soil microbial inoculants to facilitate improved P uptake have been developed and are currently being field tested in Australia. Progress in selection and breeding for cereal genotypes that are more P efficient and other plant genotypes that can use less labile P sources, is gaining momentum but still remains a long-term prospect, and may involve genetic modification which will not be acceptable for organic systems.


Acknowledgments

The authors thank RIRDC for financial support to attend the workshop from which the impetus for writing this review arose, Peter Cornish for excellent input into early drafts of the manuscript, and three anonymous reviewers for helpful comments.


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