Lowering the water solubility of phosphorus fertilisers impacts leaching, plant growth and residual soil phosphorus
Robert Summers
A * and David Weaver B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, 45 Mandurah Terrace, Mandurah, WA 6210, Australia.
B Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, 444 Albany Highway, Albany, WA 6330, Australia.
Soil Research 61(1) 20-36 https://doi.org/10.1071/SR22037
Submitted: 7 February 2022 Accepted: 5 July 2022 Published: 1 August 2022
© 2023 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-ND)
Abstract
Context: Leaching of phosphorus (P) from water soluble agricultural fertilisers applied to sandy soil can adversely impact downstream water quality. Less soluble fertilisers may reduce P leaching and increase production. However, repeated application of low water soluble P (LWSP) fertiliser with high citrate soluble P (CSP) has potential to increase P leaching and P accumulation.
Methods: We examined the effect of LWSP fertilisers (single superphosphate, SSP; fertilisers low in water soluble P, WSP) on leaching losses in soil with low P retention/low P status; with/without bauxite residue amendment and with/without plants.
Key results: On low P retentive soils with a low P status, P leaching was reduced by reducing the WSP of fertiliser. Plants and soil amendment reduced P leaching further, but P loss remained proportional to WSP applied. Under field conditions, a subset of LWSP fertilisers greatly increased pasture dry matter production and increased soil test P values. Soil test P increases were positively correlated to fertiliser citrate soluble P content. Soils already containing at least 80% of the required plant available P did not require a WSP fertiliser to provide early season P.
Conclusions: LWSP fertilisers and soil amendment have potential to reduce P leaching in low P retentive soils. Fertiliser formulations targeting reduced WSP and high CSP require attention.
Implications: LWSP fertilisers may increase soil P residues reducing future P needs; however, ongoing soil testing is required for assessment of soil P accumulation, requirements and leaching potential.
Keywords: citrate soluble, eutrophication, fertiliser, leaching, pasture, phosphorus, retention, sand, water soluble.
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