Residual effectiveness of superphosphate is greater than that of rock phosphate fertilisers for lateritic soils in south-western Australia

1988 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 83 ◽  
Author(s):  
MDA Bolland ◽  
AJ Weatherley ◽  
RJ Gilkes
Keyword(s):  
Western Australia ◽  
Rock Phosphate ◽  
Phosphorus Content ◽  
Maximum Yield ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Triple Superphosphate ◽  
Rock Phosphates ◽  
Lateritic Soils ◽  
Climatic Regions ◽  
Christmas Island

The residual values of granular reactive rock phosphate (highly carbonate-substituted apatite from North Carolina, USA.), partially powdered low-reactive Queensland rock phosphate (low carbonate-substituted apatite from the Duchess deposit), and granular triple superphosphate were measured in 3 experiments on different lateritic soils in different climatic regions of south-western Australia (Gibson, South Bodallin, West Dale). Finely powdered calcined crandallite-millisite rock phosphate from Christmas Island (Calciphos) was included in one of the experiments. The fertilisers were applied once only in May 1984 and their residual value measured over 3 years (1984-1986) using yield and phosphorus content of the following species each year: experiment 1 (Gibson), barley in years 1 and 2 and oats in the third year; experiment 2 (South Bodallin), triticale in all 3 years; experiment 3 (West Dale), subterranean clover in years I and 2 followed by oats in year 3. Relative to triple superphosphate (TSP) applied each year, the effectiveness of superphosphate in year 1 (year of application) in the experiment at Gibson decreased by about 40% between years 1 and 2, and by a further 5% between years 2 and 3. The corresponding values for the experiment at South Bodallin were 75% and 5%, and at West Dale 50% and 25%. All rock phosphates were much less effective than TSP in year 1, being 5-30% as effective as TSP. Effectiveness of rock phosphates remained low over the 3 years, being 5-20% as effective as newly applied TSP. Although the effectiveness of TSP decreased, it continued to be 50% as effective as newly applied TSP after 3 years. Residual TSP and both freshly applied and residual rock phosphates did not support the same maximum yield as freshly applied TSP despite well defined yield plateaux being obtained in each case. At each harvest, the relationship between yield and phosphorus content of plants was similar for all fertilisers so that the smaller maximum DM and grain yield and reduced effectiveness of the rock phosphates were largely due to less phosphorus being taken up by plants.

Residual value for wheat of phosphorus from calciphos, Duchess rock phosphate and triple superphosphate on a lateritic soil in south-western Australia

1985 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 198 ◽  
Author(s):  
MDA Bolland
Keyword(s):  
Western Australia ◽  
Rock Phosphate ◽  
Phosphorus Content ◽  
Lateritic Soil ◽  
Triple Superphosphate ◽  
Phosphorus Fertilizer ◽  
Rock Phosphates ◽  
Christmas Island ◽  
Residual Values ◽  
North Western

The residual values of phosphorus from triple superphosphate and from three rock phosphates were compared in a 4-year field experiment with wheat, grown on a phosphorus deficient lateritic soil in south-western Australia. The three rock phosphate fertilizers were an apatitic rock phosphate originating from the Duchess deposit in north-western Queensland, and calcined (500�C) Christmas Island C-grade ore as a powder and as pellets. Five rates of each fertilizer were applied at the commencement of the experiment and their effectiveness was calculated from data on yield of dried plant tops, grain yield, and bicarbonate soluble phosphorus extracted from the soil. Triple superphosphate was the most effective phosphorus fertilizer initially, but its effectiveness decreased markedly with time. The effectiveness of the three rock phosphates was initially very low, and remained approximately constant for the duration of the experiment. The yield of dried plant tops depended upon their phosphorus content and this relationship was independent of the phosphorus fertilizer used.

Granular reactive apatite rock phosphate is not an effective phosphorus fertilizer in the short term on lateritic soils in south-western Australia.

1986 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 217 ◽  
Author(s):  
MDA Bolland ◽  
AJ Weatherley ◽  
RJ Gilkes ◽  
JW Bowden
Keyword(s):  
Western Australia ◽  
Rock Phosphate ◽  
Field Experiments ◽  
Maximum Yield ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Phosphate Fertilizer ◽  
Carbonate Apatite ◽  
Rock Phosphates ◽  
Fertilizer Effectiveness ◽  
Eastern Australia

The effectiveness, as a phosphate fertilizer, of granular reactive rock phosphate (carbonate substituted apatite from North Carolina, U.S.A.), granular triple superphosphate and partly powdered Duchess non-reactive rock phosphate (low carbonate apatite from north-eastern Australia) was compared in three field experiments on different soil types in different climatic regions of south-western Australia. Calciphos (finely ground calcined crandallite rock phosphate from Christmas Island) was included in one experiment. The rock phosphates were incorporated into the soil and their effectiveness was compared with both topdressed and incorporated superphosphate. Different species were grown at each site (barley, triticale and subterranean clover). As determined on the basis of relative amounts of fertilizer required for constant yield, the effectiveness of all the rock phosphates relative to incorporated superphosphate was very low at each site throughout the growth of each species. Fertilizer effectiveness of rock phosphates was about one-fifth that of superphosphate for barley, and one-tenth for triticale and clover. The maximum yield obtained from rock phosphate was generally 88-100% that obtained from superphosphate. Incorporation did not greatly affect the effectiveness of superphosphate.

Response of subterranean clover to rock phosphates as affected by particle size and depth of mixing in the soil

1974 ◽  
Vol 14 (70) ◽  
pp. 649 ◽  
Author(s):  
AM Alston ◽  
KW Chin
Keyword(s):  
Particle Size ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Rock Phosphate ◽  
Phosphorus Uptake ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Phosphorus Concentration ◽  
Dry Matter Yield ◽  
Rock Phosphates ◽  
Monocalcium Phosphate ◽  
Christmas Island

Samples of Christmas Island and Florida rock phosphates with different particle size ranges were applied to a phosphorus-deficient acid sandy soil. The rock phosphates were compared with monocalcium phosphate at various levels of addition of phosphorus. The fertilizers were mixed uniformly with either the top 1, 5, or 10 cm of the soil. Dry matter yield and phosphorus uptake in the tops of subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum) and the distribution (by weight) of the roots in the soil were determined. Monocalcium phosphate produced higher dry matter yields (tops and roots) than rock phosphates, even when the latter were applied in amounts containing four times the amount of phosphorus added as monocalcium phosphate. The concentration and uptake of phosphorus in the tops was also higher when monocalcium phosphate was applied, although the difference in concentration decreased as the plants matured. Dry matter yield and phosphorus concentration in the clover tops were increased by increasing the fineness of grinding of rock phosphate and by increasing the depth of mixing with the soil. Increasing the depth of mixing also produced a greater weight and more even distribution of roots. The yield of tops and roots was unaffected by the depth to which monocalcium phosphate was mixed, although shallow placement concentrated the distribution of the roots near the soil surface. Florida rock phosphate was a better source of phosphorus for subterranean clover than Christmas Island rock when the samples were coarsely ground, but both rocks were equally effective when ground to give 70 per cent < 100 mesh B.S.S.

Comparison of three soil tests for phosphate on lateritic soil fertilized with superphosphate, crandallite rock phosphates and apatite rock phosphates

Soil Research ◽  
1987 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 555 ◽  
Author(s):  
MDA Bolland ◽  
DG Allen
Keyword(s):  
Rock Phosphate ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Lateritic Soil ◽  
Soil Test ◽  
Soil Tests ◽  
Rock Phosphates ◽  
Christmas Island ◽  
Matter Production ◽  
Independent Variable ◽  
The Relationship

Different amounts of superphosphate, crandallite-millisite rock phosphate (three different samples of C-ore from Christmas Island), 500�C calcined C-ore (three different samples of Calciphos) and apatite rock phosphate (two different samples from the Duchess deposit, Queensland) were applied once only in May 1977 on lateritic soil in Western Australia. Samples of the top 10 cm of soil were collected in the summer (January-February) of 1979 and 1980 for measurement of extractable soil phosphate by the Colwell, Olsen and Bray soil tests, and the data were compared with dry matter production of subterranean clover pasture in the following spring (August). For each fertilizer in each year, the Olsen and Brayl soil test values (as dependent variables) were closely correlated with the Colwell soil test values (independent variable), and the Bray 1 soil test (dependent variable) was closely correlated with the Olsen soil test (independent variable). For the relationship between yield and soil test values, separate calibrations were required in most cases for each fertilizer and each soil test, and these calibrations showed large differences in two successive years. None of the soil tests was significantly better for predicting clover yields for the different fertilizers applied two and three years previously.

Effectiveness of superphosphate and crandallite-millisite rock phosphates on a deep, very sandy soil as assessed by plant growth and soil extractable phosphate

1987 ◽  
Vol 27 (5) ◽  
pp. 647 ◽  
Author(s):  
MDA Bolland ◽  
MJ Baker ◽  
RJ Lunt
Keyword(s):  
Sandy Soil ◽  
Rock Phosphate ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Rock Phosphates ◽  
Christmas Island ◽  
Extractable P ◽  
Plant Yields ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Separate Calibration ◽  
Residual Effectiveness

The initial and residual effectiveness of superphosphate, Christmas Island C-grade ore (C-ore) and 500�C heated (calcined) C-ore (Calciphos) was measured on a deep, very sandy soil near Badgingarra, W.A. Different levels of each fertiliser were applied once only in May 1980. Yields of lupins (1980 and 1983) and subterranean clover (1981) were used to determine the effectiveness of the fertilisers, and in 1986 the residual value of the fertilisers was measured for wheat, oats, and barley, relative to freshly applied superphosphate. Samples of the top 10 cm of soil were collected each January-February for soil tests for P which were compared to plant yields measured in the following spring (Aug.-Dec.). Superphosphate was the most effective fertiliser, though its effectiveness declined by about 50% between years 1 and 2, and by a further 25% between years 2 and 4. C-ore was only about one-tenth as effective as superphosphate in the year of application, and its effectiveness declined by about 40% between years 1 and 2, and by a further 15% between years 2 and 4. Calciphos was about one-fifth as effective as superphosphate in the year of application, and its effectiveness declined by about 40% between years 1 and 2, and remained approximately constant between years 2 and 4. In 1986, the effectiveness of 1980 applied superphosphate was between about one-quarter to one-fifth as effective as freshly applied superphosphate for wheat, oats and barley, and the 1980 applied C-ore and Calciphos were about 15% as effective as freshly applied superphosphate. The amount of P extracted by sodium bicarbonate from soil fertilised with superphosphate decreased by about 50% between years 2 and 3, by a further 20% between years 3 and 4, and by a further 15% between years 4 and 7. For soil treated with Calciphos, the amount of extractable P doubled between years 2 and 3 and thereafter remained approximately constant. Very little P was extracted from soil fertilised with C-ore. Separate calibration curves were required in most cases for the relationship between yield and soil test values for superphosphate and rock phosphate in 1981 and 1983, and for each fertiliser and species in 1986. A substantial amount of superphosphate-added P (50-70%) and about 20% of rock phosphate-added P had leached below 50 cm of the topsoil 6 years after application.

The response of a birdwood grass - Townsville lucerne pasture to phosphate fertilizers at Katherine, N.T

1965 ◽  
Vol 5 (17) ◽  
pp. 120 ◽  
Author(s):  
MJT Norman
Keyword(s):  
Dry Matter ◽  
Rock Phosphate ◽  
Maximum Yield ◽  
Experimental Period ◽  
Phosphate Fertilizers ◽  
Virgin Land ◽  
Christmas Island ◽  
Nitrogen Yields ◽  
Forage Yields

In an experiment at Katherine, N.T., the response of birdwood grass-Townsville lucerne (Cenchrus setigerus Vahl and Stylosanthes hurnilis H.B.K.) pasture sown on virgin land to levels of superphosphate and Christmas Island rock phosphate dust and to levels of superphosphate subsequently applied annually for three years was measured. There were no significant interactions between initial and annual applications. Initial applications of 2 and 4 cwt an acre superphosphate both gave higher forage yields of dry matter and nitrogen than 2 and 4 cwt an acre rock phosphate over the experimental period. Phosphorus yield of forage was a function of rate rather than of type of fertilizer. Annual superphosphate applications up to 1 cwt an acre increased the dry matter and nitrogen yields of the grass, but not those of the legume, and increased the phosphorus yield of both. The higher proportion of grass at high superphosphate levels was interpreted as a difference in responsiveness of the two species. A regime of 2 cwt an acre superphosphate initially and 1/2 cwt an acre annually produced 90 per cent of what was considered to be the maximum yield.

Responses of serradella and subterranean clover to phosphorus from superphosphate and Duchess rock phosphate

1985 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 902 ◽  
Author(s):  
MDA Bolland
Keyword(s):  
Rock Phosphate ◽  
Phosphorus Content ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Fertilizer Application ◽  
Sampling Time ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
North Eastern ◽  
Herbage Yield ◽  
Seed Yields ◽  
The Relationship

The responses of yellow serradella, slender serradella and subterranean clover to phosphorus from superphosphate and an apatite rock phosphate from Duchess, north-eastern Australia, were measured in a field experiment near Esperance, W.A. Over the 16 months of the experiment, dry herbage yields depended upon the phosphorus content of dried herbage. For each sampling time, the relationship between dry herbage yield and the phosphorus content of dried herbage was similar for both fertilizers and for all three species. At each rate of fertilizer application, the amount of phosphorus absorbed by the plants from the rock phosphate was less than that from superphosphate, and this limited yield. When fertilized with superphosphate, subterranean clover absorbed less phosphorus than the serradellas for each rate of fertilizer application, and this also reduced yield. Thus less phosphorus from superphosphate was required to produce serradella than was required to produce the same weight of subterranean clover. When fertilized with rock phosphate, 1982 herbage production was in the order: yellow serradella> subterranean clover>slender serradella. 1982 seed yields were: subterranean clover>yellow serradella> slender serradella. 1 983 herbage yields were: slender serradella>yellow serradella> subterranean clover. For herbage yields, for each rate of fertilizer application, this order was also dictated by the amount of phosphorus absorbed by each of the three species.

Responses of intensively grazed dairy pastures to applications of fertiliser nitrogen in south-western Australia

2007 ◽  
Vol 47 (8) ◽  
pp. 927 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. D. A. Bolland ◽  
I. F. Guthridge
Keyword(s):  
Western Australia ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Maximum Yield ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Trifolium Subterraneum ◽  
Growing Season ◽  
Mineral Elements ◽  
Italian Ryegrass ◽  
Total N ◽  
Dry Matter Digestibility

For the first time, we quantified pasture dry matter (DM) responses to applied fertiliser nitrogen (N) for intensively grazed, rain-fed, dairy pastures on sandy soils common in the Mediterranean-type climate of south-western Australia. The pastures are composed of subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.) and annual and Italian ryegrass (Lolium rigidum Gaud. and L. multiflorum Lam.). Six rates of N, as urea (46% N), were applied to 15 m by 15 m plots four times during 2002 and after each of the first 5–7 grazings in 2003 and 2004, throughout the typical April–October growing season. Total rates of N applied in the first year of the experiments were 0, 60, 120, 160, 200 and 320 kg N/ha, which were adjusted in subsequent years as detailed in the ‘Materials and methods’ section of this paper. The pastures in the experiments were rotationally grazed, by starting grazing when ryegrass plants had 2–3 leaves per tiller. The amount of pasture DM on each plot was measured before and after each grazing and was then used to estimate the amount of pasture DM consumed by the cows at each grazing for different times during the growing season. Linear increases (responses) of pasture DM to applied N occurred throughout the whole growing season when a total of up to 320 kg N/ha was applied in each year. No maximum yield plateaus were defined. Across all three experiments and years, on average in each year, a total of ~5 t/ha consumed DM was produced when no N was applied and ~7.5 t/ha was produced when a total of 200 kg N/ha was applied, giving ~2.5 t/ha increase in DM consumed and an N response efficiency of ~12.5 kg DM N/kg applied. As more fertiliser N was applied, the proportion of ryegrass in the pasture consistently increased, whereas clover content decreased. Concentrations of nitrate-N in the DM consistently increased as more N was applied, whereas concentrations of total N, and, therefore, concentration of crude protein in the DM, either increased or were unaffected by applied N. Application of N had no effect on concentrations of other mineral elements in DM and on dry matter digestibility and metabolisable energy of the DM. The results were generally consistent with findings of previous pasture N studies for perennial and annual temperate and subtropical pastures. We have shown that when pasture use for milk production has been maximised in the region, it is profitable to apply fertiliser N to grow extra DM consumed by dairy cows; conversely, it is a waste of money to apply N to undergrazed pastures to produce more unused DM.

Comparison of the phosphate requirements of burr medic and yellow serradella with subterranean clover in the low rainfall wheatbelt of Western Australia

1992 ◽  
Vol 32 (8) ◽  
pp. 1077 ◽  
Author(s):  
BH Paynter
Keyword(s):  
Seed Production ◽  
Western Australia ◽  
Maximum Yield ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Trifolium Subterraneum ◽  
Yield Response ◽  
Absolute Maximum ◽  
Absolute Yield ◽  
Burr Medic ◽  
Internal Efficiency

Burr medic (Medicago polymorpha) and yellow serradella (Ornithopus compressus) were compared with subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum) in their response to freshly topdressed phosphate in the low rainfall wheatbelt of Western Australia. Species were compared on the amount of applied phosphorus (P) required for 90% maximum yield and the ratio of their curvature coefficients from the Mitscherlich relationship between P applied and absolute yield. On marginally acidic, medium-textured soils, burr medic had a higher external shoot requirement for applied P than subterranean clover. Relative differences between the species were affected by season, initial concentration of bicarbonate-extractable P in the soil (0-10 cm), and timing of plant harvest during the growing season. Burr medic generally achieved a higher absolute maximum yield at each harvest, a larger absolute yield response, and a larger percentage response to applied P than subterranean clover. There was no difference between burr medic and subterranean clover with respect to the internal efficiency of P use for shoot production. For seed production, the external requirements of burr medic and subterranean clover for applied P were similar according to the criterion of P required at 90% maximum yield, but burr medic had a higher requirement if curvature coefficient was the criterion for comparison. Burr medic also had a higher internal efficiency of P use for seed production than subterranean clover. On an acidic, light-textured soil, yellow serradella had a lower requirement for applied P than subterranean clover, according to both criteria for all harvests in 2 separate years.

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