Effectiveness of different methods of applying superphosphate for lupins grown on sandplain soils

1996 ◽  
Vol 36 (6) ◽  
pp. 707 ◽  
Author(s):  
MDA Bolland ◽  
RJ Jarvis

In 3 experiments in 1991 on very sandy soils near Eradu, Western Australia, the effectiveness of superphosphate for producing lupin (Lupinus angustifolius L.) seed (grain), was measured for fertiliser applied at 0-73 kg P/ha to the soil surface just before sowing (topdressed), or banded with the seed, or 8 cm below the seed while sowing 5 cm deep. At all sites, banding phosphorus (P) below or with the seed was equally effective as applying P to the soil surface. In a fourth experiment, on a very sandy soil near Badgingarra, Western Australia, levels of P (0-547 kg P/ha) as superphosphate, had been applied once only from 3 to 7 years previously (1985-89). The P applied in previous years was found to have leached. In 1992, superphosphate (0, 9, 18 and 36 kg P/ha) was applied across all the original plots. Fertiliser was either applied to the soil surface just before sowing lupins, or banded with the seed at 5 cm depth or at 8 cm below the seed. Grain yields from banding P below the seed exceeded those where P was topdressed when <250 kg P/ha had been applied in previous years, or where the Colwell soil-test P for the 10-20 cm depth was <10-15 mg P/g soil. When >250 kg P/ha had been applied in previous years, sufficient P had leached well below the seed, so there was little response to P and no advantage in placing freshly applied P below the seed when sowing. A possible explanation for the different results at Eradu and Badgingarra is provided.

1991 ◽  
Vol 31 (3) ◽  
pp. 357 ◽  
Author(s):  
RJ Jarvis ◽  
MDA Bolland

Five field experiments with lupins (Lupinus angustifolius) measured the effectiveness, for production, of 4 superphosphate placements either: (i) drilled with the seed to a depth of 4 or 5 cm; (ii) applied to the soil surface (topdressed) before sowing; or (iii) banded 2.5-5 cm and 7.5-8 cm below the seed while sowing. Levels of applied phosphate (P) from 0 to 36 kg P/ha were tested. In all experiments lupin grain yield responded to the highest level of superphosphate applied. At this P level, the average grain yield from all trials was 1.16 t/ha for the deepest banded treatment. This was 0.38 t/ha (49%) better than P drilled with the seed, and 0.62 t/ha (115%) better than P topdressed. Relative to superphosphate drilled with the seed and regardless of the lupin cultivar or the phosphate status of the soil, the effectiveness of superphosphate was increased by 10-90% by banding below the seed, and decreased by 30-60% by topdressing. Increasing the levels of superphosphate drilled with the seed generally reduced the density of seedlings and reduced early vegetative growth, probably due to salt or P toxicity. However, during the growing season, the plants treated with high levels of superphosphate recovered, so that eventually yields of dried tops and grain responded to increasing superphosphate drilled with the seed. In each experiment there was a common relationship between yield and P content in lupin tissue, regardless of how the superphosphate was applied, suggesting that lupins responded solely to P, and other factors did not alter yield. We recommend that farmers band superphosphate 5-8 cm below the seed while sowing, rather than continue the present practices of either drilling the fertiliser with the seed, or topdressing it before sowing.


Soil Research ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 48 (8) ◽  
pp. 682 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. D. A. Bolland ◽  
W. K. Russell

Soil testing was conducted during 1999–2009 to determine lime and fertiliser phosphorus (P), potassium (K), and sulfur (S) requirements of intensively grazed, rain-fed, ryegrass dairy pastures in 48 paddocks on sand to sandy loam soils in the Mediterranean-type climate of south-western Australia. The study demonstrated that tissue testing was required in conjunction with soil testing to confirm decisions based on soil testing, and to assess management decisions for elements not covered by soil testing. Soil testing for pH was reliable for indicating paddocks requiring lime to ameliorate soil acidity, and to monitor progress of liming. Soil P testing proved reliable for indicating when P fertiliser applications were required, with no P being required when soil-test P was above the critical value for that soil, and when no P was applied, tissue testing indicated that P remained adequate for ryegrass production. Soil testing could not be used to determine paddocks requiring fertiliser K and S, because both elements can leach below the root-zone, with rainfall determining the extent of leaching and magnitude of the decrease in pasture production resulting from deficiency, which cannot be predicted. The solution is to apply fertiliser K and S each year, and use tissue testing to improve fertiliser K and S management. Research has shown that, for dairy and other grazing industries in the region, laboratories need measure and report every year soil pH and soil-test P only, together with measuring every 3–5 years the P-buffering index (estimating P sorption of soil), organic carbon content, and electrical conductivity.


Soil Research ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 41 (4) ◽  
pp. 645 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. D. A. Bolland ◽  
D. G. Allen

In a field experiment, 6 amounts of superphosphate [0–800 kg phosphorus (P)/ha] were applied in July 2000 to an acidic lateritic ironstone gravel sandy soil treated 24 years previously (May 1976) with 6 amounts of superphosphate (0–599 kg P/ha). In October 2001, samples of the top 10 cm of soil were collected to measure the capacity of the soil to sorb P by the phosphate retention index (PRI) and P buffer capacity (PBC) methods, and to measure soil test P by the Colwell (sodium bicarbonate) procedure. The capacity of the soil to sorb P, as measured by both PRI and PBC, decreased with increased P application in 1976. For all amounts of P applied in 2000, Colwell soil test P increased with increased P application in 1976. We conclude that increasing amounts of P applied in 1976 decreased the capacity of the soil to sorb the subsequent application of P, thereby increasing soil test P values of soil treated with the subsequent P.


Soil Research ◽  
1988 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 211 ◽  
Author(s):  
RF Brennan ◽  
JF McGrath

Fertilizer zinc applied to the surface of an acid sand of low cation exchange capacity remained close to the soil surface even after 1438 mm of rain. At levels of zinc typically used in agriculture and forestry (0.7 kg ha-1 Zn) there was no movement of zinc below 2.5 cm. Where zinc was applied at 22.5 kg ha-l, 95% of the applied zinc could be accounted for in the top 5 cm. At the higher rate of zinc application (68 kg ha-1 Zn), 37% of the applied zinc was recovered below 5 cm.


1987 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 87 ◽  
Author(s):  
MDA Bolland

In 2 experiments on sandy soil near Esperance, W. A., superphosphate and Duchess (Queensland) apatite rock phosphate were either left on the soil surface after application (topdressed) or incorporated into the top 10 cm of the soil with a rotary hoe (incorporated). One experiment was on Fleming gravelly sand which had a greater capacity to adsorb phosphorus than did the deep yellow sand (Gibson sand) used in the other experiment. Dry matter or seed yield of subterranean clover and phosphorus content of dry herbage or seed were used as indicators of the effectiveness of the phosphorus treatments. Compared with topdressed superphosphate, incorporation of superphosphate did not greatly influence its effectiveness on the Gibson soil, but reduced its effectiveness by about 20% on the Fleming soil. Relative to topdressed rock phosphate, incorporation of rock phosphate almost doubled its effectiveness on the Fleming soil, and improved its effectiveness by about 1.5 times on the Gibson soil. Superphosphate was the more effective fertiliser. Relative to topdressed superphosphate, the effectiveness of topdressed and incorporated Duchess rock phosphate, respectively, was about 15 and 30% on the Fleming soil, and about 25 and 40% on the Gibson soil. There was no evidence of any leaching of phosphorus from Duchess rock phosphate from the 0-10 cm layer of either soil, nor of superphosphate on the Fleming soil. However, on the Gibson soil, there was some leaching of superphosphate to below 10cm, but not below 20 cm.


1989 ◽  
Vol 29 (6) ◽  
pp. 797 ◽  
Author(s):  
MDA Bolland ◽  
BH Paynter ◽  
MJ Baker

In a field experiment on a phosphorus (P) deficient soil in south-western Australia, lupin seed (Lupinus angustifolius cv. Danja) of the same size (157 mg/seed) but with 2 different phosphorus (P) concentrations in the seed (2.0 and 2.8 g P/kg) was sown with 4 levels of superphosphate (5, 20, 40 and 60 kg P/ha) drilled with the seed in May 1988 to examine the effect of seed P concentration on subsequent dry matter (DM) and grain yields. Increasing the amount of superphosphate applied from 5 to 60 kg P/ha almost doubled yields. In addition, lupins grown from seed containing the higher P concentration produced larger yields of dried whole tops in early August (69-day-old) for all levels of superphosphate drilled with the seed, the difference decreasing from about 45 to 10% as the level of superphosphate increased from 5 to 60 kg P/ha. By maturity (mid- November), however, plants grown from seed containing the higher P concentration in seed produced higher DM yields of tops and grain only when 5 and 20 kg P/ha superphosphate was drilled with the seed, the differences being about 40 and 20%, respectively.


Soil Research ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 41 (6) ◽  
pp. 1185 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. D. A. Bolland ◽  
D. G. Allen ◽  
K. S. Walton

Soil samples were collected from 14 long-term field experiments in south-western Australia to which several amounts of superphosphate or phosphate rock had been applied in a previous year. The samples were analysed for phosphorus (P) by the Colwell sodium bicarbonate procedure, presently used in Western Australia, and the Mehlich 3 procedure, being assessed as a new multi-element test for the region. For the Mehlich procedure, the concentration of total and inorganic P in the extract solution was measured. The soil test values were related to yields of crops and pasture measured later on in the year in which the soil samples were collected.The Mehlich 3 procedures (Mehlich 3 total and Mehlich 3 inorganic soil test P values) were similar, with the total values mostly being slightly larger. For soil treated with superphosphate, for each year of each experiment: (i) Mehlich 3 values were closely correlated with Colwell values; and (ii) the relationship between plant yield and soil test P (the soil P test calibration) was similar for the Colwell and Mehlich 3 procedures. However, for soil treated with phosphate rock, the Colwell procedure consistently produced lower soil test P values than the Mehlich 3 procedure, and the calibration relating plant yield to soil test P was different for the Colwell and Mehlich 3 procedures, indicating, for soils treated with phosphate rock, separate calibrations are required for the 2 procedures. We conclude that for soils of south-western Australia treated with superphosphate (most of the soils), the Mehlich 3 procedure can be used instead of the Colwell procedure to measure soil test P, providing support for the Mehlich 3 procedure to be developed as the multi-element soil test for the region.


2006 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 270-276 ◽  
Author(s):  
George J. Hochmuth ◽  
Jeffrey K. Brecht ◽  
Mark J. Bassett

Potassium (K) is required for successful carrot (Daucus carota) production on sandy soils of the southeastern United States, yet there is little published research documenting most current university Cooperative Extension Service recommendations. Soil test methods for K in carrot production have not been rigorously validated. Excessive fertilization sometimes is practiced by carrot growers to compensate for potential losses of K from leaching and because some growers believe that high rates of fertilization may improve vegetable quality. Carrots were grown in three plantings during the winter of 1994-95 in Gainesville, Fla., to test the effects of K fertilization on carrot yield and quality on a sandy soil testing medium (38 ppm) in Mehlich-1 soil-test K. Large-size carrot yield was increased linearly with K fertilization. Yields of U.S. No. 1 grade carrots and total marketable carrots were not affected by K fertilization. K fertilizer was not required on this soil even though the University of Florida Cooperative Extension Service recommendation was for 84 lb/acre K. Neither soluble sugar nor carotenoid concentrations in carrot roots were affected by K fertilization. The current K recommendation for carrots grown on sandy soils testing 38 ppm Mehlich-1 K could be reduced and still maintain maximum carrot yield and root quality.


2006 ◽  
Vol 46 (5) ◽  
pp. 675 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. F. Brennan ◽  
M. D. A. Bolland

The predominantly sandy soils of south-western Australia have become potassium (K) deficient for spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) production due to the removal of K from soil in grain and hay. The K requirements of canola (rape, Brassica napus L.) grown in rotation with wheat on these soils are not known and were determined in the study reported here. Seed (grain) yield increases (responses) of canola to applications of fertiliser K occurred at sites where Colwell soil test K values (top 10 cm of soil) were <60 mg/kg soil. Grain yield responses to applied K occurred when concentrations of K in dried shoots were <45 g/kg for young plants 7 and 10 weeks after sowing and <35 g/kg for 18 weeks after sowing. Application of fertiliser K had no significant effects on either oil or K concentrations in grain.


2007 ◽  
Vol 47 (8) ◽  
pp. 976 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. F. Brennan ◽  
M. D. A. Bolland

Most soils used for agriculture in south-western Australia are sandy and are now deficient in both potassium (K) and nitrogen (N) for cereal and canola (oilseed rape; Brassica napus L.) grain production. However, the effect of applying different levels of both fertiliser K and N on grain yields of these crops is not known. We report results of 10 field experiments, conducted on sandy soils in the region, to measure the effects of applying both K and N on canola grain yields and concentration of oil and protein in grain. Four levels of K (0–60 kg K/ha as potassium chloride) and four levels of N (0–138 kg N/ha as urea) were applied. Significant grain yield responses to applied N occurred in all experiments for the nil-K treatment and each level of K applied, with responses increasing as more N was applied. For all levels of N applied, significant grain yield responses occurred when up to 30 kg K/ha was applied, with no further significant grain yield responses occurring when 60 kg K/ha was applied. The K × N interaction was always significant for grain production. Application of K had no effect on the concentration of oil and protein in grain. Application of N consistently decreased concentration of oil and increased concentration of protein in grain. The K × N interaction was not significant for concentration of oil or protein in grain, but application of up to 30 kg K/ha significantly increased canola grain and so oil yields (concentration of oil in grain multiplied by grain yield). Our results are likely to be relevant for all acidic to neutral sandy soils worldwide used for growing canola crops.


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