Decrease in phosphorus concentrations when P fertiliser application is reduced or omitted from grazed pasture soils

Soil Research ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 52 (3) ◽  
pp. 282 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica Coad ◽  
Lucy Burkitt ◽  
Warwick Dougherty ◽  
Leigh Sparrow

Many intensively managed soils contain phosphorus (P) concentrations greater than required for optimum production. Soils with P concentrations in excess of the agronomic optimum can have unnecessary losses of P that can adversely affect water bodies. Reducing excessive soil-P concentrations is important for the economic and environmental sustainability of intensive agriculture, such as the Australian dairy industry. However, little is known of decreases in extractable soil-P concentrations when P fertiliser applications are reduced or omitted from soils with P concentrations and properties representative of intensive pasture grazing systems. Decreases in extractable P (calcium chloride (CaCl2), Olsen and Colwell) were monitored for up to 4.5 years for six Australian grazed pasture soils (Red Ferrosol, Brown Kurosol, Grey Dermosol, Brown Dermosol, Podosol and Hydrosol) with contrasting textures and P-buffering indices (PBI). Sixteen treatments consisting of four initial extractable-P concentrations (Pinit) paired with four ongoing P fertiliser rates (Pfert) were established for each of the six soils, except on an extremely low-PBI Podosol, where a range of Pinit concentrations could not be established. The resultant decreases in P were larger with higher Pinit concentration and lower rate of ongoing Pfert, except in the extremely low PBI Podosol where decreases in initially high CaCl2-P concentrations were large irrespective of ongoing Pfert. There was a greater proportional decrease in the environmentally extractable P compared with agronomically extractable P, with mean decreases in CaCl2-P of 57%, Olsen-P of 25%, and Colwell-P of 12%. The Pinit concentrations, which were well above agronomic optimum, remained above this target. This study advances scientific knowledge of extractable soil-P concentrations when P fertiliser inputs are withheld or reduced from grazed pasture soils, and aids land and catchment managers in estimating likely changes over time.

2003 ◽  
Vol 83 (4) ◽  
pp. 337-342 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Liu ◽  
C. Hamel ◽  
S. H. Begna ◽  
B. L. Ma ◽  
D. L. Smith

The ability of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi to help their host plant absorb soil P is well known, but little attention has been paid to the effect of AM fungi on soil P depletion capacity. A greenhouse experiment was conducted to assess, under different P levels, the effects of mycorrhizae on extractable soil P and P uptake by maize hybrids with contrasting phenotypes. The experiment had three factors, including two mycorrhizal treatments (mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal), three P fertilizer rates (0, 40, and 80 mg kg-1) and three maize hybrids [leafy normal stature (LNS), leafy reduced stature (LRS) and a conventional hybrid, Pioneer 3979 (P3979)]. Extractable soil P was determined after 3, 6 and 9 wk of maize growth. Plant biomass, P concentration and total P content were also determined after 9 wk of growth. Fertilization increased soil extractable P, plant biomass, P concentration in plants and total P uptake. In contrast to P3979, the LNS and LRS hybrids had higher biomass and total P content when mycorrhizal. Mycorrhizae had less influence on soil extractable P than on total P uptake by plants. The absence of P fertilization increased the importance of AM fungi for P uptake, which markedly reduced soil extractable P under AM plants during growth. This effect was strongest for LNS, the most mycorrhizae-dependent hybrid, intermediate for LRS, and not significant for the commercial hybrid P3979, which did not respond to AM inoculation. Key words: Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, extraradical hyphae, maize hybrid,plant biomass, P uptake, soil extractable P


Soil Research ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 55 (7) ◽  
pp. 657 ◽  
Author(s):  
Megan H. Ryan ◽  
Mark Tibbett ◽  
Hans Lambers ◽  
David Bicknell ◽  
Phillip Brookes ◽  
...  

High concentrations of nutrients in surface soil present a risk of nutrient movement into waterways through surface water pathways and leaching. Phosphorus (P) is of particular concern because of its role in aquatic system eutrophication. We measured nutrients under annual pastures on a beef farm and a dairy farm in the Peel–Harvey catchment, Western Australia. Soils were sampled in 10-mm increments to 100mm depth in March, June and September. Plant litter contained approximately 300–550mg kg–1 Colwell-extractable P. Extractable soil P was strongly stratified, being approximately 100–225mg kg–1 (dairy) and 50–110mg kg–1 (beef) in the top 10mm and <40mg kg–1 at 40–50mm depth. Total P and extractable potassium were also highly stratified, whereas sulfur was less strongly stratified. Shoot nutrient concentrations indicated that nitrogen was often limiting and sulfur was sometimes limiting for pasture growth: concentrations of P were often much greater than required for adequate growth (>4mg g–1). We conclude that high P concentrations at the soil surface and in litter and shoots are a source of risk for movement of P from farms into waterways in the Peel–Harvey catchment.


1986 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. 108-114 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura L. Lengnick ◽  
Larry D. King

AbstractSoils from adjoining farms, one managed organically and the other managed conventionally, were used in a greenhouse study to compare soil P status and the efficiency of concentrated superphosphate (CSP) and North Carolina rock phosphate (RP). Soil and plant parameters were measured as indicators of levels of soil P forms and availability of soil P to soybeans (Glycine max L.). Management did not affect dry matter yield of soybean plants. Conventional management resulted in higher P concentration in the plant and higher P uptake when CSP was the P source. However, when RP was the source, management effect was not significant. RP was only 15% as effective as CSP in increasing yield. When no P was applied, organic management resulted in greater total soil P, organic P, and Ca phosphate (CaP); conventional management resulted in greater Al and Fe phosphate (AlFeP) and occluded AlFeP (OcP). Addition of CSP increased AlFeP and OcP. Addition of RP increased CaP. CSP was more effective than RP in increasing extractable soil P. Multiple regression analysis showed that extractable P was related to AlFeP when CSP was the P source and to CaP when RP was the source. Yield was related to extractable P when CSP was the P source but when RP was the source, no significant regression models were found for yield.


Soil Research ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 49 (2) ◽  
pp. 152 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. L. Doolette ◽  
R. J. Smernik ◽  
W. J. Dougherty

Solution 31P nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy is the most common technique for the detailed characterisation of soil organic P, but is yet to be applied widely to Australian soils. We investigated the composition of soil P in 18 diverse Australian soils using this technique. Soils were treated with a mixture of sodium hydroxide–ethylenediaminetetra-acetic acid (NaOH-EDTA), which resulted in the extraction of up to 89% of total soil P. It was possible to identify up to 15 well-resolved resonances and one broad signal in each 31P NMR spectrum. The well-resolved resonances included those of orthophosphate, α- and β-glycerophosphate, phytate, adenosine-5′-monosphosphate, and scyllo-inositol phosphate, as well as five unassigned resonances in the monoester region and two unassigned resonances downfield (higher ppm values) of orthophosphate. The majority of 31P NMR signal in the NaOH-EDTA extracts was assigned to orthophosphate, representing 37–90% of extractable P. Orthophosphate monoesters comprised the next largest pool of extractable P (7–55%). The most prominent resonances were due to phytate, which comprised up to 9% of total NaOH-EDTA extractable P, and α- and β-glycerophosphate, which comprised 1–5% of total NaOH-EDTA extractable P. A substantially greater portion of organic P (2–39% of total NaOH-EDTA extractable P) appeared as a broad peak in the monoester P region; we propose that this is due to P found in large, ‘humic’ molecules. Orthophosphate diesters (1–5% of total NaOH-EDTA extractable P) and pyrophosphate (1–5% of total NaOH-EDTA extractable P) were minor components of P in all soil extracts. These results suggest that organic P in large humic molecules represents the second most abundant form of NaOH-EDTA extractable soil P (behind orthophosphate). Furthermore, small P-containing compounds, such as phytate, represent a much smaller proportion of soil P than is commonly assumed.


Soil Research ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 39 (4) ◽  
pp. 759 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. L. Burkitt ◽  
C. J. P. Gourley ◽  
P. W. G. Sale ◽  
N. C. Uren ◽  
M. C. Hannah

Nine pasture soils from high rainfall zones of southern Victoria were analysed for a range of chemical and physical properties before receiving a single application of P fertiliser in the form of triple superphosphate (TSP), single superphosphate (SSP), or TSP and lime (5 t/ha) at amounts ranging from 0 to 280 kg P/ha. Soils were analysed for bicarbonate-extractable P concentration, using both the Olsen P and Colwell P methods, 6 and 12 months after fertiliser application. A strong positive linear relationship existed at all sites between the amount of P applied and both the Olsen P and Colwell P concentrations. The slopes of these relationships measured the change in extractable P concentration (Δ EP) per unit of P applied, whilst the inverse of the ΔEP value indicated the amount of P fertiliser required above maintenance to increase the extractable P concentration by 1 mg/kg. These values ranged from 5 to 15 kg P/ha, depending on soil type. The ΔEP measured by the Olsen (Δ EP Olsen ) method was closely related to selected soil properties and P sorption measures, whilst the ΔEPColwell values were also closely related to selected soil properties and P sorption measures, but only when one particular site, an acidic sand, with a high organic carbon content was excluded from the analysis. In general, simple, direct measures of soil P sorption could allow the estimation of ΔEP values on different soil types. The application of P in the form of SSP resulted in a trend for higher ΔEP values than occurred with TSP. This difference was significant on 3 sites (P < 0.05), but depended on the method of extraction and the time after fertiliser application. The application of lime significantly (P < 0.001) increased soil pH (H2 O and CaCl 2 ) and decreased the concentration of exchangeable Al, 6 months after treatments were applied, but generally had little impact on ΔEP values.


Soil Research ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 46 (8) ◽  
pp. 676 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. L. Burkitt ◽  
P. W. G. Sale ◽  
C. J. P. Gourley

Soil phosphorus (P) sorption is an important and relatively stable soil property which dictates the equilibrium between sorbed and solution P. Soil P sorption measures are commonly adjusted for the effect of current P fertility on the amount of P a soil sorbs. In the case of highly fertilised agricultural soils, however, this adjustment is likely to be inappropriate as it may mask changes in a soil’s capacity to sorb P, which could affect future P fertiliser applications. A study was undertaken to compare adjusted or unadjusted methods of measuring P sorption using 9 pasture soils sampled from southern Victoria which had previously received P fertiliser and lime. The P sorption assessment methods included: P sorption isotherms, P-buffering capacity (PBC) measures (slope between equilibrium P concentration of 0.25 and 0.35 mg P/L), and single-point P-buffering indices (PBI), with methods either adjusted or unadjusted for current P fertility. A single application of 280 kg P/ha, 6 months before sampling, resulted in a general negative displacement of unadjusted P sorption isotherm curves, indicating reduced P sorption on 8 of the 9 soils. Adding the Colwell extractable P concentration to the amount of P sorbed before calculating the slope (PBC+ColP), tended to negate this fertiliser effect and, in 2 of the 9 soils, resulted in a significant increase in PBC+ColP values. Increasing rates of P fertiliser application (up to 280 kg P/ha) resulted in a consistent trend to decreasing PBI values (unadjusted for Colwell P), which was significant at 4 of the 9 sites after 6 months. However, only minimal changes in PBI values were determined when PBI was adjusted for current P fertility (PBI+ColP). Phosphorus sorption properties appeared reasonably stable over time, although 2 soils, both Ferrosols, indicated significant linear increases in PBI values when these sites remained unfertilised for 30 months. Lime significantly increased both PBI and PBI+ColP values at all sites 6 months after application, but the effect generally diminished after 30 months, suggesting PBI measurements should not be taken immediately after liming. These results demonstrate that unadjusted measures of P sorption are more likely to accurately reflect changes in soil P sorption capacity following P fertiliser applications and suggest that the unadjusted PBI be used in commercial soil testing rather that the currently adjusted PBI+ColP.


1998 ◽  
Vol 78 (4) ◽  
pp. 699-706 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. I. Gill ◽  
M. A. Naeth ◽  
D. S. Chanasyk ◽  
V. S. Baron

Currently, there is interest in Western Canada in extending the grazing season using perennial and annual forages. Of greatest concern is the environmental sustainability of these grazing systems, with emphasis on their ability to withstand erosion. A study to examine the runoff and sediment yields of annual and perennial forages in central Alberta was initiated in 1994. Runoff and sediment yield were quantified under snowmelt and rainfall events for two seasons. Rainfall simulation was used to further examine runoff under growing season conditions. Four forage treatments (two annuals: triticale and a barley/triticale mixture and two perennials: smooth bromegrass and meadow bromegrass) and three grazing intensities (light, medium and heavy) were studied, each replicated four times. Total annual runoff was dominated by snowmelt. Generally runoff volumes, sediment yields, sediment ratios and runoff coefficients were all low. Bare ground increased with increasing grazing intensity and was significantly greater in annuals than perennials for all grazing intensities. Litter biomass decreased with increasing grazing intensity and was generally similar in all species for both years at heavy and medium grazing intensities. Results from the rainfall simulation corroborated those under natural rainfall conditions and generally indicated the sustainability of these grazing systems at this site. Key words: Forages, soil erosion, sustainability, rainfall simulation


Biology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 158
Author(s):  
Jiang Tian ◽  
Fei Ge ◽  
Dayi Zhang ◽  
Songqiang Deng ◽  
Xingwang Liu

Phosphorus (P) is a vital element in biological molecules, and one of the main limiting elements for biomass production as plant-available P represents only a small fraction of total soil P. Increasing global food demand and modern agricultural consumption of P fertilizers could lead to excessive inputs of inorganic P in intensively managed croplands, consequently rising P losses and ongoing eutrophication of surface waters. Despite phosphate solubilizing microorganisms (PSMs) are widely accepted as eco-friendly P fertilizers for increasing agricultural productivity, a comprehensive and deeper understanding of the role of PSMs in P geochemical processes for managing P deficiency has received inadequate attention. In this review, we summarize the basic P forms and their geochemical and biological cycles in soil systems, how PSMs mediate soil P biogeochemical cycles, and the metabolic and enzymatic mechanisms behind these processes. We also highlight the important roles of PSMs in the biogeochemical P cycle and provide perspectives on several environmental issues to prioritize in future PSM applications.


Soil Research ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 45 (4) ◽  
pp. 255 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ebrahim Adhami ◽  
Hamid Reza Memarian ◽  
Farzad Rassaei ◽  
Ehsan Mahdavi ◽  
Manouchehr Maftoun ◽  
...  

Inorganic phosphorus (P) sequential fractionation schemes are applicable techniques to interpret soil P status. The present study was initiated to determine the origin of various P fractions in highly calcareous soils. Inorganic P forms were determined by a sequential fractionation procedure extracting with NaOH (NaOH-P), Na citrate-bicarbonate (CB-P), Na citrate 2 times (C1-P and C2-P), Na citrate-ascorbate (CAs-P), Na citrate-bicarbonate-dithionite (CBD-P), Na acetate (NaAc-P), and HCl (HCl-P). Results showed that NaOH-P was negatively correlated with active iron oxides. CB-P was positively correlated with silt content and negatively related to citrate-bicarbonate-dithionite extractable Fe (Fed). This result illustrates the weathering effect on Ca-P, with Ca-P content declining as a consequence of weathering. A negative correlation was observed between C1-P and citrate ascorbate extractable Fe (FeCAs). Second citrate extractable P (C2-P) was negatively related to calcium carbonate equivalent and positively related to hydroxylamine-hydrochloride and neutral ammonium acetate-hydroquinone extractable Mn (Mnh and Mnq). Fine silt (Fsilt) was the most influential factor affecting CAs-P. It seemed citrate-dithionite-bicarbonate extractable Al (Ald), Mnh, and Mnq have been sinks for CBD-P, while free iron oxide compounds (Feo, Fec, and FeCAs) were a major contributing factor for the formation of NaAc-P. Stable P compounds (HCl-P) of highly calcareous soils originated from coarse silt (Csilt) and hydroxylamine-hydrochloride extractable Mn (Mnh).


Soil Research ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 43 (6) ◽  
pp. 745 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Nash ◽  
L. Clemow ◽  
M. Hannah ◽  
K. Barlow ◽  
P. Gangaiya

Pasture-based grazing systems contribute to the excessive nutrients found in some streams in south-eastern Australia. This study investigated phosphorus (P) exported in runoff from a rain-fed dairy pasture (Darnum) and 4 bays of irrigated dairy pasture (MRF). Runoff was monitored for 7 years at Darnum and 2 years at the MRF to identify factors associated with the variation in total P (TP) concentrations between events. The flow-weighted mean annual P concentrations in runoff varied between 3.3 and 28.2 mg TP/L for Darnum and 6.2 and 31.5 mg TP/L for the MRF. The relationships between TP concentrations in runoff and days between fertiliser application and runoff, days between grazing and runoff, and total storm flow were examined using an additive component model that explained 61% and 70% of the variation in log-transformed TP for Darnum and the MRF, respectively. The interval between application of fertiliser and runoff and the effect of year were highly significant and explained most of the variation in TP. Grazing and fertiliser application were identified as the major factors that may affect TP concentrations that the land manager can control (preventable). The estimates of year effect (i.e. the component of TP not explained by the other variables and over which the land manager had no apparent means of control) ranged from 1.60 mg (s.e. 1.99) to 7.14 mg (s.e. 1.90) TP/L in non-drought years (>45 kL/ha runoff annually). The year effect averaged 5.7 and 6.9 mg TP/L for Darnum and the MRF, respectively. It is shown that an additive component model provides a useful structure for investigating similar, field-scale data.


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