Relationship between a soils ability to adsorb phosphate and the residual effectiveness of superphosphate

Soil Research ◽  
1973 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 57 ◽  
Author(s):  
NJ Barrow

Twenty-two unfertilized soils from four localities in south-western Australia were used in a pot trial. In March powdered, single superphosphate was applied to the surface of eight of the pots at a range of levels. All the pots were kept moist until August when subterranean clover seed was sown and fresh superphosphate was applied to the previously unfertilized pots. Response curves were fitted to the yields and from the coefficients of the curves the relative effectiveness of the March and the August applications was calculated. For most of the soils, the March application was between 50 and 60% as effective as the August application. There was a small but significant trend for the relative effectiveness to increase as the soils' ability to adsorb phosphate from solution (�P) increased. There was a close relationship between the effectiveness of the August application and the inverse of �P. Since �P is a measure of the distribution of phosphorus between the solid and the solution phases in the soil, it was argued that the decreased effectiveness of the March application could be explained by a change in the distribution of phosphate. An incubation experiment showed that such a redistribution occurred and that the proportional change was little affected by �P. This seemed to explain the small effect of �P on decrease in effectiveness.

2003 ◽  
Vol 43 (10) ◽  
pp. 1221 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. D. A. Bolland ◽  
J. S. Yeates ◽  
M. F. Clarke

The dry herbage yield increase (response) of subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.)-based pasture (>85% clover) to applications of different sources of sulfur (S) was compared in 7 field experiments on very sandy soils in the > 650 mm annual average rainfall areas of south-western Australia where S deficiency of clover is common when pastures grow rapidly during spring (August–November). The sources compared were single superphosphate, finely grained and coarsely grained gypsum from deposits in south-western Australia, and elemental S. All sources were broadcast (topdressed) once only onto each plot, 3 weeks after pasture emerged at the start of the first growing season. In each subsequent year, fresh fertiliser-S as single superphosphate was applied 3 weeks after pasture emerged to nil-S plots previously not treated with S since the start of the experiment. This was to determine the residual value of sources applied at the start of the experiment in each subsequent year relative to superphosphate freshly-applied in each subsequent year. In addition, superphosphate was also applied 6, 12 and 16 weeks after emergence of pasture in each year, using nil-S plots not previously treated with S since the start of the experiment. Pasture responses to applied S are usually larger after mid-August, so applying S later may match plant demand increasing the effectiveness of S for pasture production and may also reduce leaching losses of the applied S.At the same site, yield increases to applied S varied greatly, from 0 to 300%, at different harvests in the same or different years. These variations in yield responses to applied S are attributed to the net effect of mineralisation of different amounts of S from soil organic matter, dissolution of S from fertilisers, and different amounts of leaching losses of S from soil by rainfall. Within each year at each site, yield increases were mostly larger in spring (September–November) than in autumn (June–August). In the year of application, single superphosphate was equally or more effective than the other sources. In years when large responses to S occurred, applying single superphosphate later in the year was more effective than applying single superphosphate 3 weeks after pasture emerged (standard practice), so within each year the most recently applied single superphosphate treatment was the most effective S source. All sources generally had negligible residual value, so S needed to be applied each year to ensure S deficiency did not reduce pasture production.


1992 ◽  
Vol 32 (4) ◽  
pp. 455 ◽  
Author(s):  
MM Riley ◽  
JW Gartrell ◽  
RF Brennan ◽  
J Hamblin ◽  
P Coates

A long-term field experiment is being conducted in the wheatbelt of Western Australia to determine the effects of source of phosphate fertiliser on the residual effectiveness of zinc (Zn) to wheat and to sweet, narrow-leafed lupins grown in rotation. The initial 2 years' results of that experiment reported here indicate that both wheat and lupins responded to the addition of Zn to the soil. The requirements of these crops for Zn, can be mostly met with the small amount of Zn that is a natural component in single superphosphate manufactured from rock phosphates, but not with diammonium phosphate (DAP). The internal requirements for Zn of the aboveground tissues of lupins appear greater than those of wheat. Depending on the stage of growth, critical concentrations of Zn in the youngest leaf tissues of wheat that were prognostic of Zn deficiency, were found to vary from about 7 to 16 �g/g, while those in lupins were found to vary from about 28 to 37 �g/g.


1995 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 189 ◽  
Author(s):  
JA Fortune ◽  
PS Cocks ◽  
CK Macfarlane ◽  
FP Smith

The size and composition of pasture legume seedbanks were estimated from 2 surveys on a 460-km west-east transect of the wheatbelt of Western Australia. Survey 1 (in spring) sampled naturalised legumes, and survey 2 (in summer) measured the amount and botanical composition of legume seed from selected sites. Seedbanks were examined in greater detail on 2 farms in the higher rainfall part of the wheatbelt. Survey 2 revealed that mean seedbank size of the poorest 40% of sites (those with 5200 kg seed/ha) was 61 kg/ha, and that 72% of seeds were naturalised clovers. In contrast, the best 60% of sites (those with >200 kg seed/ha) averaged 533 kg seed/ha, of which only 35% was naturalised clover seed, the remainder in both surveys being mainly subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum). Mean seed bank size (kg/ha) varied from 359 (survey 2) to 587 (survey 1) and, in both surveys, was poorly correlated with long-term mean annual rainfall and a number of soil parameters. On the 2 farms, seedbank size ranged from 300 to 345 kg/ha (in spring) and from 650 to 740 kg/ha (in summer). Trifolium glomeratum (cluster clover) and subterranean clover were the most widespread species in both surveys. They were present at 35 and 30 of the 57 survey sites, respectively, and at both farms. Most of the subterranean clover collected was cv. Geraldton (22 of 30 sites), the next most frequent cultivar was Dwalganup (6 sites). The currently recommended cultivar, Dalkeith, was found at only 5 sites. Several other legumes including T. tomentosum (16 sites), T. suffocatum (8 sites), Medicago truncatula (7 sites), T. hirtum (4 sites), and M. minima (4 sites) were common, while M. littoralis, M. polymorpha, T. dubium, T. cernuum, T. cherleri, and T. carnpestre were found at single sites. With few exceptions, these are naturalised species and were characterised by flowering times about 20 days later than sown legume cultivars, and seed sizes < 1 mg. The value of these widespread annual legumes to agricultural productivity and sustainability needs to be quantified and their adaptation to wheatbelt farming systems assessed.


2003 ◽  
Vol 43 (9) ◽  
pp. 1117
Author(s):  
M. D. A. Bolland ◽  
J. S. Yeates ◽  
M. F. Clarke

To reduce leaching of phosphorus (P) from fertilised pastures to shallow estuaries in the high rainfall (>800 mm annual average) areas of south-western Australia, and to supply extra sulfur (S) for subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.) in pasture, 'coastal superphosphate' was developed as a possible alternative P and S fertiliser to single superphosphate. Coastal superphosphate is made by adding phosphate rock and elemental S to single superphosphate as it comes out of the den before granulation. It has about 3 times more sulfur (S) and one-third the water-soluble P content than single superphosphate. Four long-term (5-year) field experiments were conducted in south-western Australia to compare the effectiveness of single and coastal superphosphate as S fertilisers for subterranean clover pasture grown on very sandy soils that are frequently S deficient after July each year due to leaching of S from soil. Seven different amounts of S were applied as fertiliser annually. Fertiliser effectiveness was assessed from clover herbage yield and S concentration in dried herbage. Fertiliser nitrogen was not applied in these experiments as this was the normal practice for pastures in the region when the research was conducted.Both coastal and single superphosphates were equally effective per unit of applied S for producing dried clover herbage and increasing S concentration in herbage. Previous research on very sandy soils in the region had shown that coastal superphosphate was equally or more effective per unit of applied P for production of subterranean clover herbage. It is, therefore, concluded that coastal superphosphate is a suitable alternative S and P fertiliser for clover pastures on very sandy soils in the region. The concentration of S in dried clover herbage that was related to 90% of the maximum yield (critical S) was about 0.20–0.35% S during August (before flowering) and 0.15–0.20% S during October (after flowering).


1975 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 137 ◽  
Author(s):  
NJ Barrow

Eleven soils which differed widely in their ability to adsorb phosphate were used in a pot trial to compare the response to phosphate by subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.) with that by Wimmera ryegrass (Lolium rigidum Gaud.). Response curves were fitted to the yields (log-transformed). The coefficients of the curves were used to calculate both the relative effectiveness of the phosphate and the phosphate required to give a given fraction of the increase in log yield due to phosphate. Overall, the phosphate requirement for the grass was less than for the clover but the two species were affected differently by the soil's ability to adsorb phosphate. The phosphate requirement for the clover increased more rapidly with increasing adsorption by the soil than the phosphate requirement for the grass.


1985 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 886 ◽  
Author(s):  
MDA Bolland

In 1979 and 1980, three methods of re-seeding subterranean clover were investigated near Esperance, Western Australia: seeding just before the break to the season (dry-seeding), and seeding after the break, after killing the emerging pasture by mechanical cultivations or with herbicides. Sowing subterranean clover into a cereal stubble just prior to the break of the winter growing season, followed by continuous grazing after emergence to pr, vent overtopping of the clover seedlings, was he most economical method. It did not involve costs associated with the other methods (ploughing and scarifying, or herbicides and spraying), it produced between five and twenty times as much dried herbage in winter as was produced by the other methods, and had twice the sheep-carrying capacity in winter. The differences in clover seed yields between the three methods were not statistically significant, but yields were reduced by about 30% when grazing of dry-seeded treatments in cereal stubble was delayed until 6 weeks after emergence of seedlings, because of a 30% decrease in the number of clover seedlings.


1995 ◽  
Vol 46 (8) ◽  
pp. 1601 ◽  
Author(s):  
JWD Cayley ◽  
MC Hannah

The response to phosphatic fertilizer of a pasture based on perennial ryegrass, subterranean clover and phalaris was assessed over 4 years. The pasture was established on a previously unfertilized area. Single superphosphate was applied at five rates. In addition there was an unfertilized treatment. The highest rate of fertilizer, expressed as elemental phosphorus (P), was reduced from 100 kg/ha in years 1 and 2 to 60 and 40 kg/ha in years 3 and 4 respectively. Each year total pasture drymatter (DM) production was measured during a 6-month growing season from early winter to late spring under four systems of defoliation: mown monthly (MI), mown every 2 months (M2), mown every 3 months (M3) or set stocked with 1 year old sheep (G). Grazed plots were stocked at 10, 14 or 18 sheep/ha in 3 of the years, and at 8.75, 12.25 or 15.75 sheep/ha during the remaining year. The production of mown pasture generally decreased with increasing frequency of cutting, and was always less than the production of grazed pasture. Mean values for MI, M2, M3 and G were 2.85, 4.35, 5.44 and 6.86 t DM/ha respectively. The absolute and marginal responses to fertilizer (kg DM/kgP) were always greater for the grazed treatments. This suggests that data from mowing trials seriously underestimate the fertilizer response of grazed systems. The amount of fertilizer required to reach a given proportion of potential yield response did not differ between the systems in the first 3 years, but in year 4, more fertilizer was required by the grazed system to reach a given proportion of potential yield (P < 0.01. Strategies for correcting the response curves of the mown treatments are considered.


1988 ◽  
Vol 28 (6) ◽  
pp. 753 ◽  
Author(s):  
AJ Weatherley ◽  
MDA Bolland ◽  
RJ Gilkes

The effectiveness of Calciphos (500�C calcined calcium-aluminium C-grade rock phosphate from Christmas Island), Queensland rock phosphate (low carbonate substituted apatite, from Duchess deposit, Northern Queensland [QRP]), and granular North Carolina rock phosphate (highly carbonate substituted apatite from U.S.A. [NCRP]) were compared with the effectiveness of monocalcium phosphate (MCP) fertilisers in pot and field experiments. Three different lateritic soils from south-western Australia and different plant species were used. In the pot experiment, the effectiveness of the fertilisers was measured relative to freshly applied MCP for 5 successive crops. Subterranean clover, oats, triticale and barley were grown for about 1 month before harvesting. In the field experiment, the same plants were grown, and the effectiveness of the fertilisers was measured relative to freshly applied triple superphosphate for 3 successive years. On a dry matter yield basis, the effects of freshly applied rock phosphate dressings measured in the pot experiment were in a similar range to those measured in the field experiment for the same soil types, and the same plant species, indicating that pot trials can substitute for field trials for the evaluation of the initial effectiveness of fertilisers. However, the residual effectiveness values for both MCP and the RPs were generally much lower for the pot experiment, indicating that pot experiments cannot replace long-term field experiments for the reliable measurement of residual effectiveness of fertilisers. For the pot experiment, the relative effectiveness values of freshly applied NCRP and Calciphos for all soils were 0.2-0.3 and 0.1-0.2 respectively. The corresponding values for the field experiment were 0.1-0.3 for NCRP and 0.1 for Calciphos. For the pot experiment, the relative effectiveness of freshly applied QRP on all soils ranged from 0.03 to 0.1, compared with from 0.1 to 0.3 for the field experiment. The relative effectiveness of all fertilisers declined markedly with successive crops (i.e. crops 2-5) in the pot experiment, whereas in the field experiment the relative effectiveness of QRP and NCRP showed no systematic change for the 3-years of the experiment. For the pot experiment the relative effectiveness of residual MCP decreased to about 0.3, 0.2 and 0.1, compared with 0.5, 0.2 and 0.5 for the field experiment for West Dale, South Bodallin and Gibson soils, respectively. For the pot experiment and for all soils the residual relative effectiveness of NCRP and Calciphos was about 0.01- 0.04, compared with 0.003-0.02 for QRP. For the field experiment the corresponding values were 0.05-0.2 for NCRP and Calciphos and 0.01-0.1 for QRP. For both the pot and the field experiments the relationship between yield and phosphorus content was sometimes dependent on fertiliser type.


1974 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 505 ◽  
Author(s):  
MMH Wallace ◽  
MC Walters

The lucerne flea, S, viridis, was introduced into South Africa with subterranean clover seed imported from Western Australia in 1939. By 1959 the infestation had spread over 50,000 ha and methods of control were examined. The predatory mite B. lapidaria was known to be an effective biological control agent against S. viridis in Australian pastures. From 1963 to 1966 over 75,000 mites were collected in Western Australia and sent by air for immediate release in selected sites in South Africa (Cape Province). The mites were shown to be established in 1965 and multiplied rapidly, enabling redistribution to additional sites. The influence of this predator on S. viridis numbers is now being monitored. Preliminary data indicate that B. lapidaria is capable of influencing flea densities under South African conditions. A definite relationship between the predator and sminthurid Collembola such as S. viridis slnd Bourletiella arvalis is indicated, although B. lapidaria appears to be able to utilize other foods during periods of sminthurid scarcity.


1963 ◽  
Vol 42 (1) ◽  
pp. 29-38 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Ther ◽  
H. Schramm ◽  
G. Vogel

ABSTRACT Longitudinal tension exerted on a killed rat's femur results always in rupture on the same place viz: the distal epiphyseal line. The power required to produce this effect can be measured with a simple dynamometer. The tensile strength increases with advancing age and during exsiccation (thirst). In untreated rats (weight range 100–120 g) this value amounts to about 1.5–1.8 kg. Tensile strength of the femoral epiphyseal line may be influenced by hormones. Corticosteroids such as prednisolone acetate and cortisol acetate increase the level of maximal load to more than 2.0 kg. In general the effect of a single injection reaches a climax after 48 hours. Dose-response-curves can be established and relative effectiveness may be gathered therefrom. Deoxycorticosterone acetate likewise increases tensile strength in spite of the fact that contrary to prednisolone exhibiting diuretic action this compound has a water retaining effect. Triiodothyronine and progesterone when given alone produce a slight decrease in tensile strength. The effect of prednisolone when given simultaneously with one of these two compounds is antagonized: this phenomenon is more pronounced in the case of triiodothyronine.


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