Banding of phosphorus as an alternative to lime for wheat in acid soil

Abstract

Soil acidification limits wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) yields and continues to intensify due to N application and crop harvesting. Applying agricultural limestone (aglime) is the most common remedy for soil acidity but requires a substantial investment. The banding of phosphorus (Banding P) with wheat seed is an alternative temporary solution with lower cash cost than aglime application. However, P2O5 fertilizer costs have increased, and Banding P treatment cannot prevent soil pH reduction. This study compares the net present value (NPV) of aglime and Banding P treatments over varied planning horizons for wheat production in acidic soil updating the work of Kaitibie et al. (2002). For sensitivity analysis, two wheat yield goals, two wheat prices, and two aglime prices were considered. Partial budgeting is used based on estimates from past agronomic research. Banding P treatment was always preferred with a 1‐yr planning horizon and was never preferred with a planning horizon of more than 3 yr. Due to increased P2O5 fertilizer price since 2002, the planning horizons where Banding P treatment now has higher NPV than aglime are shorter than those found by Kaitibie et al.