Phosphate solubilization from adsorbents and precipitates by different AVAIL polymers

Abstract

Less than 40% of phosphate fertilizer applied to soils is typically taken up by the intended crop within the year of application because of strong soil retention. AVAIL polymers are fertilizer additives that were commercially developed to enhance availability of fertilizer phosphate. Knowledge of underlying mechanisms of phosphate solubilization would help to optimize the effectiveness of these polymers for different soils. This study compared different types and levels of AVAIL polymers in solubilizing (ad)sorbed and precipitated phosphate to gain insights into the mechanisms involved. Varying inputs of four newer forms of polymers and the original AVAIL (Original) were co‐reacted with one level of phosphate (ad)sorbed on ferrihydrite or noncrystalline Al hydroxide in batch (ad)sorption experiments or with Fe and Ca phosphate precipitates in dissolution experiments. Dissolved phosphate increased with increasing levels of co‐added polymers reacted with (ad)sorbents or phosphate precipitates. Across input levels evaluated, the Original AVAIL generally solubilized more phosphate from ferrihydrite than any of the new formulations. The Original and the new Liquid 2 formulation equally solubilized the greatest phosphate from Fe phosphate, whereas Liquid 2 solubilized more phosphate from Al hydroxide and Ca phosphate. (Ad)sorption and dissolution results implied competitive (ad)sorption and complexometric dissolution as key mechanisms. Our results suggest that the effectiveness of AVAIL polymers in soils depends on the level of added polymer charge relative to phosphate adsorption capacities or the types of phosphate minerals present.