Rock phosphates are not effective fertilizers in Western Australian soils: A review of one hundred years of research

Bolland, M. D. A.; Gilkes, R. J.

doi:10.1007/bf01116182

Cited by 61 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 50 publications

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“…These compounds may be effective P fertilisers for slow growing perennial species and/or where soluble P is rapidly lost by leaching (Benzian 1966;Johnson 1980). In Australia the potential effectiveness of reactive phosphate rocks has been extensively reviewed (Bolland et al 1988;Sale and Blair 1989;Bolland and Gilkes 1990;Lewis et al 1997) and studied through a national series of field trials in the 1990s (Simpson et al 1997). The outcome of this coordinated series of trials identified that soils where RPRs are likely to be equally or more effective as water-soluble fertilisers are those that are acidic (pHw < 6) in high rainfall environments (850-1000 mm/yr), and therefore restricted mainly to pasture production systems in Australia .…”

Section: Fertiliser Formulations To Improve Puementioning

confidence: 99%

The chemical nature of P accumulation in agricultural soils—implications for fertiliser management and design: an Australian perspective

et al. 2011

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Many agricultural soils worldwide in their natural state are deficient in phosphorus (P), and the production of healthy agricultural crops has required the regular addition of P fertilisers. In cropping systems, P accumulates almost predominantly in inorganic forms in soil, associated with aluminium, calcium and iron. In pasture soils, P accumulates in both inorganic and organic forms, but the chemical nature of much organic P is still unresolved. The P use efficiency (PUE) of fertilisers is generally low in the year of application, but residual effectiveness is important, highlighting the importance of soil P testing prior to fertiliser use. With increasing costs of P fertiliser, various technologies have been suggested to improve PUE, but few have provided solid field evidence for efficacy. Fluid fertilisers have been demonstrated under field conditions to increase PUE on highly calcareous soils. Slow release P products have been demonstrated to improve PUE in soils where leaching is important. Modification of soil chemistry around the fertiliser granule or fluid injection point also offers promise for increasing PUE, but is less well validated. Better placement of P, even into subsoils, also offers promise to increase PUE in both cropping and pasture systems. AbbreviationsDAP diammonium phosphate DCPD dicalcium phosphate dihydrate EDTA ethylenediamine tetraacetate MAP monoammonium phosphate MCP monocalcium phosphate NMR nuclear magnetic resonance OM organic matter P phosphorus P i inorganic P P o organic P PUE P use efficiency RPR reactive phosphate rock TSP triple superphosphate XANES x-ray absorption near-edge structure Plant Soil (

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Section: Fertiliser Formulations To Improve Puementioning

confidence: 99%

The chemical nature of P accumulation in agricultural soils—implications for fertiliser management and design: an Australian perspective

et al. 2011

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“…In contrast, phosphate rock (PR) is highly insoluble in water and the driving force for its dissolution is determined to a large extent by the gradient in the activities of phosphate, calcium and hydrogen ions (Khasawneh & Doll, 1978). It has beeq reported that the rate and extent of PR decomposition is greatly enhanced in soils which have a low pH (Chu, Moschler & Thomas, 1962;Anderson, Kussow & Corey, 1985;Kanabo & Gilkes, 1987b;1987c), high levels of reserve acidity (Kanabo & Gilkes, 1987c;Bolland, Gilkes & D'Antuono, 1988a;Bolland & Gilkes, 1990) and low calcium status Mackay, Syers, Tillman & Gregg, 1986). Compared with water-soluble P fertilizers, therefore, PR should be relatively more effective when applied to acid, well-buffered soils than to neutral soils or to soils which have recently been limed (Archer, 1978).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 96%

The effectiveness of Langebaan rock phosphate and superphosphate in two acid, phosphate-deficient soils

Thibaud¹,

Farina²,

Hughes³

et al. 1992

South African Journal of Plant and Soil

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Acid, P-deficient soils with a large capacity to immobilize P favour the rapid decomposition of apatite. Such soils are widespread in the east of South Africa and the possibility exists that Langebaan rock phosphate (Langfos) may be a more cost-effective source of P than superphosphate on these soils. This study compared the effectiveness of granular Langfos to that of double superphosphate in a pot experiment using a strongly P-fixing Salmoral clay (Typic Haplorthox) and a weakly P-fixing Avalon sandy loam (Plinthic Paleudult). Five rates of double superphosp,hate (0,100,250,500 and 1 000 mg Pkg-1 ) and six of Langfos (0,100, 250, SOD, 1 000 and 2000 mg P kg-) were compared at three lime rates. Three consecutive crops of maize (lea mays L.) were grown for periods of four weeks. The average of the initial response slopes from the relationship between cumulative yield and P applied for the different lime applications showed that the effectiveness of Langfos relative to superphosphate was 10% and 18% for the Salmoral and Avalon soils, respectively. Lime had relatively little effect on plant response to superphosphate on the Salmoral, but had a marked positive effect on the Avalon. The response to Langfos was negatively affected by lime on the Salmoral, but only slightly so on the Avalon. These results suggest that granular Langfos will be more effective in acid sandy soils than in acid clay soils but that it is not an effective substitute in either for water-soluble P fertilizers.Suur, P-gebrekkige gronde met 'n hoe P-vasleggingsvermoe bevorder die vinnige ontbinding van appetiet. Sulke gronde kom wydverspreid in die ooste van Suid-Afrika voor, en die moontlikheid bestaan dat Langebaanrotsfosfaat (Langfos) op hierdie gronde dalk 'n meer koste-effektiewe bron van P as superfosfaat mag wees. Hierdie studie het die effektiwiteit van gekorrelde Langfos met dubbelsuperfosfaat vergelyk in 'n potproef op 'n hoe P-vasleggende Salmoral-klei (Typic Haplorthox) en 'n lae P-vasleggende Avalon sanderige leem (Plinthic paleudult). Vyf peile van dubbelsuperfosfaat (0, 100, 250, 500 en 1 000 mg P kg-1) en ses peile van Langfos (0, 1 ~O, 250, SOD, 1 000 en 2000 mg P kg-1) is vergelyk by drie verskillende kalk peile. Drie agtereenvolgende oeste van mielies (lea mays L.) is verbou vir periodes van vier weke elk. Die gemiddelde van die aanvangsgedeelte van die reaksie-kurwe van die verwantskap tussen kumulatiewe opbrengs en P toegedien vir die verskillende peile van kalk toon dat die effektiwiteit van Langfos relatief tot superfosfaat, respektiewelik 10% en 18% vir die Salmoral en die Avalon gronde was. Kalk het plantreak~ie op superfosfaat op die Salmoral grond relatief min geaffekteer, maar 'n merkbare positiewe effek op die Avalon grond gehad. Die reaksie op Langfos was deur kalk negatief op die Salmoral grond geaffekteer, maar slegs gering negatief opdie Avalon grond geaffekteer. Hierdie resultate dui aan dat gekorrelde Langfos nie 'n effektiewe plaasvervanger vir wateroplosbare bemestingsstowwe is nie en dat gekorrelde Langfos se...

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“…Phosphorite, or rock phosphate, is used as a terrestrial soil fertilizer, but did not increase benthic algal biomass when tested in this study, despite the stream being phosphorus limited (as demonstrated by increased algal biomass in the Penriched nutrient diffusing substrates). When ground and applied to soil, the phosphorus in rock phosphate becomes available to plants only after it has dissolved (Bolland & Gilkes, 1990), a process aided by low pH, which may be locally caused by some soil microbes (Nahas, 1996;XiaoRong et al, 2003). Thus, rock phosphate, though used as a fertilizer, is not directly usable by plants and is an ineffective fertilizer in some soils (Bolland & Gilkes, 1990).…”

Section: 8mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…When ground and applied to soil, the phosphorus in rock phosphate becomes available to plants only after it has dissolved (Bolland & Gilkes, 1990), a process aided by low pH, which may be locally caused by some soil microbes (Nahas, 1996;XiaoRong et al, 2003). Thus, rock phosphate, though used as a fertilizer, is not directly usable by plants and is an ineffective fertilizer in some soils (Bolland & Gilkes, 1990). An additional consideration is that some dissolved chemicals must also be in a biologically active form.…”

Section: 8mentioning

confidence: 99%

Does rock chemistry affect periphyton accrual in streams?

Bergey

2008

Hydrobiologia

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Stones of different rock types often accrue different amounts of periphytic algae. Although algal biomass may be positively related to stone roughness, the confounding role of rock chemistry is unclear. This independent effect of rock chemistry on benthic algae was tested using the nutrient-diffusing technique, by incorporating powdered stone, rather than nutrients, into the agar matrix. Rocks tested were sandstone, obsidian, schist, greywacke, pumice, gypsum, limestone, serpentine, and phosphorite. Petri-dishes containing powdered rock and agar, and covered with a permeable cellulose filter, were incubated in eight pools in a granitic stream. Algal biomass did not differ among any of the nine rock types and plain agar control, whereas biomass differed among the concurrently placed nutrient diffusing substrates (the stream was phosphorus-limited). Algal composition was more related to an upstream-downstream gradient (for filamentous algae) and pool-specific effects (deposition of fine sediment for diatoms) than rock chemistry. This minimal effect of rock chemistry may be caused by the low dissolution rate of stones.

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Rock phosphates are not effective fertilizers in Western Australian soils: A review of one hundred years of research

Cited by 61 publications

References 50 publications

The chemical nature of P accumulation in agricultural soils—implications for fertiliser management and design: an Australian perspective

The chemical nature of P accumulation in agricultural soils—implications for fertiliser management and design: an Australian perspective

The effectiveness of Langebaan rock phosphate and superphosphate in two acid, phosphate-deficient soils

Does rock chemistry affect periphyton accrual in streams?

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