Effectiveness of superphosphate and crandallite-millisite rock phosphates on a deep, very sandy soil as assessed by plant growth and soil extractable phosphate

1987 ◽  
Vol 27 (5) ◽  
pp. 647 ◽  
Author(s):  
MDA Bolland ◽  
MJ Baker ◽  
RJ Lunt
Keyword(s):  
Sandy Soil ◽  
Rock Phosphate ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Rock Phosphates ◽  
Christmas Island ◽  
Extractable P ◽  
Plant Yields ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Separate Calibration ◽  
Residual Effectiveness

The initial and residual effectiveness of superphosphate, Christmas Island C-grade ore (C-ore) and 500�C heated (calcined) C-ore (Calciphos) was measured on a deep, very sandy soil near Badgingarra, W.A. Different levels of each fertiliser were applied once only in May 1980. Yields of lupins (1980 and 1983) and subterranean clover (1981) were used to determine the effectiveness of the fertilisers, and in 1986 the residual value of the fertilisers was measured for wheat, oats, and barley, relative to freshly applied superphosphate. Samples of the top 10 cm of soil were collected each January-February for soil tests for P which were compared to plant yields measured in the following spring (Aug.-Dec.). Superphosphate was the most effective fertiliser, though its effectiveness declined by about 50% between years 1 and 2, and by a further 25% between years 2 and 4. C-ore was only about one-tenth as effective as superphosphate in the year of application, and its effectiveness declined by about 40% between years 1 and 2, and by a further 15% between years 2 and 4. Calciphos was about one-fifth as effective as superphosphate in the year of application, and its effectiveness declined by about 40% between years 1 and 2, and remained approximately constant between years 2 and 4. In 1986, the effectiveness of 1980 applied superphosphate was between about one-quarter to one-fifth as effective as freshly applied superphosphate for wheat, oats and barley, and the 1980 applied C-ore and Calciphos were about 15% as effective as freshly applied superphosphate. The amount of P extracted by sodium bicarbonate from soil fertilised with superphosphate decreased by about 50% between years 2 and 3, by a further 20% between years 3 and 4, and by a further 15% between years 4 and 7. For soil treated with Calciphos, the amount of extractable P doubled between years 2 and 3 and thereafter remained approximately constant. Very little P was extracted from soil fertilised with C-ore. Separate calibration curves were required in most cases for the relationship between yield and soil test values for superphosphate and rock phosphate in 1981 and 1983, and for each fertiliser and species in 1986. A substantial amount of superphosphate-added P (50-70%) and about 20% of rock phosphate-added P had leached below 50 cm of the topsoil 6 years after application.

Comparison of three soil tests for phosphate on lateritic soil fertilized with superphosphate, crandallite rock phosphates and apatite rock phosphates

Soil Research ◽  
1987 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 555 ◽  
Author(s):  
MDA Bolland ◽  
DG Allen
Keyword(s):  
Rock Phosphate ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Lateritic Soil ◽  
Soil Test ◽  
Soil Tests ◽  
Rock Phosphates ◽  
Christmas Island ◽  
Matter Production ◽  
Independent Variable ◽  
The Relationship

Different amounts of superphosphate, crandallite-millisite rock phosphate (three different samples of C-ore from Christmas Island), 500�C calcined C-ore (three different samples of Calciphos) and apatite rock phosphate (two different samples from the Duchess deposit, Queensland) were applied once only in May 1977 on lateritic soil in Western Australia. Samples of the top 10 cm of soil were collected in the summer (January-February) of 1979 and 1980 for measurement of extractable soil phosphate by the Colwell, Olsen and Bray soil tests, and the data were compared with dry matter production of subterranean clover pasture in the following spring (August). For each fertilizer in each year, the Olsen and Brayl soil test values (as dependent variables) were closely correlated with the Colwell soil test values (independent variable), and the Bray 1 soil test (dependent variable) was closely correlated with the Olsen soil test (independent variable). For the relationship between yield and soil test values, separate calibrations were required in most cases for each fertilizer and each soil test, and these calibrations showed large differences in two successive years. None of the soil tests was significantly better for predicting clover yields for the different fertilizers applied two and three years previously.

Response of subterranean clover to rock phosphates as affected by particle size and depth of mixing in the soil

1974 ◽  
Vol 14 (70) ◽  
pp. 649 ◽  
Author(s):  
AM Alston ◽  
KW Chin
Keyword(s):  
Particle Size ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Rock Phosphate ◽  
Phosphorus Uptake ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Phosphorus Concentration ◽  
Dry Matter Yield ◽  
Rock Phosphates ◽  
Monocalcium Phosphate ◽  
Christmas Island

Samples of Christmas Island and Florida rock phosphates with different particle size ranges were applied to a phosphorus-deficient acid sandy soil. The rock phosphates were compared with monocalcium phosphate at various levels of addition of phosphorus. The fertilizers were mixed uniformly with either the top 1, 5, or 10 cm of the soil. Dry matter yield and phosphorus uptake in the tops of subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum) and the distribution (by weight) of the roots in the soil were determined. Monocalcium phosphate produced higher dry matter yields (tops and roots) than rock phosphates, even when the latter were applied in amounts containing four times the amount of phosphorus added as monocalcium phosphate. The concentration and uptake of phosphorus in the tops was also higher when monocalcium phosphate was applied, although the difference in concentration decreased as the plants matured. Dry matter yield and phosphorus concentration in the clover tops were increased by increasing the fineness of grinding of rock phosphate and by increasing the depth of mixing with the soil. Increasing the depth of mixing also produced a greater weight and more even distribution of roots. The yield of tops and roots was unaffected by the depth to which monocalcium phosphate was mixed, although shallow placement concentrated the distribution of the roots near the soil surface. Florida rock phosphate was a better source of phosphorus for subterranean clover than Christmas Island rock when the samples were coarsely ground, but both rocks were equally effective when ground to give 70 per cent < 100 mesh B.S.S.

A comparison of values for initial and residual effectiveness of rock phosphates measured in pot and field experiments

1988 ◽  
Vol 28 (6) ◽  
pp. 753 ◽  
Author(s):  
AJ Weatherley ◽  
MDA Bolland ◽  
RJ Gilkes
Keyword(s):  
Field Experiment ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Rock Phosphate ◽  
Field Experiments ◽  
Relative Effectiveness ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Pot Experiment ◽  
Systematic Change ◽  
Rock Phosphates ◽  
Residual Effectiveness

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.

Residual effectiveness of superphosphate is greater than that of rock phosphate fertilisers for lateritic soils in south-western Australia

1988 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 83 ◽  
Author(s):  
MDA Bolland ◽  
AJ Weatherley ◽  
RJ Gilkes
Keyword(s):  
Western Australia ◽  
Rock Phosphate ◽  
Phosphorus Content ◽  
Maximum Yield ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Triple Superphosphate ◽  
Rock Phosphates ◽  
Lateritic Soils ◽  
Climatic Regions ◽  
Christmas Island

The residual values of granular reactive rock phosphate (highly carbonate-substituted apatite from North Carolina, USA.), partially powdered low-reactive Queensland rock phosphate (low carbonate-substituted apatite from the Duchess deposit), and granular triple superphosphate were measured in 3 experiments on different lateritic soils in different climatic regions of south-western Australia (Gibson, South Bodallin, West Dale). Finely powdered calcined crandallite-millisite rock phosphate from Christmas Island (Calciphos) was included in one of the experiments. The fertilisers were applied once only in May 1984 and their residual value measured over 3 years (1984-1986) using yield and phosphorus content of the following species each year: experiment 1 (Gibson), barley in years 1 and 2 and oats in the third year; experiment 2 (South Bodallin), triticale in all 3 years; experiment 3 (West Dale), subterranean clover in years I and 2 followed by oats in year 3. Relative to triple superphosphate (TSP) applied each year, the effectiveness of superphosphate in year 1 (year of application) in the experiment at Gibson decreased by about 40% between years 1 and 2, and by a further 5% between years 2 and 3. The corresponding values for the experiment at South Bodallin were 75% and 5%, and at West Dale 50% and 25%. All rock phosphates were much less effective than TSP in year 1, being 5-30% as effective as TSP. Effectiveness of rock phosphates remained low over the 3 years, being 5-20% as effective as newly applied TSP. Although the effectiveness of TSP decreased, it continued to be 50% as effective as newly applied TSP after 3 years. Residual TSP and both freshly applied and residual rock phosphates did not support the same maximum yield as freshly applied TSP despite well defined yield plateaux being obtained in each case. At each harvest, the relationship between yield and phosphorus content of plants was similar for all fertilisers so that the smaller maximum DM and grain yield and reduced effectiveness of the rock phosphates were largely due to less phosphorus being taken up by plants.

Response of defoliated swards of subterranean clover and yellow serradella to superphosphate applications

1991 ◽  
Vol 31 (6) ◽  
pp. 777
Author(s):  
MDA Bolland
Keyword(s):  
Field Experiment ◽  
Sandy Soil ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Maximum Yield ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Soil Surface ◽  
Trifolium Subterraneum ◽  
Herbage Yield ◽  
Ornithopus Compressus ◽  
The Relationship

The effect of superphosphate applications (0, 25, 50, 75, 100 and 125 kg P/ha to the soil surface) on the dry matter (DM) herbage production of dense swards of subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum cv. Junee) and yellow serradella (Ornithopus compressus cv. Tauro) was measured in a field experiment on deep, sandy soil in south-western Australia. The swards were defoliated with a reel mower at weekly intervals from 88 to 158 days after sowing, to a height of 2 cm for the first 9 cuts, 4 cm for the tenth cut and 5 cm for the eleventh cut. Yellow serradella was more productive than subterranean clover. Consequently, for the relationship between yield and the level of phosphorus (P) applied, yellow serradella supported larger maximum yields and required less P than subterranean clover, to produce the same DM herbage yield. Maximum yields of yellow serradella were 12-40% larger. To produce 70% of the maximum yield for yellow serradella at each harvest, yellow serradella required about 50% less P than subterranean clover. However, when yields were expressed as a percentage of the maximum yield measured for each species at each harvest, the relationship between yield and the level of P applied was similar for both species, and they had similar P requirements.

Responses of serradella and subterranean clover to phosphorus from superphosphate and Duchess rock phosphate

1985 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 902 ◽  
Author(s):  
MDA Bolland
Keyword(s):  
Rock Phosphate ◽  
Phosphorus Content ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Fertilizer Application ◽  
Sampling Time ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
North Eastern ◽  
Herbage Yield ◽  
Seed Yields ◽  
The Relationship

The responses of yellow serradella, slender serradella and subterranean clover to phosphorus from superphosphate and an apatite rock phosphate from Duchess, north-eastern Australia, were measured in a field experiment near Esperance, W.A. Over the 16 months of the experiment, dry herbage yields depended upon the phosphorus content of dried herbage. For each sampling time, the relationship between dry herbage yield and the phosphorus content of dried herbage was similar for both fertilizers and for all three species. At each rate of fertilizer application, the amount of phosphorus absorbed by the plants from the rock phosphate was less than that from superphosphate, and this limited yield. When fertilized with superphosphate, subterranean clover absorbed less phosphorus than the serradellas for each rate of fertilizer application, and this also reduced yield. Thus less phosphorus from superphosphate was required to produce serradella than was required to produce the same weight of subterranean clover. When fertilized with rock phosphate, 1982 herbage production was in the order: yellow serradella> subterranean clover>slender serradella. 1982 seed yields were: subterranean clover>yellow serradella> slender serradella. 1 983 herbage yields were: slender serradella>yellow serradella> subterranean clover. For herbage yields, for each rate of fertilizer application, this order was also dictated by the amount of phosphorus absorbed by each of the three species.

Residual value for wheat of phosphorus from calciphos, Duchess rock phosphate and triple superphosphate on a lateritic soil in south-western Australia

1985 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 198 ◽  
Author(s):  
MDA Bolland
Keyword(s):  
Western Australia ◽  
Rock Phosphate ◽  
Phosphorus Content ◽  
Lateritic Soil ◽  
Triple Superphosphate ◽  
Phosphorus Fertilizer ◽  
Rock Phosphates ◽  
Christmas Island ◽  
Residual Values ◽  
North Western

The residual values of phosphorus from triple superphosphate and from three rock phosphates were compared in a 4-year field experiment with wheat, grown on a phosphorus deficient lateritic soil in south-western Australia. The three rock phosphate fertilizers were an apatitic rock phosphate originating from the Duchess deposit in north-western Queensland, and calcined (500�C) Christmas Island C-grade ore as a powder and as pellets. Five rates of each fertilizer were applied at the commencement of the experiment and their effectiveness was calculated from data on yield of dried plant tops, grain yield, and bicarbonate soluble phosphorus extracted from the soil. Triple superphosphate was the most effective phosphorus fertilizer initially, but its effectiveness decreased markedly with time. The effectiveness of the three rock phosphates was initially very low, and remained approximately constant for the duration of the experiment. The yield of dried plant tops depended upon their phosphorus content and this relationship was independent of the phosphorus fertilizer used.

Low effectiveness of three rock phosphates as phosphorus fertilizers and liming materials on an acid clay-loam

1987 ◽  
Vol 38 (6) ◽  
pp. 1033 ◽  
Author(s):  
JS Yeates ◽  
DG Allen
Keyword(s):  
Soil Ph ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Phosphorus Uptake ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
P Uptake ◽  
Clay Loam ◽  
Agronomic Effectiveness ◽  
Rock Phosphates ◽  
Extractable P ◽  
Soil Buffering

The effectiveness of three finely ground rock phosphates (PRs) was compared with ordinary superphosphate (OSP) for subterranean clover growth and for increasing soil bicarbonate-extractable P levels over two successive 8-week periods on a very acid clay-loam (pH (0.01 M CaCl2) 4.3) in a glasshouse experiment. All PR sources were poorly effective compared to OSP. Maximum dry matter and P uptake of each PR source was less than that of OSP at each harvest. Relative to surface application, mixing throughout the soil reduced the effectiveness of OSP for dry matter and P uptake, but had little effect on the PR sources. Relative to OSP, the effectiveness of PR sources did not increase at the second harvest. Bicarbonate-extractable P levels for soil-incorporated Island PR plateaued below the highest rate applied. Phosphorus uptake by the herbage at harvests 1 and 2 was not well related to soil bicarbonateextractable P levels at harvest 1, and source dependency was indicated. Soil pH was markedly increased by each of PR sources at application rates within the rates required to reach maximum dry matter and P yield. Increased soil pH at high PR applications is likely to have reduced PR dissolution, and contributed to low agronomic effectiveness. Dry matter yield at both harvests was dependent on P concentration in the tops, regardless of the P source or method of P application. A higher soil buffering capacity for pH, P or Ca than was present in this soil seems necessary for sufficient PR dissolution to achieve the same agronomic effectiveness as OSP.

Effectiveness of topdressed and incorporated superphosphate and Duchess rock phosphate for subterranean clover on sandy soils near Esperance Western Australia

1987 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 87 ◽  
Author(s):  
MDA Bolland
Keyword(s):  
Sandy Soil ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Rock Phosphate ◽  
Phosphorus Content ◽  
Sandy Soils ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Soil Surface ◽  
The Other ◽  
Deep Yellow ◽  
Phosphate Incorporation

In 2 experiments on sandy soil near Esperance, W. A., superphosphate and Duchess (Queensland) apatite rock phosphate were either left on the soil surface after application (topdressed) or incorporated into the top 10 cm of the soil with a rotary hoe (incorporated). One experiment was on Fleming gravelly sand which had a greater capacity to adsorb phosphorus than did the deep yellow sand (Gibson sand) used in the other experiment. Dry matter or seed yield of subterranean clover and phosphorus content of dry herbage or seed were used as indicators of the effectiveness of the phosphorus treatments. Compared with topdressed superphosphate, incorporation of superphosphate did not greatly influence its effectiveness on the Gibson soil, but reduced its effectiveness by about 20% on the Fleming soil. Relative to topdressed rock phosphate, incorporation of rock phosphate almost doubled its effectiveness on the Fleming soil, and improved its effectiveness by about 1.5 times on the Gibson soil. Superphosphate was the more effective fertiliser. Relative to topdressed superphosphate, the effectiveness of topdressed and incorporated Duchess rock phosphate, respectively, was about 15 and 30% on the Fleming soil, and about 25 and 40% on the Gibson soil. There was no evidence of any leaching of phosphorus from Duchess rock phosphate from the 0-10 cm layer of either soil, nor of superphosphate on the Fleming soil. However, on the Gibson soil, there was some leaching of superphosphate to below 10cm, but not below 20 cm.

Granular reactive apatite rock phosphate is not an effective phosphorus fertilizer in the short term on lateritic soils in south-western Australia.

1986 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 217 ◽  
Author(s):  
MDA Bolland ◽  
AJ Weatherley ◽  
RJ Gilkes ◽  
JW Bowden
Keyword(s):  
Western Australia ◽  
Rock Phosphate ◽  
Field Experiments ◽  
Maximum Yield ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Phosphate Fertilizer ◽  
Carbonate Apatite ◽  
Rock Phosphates ◽  
Fertilizer Effectiveness ◽  
Eastern Australia

The effectiveness, as a phosphate fertilizer, of granular reactive rock phosphate (carbonate substituted apatite from North Carolina, U.S.A.), granular triple superphosphate and partly powdered Duchess non-reactive rock phosphate (low carbonate apatite from north-eastern Australia) was compared in three field experiments on different soil types in different climatic regions of south-western Australia. Calciphos (finely ground calcined crandallite rock phosphate from Christmas Island) was included in one experiment. The rock phosphates were incorporated into the soil and their effectiveness was compared with both topdressed and incorporated superphosphate. Different species were grown at each site (barley, triticale and subterranean clover). As determined on the basis of relative amounts of fertilizer required for constant yield, the effectiveness of all the rock phosphates relative to incorporated superphosphate was very low at each site throughout the growth of each species. Fertilizer effectiveness of rock phosphates was about one-fifth that of superphosphate for barley, and one-tenth for triticale and clover. The maximum yield obtained from rock phosphate was generally 88-100% that obtained from superphosphate. Incorporation did not greatly affect the effectiveness of superphosphate.

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