Crop Yields and Soil Phosphorus Lability under Soluble and Humic‐Complexed Phosphate Fertilizers

Abstract

Phosphorus is one of the most limiting nutrients for plants in weathered tropical soils. To overcome this constraint, the use of humic‐complexed phosphate fertilizer may be considered as one alternative, which would reduce P fixation and increase its bioavailability. This study aimed to determine the crop yield response and soil P lability changes after five crop cycles under humic‐complexed and non‐humic‐complexed superphosphate cumulative applications. The field experiment was conducted for 4 yr (2010–2013) in Tibagi, Brazil, in a Typic Hapludox, arranged in a randomized block design with two P sources; single superphosphate (SSP) and complexed single superphosphate (CSSP); and five cumulative dosages (0, 48, 96, 144, and 192 kg P ha−1), divided over five consecutive crops: maize (Zea mays L.), wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.], white oat (Avena sativa L.), and soybean. Grain yield was determined for each crop and soil samples were collected after the fifth harvest for Hedley P fractionation. Our results demonstrated that cumulative grain yield increased in line with the P dosage, however, higher agronomic efficiency was also observed at intermediate P dosages, when CSSP was used. Labile soil P was more influenced by the application of CSSP than SSP. Moreover, higher cumulative P dosages also increased labile and non‐labile P, mainly in the 0‐ to 5‐cm layer, indicating an intensive P pool reallocation in the surface soil layer. The study demonstrated that humic‐complexed phosphate fertilizer can enhance soil P availability and improve crop grain yield in commercial field conditions.Core Ideas Phosphate fertilizers efficiency in cropping system. Residual effects of phosphate sources in tropical weathered soils. Organic complexed fertilizers can be more efficient in plant P supply. Soil labile P is affected by clay content and its adsorption capacity.

Agronomic efficiency of organomineral fertilizer in sequential grain crops in southern Brazil

“…However, there is no consensus on whether this mechanism -attributed to the organic fraction of the organomineral fertilizer-is effective or not in increasing the efficiency of nutrient use of the mineral fraction of such mixed fertilizer, as in some cases, there is no increase in fertilizer efficiency (Chagas, Guelfi, Emrich, Silva, & Faquin, 2016;Chien et al, 2014;Frazão et al, 2019). Conversely, there are small increases in fertilizer efficiency in other cases (Herrera et al, 2016;Hopkins, Fernelius, Hansen, & Eggett, 2018). When compared with the response of mineral fertilizers, the crop response to organomineral fertilizers is quite variable; according to the literature, there are gains (Deeks et al, 2013;Frazão et al, 2019), losses (Antille et al, 2017;Frazão et al, 2019), or equivalent efficiency (Corrêa et al, 2018).…”

Organic, mineral and organomineral fertilizer in the growth of wheat and chemical changes of the soil

“…However, the type of fertilizer may alter the initial development of the plants, since organic fertilizers need to be mineralized for the release of nutrients (Antille et al, 2014b). Regarding cultivated species, among them wheat (Triticum aestivum), the nutrient supply is predominantly done in the form of mineral fertilization, which stands out for the high concentration and solubility (Herrera et al, 2016).…”

Enhancement of maize plant growth with inoculation of phosphate-solubilizing bacteria and biochar amendment in soil

“…Hence, application of chemical fertilizer-P may be used efficiently to overcome yield gaps. But the application of fertilizer-P demands high cost as most of the P makes a complex with calcium (Ca), aluminum (Al), and iron (Fe) which make it unavailable for plant uptake (Herrera et al 2016). In undisturbed natural soil, a considerable amount of P (400-1200 mg kg −1 ) is present (Rodríguez and Fraga 1999).…”