The fate of fertiliser P in soil under pasture and uptake by subterraneum clover: a field study using ³³P-labelled single superphosphate

Title
The fate of fertiliser P in soil under pasture and uptake by subterraneum clover: a field study using ³³P-labelled single superphosphate
Publication Date
2016
Author(s)
McLaren, Timothy
McLaughlin, Michael J
McBeath, Therese M
Simpson, Richard J
Smernik, Ronald J
Guppy, Christopher
( author )
OrcID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7274-607X
Email: cguppy@une.edu.au
UNE Id une-id:cguppy
Richardson, Alan E
Type of document
Journal Article
Language
en
Entity Type
Publication
Publisher
Springer Netherlands
Place of publication
Netherlands
DOI
10.1007/s11104-015-2610-6
UNE publication id
une:19895
Abstract
Background and aims: Single superphosphate (SSP) is a major source of phosphorus (P) used in grazing systems to improve pasture production. The aim of this experiment was to determine the fate of fertiliser P in clover pastures under field conditions. Methods: A procedure was developed to radiolabel SSP granules with a ³³P radiotracer, which was then applied to the soil surface (equivalent to ~12 kg P ha‾¹) of a clover pasture. Recovery of fertiliser P was determined in clover shoots, fertiliser granules and soil fractions (surface layer: 0-4 cm and sub-surface layer: 4-8cm). Results: The P diffusion patterns of the ³³P-labelled SSP granules were not significantly different to those of commercial SSP granules (P > 0.05). Recovery of fertiliser P in clover shoots was 30-35 %. A considerable proportion of the fertiliser P (~28 %) was recovered in the surface soil layer and was largely inorganic P. Conclusions: Recovery of fertiliser P by clover plants was up to 35 % in the year of application. Much of the fertiliser P in soil fractions was inorganic P, which highlights the importance of inorganic P forms and dynamics in soils under clover pasture on a single season timeframe at these sites.
Link
Citation
Plant and Soil, 401(1-2), p. 23-38
ISSN
1573-5036
0032-079X
Start page
23
End page
38

Files:

NameSizeformatDescriptionLink