Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/63389
Title: Starter phosphorus reduces the critical external phosphorus requirements of two tropical pasture legumes
Contributor(s): Mclachlan, Jonathan W  (author)orcid ; Flavel, Richard  (author)orcid ; Guppy, Christopher  (author)orcid 
Publication Date: 2024-10
Open Access: Yes
Handle Link: https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/63389
Open Access Link: https://www.agronomyaustraliaproceedings.org/images/sampledata/2024/2024ASAmclachlan_jonathan_1-97-839-McLachlan-Jonathan.pdfOpen Access Link
Abstract: 

Tropical pasture legumes are expected to improve pasture productivity and forage quality in the extensive grazing systems of northern Australia. However, highly productive C4 grasses often outcompete these legumes, particularly in nutrient-deficient soils. A controlled-environment experiment was conducted to investigate the benefit of starter phosphorus (P) for tropical legume growth across a range of soil P supplies. A low-P soil was amended with basal nutrients and six rates of P fertiliser (0–80 mg P kg–1 , as KH2PO4 in the basal solution). The amended soils were then incubated for five weeks to prepare contrasting ‘native’ P treatments. Following incubation, micro-swards of Centro and Desmanthus were established in the six native P treatments, with or without an application of starter P fertiliser (6 kg P ha–1 equivalent, as KH2PO4 solution). The seed and starter P were applied together in a shallow row. The shoot yield and tissue P concentrations of both legumes increased in response to native P supply. The application of starter fertilizer generally increased shoot yields and reduced the critical external P requirements of both legumes (by 38% for Centro and 74% for Desmanthus). It is likely that the localised application of P fertiliser enabled the legumes to develop more root length so that the soil volume could be explored earlier. This would benefit early legume growth and establishment. These results suggest that starter P applications are likely appropriate for tropical pasture legumes, even in soils that have moderate levels of native P.

Publication Type: Conference Publication
Conference Details: AAC2024: Australian Agronomy Conference, Albany, Western Australia, 21st-24th October, 2024
Source of Publication: p. 1-4
Publisher: Australian Society of Agronomy
Place of Publication: Australia
Fields of Research (FoR) 2020: 300407 Crop and pasture nutrition
300403 Agronomy
410604 Soil chemistry and soil carbon sequestration (excl. carbon sequestration science)
Socio-Economic Objective (SEO) 2020: 100505 Sown pastures (excl. lucerne)
Peer Reviewed: Yes
HERDC Category Description: E1 Refereed Scholarly Conference Publication
Publisher/associated links: https://www.agronomyaustraliaproceedings.org/index.php/2024-proceedings
Appears in Collections:Conference Publication
School of Environmental and Rural Science

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