Influence of Phosphorus Fertilizer Application on Available Phosphorus and Easy-loss Phosphorus Content in Red Soil

[Objective] This study was to investigate the influence of phosphorus （P） fertilizer application on available P and easy-loss P content in red soil under aerobic incubating condition, with the aim to provide theoretical basis for the management of elemental P and evaluation of elemental P loss potential. [Method] Totally six treat- ments were set to the soil samples. The Olsen-P, Bray-1 P and CaCl2-P contents of each soil sample were measured after indoor aerobic incubation. [Result] In the red soil of different P fertilizer application rates, the Olsen-P content decreased with the increasing of incubation time, while the content of Bray-1 P increased and CaCI2-P content was first increased then decreased. CaCl2-P content was linear correlated with Olsen-P content and Bray-1 P content. About 62% P fertilizers were transformed into Bray-1 P pool, and 14% into Olsen-P pool, but only 0.12% transformed into CaCl2-P pool. [Conclusion] There is little risk of P loss caused by P fertilizer application under aerobic condition, but it would increase with the increasing application dose, and the most serious time is the primeval period after P fertilizer application.

Combining field data and modeling to better understand maize growth response to phosphorus(P) fertilizer application and soil P dynamics in calcareous soils

We used field experimental data to evaluate the ability of the agricultural production system model (APSIM) to simulate soil P availability,maize biomass and grain yield in response to P fertilizer applications on a fluvo-aquic soil in the North China Plain.Crop and soil data from a 2-year experiment with three P fertilizer application rates(0,75 and 300 kg P_(2)O_(5) ha^(–1)) were used to calibrate the model.Sensitivity analysis was carried out to investigate the influence of APSIM SoilP parameters on the simulated P availability in soil and maize growth.Crop and soil P parameters were then derived by matching or relating the simulation results to observed crop biomass,yield,P uptake and Olsen-P in soil.The re-parameterized model was further validated against 2 years of independent data at the same sites.The re-parameterized model enabled good simulation of the maize leaf area index (LAI),biomass,grain yield,P uptake,and grain P content in response to different levels of P additions against both the calibration and validation datasets.Our results showed that APSIM needs to be re-parameterized for simulation of maize LAI dynamics through modification of leaf size curve and a reduction in the rate of leaf senescence for modern staygreen maize cultivars in China.The P concentration limits (maximum and minimum P concentrations in organs)at different stages also need to be adjusted.Our results further showed a curvilinear relationship between the measured Olsen-P concentration and simulated labile P content,which could facilitate the initialization of APSIM P pools in the NCP with Olsen-P measurements in future studies.It remains difficult to parameterize the APSIM SoilP module due to the conceptual nature of the pools and simplified conceptualization of key P transformation processes.A fundamental understanding still needs to be developed for modelling and predicting the fate of applied P fertilizers in soils with contrasting physical and chemical characteristics.

Phosphorus fertilizer induced changes in the soil available P,the P nutrition and the growth of Pinus radiata seedlings grown in association with understory

A study was carried out to investigate changes in the soil plant-available P,the P nutrition and the growth of Pinus radiata seedlings grown in association with understory,broom（Cytisus scoparius L.） or ryegrass（Lolium multiflorum） on Orthic Allophanic Soil,following the application of three rates of triple superphosphate（TSP）（0,50,and 100 mg·kg^-1P） under a glasshouse condition.The application of P fertilizer enhanced P availability in the rhizospheric of radiata seedlings and the bulk soils in a P-deficient site.P availability in the rhizospheric soils of ryegrass and broom,grown in association with radiata,were also increased by the presence of radiata roots.P concentrations in new shoot needles,old shoot needles,stem and roots of radiata pine increased with increase rates of TSP application,but the effects of ryegrass and broom on P nutrition of radiata seedlings depended on the soil P status.In the absence of P fertilizer addition（control treatment）,P concentrations in new shoot needles,old shoot needles,stem,and roots of radiata grown in association with broom were higher than those with ryegrass,whereas,when P fertilizer was added（50 and 100 mg·kg^-1） the P concentration was lower.This is probably related to the growth of broom that may have removed much of the plant-available P in the soil as indicated by the consistently lower Bray-2 P concentration in the rhizosphere soil of radiata in association with broom than that in the rhizosphere soil of radiata in association with grass at the two high P rates.Furthermore,in the high P fertile soil（application rate of 100 mg·kg^-1）,the dry matter yield of radiata was lower when it was grown with broom than with ryegrass.This result suggests that in moderate to high P fertile soils,P.radiata seedlings grow better with ryegrass than with broom,because broom grows vigorously in high P fertile soil and competes with P.radiata for P and perhaps for other nutrients as well.

Evaluation of Available Phosphorus by Soil Test Methods in an Acidic Soil Incubated with Different Levels of Lime and Phosphorus

An incubation study was conducted in laboratory to determine the effect of lime (L) as CaCO3 and phosphorus (P) as TSP on soil pH and available soil P in an acid soil. Four rates of L equivalent to 0, 1, 2 and 3 ton CaCO3 ha-1 and four rates of P equivalent to 0, 25, 50 and 75 mg P kg-1 were applied in combinations as treatments. The soil was incubated at field capacity for 8 weeks (wk) after which they were extracted using NaHCO3 (Olsen), Mehlich-3, Kelowna and Bray & Kurtz-1 extractants and soil pH was determined. Lime significantly (P < 0.001) increased soil pH. Phosphorus decreased it, though not significantly. Both L and P had significant effects (P < 0.001) on P availability irrespective of extractants used. Two ton CaCO3 plus 75 mg P kg-1 gave the highest available phosphorus. Mehlich-3 method extracted the largest amount of P (14.54 - 67.35 mg·kg-1) while Olsen extracted the smallest amount (3.25 - 32.77 mg·kg-1). The mean extractable P in soils was found to be in the order of Olsen 2 = 0.87 to 0.95).

Effects of Long-term Located Fertilization on Evolution of Available Phosphorus and Phosphorus Pool in Shandong Fluvo-aquic Soil

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of long-term located fertilization on soil phosphorus,the changes of soil available phosphorus(OlsenP),the evolution of soil total phosphorus(TP)and the ratio change of Olsen-P to TP(PAC)by 33-year fertilization experiments in winter wheat-summer maize rotation system in Shandong fluvo-aquic soil.Eight treatments were designed as no fertilization(CK),nitrogen fertilizer(N),nitrogen and phosphate fertilizer(NP),nitrogen and potassium fertilizer(NK),phosphate and potassium fertilizer(PK),nitrogen-phosphate-potassium fertilizer(NPK),reduced NPK fertilizer(N(15)PK),and increased NPK fertilizer(N_(25)PK).Meanwhile,eight organic fertilizer-added treatments were designed based on the application of inorganic fertilizer the same as the above ones.The results showed that TP,Olsen-P and PAC of treatments added with organic fertilizer were higher than those without organic fertilizer,and those of the treatments applied with phosphate fertilizer were higher than those of no phosphate fertilizer.With the increase of years,soil P pool decreased due to crop absorption,nutrient loss and morphological transformation and other causes under the treatments of without and only phosphate fertilizer,while remained stable under the treatments added with organic fertilizer.The PAC values were generally lower in fluvo-aquic soil,and it could be improved by the application of organic fertilizer.On the whole,the application of chemical phosphate fertilizer combined with organic fertilizer could improve the phosphorus content in soil and ensure the supply of phosphorus nutrition.This study would provide scientific basis for fertilization management and soil fertility in fluvo-aquic soil.

Effects of Tillage Methods on Soil Available Phosphorus and Available Potassium in the Loess Plateau

In order to find out the effects of long-term no-tillage operation on soil available phosphorus and available potassium in the loess plateau, a suitable high-yield and high-efficiency tillage technology system was established. In the Changwu loess plateau agri-ecological experiment station of the Northwest A&F University of Changwu County, Shaanxi Province, the no-tillage experimental field for three consecutive years was selected. In September 2015, no-tillage, tillage, and rotary tillage were carried out before winter wheat was sowed. After the harvest of winter wheat in 2016, the contents of available phosphorus and available potassium in 0-30 cm soil layer under three tillage methods were analyzed. The results showed that in the 0-30 cm soil layer, the soil available phosphorus and available potassium decreased with the increase of the soil depth in the three tillage methods. The content of available phosphorus and available potassium in 10-20 cm soil layer and 20-30 cm soil layer decreased by 16.07%, 32.74%, 15.54% and 27.08%, respectively, and there were significant differences ( P <0.05). Under different tillage methods, the soil available phosphorus content in the 0-10 cm soil layer significantly reduced by 11.31% compared with no-tillage. The soil available potassium content under tillage and rotary tillage significantly reduced by 6.16% and 4.97%, respectively ( P <0.05). Compared with no-tillage, the soil available phosphorus content in the 20-30 cm soil layer significantly reduced by 18.12%. The soil available potassium content under tillage and rotary tillage methods significantly reduced by 17.17% and 9.22%, respectively ( P <0.05). Therefore, in the long-term no-tillage dry loess plateau, it is necessary to conduct proper tillage or rotary tillage.

Effects of freeze-thaw on soil nitrogen and phosphorus availability at the Keerqin Sandy Lands,China

A laboratory simulated freeze-thaw was conducted to determine the effects of freeze-thaw on soil nutrient availability in temperate semi-arid regions. Soil samples were collected from sandy soils （0-20 cm） of three typical ecosystems （grassland, Mongolian pine plantation and poplar plantation） in southeastern Keerqin Sandy Lands of China and subjected to freeze-thaw treatment （-12℃ for 10 days, then r 20℃ for 10 days） or incubated at constant temperature （20℃ for 20 days）. Concentrations of the soil NO3^--N, NH4^＋-N, NaHCO3 extractable inorganic P （LPi） and microbial biomass P （MBP） were determined on three occasions： at the start of the incubation, immediate post-thawing and at the 10th day post-thawing. The results showed that soil net nitrification and N mineralization rates at three sites were negatively affected by freeze-thaw treatment, and decreased by 50%-85% as compared to the control, of which the greatest decline occurred in the soil collected from poplar plantation. In contrast, the concentration of soil NH4^＋-N, NaHCO3 extractable inorganic P （LPi） and microbial biomass P were insignificantly influenced by freeze-thaw except that LPi and NH4^＋-N showed a slight increase immediate post-thawing. The effects of freeze-thaw on soil N transformation were related to soil biological processes and the relatively constant available P was ascribed to severe soil aridity.

Soil phosphorus fractions and their availability over natural succession from clear-cut of a mixed broadleaved and Korean pine forest in northeast China

To assess phosphorus(P)status of forest soil under naturally restored vegetation,P fractions in the 10-cm soil layer were quantified at different successional stages on the clear-cut site of mixed broadleaved and Korean pine forest.Four communities of shrub,softwood broad-leaved forest,softwood and hardwood broad-leaved forest,and hardwood broad-leaved forest represented different successional stages.A soil sample from a primary broad-leaved and Korean pine stand was the control.A sequential P fractionation scheme extracted empirically defined pools of P and path analysis used to partition the direct and indirect contribution of soil P fractions to available P.The results show that available P increased significantly with long-term succession,while both sodium bicarbonate-extractable P(NaHCO_(3)-P)and sodium hydroxide-extractable P(NaOHP)fractions were reduced in early successional stages and increased in late stages.Compared to the primary forest,concentrations of P fractions in the four stages significantly decreased except for HCl-P,indicating that soil P supplements over the long-term did not return to primary forest levels.The results of related analysis also showed that NaHCO_(3)-P_(i)levels were significantly related to available phosphorus.According to the path analysis coefficient,NaHCO_(3)-P_(i)exhibited the highest effect on available P among eight P fractions;the indirect effects of other P fractions via NaHCO_(3)-P_(i)were larger than those with other P fractions.Overall,this study suggests that soil P bioavailability gradually improved during natural vegetation restoration on clear-cut sites mainly through the increase of NaHCO_(3)-P,where phosphorous is immediately available,and subsequently available phosphorus Na OH-P.

Isolation, Identification and Phosphate Solubilizing Capacity of Organophosphorus Solubilizing Bacteria in Rhizosphere Soil of Camellia oleifera

In order to obtain high-efficiency organophosphorus solubilizing bacteria, 21 strains of organophosphate solubilizing bacteria were isolated from the rhizosphere soil of Camellia oleifera plants, and the transparent circle method was used for rescreening. Only 4 strains of bacteria could form transparent circle on organophosphorus medium. The D/d value of 4 strains of bacteria was between 1.62 and 2.71, among which the D/d value of strain Y6 was the highest(2.71). The available phosphorus content of the fermentation supernatant was 8.50~14.79 mg/L, which was 7.88~14.17 mg/L higher than that of CK. The strain Y6 had the highest soluble phosphorus content of 14.79 mg/L in the fermentation supernatant, which was 14.17 mg/L higher than that of CK. According to the colony morphology, physiological and biochemical characteristics and 16S rDNA sequence analysis of strain Y6, it is preliminarily determined that strain Y6 is Pseudomonas. Strain Y6 is beneficial to improve the supply of phosphorus in rhizosphere soil of Camellia oleifera and promote the growth of Camellia oleifera. It has great potential in the development of bio-organic fertilizer.

AVAILABILITY OF PHOSPHORUS FROM SELECTED INORGANIC PHOSPHATES TO JUVENILE ABALONE,HALIOTIS DISCUS HANNAI INO.

The availability of phosphorus to juvenile abalone, Haliotis discus hannai from primary, secondary and tertiary calcium phosphate, primary sodium or potassium phosphate separately or in combination was determined in a 120-day feeding trial. Seven semi-purified diets were formulated to contain relatively constant dietary phosphorus, ranging from 0.78%-0.82%. The concentrations of dietary phosphorus were presumed to be slightly below the requirement for abalone. A brown alga, Laminaria japonica, was used as a control diet. Abalone juveniles of similar size (average weight 1.18 g; average shell length 18.74 mm) were distributed in a single-pass, flow-through system using a completely randomized design with eight treatments and three replicates each treatment. The survival ranged from 71.1% to 81.1%, and was not significantly (P>0.05) related to dietary treatment. However, the weight gain rate (41.72%-65.02%), daily increment in shell length (36.87-55.07 μm) and muscle RNA-DNA ratio (3.44-4.69) were significantly (P<0.05) affected by dietary treatment. Soft body alkaline phosphatase activity (10.9-19.8 U/g wet tissue) and carcass levels of lipid (7.71%-9.33%) and protein (46.68%-49.35%) were significantly (P<0.05) responsive to available phosphorus of the diets. Dietary treatment had significant effect (P<0.05) on concentrations of phosphorus in the whole body (WB) and soft body (SB). Apparent digestibility coefficients (45%-97%) of phosphorus were also significantly (P<0.05) different between dietary treatments. The results indicated that among these inorganic compounds, primary calcium, potassium and sodium phosphates separately or in combination could be utilized effectively by juvenile abalone as dietary phosphorus sources (availability ranging from 87%-97%). However, secondary and tertiary calcium phosphates were found to be low in availability, the values being 45% and 77%, respectively.

Liming reduces soil phosphorus availability but promotes yield and P uptake in a double rice cropping system

Liming is often applied to alleviate soil acidification and increase crop yield on acidic soils,but its effect on soil phosphorus(P)availability is unclear,particularly in rice paddies.The objective of this study was to examine the effect of liming on rice production,yield and P uptake in a three-year field experiment in a double rice cropping system in subtropical China.We also conducted an incubation experiment to investigate the direct effect of liming on soil available P and phosphatase activities on paddy soils in the absence of plants.In the incubation experiment,liming reduced soil P availability(measured as Olsenextractable P)by 14–17%and inhibited the activity of soil acid phosphatase.Nonetheless,lime application increased grain yield,biomass,and P uptake in the field.Liming increased grain yield and P uptake more strongly for late rice(26 and 21%,respectively)than for early rice(15 and 8%,respectively).Liming reduced the concentration of soil available P in the field as well,reflecting the increase in rice P uptake and the direct negative effect of liming on soil P availability.Taken together,these results suggest that by stimulating rice growth,liming can overcome direct negative effects on soil P availability and increase plant P uptake in this acidic paddy soil where P is not the limiting factor.

Phosphorus availability in two soils amended with poultry litter

Understanding P transformation in soils amended with poultry litter is important if water quality is to be protected.Our objectives were to determine the influence of method of litter application and temperature on P availability. Poultry litter containing 20. 8g P/kg (dry weight) was either surface-applied or incorporated into Captina (fine-silty, siliceous, mesic Typic Fragiudult) and Nixa (loamy-skeletal,siliceous,Glossic Fragiudult) silt loams at rates of 0 or 10g/kg and incubated at 20℃ or 35℃ at a water potential of -40 kpa. Water soluble and available P (0.03 mol/L NH4F+0. 025mol/L HCl extraction) were determined during a 60d laboratory study. Results indicated that water soluble and available P levels in the soils initially decreased, then rapidly increased,and approached a steady state phase after approximately 20d. After 60d, water soluble P levels were significantly higher when litter was surface applied than when litter was incor porated. When the incubation was terminated, the net increase in available P in both soils was>100 mg P/kg.For efficient recycling of P and protection of water quality, application method and temperature should be considered when amending soils with poultry litter,

Variation in Speciation and Availability of Phosphorus in Paddy Soil

There is a global concern about the depletion in phosphorus (P) resources in the near future. Some attempts for effective reuse of P, including recovery from municipal wastes, have been conducted. However, a strong sorption of P onto some minerals may result in low P availability for crops. Therefore, it is necessary to understand the speciation of the chemical forms of P and to elucidate the relationships between P availability and chemical forms of P in soil. This study focuses on the variation in P speciation and the chemical forms of available P in a paddy soil. Incubation experiments with/without drainage, simulating the situation in a paddy field, were performed at a laboratory scale to evaluate the variation in speciation and P availability in soil. The speciation of P was analyzed according to Wilson’s sequential extraction method and measured using Bray No. 2 and Truog methods. Two kinds of chemical forms, i.e. , Fe and Mn (oxy)hydroxides (Fe-Mn-P) and organic and biogenic P (Org-P) were predominant in the soil, and they were easily interconverted by changing soil redox conditions. Available P using the Bray No. 2 method was increased in 21 days owing to the anaerobic condition;thereafter, it reached a constant value by the end of both the incubation experiments. However, a drastic decrease was detected in available P, using Truog-P. It occurred owing to the drying of soil, which suggested that some chemical form(s) of P other than Truog-P might be generated. A comparison between the concentrations of available P and that of each chemical form showed that available P included some Org-P, which might be less absorbed by plants compared to the exchangeable and pore water fraction (Ex-P) and Fe-Mn-P. We conclude that anaerobic soil conditions play an important role in the efficient consumption of P.

Phosphorus Availability, Uptake and Dry Matter Yield of Indian Spinach (<i>Basella alba</i>L.) to Lime and Phosphorus Fertilization in an Acidic Soil

A pot experiment was carried out to investigate the yield of Indian spinach (Basella alba L.) and their uptake and availability of phosphorus from lime and phosphorus amended acidic soil. Four rates of lime (L) equivalent to 0, 500, 1000 and 2000 kg CaCO3 ha-1 and four rates of phosphorus (P) equivalent to 0, 50, 100, and 150 kg·P·ha-1 of TSP were applied in combinations as treatments. Dry matter yield, P concentrations in shoot and root and P uptake by Indian spinach were determined after harvesting 10 weeks old plant and soil samples were collected from each pot to measure available P by Olsen method. Both L and P and their combinations had significant (P 0.001) effects on shoot and root biomass, shoot and root P concentrations, P uptake by Indian spinach and P availability. Although lime and P increased biomass production, P concentrations of shoot and root, and its uptake by Indian spinach and available P, this effect was boosted by combining L with P applied. 1000 kg lime plus 100 kg P were adequate for plant growth. Available P was strongly and positively correlated (R2 = 0.909, P = 0.000) with P uptake by plant. Results of the present study indicated that lime and phosphorus could be used in combination to enhance plant growth.

Effect of long-term fertilization on phosphorus fractions in different soil layers and their quantitative relationships with soil properties

Investigating the dynamics and distribution of soil phosphorus(P) fractions can provide a basis for enhancing P utilization by crops. Four treatments from a 29-year long-term experiment in black soil with maize cropping were involved in this study: no fertilizer(CK), inorganic nitrogen and potassium(NK), inorganic nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium(NPK), and NPK plus manure(NPKM). We analyzed soil P fractions in different soil layers using a modified Hedley sequential method. The long-term NPKM treatment significantly increased total P by 0.6–1.6 times in the different soil layers. The Olsen-P concentration far exceeded the environmental threshold for soil Olsen-P(50.6 mg kg) in the NPKM treatment in the 0–60 cm soil profile. Moreover, the concentrations and proportion of labile and partially labile inorganic P(Pi) fractions(i.e., Na HCO-extracted Pi, Na OH-extracted Pi, and dilute HClextracted Pi) to the sum of all P fractions(Pt) in the 0–60 cm soil profile were higher in the NPKM treatment than in the NPK treatment, indicating that manure could promote the transformation of non-labile into more labile forms of P in soil, possibly by manure reducing P fixation by soil particles. Soil organic matter, Mehlich-3 extractable iron(Fe), and organic-bound aluminum were increased by fertilization, and were the main factors influencing the differences in the P fractions in the 0–20 cm soil layer. Soil mineral components, i.e., free Fe oxide and Ca CO, were the main factors influencing the P fractions in the subsoil. The soil P transformation process varied with soil layer and fertilization. Application of manure fertilizer can increase the labile(Olsen) P concentrations of the various soil layers, and thus should reduce the mineral P fertilizer requirement for crop growth and reduce potential environmental damage.

Evaluation of phosphorus and nitrogen balances as an indicator for the impact of agriculture on environment: A comparison of a case study from Poland and Mississippi US

The objective of this research was to quantify the changes of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) balances in Poland and Mississippi (MS), USA. Nutrient balances were calculated as difference between input and output in the agricultural system according to Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) methodology. A positive nutrient balance means that a potential environmental problem may result from that nutrient;a negative nutrient balance means there is a potential yield loss. The N and P soil surface balances for Poland and MS were calculated for the year 1998 through 2008. The results showed that both MS and Poland had positive N and P balances, indicating that there was a surplus of N and P. The average balance for N was 48 kg·ha-1 in Poland and 102 kg·ha-1 in MS. For P, it was 3 kg·ha-1 in Poland and 19 kg P kg·ha-1 in MS per cultivated area. This research demonstrated that the nutrient balance of N or P depended on the efficient use of each nutrient and type and source of fertilizer used. This research is significant for N and P fertilizer management and their impact on agriculture production and environment health.

Impact of MgCl₂Modified Biochar on Phosphorus and Nitrogen Fractions in Coastal Saline Soil

Biochar application is claimed to improve nutrient availability in many problem soils;however, pristine biochars are often reported to produce inconsistent results. Therefore, appropriate biochar modification techniques are required to retain soil nutrients at an optimum level. To increase Nitrogen (N) and Phosphorus (P) availability in coastal saline soil, two slow pyrolyzed biochars viz domestic organic waste (DWB) and farmyard manure (FMB) were modified with MgCl2. Ten different treatments comprising the biochars (pristine and modified) with and without the recommended fertilizer were applied (2% w/w) to the soil and incubated for ninety days. The soils were analyzed for pH, EC, available , and different phosphorus fractions sequentially extracted by NH4Cl, NaHCO3, NaOH, and HCl. During the incubation period, biochar treatments increased all phosphorus and nitrogen fractions than the control and recommended fertilizer treatment. The application of FMB significantly (p < 0.05) increased NH4Cl, NaHCO3, and NaOH extractable P fractions from DWB, while HCl soluble fraction was enhanced (p > 0.05) by DWB. The increased Al and/or Fe bound phosphate after 60 days of incubation had significant correlations to decreasing soil pH and NaHCO3-P, indicating reduced availability with time. Further Mg modification slightly increased P availability only after 60 days of incubation. The modification also improved both nitrogen fractions but significantly (p < 0.05) increased the NO3-N content which could be the result of electrostatic attraction between Mg2+ and ions. Overall, Mg-modified biochar may retain both phosphates and nitrates in soil. However, the magnitude of retention will vary depending on biochar type, nutrient species, and aging in soil.

Application of a Soil Nutrient Measuring Instrument in Vegetable Seedling Substrate

[Objective] The aim was to find an efficient method to measure available nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium content in vegetable seedling substrate. [ Method] The suitable dosage of leaching agent, ratio of the substrate to water and leaching time for the detection of nutrient contents in the substrate by a soil nutrient measuring instrument were discussed firstly, and then the results of nutrient contents measured by the soil nutrient measuring instrument were compared with that by conventional approaches. [ Result] In compadson with the conventional methods, the av- erage content of available nitrogen measured by the soil nutrient measuring instrument was slightly higher, while the average content of available phosphorus measured by the instrument was lower; the average content of available potassium measured by the instrument was close to that by the conventional method. [ Conclusion] This study could provide us a new method to detect available nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium content in seedling substrate efficiently.

Critical Soil Phosphorus Values for Yield Reduction in Intensive Agricultural Systems

Phosphorus(P)is an essential element for agricultural production.Over-fertilization during decades caused an accumulation of P in soils leading to eutrophication in regions characterized by intensive agriculture.These environmental concerns together with the non-renewability of P resources have led to a more sustainable P use.Knowledge about the P need of crops is essential for a sustainable agriculture thereby minimizing P losses to the environment without lowering the yield substantially.Therefore,in this study,critical soil P values for yield reduction(PCrit)were determined based on fertilizer trials conducted between 1970 and 1988 and more recent fertilizer trials(2016-2017).At rotational level a common PCrit value of 109 mg P/kg dry soil(in an ammonium lactate and acetate extract)was determined.Crop specific PCrit values were also determined for seven crops(potato,winter wheat,barley,rye,maize,sugar beet and temporary grassland).These critical values ranged from 59 mg P/kg dry soil to 164 mg P/kg dry soil with winter wheat the least and maize the most sensitive towards P deficiency.The diversity in PCrit values among crops can mainly be explained by the root intensity but also rooting depth,exudation of organic acids and phosphatases may influence the PCrit value.The soil pH also influenced the P availability significantly.Soils with a favorable pH had a significantly higher availability(i.e.,lower PCrit value)for all crops compared to soils with a suboptimal pH.Critical soil P values might help to set up new or to evaluate current soil P in target zones used for P fertilizer recommendations.

Positive effects of biochar application and Rhizophagus irregularis inoculation on mycorrhizal colonization,rice seedlings and phosphorus cycling in paddy soils

Phosphorus(P)is an essential element for plant growth but is often limiting in ecosystems;therefore,improving the P fertilizer use efficiency is important.Biochar and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi(AMF)may enhance P cycling in paddy soils that contain high content of total P but low content of available P(AP).In this study,the effects of biochar addition and Rhizophagus irregularis inoculation on the organic and inorganic P contents and phosphatase activities in paddy soils,rice seedling growth,and AMF colonization were investigated.Compared with no biochar addition,biochar addition enhanced the percentage of spore germination at day 7,hyphal length,most probable number,and mycorrhizal colonization rate of R.irregularis by 32%,662%,70%,and 28%on average,respectively.Biochar and R.irregularis altered soil P cycling and availability.Biochar and R.irregularis,either individually or in combination,increased soil AP content by 2%–48%.Rice seedlings treated with biochar and R.irregularis produced greater biomass,improved root morphology,and increased nutrient uptake compared with those of the control without biochar and R.irregularis.The results suggest that combined application of biochar and R.irregularis is beneficial to rice cultivation in paddy soils with high content of total P but low content of AP.