Calcium-Magnesium Ca/Mg Ratios and Their Agronomic Implications for the Optimization of Phosphate Fertilization in Rainfed Rice Farming on Acidic Ferralsol in the Forest Zone of Ivory Coast

This study is a contribution to improving rice productivity on acidic plateau soils of the tropical rainforest zone. It is based on taking into account the cationic balances of the soil in order to optimize the phosphorus (P) nutrition of rice on these acidic soils, where this nutrient constitutes a limiting factor for agricultural production. Three (3) pot trials were conducted in Adiopodoumé in the forested south of Côte d’Ivoire. The interactive effects of calcium carbonate (0, 25, 50 and 75 kg Ca ha−1) and magnesium sulfate (0, 25, 50 and 75 kg Mg ha−1) were evaluated on the response of NERICA 5 rice at doses 0, 25, 50 and 75 kg P ha−1 of natural phosphate from Togo, applied only once at the start of the experiment. Additional fertilizers of nitrogen (N) (100 kg N ha−1) and potassium (K) (50 kg KCl ha−1) were added to each of the tests in a split-plot device. The test results revealed a paddy production potential of approximately 3 to 5 t⋅ha−1 for NERICA 5 on an acidic soil, under the effect of the interaction of P, Ca and Mg. The quadratic response of rice yield to the doses of these fertilizers would be more dependent on their balance, itself influenced by Ca nutrition. For the sustainability and maintenance of rice production in agro-ecology studied, it was recommended doses of 38 kg Ca ha−1, 34 kg Mg ha−1 in a Ca/Mg ratio (1/1) with intakes of 41 kg P ha−1, overall in a ratio 1/1/1 (P/Ca/Mg) more favorable to the availability of free iron considered a guiding element of mineral nutrition. Thus, these promising results should be confirmed in a real environment for better management of the fertilization of rice cultivated on acidic plateau soils in Côte d’Ivoire.

Effects of Nitrogen, Phosphate and Potassium Fertilizers on Soft Rot of Konjac Based on Grey Correlation Analysis

[Objective] The effects of different application amounts of nitrogen, phos-phate and potassium fertilizers on soft rot of konjac were investigated in this study. [Method] The grey correlation analysis was adopted to evaluate the correlation be-tween the application amount of nitrogen, phosphate and potassium fertilizers and the occurrence of soft rot of konjac. [Result] The excessive application of nitrogen fertilizer would induce the occurrence of soft rot of konjac, but the application of potassium fertilizer had a good control effect on soft rot. [Conclusion] The applica-tion amount of nitrogen fertilizer should be control ed reasonably in the planting of konjac, but the application amount of phosphate and potassium fertilizer could be in-creased to some extent, reducing the occurrence of soft rot of konjac.

Study on structural characteristics of pillared clay modified phosphate fertilizers and its increase efficiency mechanism

Three types of new high-efficiency phosphate fertilizers were made when pillared clays at certain proportions were added into ground phosphate rock. Chemical analyses showed that their soluble phosphorus content decreased more than that of superphosphate. Pot experiment showed that, under equal weights, the new fertilizers increased their efficiency by a large margin over that of superphosphate. Researches on their structures by means of XRD, IR and EPR spectrum revealed that their crystal structures changed considerably, improving their activity and preventing the fixation of available phosphorus in the soil, and consequently, greatly improved the bioavailability and became the main cause of the increase of biomass.

Transformation of Phosphate Fertilizers with Different Solubilities in Calcareous Soils

In this research work, the authors, using the recently developed method of fractionating the forms of inorganic phosphorus in calcareous soils, have studied the transformation processes of inorgnic phosphorus in three different phosphate fertilizers, i. e., superphosphate, diammonium phosphate and calcium magnesium phosphate, being commonly used in China, during a period of 3 years after their application to calcareous soils, and based on the experimental results obtained, some problems in current use of phosphate fertilizers are discussed.

Polyphosphate Accelerates Transformation of Nonstructural Carbohydrates to Improve Growth of ppk-Expressing Transgenic Rice in Phosphorus Deficiency Culture

Crop yield and quality are often limited by the amount of phosphate fertilizer added to infertile soils,a key limiting factor for sustainable development in modern agriculture.The polyphosphate kinase(ppk)gene-expressing transgenic rice with a single-copy line(ETRS)is constructed to improve phosphate fertilizer utilization efficiency for phosphorus resource conservation.To investigate the potential mechanisms of the increased biomass in ETRS in low phosphate culture,ETRS was cultivated in a low inorganic phosphate(Pi)culture medium(15μmol/L Pi,LP)and a normal Pi culture medium(300μmol/L Pi,CP),respectively.After 89 d of cultivation in different concentrations of phosphate culture media,the total phosphorus,polyphosphate(polyP),biomass,photosynthetic rate,nonstructural carbohydrate(NSC)contents,related enzyme activities,and related gene expression levels were analyzed.The results showed that ETRS had a high polyP amount to promote the photosynthetic rate in LP,and its biomass was almost the same as the wild type(WT)in CP.The NSC content of ETRS in LP was higher than that of WT in LP,but slightly lower than that of WT in CP.PolyP notably promoted the sucrose phosphate synthase activities of ETRS and significantly down-regulated the expression levels of sucrose transporter genes(OsSUT3 and OsSUT4),resulting in inhibiting the transport of sucrose from shoot to root in ETRS.It was concluded that polyP can stimulate the synthesis of NSCs in LP,which improved the growth of ETRS and triggered the biological activities of ETRS to save phosphate fertilizer.Our study provides a new way to improve the utilization rate of phosphate fertilizer in rice production.

Effects of Phosphate Treatment on Growth Dynamics of Wheat in Wheat/Corn Intercropping System in Southwest Hilly Area

We aimed to investigate the effects of phosphate treatment on growth dynamics of wheat in wheat/corn intercropping system in southwest hil y area. [Method] Five phosphate fertilization levels were designed for wheat and corn respectively to investigate the effects of phosphate fertilization level on wheat/corn intercropping system by field block experiment. [Result] The number of til ers, plant height and yield component of wheat trended to increase with the increase of phos-phate fertilization amount and al reached the peak for phosphate fertilization amount of 135 kg/hm2. However, the number of til ers, plant height and yield component of wheat al decreased significantly with the further increase of phosphate fertilization amount. [Conclusion] Phosphate fertilization contributed to the wheat growth in a certain degree. However, excessive phosphate fertilization would affect final yield.

Total Amount Control Test of Nitrogen Fertilizer and Phosphate Fertilizer on Winter Wheat

[Objective] This study was conducted to optimize the suitable application amounts of nitrogen fertilizer and phosphate fertilizer for winter wheat.[Method] A field experiment was carried out to investigate the effects of the application amounts of nitrogen fertilizer and phosphate fertilizer on the yield of winter wheat.[Result]The quadratic simulation function between the application of nitrogen fertilizer and wheat yield was y =-0.6611x^2＋20.091 x ＋234.85,with a correlation coefficient of0.970 8,and the yield of winter wheat was the highest at the application amount of nitrogen fertilizer of 228.0 kg/hm^2.The quadratic simulation function between the application of phosphate fertilizer and wheat yield was y =-0.572 6x^2＋13.168 x ＋340.4,with a correlation coefficient of 0.921 95,and the yield of winter wheat was the highest at the application amount of phosphate fertilizer of 172.5 kg/hm^2.[Conclusion] This study provides a scientific basis for the rational application of nitrogen fertilizer and phosphate fertilizer on winter wheat.

Modii cation ef ect of calcium-magnesia phosphate fertilizer on microstructure and mechanical properties of Mg_2Si/Mg-4Si composite

In order to modify in-situ synthesized Mg_2Si particles in Mg_2Si/Mg-4Si composite, the modif ication effect of calcium-magnesia phosphate fertilizer on primary Mg_2Si phase in Mg_2Si/Mg-4Si composite was investigated by means of X-ray diffraction(XRD), optical microscopy(OM), scanning electron microscopy(SEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy(EDS) analysis. The results indicate that the morphology of the primary Mg_2Si phase apparently changes from coarse dendrites to f ine dispersive polygonal particles, and the mean size is decreased from 277 μm to 17 μm. With the addition of 4.0wt.% calcium-magnesia phosphate fertilizer as a modif ier, the ultimate tensile strength and elongation of the Mg_2Si/Mg-4Si composite are increased from 78.7 MPa and 2.1% to 105.2 MPa and 2.6%, as compared to those of the base composite, which is probably attributed to the formation of the phosphorous compound and the cluster of Ca compounds that acted as the heterogeneous nucleation substrates of the primary Mg_2Si particles, resulting in a ref ined distribution of these precipitates.

Effects of Phosphate Fertilizer on Cold Tolerance and Its Related Physiological Parameters in Rice Under Low Temperature Stress

The study was designated to explore the physiological mechanism of cold tolerance enhanced by phosphate in rice. An experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of different levels of phosphate fertilizer on cold tolerance and its related physiological parameters in rice seedings （chilling-sensitive cv. Changbai 9 and chilling-tolerant cv. Jijing 81） under low temperature stress. At the same time, the identification of cold tolerance was conducted. Compared with the normal temperature treatment, the relative chlorophyll content, photosynthesis rate, Fv/Fm and qP decreased and index of unsaturated fatty acid increased in rice under low temperature stress. The effect of chilling-sensitive cultivars was more than that of chilling-tolerant cultivars, more phosphorus fertilizer properly improved seedling quality of rice, slowed relative chlorophyll content dropping degree of rice seeding, increased photosynthesis rate, Fv/Fm, qP and index of unsaturated fatty acids, and enhanced the ability to chilling-tolerant cultivars under low temperature. The effect on chilling-tolerant cultivars was significantly higher than that on chilling sensitive cultivars by applying more phosphorus fertilizer. Phosphate regulated photosynthetic physiology and membrane fluidity to reduce injury by low temperature, and increasd the cold tolerance capacity of rice.

The ciliate protozoan Colpoda cucullus can improve maize growth by transporting soil phosphates

Little is known regarding the ability of protozoans to transfer phosphates and improve maize growth.The objective of this study was to determine whether Colpoda cucullus could improve the maize phosphorus(P) level by transferring phosphate.In this three-compartment root box study,the soil in the outer compartment was inoculated with the common ciliate,C.cucullus,together with the addition of either KH_(2)^(32)PO_(4),rock phosphate(RP),super phosphate(SP) or ammonium phosphate(AP),and then maize was grown in the inner compartment.The results showed that the maize plants grown in the soil inoculated with C.cucullus had much higher ^(32)P radioactivity than the control.Colpoda cucullus inoculation resulted in significant increases in dry matter by up to 25.07%,and nitrogen(N),P and potassium(K) absorption by 1–36%(P<0.05).Soil available P in the inner compartment of the root box was also enhanced by at least 30% due to the ciliate inoculation(P<0.05).It was therefore suggested that phosphates might be transported from the outer to inner compartments by the inoculated C.cucullus and then absorbed by the maize plant.

Effects of Phosphate Fertilizer on Yield and Quality of Eleocharis dulcis

The effects of different application levels and species of phosphatic fertilizer on Eleocharis dulcis were studied. The results showed that the growth stage of Eleocharis dulcis was not significantly influenced by different levels of phosphatic fertilizer application, with phosphorus level in 195-375 kg/hm^2. With increasing of the phosphorus level, starch and total soluble sugar accumulated, but the yield was not improved significantly. The analysis on the economic benefits showed that the best phosphorus level was 195 kg/hm^2. The growth stage and yield of Eleocharis dulcis were not considerably influenced by different proportions of calcium-magnesia phosphate fertilizer and ammonium dihydrogen phosphate. With increasing of ammonium dihydrogen phosphate, big-fruit rate of Eleocharis dulcis kept growing, but the accumulations of starch and total soluble sugar were decreasing.

Effect of Fertilizer Diammonium Phosphate on Liver,Kidney and Muscle 5-Nucleotidase Activity of Fresh Water Teleost Fish Clarias batrachus

The toxic effect of fertilizer Diammonium phosphate resulted in alterations of 5'-Nucleotidase activity of tissues liver, kidney and muscles offish C. batrachus at varying intervals and exposures. Alterations in 5'-Nuclcotidase activity of body organs gave an idea of the toxicity caused by the fertilizer. Thus the enzyme 5'-Nucleotidase can be used to monitor the pollution in aquatic ecosystem.

Effect of Phopshate Fertilizer and Manure on Crop Yield, Soil P Accumulation, and the Environmental Risk Assessment

Phosphorus （P） applied from fertilizer and manure is important in increasing crop yield and soil fertility; however, excessive uses of phosphate fertilizer and manure may also increase P loss from agricultural soils, posing environmental impact. A long term experiment was conducted on a calcareous soil （meadow cinnamon） in Hebei Province, China, from 2003 to 2006 to investigate the effects of phosphate fertilizer and manure on the yield of Chinese cabbage, soil P accumulation, P sorption saturation, soluble P in runoff water, and P leaching. P fertilizer （P2O5） application at a rate of 360 kg ha^-1 or manure of 150 t ha^-1 significantly increased Chinese cabbage yield as compared to the unfertilized control. However, no significant yield response was found with excessive phosphate or manure application. Soil Olsen-P, soluble P, bioavailable P, the degree of phosphorus sorption saturation in top soil layer （0-20 cm）, and soluble P in runoff water increased significantly with the increase of phosphate fertilizer and manure application rates, whereas the maximum phosphorus sorption capacity （Qm） decreased with the phosphate fertilizer and manure application rates. Soil Olsen-P and soluble P also increased significantly in the sub soil layer （20-40 cm） with the high P fertilizer and manure rates. It indicates that excessive P application over crop demand can lead to a high environmental risk owing to the enrichment of soil Olsen-P, soluble P, bioavailable P, and the degree of phosphorus sorption saturation in agricultural soils.

Influence of pH on Formation of Taranakites

Monoammonium phosphate (1 mol L-1), monopotassium phosphate (1 mol L-1) and aluminum ohloride (5×10-3 mol L-1) were used to investigate the influence of pH on the formation of NH4-taranakite and K-taranakite in systems with a high NH4H2PO4 or KH2PO4 concentration. The experimental data indicated that the reaction products of aluminum with NH4H2PO4 or KH2PO4 changed with the pH in the systems. In a pH range of 2.5 to 10.0, as the pH increased, the products in either ammonium or potassium system followed the sequence: taranakite, amorphous (NH4, K)2AlH(PO4)2 .4H2O, and then crystalline (NH4, K)AlPO4OH.2H2O. However, the pH ranges of the formation of these products in ammonium system were different from potassium system. NH4-taranakite formed from pH 2.75 to PH 5.75, whereas K-taranakite formed in the pH range of 3.00 to 5.00. From the theoretical calculation by a computer program (GEOCHEM version 2.0), NH4-taranakite and K-taranakite could form at the pH from 1.50 to 8.30 and from 1.25 to 8.45,respectively. These pH ranges were much wider than the experimental results. The difference between the experimental data and theoretical data was attributed to the lack of kinetic data and/or the incompleteness and inaccuracy of the thermodynamic data in the data base of the program. The PH ranges of the formation of the taranakites indicated that the taranakites could exist in the immediate vicinity of phosphate fertilizer zone as reaction products of phosphate fertilizers with soils, especially acidic soils, resulting in the fixation of not only phosphate but also nitrogen and/or potassium in soils.

Effects of phosphorus fertilizer application on phosphorus fractions in different organs of Cordia trichotoma

The application of phosphorus(P)to soil can increase its availability to plants and alter P fractions in annual and perennial organs of Cordia trichotoma.If a portion of P accumulates in perennial organs in organic fractions it can be used in the next growth season,possibly decreasing plant dependence on P derived from soil fertilization.However,if P is preferentially accumulated in inorganic fractions in annual organs,plants will be more dependent on phosphate fertilization.This study aimed to evaluate the distribution of P fractions in organs of C.trichotoma grown on sandy soil treated with 120 and 360 kg P2O5 ha^(−1).The control was a zero application.After 24 months following fertilization,C.trichotoma seedlings were cut and separated into leaves,branches,stems and roots,dried,ground and subjected to chemical fractionation of P,which estimates fractions of total soluble P,soluble inorganic and organic P,lipid P,P associated ribonucleic acid and deoxyribonucleic acid,and residual P.P in annual organs,as leaves,accumulated preferentially in the soluble inorganic fraction in both treatments.In perennial organs such as stems and branches,P accumulated preferentially in the soluble organic fraction.The application of 300%of the recommended dosage(360 kg P2O5 ha^(−1))promoted the accumulation of P in soluble organic fractions which may contribute to annual growth the following season and be a strategy to reduce the dependence of 2-year-old stands on soil-derived P and on fertilizers.

Agronomic effectiveness of recovered phosphate fertilizer produced from incinerated sewage sludge ash

Phosphorus(P)recovery from incinerated sewage sludge ash(ISSA)has been extensively investigated,but insufficient research has been conducted to evaluate the effect of different kinds of recovered phosphate fertilizers(RPFs)on plant growth with respect to the P and heavy metal contents of RPFs.In this study,three kinds of RPFs,precipitated calcium phosphate fertilizer(CaP),struvite phosphate fertilizer(SP),and P-loaded biochar(BP),produced from ISSA were characterized,and their agronomic effectiveness was verified by hydroponic and soil cultivation.In addition to the three kinds of RPFs,a control group(mono-phosphate fertilizer in hydroponic group/compound fertilizer in soil cultivation group)and a blank control group(BC,with zero P)were tested on choy sum and ryegrass at the same time.SP has the highest P purity(76.0%of struvite)while the BP has the most complex P species(P was co-exist with Fe,Al,and Mg).Plant growth results showed that the RPFs greatly facilitated plant growth and demonstrated superior/comparable effects to those of control group.In hydroponics testing,SP showed the best effect(shoot length of 17.0 cm,chlorophyll content of 2.05 mg/g)due to the Mg involved and the high P purity of SP,while BP performed the best(shoot length of 13.7 cm,chlorophyll content of 2.42 mg/g)in the soil testing system among all of the groups because of the additional nutritional elements and the high P availability of BP.Additionally,the accumulation of heavy metals in the plants under all conditions did not exceed the limits stipulated in the regulations.These results indicate that recovering P from ISSA is an attractive technology to produce P fertilizers,which can alleviate both the scarcity of phosphate resources and the burden of ISSA management.

Phosphorus supply and management in vegetable production systems in China

Vegetable production systems involve high rates of chemical and organic fertilizer applications,leading to significant P accumulation in vegetable soils,as well as a decrease in P use efficiency(PUE),which is one of the key limiting factors in vegetable production.This review introduces the vegetable production systems in China and their fertilization status,and analyzes probable causes of overfertilization of vegetable fields.Poorly developed root systems and high P demand have led to the need to maintain much higher available P concentrations in the root zone for regular growth of vegetables,which might necessitate higher phosphate fertilizer input than the plants require.Research on strategies to improve vegetable PUE and the mechanisms of these strategies are summarized in this review.Increasing the P uptake by vegetables by supplying P during the critical growth stage and effectively utilizing the accumulated P by optimizing the C:P ratio in soils can substantially increase PUE.These advances will provide a basis for improving PUE and optimizing phosphate fertilizer applications in vegetable production through regulatory measures.In addition,some policies are recommended that could ensure the safety of vegetables and improve product quality.This review also aims to improve understanding of P cycling in vegetable fields and assist in the development of best practices to manage P reserves globally.

Phosphorus recovery:a need for an integrated approach

Introduction:Phosphorus(P)is an essential element in food production.P consumption is increasing over the years due to increasing population and increasing demand for agricultural yields.Managing the agricultural P through the understanding of bioav ailability,transport,and runoff will maximize the soil productivity and minimize the environmental effects.Efficient management in agriculture,governance,and lack of integrated international govern-ance need to be addressed to overcome the P scarcity issue.Results and Discussions:This article is focusing one such efficient management of P resource addressing the major portion of phosphorus which is unnoticed in agricultural residues,manures,and other sources.Increasing cost of phosphate fertilizer,a scarcity of high-quality phosphate rock(PR),and increasing surface water pollution are driving a need to accelerate the recovery and reuse of phosphorus(P)from various waste sectors.Options to recover P occur all along the open P cycle from mining to households to oceans.However,P recovery as a regional and global strategy toward P sustainability and future food,bio energy,and water security are in its infancy because of a number of technological,socioeconomic,and institutional constraints.Resolving these constraints requires concerted colla boration between relevant stakeholders and an integrated approach combining successful business models with socioeconomic and institutional changes.