Abstract
Soil samples (0–3 and 0–7.5 cm depths) were collected from a long-term (7 yr) field trial involving annual application of six phosphate fertilisers at the rate of 30 kg P ha-1 yr-1 on pasture in New Zealand. These samples were analysed for various soil acidity parameters. Soil acidity in all treatments, including the untreated control, increased with time. The acidification was most pronounced in plots receiving diammonium phosphate (DAP) and least apparent in plots receiving North Carolina (NC) phosphate rock (PR). At the end of 7 yr, the NCPR treatment had significantly higher soil pH, exchangeable Ca and Ca saturation, and significantly lower exchangeable Al and soluble Al (0.02 M CaCl2-Al) than untreated soils. Jordan PR and partially acidulated NCPR had similar effects to NCPR but the magnitude of the effects was lower than that of NCPR. In contrast to these fertilisers, DAP significantly lowered soil pH, exchangeable Ca and Ca saturation and increased soluble Al and exchangeable acidity. The pH (KCl) of 4.35 and level of 0.02 M CaCl2 extractable Al of 2.64 mg kg-1 in DAP treated soils were close to the critical levels suggested for white clover yield reductions. Superphosphate in general had no effect on soil pH and soil Al relative to untreated soils but increased exchangeable Ca and Ca saturation at high rates of application (45 and 60 kg P ha-1 yr-1). Of the total NCPR of 1652 kg ha-1 applied over the 7 yr, 68% dissolved, producing a liming effect equivalent to ~ 36% of the effect obtained from a similar weight of pure lime (CaCO3). The results showed that continuous use of certain reactive phosphate rocks can significantly slow down the rate of soil acidification in pastoral soils.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Bolan N S and Hedley M J 1989 Dissolution of phosphate rocks in soils. 1. Evaluation of extraction methods for the measurement of phosphate rock dissolution. Fert. Res. 19, 65–75.
Bolan N S, Hedley M J and White R E 1991 Nitrogen cycling and soil acidification. Plant and Soil 134, 53–63.
Easterwood G W, Sartain J B and Street J J 1989 Fertilizer effectiveness of three carbonate apatites on an acid Ultisol. Comm. Soil Sci. Plant Anal. 20, 789–800.
Edmeades D C, Smart C E and Wheeler D M 1983 Aluminium toxicity in New Zealand soils: preliminary results on the development of diagnostic criteria. N.Z. J. Agric. Res. 26, 493–501.
Edmeades D C, Pringle R M, Mansell G P and Shanon P W 1984 Effects of lime on pasture production on soils in the North Island of New Zealand 4. Predicting lime responses. N. Z. J. Agric. Res. 27, 371–382.
Hoyt D B and Nyborg M 1972 Use of dilute calcium chloride for the extraction of plant available aluminum and manganese from acid soil. Can. J. Soil Sci. 52, 163–167.
Hume L J, Ofsoki N J and Reynolds J 1988 Influence of pH, exchangeable aluminium and 0.02 M CaCl2-extractable aluminium on the growth and nitrogen fixing activity of white clover (Trifolium repens) in some New Zealand soils. Plant and Soil 111, 111–119.
Juo A R S and Kamprath F J 1979 Copper chloride as an extractant for estimating the potentially reactive aluminum pool in acid soils. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 43, 35–38.
Lee B 1980 Farming brings acid soils. Rur. Res. 106, 4–9.
Loganathan P, Hedley M J and Saggar S 1995 Liming effects of reactive phosphate rocks — a laboratory evaluation. In Plant-Soil Interactions at Low pH: Principles and Management. Eds. R A Date, N J Grundon, G E Rayment and M E Probert. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, The Netherlands.
Mc Laughlin M I, Baker T G, James T R and Rundle J A 1990 Distribution and forms of phosphorus and aluminium in acidic topsoils under pastures in south-eastern Australia. Aust. J. Soil Res. 28, 371–385.
Saunders W M H 1965 Phosphate retention by New Zealand soils and its relationship to free sesquioxides, organic matter, and other soil properties. N.Z. J. Agric. Res. 8, 30–57.
Syers J K, Mackay A D, Brown M W and Currie L D 1986 Chemical and physical characteristics of phosphate rock materials of varying reactivity. J. Sci. Food Agric. 37, 1057–1064.
Williams C H 1980 Soil acidification under clover pasture. Aust. J. Exp. Agric. Anim. Husb. 20, 561–567.
Wright R J, Baligar V C and Allrichs J L 1989 The influence of extractable and soil solution aluminum on root growth of wheat seedlings. Soil Sci. 148, 293–302.
Wright R J, Baligar V C, Belesky D P and Snuffer J D 1991 The effect of phosphate rock dissolution on soil chemical properties and wheat seedling root elongation. Plant and Soil 134, 21–30.
Yuan T L 1959 Determination of exchangeable hydrogen in soils by a titration method. Soil Sci. 88, 164–167.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1995 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Manoharan, V., Loganathan, P., Tillman, R.W. (1995). Effects of long-term application of phosphate fertilisers on soil acidity under pasture in New Zealand. In: Date, R.A., Grundon, N.J., Rayment, G.E., Probert, M.E. (eds) Plant-Soil Interactions at Low pH: Principles and Management. Developments in Plant and Soil Sciences, vol 64. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-0221-6_11
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-0221-6_11
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-94-010-4099-0
Online ISBN: 978-94-011-0221-6
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive