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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 45(4)

Soil amendments modify phosphate sorption in an acid soil: the importance of P source (KH2PO4, TSP, DAP)

C. R. Schefe A E , A. F. Patti B C , T. S. Clune A D and W. R. Jackson B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Primary Industries Research Victoria (PIRVic), Rutherglen Centre, Department of Primary Industries, RMB 1145, Rutherglen, Vic. 3685, Australia.

B Centre for Green Chemistry, PO Box 23, Monash University, Clayton, Vic. 3800, Australia.

C School of Applied Sciences and Engineering, Monash University, Churchill, Vic. 3842, Australia.

D North East Water, PO Box 863, Wodonga, Vic. 3689, Australia.

E Corresponding author. Email: cassandra.schefe@dpi.vic.gov.au

Australian Journal of Soil Research 45(4) 246-254 https://doi.org/10.1071/SR07001
Submitted: 3 January 2007  Accepted: 7 May 2007   Published: 28 June 2007

Abstract

Soil acidity is a widespread problem in Victoria, Australia, affecting at least 4 million ha of agricultural land. Soil amendments such as lime and organic materials may ameliorate acid soils, resulting in raised soil pH and increased availability of plant nutrients such as phosphorus (P). The addition of lime, lignite, and compost significantly modified P sorption in an acid soil, with the degree of change highly dependent upon the source of P applied. The application of 2.5 t/ha of lime increased P sorption for all P sources, while P sorption was decreased in the lignite and compost treatments when di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) was applied. Lime and compost addition increased the solution pH, with no change in pH in the lignite treatment. Addition of TSP decreased the pH in all treatments, while DAP addition only increased solution pH in the untreated soil and the lignite treatment. The addition of soil amendments had a significant effect on solution cation concentrations, due to both the influx of cations, and the resultant changes in solution pH. The source of P applied (KH2PO4, TSP (triple superphosphate), DAP) also had a significant effect due to both the counter-ions present and the pH of each P source (e.g. TSP pH 2.7; DAP pH 7.4). The lignite treatment decreased total P sorption relative to the other amendments. The combination of lignite and DAP resulted in both the greatest decrease in P sorption, and the formation of soluble Al–organic complexes. Therefore, a combination of lignite and DAP may be of use in decreasing P sorption in acid soils.

Additional keywords: aluminium, cations, compost, lignite, lime.


Acknowledgments

This work was funded through a GRDC research scholarship, with additional funding from Monash University and the Department of Primary Industries.


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