The critical soil P levels for crop yield, soil fertility and environmental safety in different soil types

• Published in: Plant and soil 2013-11, Vol.372 (1/2), p.27-39
• Main Authors: Bai, Zhaohai, Li, Haigang, Yang, Xueyun, Zhou, Baoku, Shi, Xiaojun, Wang, Boren, Li, Dongchu, Shen, Jianbo, Chen, Qing, Qin, Wei, Oenema, Oene, Zhang, Fusuo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acid soils; Agricultural soils; Agrology; Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Biological and medical sciences; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Calcareous soils; Clay loam soils; Crop production; Crop yield; Crop yields; Cropping systems; Crops; Ecology; Environment; Environmental protection; Eutrophication; Fertilizers; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General agronomy. Plant production; Leaching; Life Sciences; Nutrient management; Organic matter; Phosphorus content; Plant Physiology; Plant Sciences; Regular Article; Silty soils; Soil fertility; Soil organic matter; Soil science; Soil Science & Conservation; Soil types; Soil-plant relationships. Soil fertility; Soil-plant relationships. Soil fertility. Fertilization. Amendments; Soils; Surface water
• ISSN: 0032-079X; 1573-5036
• DOI: 10.1007/s11104-013-1696-y

Background and aims Sufficient soil phosphorus (P) is important for achieving optimal crop production, but excessive soil P levels may create a risk of P losses and associated eutrophication of surface waters. The aim of this study was to determine critical soil P levels for achieving optimal crop yields and minimal P losses in common soil types and dominant cropping systems in China. Methods Four long-term experiment sites were selected in China. The critical level of soil Olsen-P for crop yield was determined using the linear-plateau model. The relationships between the soil total P, Olsen-P and CaCl₂-P were evaluated using two-segment linear model to determine the soil P fertility rate and leaching change-point. Results The critical levels of soil Olsen-P for optimal crop yield ranged from 10.9 mg kg⁻¹ to 21.4 mg kg⁻¹, above which crop yield response less to the increasing of soil Olsen-P. The P leaching change-points of Olsen-P ranged from 39.9 mg kg⁻¹ to 90.2 mg kg⁻¹, above which soil CaCl₂-P greatly increasing with increasing soil Olsen-P. Similar change-point was found between soil total P and Olsen-P. Overall, the change-point ranged from 4.6 mg kg⁻¹ to 71.8 mg kg⁻¹ among all the four sites. These change-points were highly affected by crop specie, soil type, pH and soil organic matter content. Conclusions The three response curves could be used to access the soil Olsen-P status for crop yield, soil P fertility rate and soil P leaching risk for a sustainable soil P management in field.