Strategies and agronomic interventions to improve the phosphorus-use efficiency of farming systems

• Published in: Plant and soil 2011-12, Vol.349 (1/2), p.89-120
• Main Authors: Simpson, Richard J., Oberson, Astrid, Culvenor, Richard A., Ryan, Megan H., Veneklaas, Erik J., Lambers, Hans, Lynch, Jonathan P., Ryan, Peter R., Delhaize, Emmanuel, Smith, F. Andrew, Smith, Sally E., Harvey, Paul R., Richardson, Alan E.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acid soils; Agricultural and farming systems; Agricultural industry; Agricultural production; Agricultural soils; Agriculture; Agroecology; Agronomy; Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Biological and medical sciences; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Chemical, physicochemical, biochemical and biological properties; Dispersal; Ecology; Erosion; Farming systems; Farms; Fertilizers; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General agroecology. Agricultural and farming systems. Agricultural development. Rural area planning. Landscaping; General agronomy. Plant production; Generalities. Agricultural and farming systems. Agricultural development; Geochemistry; Industrial productivity; intervention; Leaching; Life Sciences; Nutrition; Organic matter; Organic soils; Pastures; Phosphate; Phosphates; Phosphorus; Physics, chemistry, biochemistry and biology of agricultural and forest soils; Plant growth; Plant nutrition; Plant Physiology; Plant Sciences; Plants; Pollution; Pollution control; Regular Article; Runoff; Soil; Soil fertility; Soil microorganisms; Soil science; Soil Science & Conservation; Soil-plant relationships. Soil fertility; Soil-plant relationships. Soil fertility. Fertilization. Amendments; Soils; Sustainable agriculture; Tropical environments
• ISSN: 0032-079X; 1573-5036
• DOI: 10.1007/s11104-011-0880-1

Phosphorus (P)-deficiency is a significant challenge for agricultural productivity on many highly P-sorbing weathered and tropical soils throughout the world. On these soils it can be necessary to apply up to five-fold more P as fertiliser than is exported in products. Given the finite nature of global P resources, it is important that such inefficiencies be addressed. For low P-sorbing soils, P-efficient farming systems will also assist attempts to reduce pollution associated with P losses to the environment. P-balance inefficiency of farms is associated with loss of P in erosion, runoff or leaching, uneven dispersal of animal excreta, and accumulation of P as sparingly-available phosphate and organic P in the soil. In many cases it is possible to minimise P losses in runoff or erosion. Uneven dispersal of P in excreta typically amounts to ~5% of P-fertiliser inputs. However, the rate of P accumulation in moderate to highly P-sorbing soils is a major contributor to inefficient P-fertiliser use. We discuss the causal edaphic, plant and microbial factors in the context of soil P management, P cycling and productivity goals of farms. Management interventions that can alter P-use efficiency are explored, including better targeted P-fertiliser use, organic amendments, removing other constraints to yield, zone management, use of plants with low critical-P requirements, and modified farming systems. Higher productivity in low-P soils, or lower P inputs in fertilised agricultural systems can be achieved by various interventions, but it is also critically important to understand the agroecology of plant P nutrition within farming systems for improvements in P-use efficiency to be realised.