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Phosphate—Ammonium—Moisture Relationships in Soils: II. Ion Concentrations in Leached Fertilizer Zones and Effects on Plants
Author(s) -
Blanchar R. W.,
Caldwell A. C.
Publication year - 1966
Publication title -
soil science society of america journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.836
H-Index - 168
eISSN - 1435-0661
pISSN - 0361-5995
DOI - 10.2136/sssaj1966.03615995003000010019x
Subject(s) - pellets , fertilizer , leaching (pedology) , ammonium , chemistry , loam , soil water , pellet , moisture , phosphate , ammonium phosphate , agronomy , zoology , environmental chemistry , environmental science , geology , soil science , materials science , oceanography , organic chemistry , biology , composite material
Radioactive fertilizer pellets MCP 32 , MCP 32 + NH 4 Cl, and MCP 32 + KCl were placed in a Dakota sandy loam and allowed to react for 2 weeks. The pots containing the fertilizer were then leached with 0, 2, 4, and 8 cm of water. Corn ( Zea mays ) was grown on these pots for 2 weeks and analyzed for total and radioactive P. Results showed only trace amounts of fertilizer P taken up from all nonleached pots. Leaching the pots with 2 or more centimeter of water resulted in a significant uptake of fertilizer P. When the pots were leached with 4 cm of water, P uptake from MCP + NH 4 Cl pellets was nearly 3‐fold that of either MCP or MCP + KCl. Measurement of water‐soluble P and other conditions in the fertilizer zone indicated no differences between MCP + NH 4 Cl and MCP + KCl pellet zones. It was concluded that ammonium increased the capacity of the plant to absorb P and did not affect the availability of P in the soil.