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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BARC) » Beltsville Agricultural Research Center » Adaptive Cropping Systems Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #353765
Research Project: Environmental and Plant Factors That Influence Trace Element Bioavailability in Food Crops

Location: Adaptive Cropping Systems Laboratory

Title: Effects of phosphorus amended low phosphorus soil on soybean (Glycine max L.) and wheat (Titicum aestivum L) yield and phosphorus uptake

Author
item Codling, Eton

Submitted to: Journal of Plant Nutrition
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/11/2018
Publication Date: 3/27/2019
Citation: Codling, E.E. 2019. Effects of phosphorus amended low phosphorus soil on soybean (Glycine max L.) and wheat (Titicum aestivum L) yield and phosphorus uptake. Journal of Plant Nutrition. 42:891-899.

Interpretive Summary: Crop production on low phosphorus soils is of concern to farmers. A two-year field study was conducted on a low phosphorus soil to evaluate broiler litter ash as an inexpensive phosphorus fertilizer for soybean and wheat. Two phosphorus sources were used, broiler litter ash and superphosphate at four rates. Plots were planted with soybean followed by wheat. Two soybean plants were removed for tissue analysis from each plot at early bloom. Soybean tissue P concentration distributions were in the order pods>leaves>stems>roots. Yields of soybean grain and wheat tissue were not affected by phosphorus source. Except for the high superphosphate rate for the second crop, phosphorus concentrations of soybean grain and wheat tissue were not significant between phosphorus source. In this study, broiler litter ash was as effective as superphosphate for growth of soybean grain and wheat tissue, suggesting that broiler litter ash can be used as an inexpensive phosphorus fertilizer on low phosphorus soils.

Technical Abstract: One of the major constraints for crop production is phosphorus availability, especially in developing countries with low phosphorus soils and limited resources. A two-year field study was conducted on a low phosphorus soil to evaluate broiler litter ash (BLA) as an inexpensive phosphorus fertilizer for soybean (Glycine max. L) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L) production. Plots received BLA or superphosphate (SP) at four rates and were planted with soybean followed by wheat. At soybean growth stage R3, two plants were removed for tissue analysis from each plot. Soybean tissue P concentration distributions were in the order pods>leaves>stems>roots. Yields of soybean grain and wheat tissue were not significantly affected by P source. Except for the high superphosphate rate for the second crop, P concentrations of soybean grain and wheat tissue were not significant between P source. In this study, BLA was as effective as SP for growth of soybean grain and wheat tissue, suggesting that BLA can be used as an inexpensive P fertilizer on low P soils.