Skip to main content
Log in

An assessment of the agronomic efficiency of partially acidulated phosphate rock fertilisers

  • Published:
Fertilizer research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The literature comparing the efficiency of partially acidulated phosphate rock fertilisers with that of a single or triple superphosphate is briefly summarised and found to be conflicting. Various theories purported to explain why partially acidulated phosphate rock products are as efficient are examined. An alternative hypothesis, which appears to reconcile the conflicting evidence, is presented. This depends in part on the dissolution of the phosphate rock component of a partially acidulated product in the soil; the factors influencing the dissolution of phosphate rock in the soil are reviewed in relation to the conflicting statements about the efficiency of partially acidulated phosphate rock products.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Ashby DL, Fenster WE and Attoe OJ (1966) Effect of partial acidulation and elemental sulphur on availability of phosphorus in rock phosphate. Agron J 58, 621–625

    Google Scholar 

  2. Chatterjee SC, Datta AN and Ghosh SK (1983) Evaluation of low grade phosphate rock deposits in the Indian context. Fert and Agric 84, 31–37

    Google Scholar 

  3. Cooke GW (1956) The value of rock phosphates for direct application. Emp J Exp Agric 24, 295–306

    Google Scholar 

  4. Davies GR (1984) Comparison of water-insoluble phosphate fertilisers with super-phosphate — a review. J Sci Food Agric 35, 265–271

    Google Scholar 

  5. Deist J, Marais PG, Harry RBA and Heyns CFG (1971) Relative availability of rock phosphate to different plant species. Agrochemophysica 4, 99–108

    Google Scholar 

  6. Drake Mack and Steckel JE (1955) Solubilization of soil and rock phosphate as related to root cation exchange capacity. Soil Sci Soc Am Proc 19, 449–450

    Google Scholar 

  7. During C (1984) Fertilisers and Soils in New Zealand, 2nd edn Wellington: Hasselberg

    Google Scholar 

  8. Fried M (1953) The feeding power of plants for phosphates. Soil Sci Soc Am Proc 17, 357–359

    Google Scholar 

  9. Garbouchev IP (1981) The manufacture and agronomic efficiency of a partially acidulated phosphate rock fertiliser. Soil Sci Soc Am J 45, 970–974

    Google Scholar 

  10. Hammond LL, Chien SH and Polo JR (1980) Phosphorus availability from partial acidulation of two phosphate rocks. Fert Res 1, 37–49

    Google Scholar 

  11. Haynes RJ (1984) Lime and phosphate in the soil plant system. Adv Agron 37, 249–317

    Google Scholar 

  12. Hedley MJ, White RE and Nye PH (1982) Plant-induced changes in the rhizosphere of rape (Brassica napus var. Emerald) seedlings III Changes in L-value, soil phosphate fractions acid phosphatase activity. New Phytol 92, 45–56

    Google Scholar 

  13. Hedley MJ, Nye PH and White RE (1982) Plant-induced changes in the rhizosphere of rape (Brassica napus var. Emerald) Seedlings. II Origin of the pH change. New Phytol 91, 31–44

    Google Scholar 

  14. Hortenstine CC (1967) Partially acidulated rock phosphate as a source of phosphorus for oat and tomato plants in Lakeland and Leon sands. Proc Soil and Crop Science Soc Fla 27, 305–313

    Google Scholar 

  15. Khasawneh FE and Doll EC (1978) The use of phosphate rock for direct application to soils. Adv Agron 30, 159–206

    Google Scholar 

  16. Lawton K and Vomocil JA (1954) The dissolution and migration of phosphorus from granular superphosphate in some Michigan soils. Soil Sci Soc Am Proc 18, 26–32

    Google Scholar 

  17. Lehr JR, Brown WE and Brown EH (1959) Chemical behaviour of monocalcium phosphate monohydrate in soils. Soil Sci Soc Am Proc 23, 3–7

    Google Scholar 

  18. Lindsay WL and Stephenson HF (1959) Nature of the reactions of monocalcium phosphate monohydrate in soils. I The solution that reacts with the soil. Soil Sci Soc Am Proc 23, 12–18

    Google Scholar 

  19. Lutz JA (1973) Effect of partially acidulated rock phosphate and concentrated superphosphate on yield and composition of alfalfa and orchardgrass. Agron J 65, 286–289

    Google Scholar 

  20. Marwaha BC (1983) Partially acidulated rock phosphate as a source of fertiliser phosphorus with special reference to high P-fixing acid soils — a review. Proc Ind Natn Sci Acad B49, 436–446

    Google Scholar 

  21. Marwaha BC and Kanwar BS (1981) Utilisation of ground rock phosphate as a direct phosphatic fertiliser — a review. Fertiliser News 26, 10–20

    Google Scholar 

  22. Marwaha BC, Kanwar BS and Tripathi BR (1981) Direct and residual effect of Mussoorie rock phosphate related to the crop species in an acid soil. J. Ind Soc Soil Sci 29, 349–355

    Google Scholar 

  23. McLean EO and Balam BS (1967) Partially acidulated rock phosphate as a source of phosphorus to plants: III Uptake by corn from soils of different calcium status. Soil Sci Soc Am Proc 31, 811–814

    Google Scholar 

  24. McLean EO and Hoelscher JE (1954) Factors affecting yields and uptake of phosphorus by different crops: I Previous applications to the soil of rock phosphate and superphosphate. Soil Sci 78, 453–462

    Google Scholar 

  25. McLean EO and Logan TJ (1970) Sources of phosphorus for plants grown in soils with different phosphorus fixation tendencies. Soil Sci Soc Am Proc 34, 907–911

    Google Scholar 

  26. McLean EO and Ssali H (1977) Effects of phosphorus rate and form in combination with lime and gypsum on yields and compositions of German millet and alfalfa from highly weathered soils. Soil Sci 123, 155–164

    Google Scholar 

  27. McLean EO and Wheeler RW (1964) Partially acidulated rock phosphate as a source of phosphorus to plants: I Growth Chamber Studies. Soil Sci Soc Am Proc 28, 545–550

    Google Scholar 

  28. McLean EO, Wheeler RW and Watson JD (1965) Partially acidulated rock phosphate as a source of phosphorus to plants: II Growth chamber and field corn studies. Soil Sci Soc Am Proc 29, 625–628

    Google Scholar 

  29. McSweeney G and Charleston AG (1985) Partially acidulated phosphate rocks — reactions with water. Fert Res 8, 75–83

    Google Scholar 

  30. Misra UK and Panda N (1969) Evaluation of partially acidulated rock phosphate in a lateritic soil. Ind J Agric Sci 39, 353–361

    Google Scholar 

  31. Mokwunye A Uzo and Chien SH (1980) Reactions of partially acidulated phosphate rock with soils from the tropics. Soil Sci Soc Am J 44, 477–482

    Google Scholar 

  32. Nordengren Sven (1957) New theories of phosphate reactions in the soil. Fert and Feeding Stuffs J 47, 348–352

    Google Scholar 

  33. Rajan SSS (1982) Availability to plants of phosphate from ‘biosupers’ and partially acidulated phosphate rock. NZ J Agric Res 25, 355–361

    Google Scholar 

  34. Rajan SSS (1985) Partial acidulation of an ‘unground’ phosphate rock I Preparation and characteristics. Fert Res (In press)

  35. Sale PWG, Friesen DK and Blair GJ (1982) Partially acidulated rock phosphates (PARP) as fertiliser for perennial pastures. Proc 2nd Australian Agron Conf Wagga Wagga, 267

  36. Sample EC, Soper RJ and Racz GJ (1980) Reactions of phosphate fertilisers in soils. In ‘The role of phosphorus in agriculture’ Eds FE Khasawneh, EC Sample and EJ Kamprath. Amer Soc Agron Madison Wisconsin, 263–310

    Google Scholar 

  37. Singh Bijay, Hundal HS and Sekhon GS (1976) Evaluation of nitric phosphates differing in water solubility of their phosphorus fraction. J Agric Sci Camb 87, 325–330

    Google Scholar 

  38. Stephen RC (1985) The agronomic value of products resulting from the partial acidulation of North Carolina phosphate rock with phosphoric acid. Fert Res 8, 67–73

    Google Scholar 

  39. Stephen RC and Charleston AG (1984) The potential agronomic value of the unreacted apatite component of single superphosphate. NZ Fertiliser Manufacturers Research Association Res Repts, 81–94

  40. Terman GL and Allen SE (1967) Response of corn to phosphorus in underacidulated phosphate rock and rock-superphosphate fertilisers. J Agri Food Chem 15, 354–358

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Stephen, R., Condron, L. An assessment of the agronomic efficiency of partially acidulated phosphate rock fertilisers. Fertilizer Research 10, 269–282 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01049357

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01049357

Key words

Navigation