Abstract
Phosphorus (P) leaching from agricultural soils, in consequence of long-term utilization of P fertilizers, decreases the water quality and leads to eutrophication. The effect of monopotassium phosphate (MKP) at the rates of 0, 50, 200, 400, and 800 mg P kg−1 on P and certain cations leaching from two agricultural soils (loam and sandy loam soils) was investigated in a laboratory study. Soil treatments were packed in columns with 5 cm in diameter, up to 10 cm. Soil columns were leached using distilled water solution for 20 pore volumes, and the leachates were analyzed for pH, electrical conductivity (EC), calcium (Ca), sodium (Na), potassium (K), and P. To simulate the concentrations of K and P in leachates, the PHREEQC model was utilized. In addition, the P vertical distribution in different depths of the soil columns after the leaching experiment was investigated using Olsen-extractable P (Olsen-P). Generally, as the MKP rates increased, the mean (mean of 20 pore volumes) value of pH and Ca concentration in leachates decreased, but the mean value of EC, Na, and K concentrations in leachates increased. In early pore volumes, the P concentration in all treatments begins to rise, then begins to fall. The application of different rates of MKP fertilizer increased the cumulative amount of P leached in both studied soils. Significant relations were obtained for the rates of MKP application and the cumulative amount of P leached. Overall, the model did a good job of simulating K and P concentrations in leachates, as well as the trend of K and P leaching. In both treated soils with increasing of fertilizer rates, the Olsen-P status in all depths increased, and the P content increased with depth. The Olsen-P contents before the leaching experiment for each treatment were predicted, and power equations significantly described its relation with mean P concentration in leachates. Higher application rates of MKP (400 and 800 mg P kg−1) resulted in much higher P concentrations in leachates than the threshold value (0.1 mg l−1), and these rates should not be used in agricultural soils, whereas applying 50 mg P kg−1 to agricultural soil could be a reasonable rate for preventing P losses.
Similar content being viewed by others
Data availability
The datasets obtained during this study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
References
Akram, M. S., & Ashraf, M. (2011). Exogenous application of potassium dihydrogen phosphate can alleviate the adverse effects of salt stress on sunflower. Journal of Plant Nutrition, 34(7), 1041–1057. https://doi.org/10.1080/01904167.2011.555585
Alfaro, M. A., Gregory, P. J., & Jarvis, S. C. (2004). Dynamics of potassium leaching on a hillslope grassland soil. Journal of Environmental Quality, 33(1), 192–200. https://doi.org/10.2134/jeq2004.1920
Alfaro, M. A., Jarvis, S. C., & Gregory, P. J. (2004). Factors affecting potassium leaching in different soils. Soil Use and Management, 20(2), 182–189. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1475-2743.2004.tb00355.x
Andersen, J. M. (1976). An ignition method for determination of total phosphorus in lake sediments. Water Research, 10(4), 329–331. https://doi.org/10.1016/0043-1354(76)90175-5
Anderson, K. R., Moore, P. A., Jr., Miller, D. M., DeLaune, P. B., Edwards, D. R., Kleinman, P. J. A., & Cade-Menun, B. J. (2018). Phosphorus leaching from soil cores from a twenty-year study evaluating alum treatment of poultry litter. Journal of Environmental Quality, 47(3), 530–537. https://doi.org/10.2134/jeq2017.11.0447
Bouyoucos, G. J. (1962). Hydrometer method improved for making particle size analyses of soils. Agronomy Journal, 54(5), 464–465. https://doi.org/10.2134/agronj1962.00021962005400050028x
Carpenter, S. R. (2008). Phosphorus control is critical to mitigating eutrophication. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 105(32), 11039–11040.
Carpenter, S. R., & Bennett, E. M. (2011). Reconsideration of the planetary boundary for phosphorus. Environmental Research Letters, 6(1), 14009. https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/6/1/014009
Commission, E. U. (2012). Commission regulation (EU) no 231/2012 of 9 March 2012 laying down specifications for food additives listed in annexes II and III to regulation (EC) no 1333/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council. Official Journal of the European Communities, 55, 1–295.
Downing, J. A., Watson, S. B., & McCauley, E. (2001). Predicting Cyanobacteria dominance in lakes. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, 58(10), 1905–1908. https://doi.org/10.1139/f01-143
Dzombak, D. A., & Morel, F. M. (1990). Surface complexation modeling: Hydrous ferric oxide. John Wiley & Sons.
Elliott, H. A., O’Connor, G. A., & Brinton, S. (2002). Phosphorus leaching from biosolids-amended sandy soils. Journal of Environmental Quality, 31(2), 681–689. https://doi.org/10.2134/jeq2002.6810
Farmer, V. C., Russell, J. D., & Smith, B. F. L. (1983). Extraction of inorganic forms of translocated Al, Fe and Si from a podzol Bs horizon. Journal of Soil Science, 34(3), 571–576. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2389.1983.tb01056.x
Goldberg, S. (1992). Use of surface complexation models in soil chemical systems. Advances in Agronomy, 47, 233–329. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0065-2113(08)60492-7
Heidari, S., & Jalali, M. (2016). Effect of some cations, anions, and organic residues on potassium leaching and fractionation in calcareous sandy loam soil. Archives of Agronomy and Soil Science, 62(1), 19–35. https://doi.org/10.1080/03650340.2015.1040397
Hopkins, B. G., Ellsworth, J. W., Shiffler, A. K., Cook, A. G., & Bowen, T. R. (2010). Monopotassium phosphate as an in-season fertigation option for potato. Journal of Plant Nutrition, 33(10), 1422–1434. https://doi.org/10.1080/01904167.2010.489981
Jalali, M. (2006). Soil phosphorous buffer coefficient as influenced by time and rate of P addition. Archives of Agronomy and Soil Science, 52(3), 269–279. https://doi.org/10.1080/03650340600560061
Jalali, M., & Ostovarzadeh, H. (2009). Evaluation of phosphorus leaching from contaminated calcareous soils due to the application of sheep manure and ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid. Environmental Earth Sciences, 59(2), 441–448. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-009-0042-4
Jalali, M., & Ostovarzadeh, H. (2012). Effect of sheep manure and EDTA on the leaching of potassium from heavy metals contaminated calcareous soils. Environmental Earth Sciences, 66(1), 31–37. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-011-1200-z
Jalali, M., & Ranjbar, F. (2009). Effects of sodic water on soil sodicity and nutrient leaching in poultry and sheep manure amended soils. Geoderma, 153(1), 194–204. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2009.08.004
Jalali, M., & Jalali, M. (2020). Effect of organic and inorganic phosphorus fertilizers on phosphorus availability and its leaching over incubation time. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 27(35), 44045–44058. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-10281-6
Jalali, M. (2011). Effect of saline-sodic solutions on column leaching of potassium from sandy soil. Archives of Agronomy and Soil Science, 57(4), 377–390. https://doi.org/10.1080/03650341003587214
Jalali, M., & Jalali, M. (2017). Assessment risk of phosphorus leaching from calcareous soils using soil test phosphorus. Chemosphere, 171, 106–117. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2016.12.042
Jalali, M., & Karamnejad, L. (2011). Phosphorus leaching in a calcareous soil treated with plant residues and inorganic fertilizer. Journal of Plant Nutrition and Soil Science, 174(2), 220–228. https://doi.org/10.1002/jpln.201000087
Kang, J., Amoozegar, A., Hesterberg, D., & Osmond, D. L. (2011). Phosphorus leaching in a sandy soil as affected by organic and inorganic fertilizer sources. Geoderma, 161(3), 194–201. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2010.12.019
Kaya, C., Higgs, D., Ince, F., Amador, B. M., Cakir, A., & Sakar, E. (2003). Ameliorative effects of potassium phosphate on salt-stressed pepper and cucumber. Journal of Plant Nutrition, 26(4), 807–820. https://doi.org/10.1081/PLN-120018566
Knoema. (2016a). Superphosphate agricultural use. https://knoema.com/atlas/Iran/topics/Agricultre/Fertilizers-Agriculture-Use-in-Nutrients/Superphosphate-agricultural-use
Knoema. (2016b). Monoammonium phosphate agricultural use. https://knoema.com/atlas/Iran/topics/Agriculture/Fertilizers-Agriculture-Use-in-Nutrients/Monoammonium-phosphate-agricultural-use
Knoema. (2017a). Urea agricultural use. https://knoema.com/atlas/Iran/topics/Agriculture/Fertilizers-Agriculture-Use-in-Nutrients/Urea-agricultural-use
Knoema. (2017b). Diammonium phosphate agricultural use. https://knoema.com/atlas/Iran/topics/Agriculture/Fertilizers-Agriculture-Use-in-Nutrients/Diammonium-phosphate-agricultural-use
Koopmans, G. F., Chardon, W. J., Ehlert, P. A. I., Dolfing, J., Suurs, R. A. A., Oenema, O., & van Riemsdijk, W. H. (2004). Phosphorus availability for plant uptake in a phosphorus-enriched noncalcareous sandy soil. Journal of Environmental Quality, 33(3), 965–975. https://doi.org/10.2134/jeq2004.0965
Liu, X.-P., Bi, Q.-F., Qiu, L.-L., Li, K.-J., Yang, X.-R., & Lin, X.-Y. (2019). Increased risk of phosphorus and metal leaching from paddy soils after excessive manure application: Insights from a mesocosm study. Science of the Total Environment, 666, 778–785. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.02.072
Mehra, O. P., & Jackson, M. L. (1958). Iron oxide removal from soils and clays by a dithionite-citrate system buffered with sodium bicarbonate. Clays and Clay Minerals, 7(1), 317–327. https://doi.org/10.1346/CCMN.1958.0070122
Minitab. (2019). Minitab Statistical Software. State College, PA : Minitab. https://search.library.wisc.edu/catalog/999861832302121
Moharami, S., & Jalali, M. (2014). Phosphorus leaching from a sandy soil in the presence of modified and un-modified adsorbents. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 186(10), 6565–6576. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-014-3874-7
Mudau, F. N., Theron, K. I., & Rabe, E. (2005). Rind texture and juice acid content of Citrus spp. as affected by foliar sprays of mono-potassium phosphate (MKP), urea ammonium phosphate (UAP) and mono-ammonium phosphate (MAP). South African Journal of Plant and Soil, 22(4), 269–273. https://doi.org/10.1080/02571862.2005.10634720
Munksgaard, N. C., & Lottermoser, B. G. (2011). Fertilizer amendment of mining-impacted soils from Broken Hill, Australia: Fixation or release of contaminants? Water, Air, & Soil Pollution, 215(1), 373–397. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-010-0485-y
Murphy, J., & Riley, J. P. (1962). A modified single solution method for the determination of phosphate in natural waters. Analytica Chimica Acta, 27, 31–36. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0003-2670(00)88444-5
Nerson, H., Edelstein, M., Berdugo, R., & Ankorion, Y. (1997). Monopotassium phosphate as a phosphorus and potassium source for greenhouse-winter-grown cucumber and muskmelon. Journal of Plant Nutrition, 20(2–3), 335–344. https://doi.org/10.1080/01904169709365254
Olsen, S. R., & Sommers, L. E. (1982). Determination of available phosphorus. In “Method of Soil Analysis.” American Society of Agronomy, 2, 403–430.
Parkhurst, D. L., & Appelo, C. A. J. (1999). User’s guide to PHREEQC (Version 2): A computer program for speciation, batch-reaction, one-dimensional transport, and inverse geochemical calculations. Water-Resources Investigations Report. https://doi.org/10.3133/wri994259
Restrepo-Díaz, H., Benlloch, M., & Fernández-Escobar, R. (2009). Leaf potassium accumulation in olive plants related to nutritional K status, leaf age, and foliar application of potassium salts. Journal of Plant Nutrition, 32(7), 1108–1121. https://doi.org/10.1080/01904160902943148
Rowell, D. L. (1994). Soil science: Methods and applications. Longman Scientific & Technical. https://doi.org/10.1002/jsfa.2740660423
Sajyan, T. K., Shaban, N., Rizkallah, J., & Sassine, Y. N. (2018). Effects of monopotassium-phosphate, nano-calcium fertilizer, acetyl salicylic acid and glycinebetaine application on growth and production of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) crop under salt stress. Agronomy Research, 16(3), 872–883. https://doi.org/10.15159/AR.18.079
SAS. (2013). SAS 9.4 for Windows. SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, USA.
Sassine, Y. N., Alturki, S. M., Germanos, M., Shaban, N., Sattar, M. N., & Sajyan, T. K. (2020). Mitigation of salt stress on tomato crop by using foliar spraying or fertigation of various products. Journal of Plant Nutrition, 43(16), 2493–2507. https://doi.org/10.1080/01904167.2020.1771587
Sharma, V., & Sharma, K. N. (2013). Influence of accompanying anions on potassium retention and leaching in potato growing alluvial soils. Pedosphere, 23(4), 464–471. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1002-0160(13)60039-9
Siddique, M. T., & Robinson, J. S. (2003). Phosphorus sorption and availability in soils amended with animal manures and sewage sludge. Journal of Environmental Quality, 32(3), 1114–1121. https://doi.org/10.2134/jeq2003.1114
Siddique, M. T., Robinson, J. S., & Alloway, B. J. (2000). Phosphorus reactions and leaching potential in soils amended with sewage sludge. Journal of Environmental Quality, 29(6), 1931–1938. https://doi.org/10.2134/jeq2000.00472425002900060028x
Steinberg, C. E. W., & Hartmann, H. M. (1988). Planktonic bloom-forming Cyanobacteria and the eutrophication of lakes and rivers. Freshwater Biology, 20(2), 279–287. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2427.1988.tb00452.x
Toor, G. S., & Sims, J. T. (2015). Managing phosphorus leaching in mid-atlantic soils: Importance of legacy sources. Vadose Zone Journal, 14(12), 1–12. https://doi.org/10.2136/vzj2015.08.0108
Toor, G. S., & Sims, J. T. (2016). Phosphorus leaching in soils amended with animal manures generated from modified diets. Journal of Environmental Quality, 45(4), 1385–1391. https://doi.org/10.2134/jeq2015.10.0542
Ukwattage, N. L., Li, Y., Gan, Y., Li, T., & Gamage, R. P. (2020). Effect of biochar and coal fly ash soil amendments on the leaching loss of phosphorus in subtropical sandy ultisols. Water, Air, & Soil Pollution, 231(2), 56. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-020-4393-5
USEPA. (1986). Quality criteria for water. USEPA Report 440/5–86–001. Office of water regulations and standards, Washington, DC.
Vanden Nest, T., Vandecasteele, B., Ruysschaert, G., & Merckx, R. (2017). Prediction of P concentrations in soil leachates: Results from 6 long term field trials on soils with a high P load. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, 237, 55–65. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2016.12.015
Walkley, A., & Black, I. A. (1934). An examination of degtjareff method for determining soil organic matter and a proposed modification of the chromic acid titration method. Soil Science, 37(1), 29–38. https://doi.org/10.1097/00010694-193401000-00003
Yang, Y., Zhang, H., Qian, X., Duan, J., & Wang, G. (2017). Excessive application of pig manure increases the risk of P loss in calcic cinnamon soil in China. Science of the Total Environment, 609, 102–108. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.07.149
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Ethics approval and consent to participate
Not applicable.
Conflict of interest
The authors declare no competing interests.
Additional information
Publisher's Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Supplementary information
Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Jalali, M., Farahani, E.A. & Jalali, M. Simulating phosphorus leaching from two agricultural soils as affected by different rates of phosphorus application based on the geochemical model PHREEQC. Environ Monit Assess 194, 164 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-022-09828-6
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-022-09828-6