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The critical soil P levels for crop yield, soil fertility and environmental safety in different soil types

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An Erratum to this article was published on 09 June 2013

Abstract

Background and aims

Sufficient soil phosphorus (P) is important for achieving optimal crop production, but excessive soil P levels may create a risk of P losses and associated eutrophication of surface waters. The aim of this study was to determine critical soil P levels for achieving optimal crop yields and minimal P losses in common soil types and dominant cropping systems in China.

Methods

Four long-term experiment sites were selected in China. The critical level of soil Olsen-P for crop yield was determined using the linear-plateau model. The relationships between the soil total P, Olsen-P and CaCl2-P were evaluated using two-segment linear model to determine the soil P fertility rate and leaching change-point.

Results

The critical levels of soil Olsen-P for optimal crop yield ranged from 10.9 mg kg−1 to 21.4 mg kg−1, above which crop yield response less to the increasing of soil Olsen-P. The P leaching change-points of Olsen-P ranged from 39.9 mg kg−1 to 90.2 mg kg−1, above which soil CaCl2-P greatly increasing with increasing soil Olsen-P. Similar change-point was found between soil total P and Olsen-P. Overall, the change-point ranged from 4.6 mg kg−1 to 71.8 mg kg−1 among all the four sites. These change-points were highly affected by crop specie, soil type, pH and soil organic matter content.

Conclusions

The three response curves could be used to access the soil Olsen-P status for crop yield, soil P fertility rate and soil P leaching risk for a sustainable soil P management in field.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by the National Basic Research Program of China (973-2013CB127402), the Innovative Group Grant of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31121062), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31201691, 30925024) , and Chinese Universities Scientific Fund (2012QJ160).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Resources, Environment and Food security (CREFS), China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China

    Zhaohai Bai, Haigang Li, Jianbo Shen, Qing Chen & Fusuo Zhang

  2. College of Resources and Environment, Northwest A & F University, 712100, Yangling, China

    Xueyun Yang

  3. Institute of Soil and Fertilizer, Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, 150086, China

    Baoku Zhou

  4. College of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400716, China

    Xiaojun Shi

  5. Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 100081, Beijing, China

    Boren Wang & Dongchu Li

  6. Department of Soil Quality, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 47, 6700 AA, Wageningen, the Netherlands

    Wei Qin & Oene Oenema

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  1. Zhaohai Bai
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  10. Wei Qin
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Correspondence to Haigang Li.

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Responsible Editor: Philip John White.

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Bai, Z., Li, H., Yang, X. et al. The critical soil P levels for crop yield, soil fertility and environmental safety in different soil types. Plant Soil 372, 27–37 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-013-1696-y

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