Fertilizer-use efficiency of different inorganic polyphosphate sources: effects on soil P availability and plant P acquisition during early growth of corn

• Published in: Journal of plant nutrition and soil science Vol. 169; no. 4; pp. 509 - 515
• Main Authors: Torres-Dorante, L.O, Claassen, N, Steingrobe, B, Olfs, H.W
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Weinheim WILEY-VCH Verlag 01.08.2006; WILEY‐VCH Verlag; Wiley
• Subjects: Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; application rate; Biological and medical sciences; corn; crop production; fertilizer-use efficiency; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General agronomy. Plant production; inorganic phosphorus; Nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium fertilizations; nutrient uptake; nutrient use efficiency; orthophosphate; P acquisition; phosphorus; Phosphorus fertilization; phosphorus fertilizers; polyphosphates; roots; shoots; soil chemistry; soil nutrient dynamics; soil-plant interactions; Soil-plant relationships. Soil fertility. Fertilization. Amendments; Zea mays; Zea mays L; Phosphates; Monocotyledones; Growth; Available nutrient; Inorganic fertilizer; C4-Type; Phosphate fertilizer; Phosphorus fertilization; Inorganic element; Polyphosphates; Cereal crop; Source; Inorganic compound; Gramineae; Mineral fertilization; Angiospermae; hophosphate / P acquisition / phosphorus / polyphosphates / Zea mays L; Soil science; Non metal; Zea mays; Early phase; Phosphorus; Acquisition; Fertilizers; Group VA element; Soils; Fertilizing value; Phosphorus compound; Spermatophyta; Soil plant relation; fertilizer-use efficiency
• ISSN: 1522-2624; 1436-8730; 1522-2624
• DOI: 10.1002/jpln.200520584

Polyphosphate‐based fertilizers are worldwide in use, and their effect on crop yield is often reported to be similar to orthophosphate products, although some studies showed higher yields with polyphosphate applications. However, information on how these fertilizers may influence plant P acquisition is very limited. A pot experiment was carried out under controlled conditions with corn (Zea mays L.) growing on a sandy soil (pH 4.9) and a silty‐loam soil (pH 6.9) differing in P‐sorption properties. The objective was to evaluate phosphorus fertilizer–use efficiency (PFUE) of several polyphosphate (poly‐P) compounds (pyrophosphate [PP], tripolyphosphate [TP], and trimetaphosphate [TMP]) using orthophosphate (OP) as a reference. Focus was put on evaluating plant parameters involved in plant P acquisition, i.e., root length and P uptake per unit of root length. Furthermore, soil P availability was characterized by measuring ortho‐P and poly‐P concentrations in soil solution as well as in CAL (calcium‐acetate‐lactate) extracts. The P availability was differentially influenced by the different P sources and the different soils. In the silty‐loam soil, the application of poly‐P resulted in higher ortho‐P concentrations in soil solution. In the same soil, CAL‐extractable ortho‐P was similar for all P sources, whereas in the sandy soil, this parameter was higher after OP application. In the silty‐loam soil, poly‐P concentrations were very low in soil solution or in CAL extracts, whereas in the sandy soil, poly‐P concentrations were significantly higher. Phosphorus fertilizer–use efficiency was significantly higher for poly‐P treatments in the silty‐loam soil and were related to a higher root length since no differences in the P uptake per unit of root length among poly‐P and OP treatments were found. However, in the sandy soil, no differences in PFUE between OP and poly‐P treatments were observed. Therefore, PFUE of poly‐P compounds could be explained by better root growth, thereby improving plant P acquisition.