Corn Responses to Phosphorus Application at Different Soil Phosphorus Levels on a Calcareous Soil Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • Phosphorus (P) in an high-pH soil may not be readily available to a crop, even though soil-testing procedures indicate high levels are present. A 2-year field study was conducted to determine corn yield responses to different rates of P fertilization as a function of soil-test P levels determined using the Mehlich-3 extractant. In 1 of the 2 years of this study, corn yields responded to P application across all soil P levels in a linear plateau fashion, indicating that P availability was limiting regardless of soil P levels. Where soil-test P was less than 40 mg kg-1, corn yields showed a quadratic response to rate of P applied both years, and when soil-test P was between 40 and 60 mg kg-1, corn yields showed a response only in the second year, when better growing conditions occurred. Soil-test P levels based on the Mehlich-3 extractant identified deficiencies in soil P availability to the crop, which could be corrected by P fertilization on a high-pH soil. Uptake efficiency of applied P was low, indicating that much of the P applied was not available to the crop. Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

published proceedings

  • Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis

author list (cited authors)

  • Wiedenfeld, B., & Provin, T.

citation count

  • 1

complete list of authors

  • Wiedenfeld, Bob||Provin, Tony

publication date

  • January 2010