Effects and Mechanisms of Phosphate Activation in Paddy Soil by Phosphorus Activators

Huanli Yao, Xian Chen, Junying Yang, Jihong Li, Jiale Hong, Yueming Hu and Xiaoyun Mao
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Huanli Yao: College of Natural Resources and Environment, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, Guangdong, China
Xian Chen: College of Natural Resources and Environment, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, Guangdong, China
Junying Yang: College of Natural Resources and Environment, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, Guangdong, China
Jihong Li: College of Natural Resources and Environment, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, Guangdong, China
Jiale Hong: College of Natural Resources and Environment, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, Guangdong, China
Yueming Hu: College of Natural Resources and Environment, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, Guangdong, China
Xiaoyun Mao: College of Natural Resources and Environment, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, Guangdong, China

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 9, 1-15

Abstract: Phosphorus (P) build-up in agricultural soils as a consequence of excessive P fertilizer application necessitates the exploration of soil P pool for crop supply. We conducted a soil incubation experiment, pot experiments, and field experiments to study the effects of different P activators (Pas) (humic acid, lignosulfonate sodium, and biochemical humic acid) on soil phosphate fraction, rice yield, and P loss. Through chemical analyses and microbial community structure measurement, we found that Pas significantly increased paddy soil water-soluble P (WSP), available P, Fe-P, and relative abundances of P-mineralizing and P-solubilizing microorganisms, whereas they decreased Al-P and microbial alpha diversity. Our pot experiment results showed that the application of Pas significantly reduced soil P loss and resulted in grain yield comparable to those obtained by fertilization with P fertilizers, and significantly higher than those in the control plants. The results of the field experiment suggested that Pas are able to increase rice yield more significantly than P fertilizers and improve the P utilization efficiency of rice plants. We conclude that application of Pas was more effective in reducing P leaching, soil total P, WSP, and Olsen P than P fertilizers during rice harvest.

Keywords: agricultural soil; phosphorus surplus; environmental risk; crop yield (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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