Effect of phosphorus and potassium fertilizer on crop response and soil fertility in a long-term experiment

Abstract

Data from 32 years of a rotation-fertility experiment were analyzed to determine the average P and K application rates required for maximum yield and for optimum yield. A four-year rotation of corn, soybean, wheat, hay was used for the first 10 years and then changed to corn-1, soybean, wheat, corn-2. Rates of P application per 4-year rotation ranged from 0 to 196 kg ha⁻¹ and for K from 0 to 558 kg ha⁻¹. Multiple regression equations were fitted to the mean yields per 4-year rotation for the response of each crop to P and K applications. The range in P application rates in kg of P per 4-year rotation required to get maximum yields of corn was 118 to 172, for soybeans was 134 to 150, and for wheat was 116 to 138. The range in K application rates in kg K per 4-year rotation to get maximum yields of corn was 378 to 411, for soybeans was 324 and 476, and for wheat was 11 to 323. For rates of application where P and K added exceeded crop removals, soil test P and K increased linearly with the cumulative positive balance of P and K. Where crop removal exceeded application rate, no relation was found between crop removal and soil test.