Abstract
The effect of the particle size of North Carolina phosphate rock on its dissolution in soil was investigated in the laboratory using four size fractions (150–250, 106–125, 45–53 and < 38µm) and two levels of application. Dissolution as measured by soil-exchangeable Ca increased to a minor extent with both decreasing particle size and incubation period. For a PR application of 400µg P/soil the percentage dissolution ranged with decreasing particle size from 13 to 18% and 14 to 20% of applied P for 7 and 35 days incubation periods respectively. The highest percentage dissolution occurred for the smallest particle size. The percentage dissolution was much lower (6–7% and 7–8% of applied P for 7- and 35-day incubation respectively) for the higher application level of 1600µg P/g soil although the absolute amounts of dissolution were larger. Amounts of bicarbonate-soluble p in the soil also increased with decreasing particle size and were about 3–4% and 1% of applied P for 400 and 1600µg P/g levels of application respectively for the 35-day incubation.
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Kanabo, I., Gilkes, R. The effect of particle size on North Carolina phosphate rock on its dissolution in soil and on levels of bicarbonate-soluble phosphorus. Fertilizer Research 15, 137–145 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01050675
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01050675