Rodrigo C. da Silva

Available phosphorus evaluated by three soil tests in a Brazilian tropical Oxisol treated with gypsum

Mehlich-1, resin-HCO3, and Pi tests were used to assess available P in an acid tropical Oxisol in Brazil treated with gypsum, which has been preferred over lime to ameliorate the Al toxicity in the subsoil. The soil was incubated in the laboratory at rates up to 75 g kg−1 of phosphogypsum (PG) containing 0.3% total P, natural gypsum, or reagent-grade gypsum, and up to 100 mg P kg−1 as triple superphosphate (TSP) or phosphate rock (PR). In the greenhouse, two consecutive maize crops were grown on the soil treated with 50 mg P kg−1 of TSP and PG rates up to 75 g kg−1. The results of the incubation study showed that Mehlich-P and Pi-P increased with increasing PG rate for the treatments of TSP, PR, and control. Resin-HCO3 underestimated available P from TSP and PR because of the reaction between resin-HCO3 and gypsum. Mehlich-1 overestimated available P from PR compared with TSP because of an excessive dissolution of PR by the strongly acidic Mehlich-1. Pi underestimated available P from PR in the treatments of natural and reagent-grade gypsum because of Ca common-ion effect from gypsum on depressing PR dissolution. The results in terms of the effect of PG on available P are similar in both incubation and greenhouse studies. Both Mehlich-P and Pi-P correlated well with P uptake by maize, whereas resin-P did not.

Sulfur and Zinc Availability from Co-granulated Zn-Enriched Elemental Sulfur Fertilizers

Acidification by oxidation of elemental sulfur (ES) can solubilize ZnO, providing slow release of both sulfur (S) and zinc (Zn) in soil. For this study, a new granular fertilizer with ES and ZnO was produced and evaluated. The effect of incorporating microorganisms or a carbon source in the granule was also evaluated. Four granulated ES-Zn fertilizers with and without S-oxidizing microorganisms, a commercial ES pastille, ZnSO4, and ZnO were applied to the center of Petri dishes containing two contrasting pH soils. Soil pH, CaCl2-extractable S and Zn, and remaining ES were evaluated at 30 and 60 days in two soil sections (0-5 and 5-9 mm from the fertilizer application site). A visualization test was performed to evaluate Zn diffusion over time. A significant pH decrease was observed in the acidic soil for all ES-Zn fertilizer treatments and in the alkaline soil for the Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans-inoculated treatment only. In agreement with Zn visualization tests, extractable-Zn concentrations were higher from the point of application in the acidic (62.9 mg dm-3) compared to the alkaline soil (5.5 mg dm-3). Elemental S oxidation was greater in the acidic soil (20.9%) than slightly alkaline soil (12%). The ES-Zn granular fertilizers increased S and Zn concentrations in soil and can provide a strategically slow release of nutrients to the soil.

Graphene Oxide: A New Carrier for Slow Release of Plant Micronutrients

The environmental problems and low efficiency associated with conventional fertilizers provides an impetus to develop advanced fertilizers with slower release and better performances. Here, we report of development of a new carrier platform based on graphene oxide (GO) sheets that can provide a high loading of plant micronutrients with controllable slow release. To prove this concept, two micronutrients, zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu), were used to load on GO sheets and hence formulate GO-based micronutrients fertilizer. The chemical composition and successful loading of both nutrients on GO sheets were confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The prepared Zn-graphene oxide (Zn-GO) and Cu-graphene oxide (Cu-GO) fertilizers showed a biphasic dissolution behavior compared to that of commercial zinc sulfate and copper sulfate fertilizer granules, displaying desirable fast and slow micronutrient release. A visualization method and chemical analysis were used to assess the release and diffusion of Cu and Zn in soil from GO-based fertilizers compared with commercial soluble fertilizers to demonstrate the advantages of GO carriers and show their capability to be used as a generic platform for macro- and micronutrients delivery. A pot trial demonstrated that Zn and Cu uptake by wheat was higher when using GO-based fertilizers compared to that when using standard zinc or copper salts. This is the first report on the agronomic performance of GO-based slow-release fertilizer.

Rapid and Low-Cost Method for Evaluation of Nutrient Release from Controlled-Release Fertilizers Using Electrical Conductivity

Methods to determine nutrient release rates of coated fertilizers usually rely on chemical analyses, which often are time-consuming and/or expensive. Our goal was to develop an innovative and rapid low-cost method to evaluate nutrient release from polymer coated MAP or urea using conductometry. The release in water is determined by measuring the electric conductivity (EC) over time, with intervals dependent on release rates. In the case of soluble salt fertilizers, EC can be immediately determined and converted to a concentration using a calibration curve. In the case of urea, an additional step is needed to convert the neutral urea into ammonium. The release rates in water were assessed for a range of commercial and laboratory-coated fertilizers. A validation test demonstrated strong agreement with the release determined using analytical techniques. The EC method hence offers an easy way to quickly evaluate the time course of release of nutrients from controlled-release fertilizers.

Limited Dissolved Phosphorus Runoff Losses from Layered Double Hydroxide and Struvite Fertilizers in a Rainfall Simulation Study

The enrichment of P in surface waters has been linked to P runoff from agricultural fields amended with fertilizers. Novel slow-release mineral fertilizers, such as struvite and P-exchanged layered double hydroxides (LDHs), have received increasing attention for P recycling from waste streams, and these fertilizers may potentially reduce the risk of runoff losses. Here, a rainfall simulation experiment was performed to evaluate P runoff associated with the application of recycled slow-release fertilizers relative to that of a soluble fertilizer. Monoammonium phosphate (MAP), struvite, and LDH granular fertilizers were broadcasted at equal total P doses on soil packed in trays (5% slope) and covered with perennial ryegrass ( L.). Four rainfall simulation events of 30 min were performed at 1, 5, 15, and 30 d after the fertilizer application. Runoff water from the trays was collected, filtered, and analyzed for dissolved P. For the MAP treatment, P runoff losses were high in the first two rain events and leveled off in later rain events. In total, 42% of the applied P in the MAP treatment was lost due to runoff. In the slow-release fertilizer treatments, P runoff losses were limited to 1.9 (struvite) and 2.4% (LDH) of the applied doses and were more similar over the different rain events. The use of these novel P fertilizer forms could be beneficial in areas with a high risk of surface water eutrophication and a history of intensive fertilization.

Erratum to: Availability of fertiliser sulphate and elemental sulphur to canola in two consecutive crops

Aims We compared elemental sulphur (ES) and sulphate fertilisers in terms of yield and S uptake. Methods Two consecutive canola crops were grown on S-labelled soil amended with ammonium sulphate, ES-bentonite pastilles (90 % ES), or S-fortified ammonium phosphate (NP) fertilisers containing both sulphate-S and ES (5–8 % ES). The shoot yield, S concentration and specific activity of S in the shoot were determined. Results In the first crop, the yield was significantly lower in the control (without added ES) and ES pastille treatments than in the other treatments. Sulphur uptake was highly correlated with the added sulphate rate. In the second crop, the yield and S uptake was highest for the S-fortified NP fertilizers. The contribution of ES to the S uptake was circa 20% in the first crop and 43% in the second crop for the S-fortified NP fertilisers, but was negligible for the ES pastilles. Modelling indicated an oxidation rate of 0.6−0.7 % per day for the S-fortified NP fertilisers and 0.03 % per day for the ES pastilles. Conclusions The contribution of ES pastilles to S uptake was negligible in both crops. In contrast, Sfortified NP fertilisers showed a significant contribution of ES and higher S availability than sulphate-only fertiliser in the second crop.