Effects of extraction time and phosphorus speciation on soil test phosphorus (STP) in Illinois agricultural soils

Phosphorus (P) loss from agricultural soils is the leading cause of accelerated eutrophication of surface waters. As an essential plant nutrient, however, adequate soil P is required for plant growth. Soil test phosphorus (STP) methods have been developed to correlate P levels in soil to crop growth, so that producers may better estimate the supply of P. There are numerous limitations in STP procedures, however, including: inaccurate estimation of plant available P, (i.e., dissolved reactive P (DRP)), unknown speciation in STP extracts, and the unknown relationship between STP and temporal-scale P release. Assessing these limitations, the appropriate colorimetric methods to distinguish orthophosphate from organic phosphate (Po) in Bray P-1, and Mehlich III extracting solutions were first evaluated, including the effects of acid hydrolysis reactions on Po (phytic acid) and polyphosphate (tripolyphosphate and pyrophosphate) in the STP extracting solutions. Based on the assessment, the effects of extraction time and P speciation on the STP procedures were studied in P rich fertilizer-amended and manure-amended Central Illinois agricultural soils. Although the extent of P release is proportional to the total P extracted by STP methods, the results are highly influenced by longer extraction times and P species. A longer extraction time increases STP values, lowering fertilizer recommendations. Manure-amended soils released more inorganic P (Pi), Po, and colloidal P than did fertilizer-amended soils. The fraction of Po was substantial (10-50% of total P) in STP soil extracts. Overall, the results of this study suggest the complexity of interpreting current STP procedures for fertilizer recommendations.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.S.

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Natural Res & Env Sciences

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2017

Author dc:creator

• Miller, Anthony Paul

Contributors dc:contributor

• Arai, Yuji

• Soil test phosphorus (STP)
• Bray P-1
• Colorimetric phosphate analysis
• Bray 1
• Mehlich 3
• Mehlich III
• Molybdenum blue

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2017 Anthony Miller

Language dc:language

en

Handle dc:identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/97288

OAI record oai:identifier

https://www.ideals.illinois.edu/oai-pmh?verb=GetRecord&metadataPrefix=etdms&identifier=oai%3Awww.ideals.illinois.edu%3A2142%2F97288