THE EFFiCT OF DIFFLRSLT PHOSPHATE CARRIERS AND

LIME ON THE YIELD ARE EHOSPHCRUS COITCNT OF

ALFALFA, BEANS, AND WHEAT

by

y

HUGH w '3" 395m

A THSSIS
Submitted to the School of Graduate Studies of
Michigan State College of Agriculture and
’ Applied Science in partial fulfillment

of the requirements for the degree

of
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY

Department of Soil Science

1954

 

 

 

 

 

‘7 dz 7'5“,

x”
/
.

 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The author wishes to express his sincere thanks to
Dr. R. L. Cook, under whose assistance, inspiration, and
supervision this investigation was completed.

Acknowledgements are also due Dr. R. U. Swanson for
assistance in the preparation of the manuscript, Dr. Kirk
Lawton for assistance on methods, and other members of the
Soil Science Department for helpful suggestions during the
course of this investigation.

The writer is grateful to the Soils and Fertilizer
Research Branch, Division of Agricultural Relations,
Tennessee Valley Authority, Knoxville, Tennessee, for the
supply of experimental phosphate materials used in this

study.

338520

 

 

 

 

THE EFFECT or DIFFERENT PHOSPHATE CAEEIEES AND LIME
ON THE YIELD AND PHOSPHORUS CDHT HT OF
ALFALFA, BEANS, AND WHEAT

by
HUGH w. HOUGH

An Abstract
Submitted to the School of Graduate Studies of
Michigan State College of Agriculture and
Applied Science in partial fulfillment
of the requirements for the degree
of
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY
Department of Soil Science

1954

Approved /)< 5’

 

 

 

 

ABSTRACT

Rock phosphate, dicalcium phosphate, fused tricalcium
phosphate, potassium metaphosphate, calcium metaphosphate,
and superphosphate were added to Miami sandy loam in green-
house pots. Applications were made at two levels on limed
and unlimed soil. Alfalfa, white pea beans, and wheat were
used as the test crops.

For alfalfa, these treatments, ranked from the highest
to the lowest according to yields and total phosphorus removed
in forage, were superphosphate, potassium metaphosphate,
dicalcium phosphate, calcium metaphosphate, fused tricalcium
phosphate, rock phosphate, and no treatment. :xcept where
the alfalfa was treated with potassium metaphosphate and rock
phosphate, lime (pH 7.2-7.5) caused lower yields for the
first cutting and higher yields for the third cutting.

Bean and wheat yields on the limed soil ranked as
follows: potassium metaphosphate, superphosphate, calcium
metaphosphate, dicalcium phosphate, fused tricalcium phosa
phate, rock phOSphate, and no treatment. The treatments
which were unlimed gave more favorable results for fused tri-
calcium phosphate and calcium metaphosphate.

For all crOps the concentration of phosphorus, in the
part of the plant taken for yield, had no correlation with
yield. This might not have been true for potassium metaphos-
phate which consistently produced the highest concentration
of phOSphorus in alfalfa and bean tissue but those data were

not correlated separately with yields.

 

 

2.

In the field, white pea beans were grown with 80 lbs.
per acre total P205 supplied by each of the aforementioned
carriers plus concentrated superphosphate. There were no
significant differences in yield as affected by the differ-
ences in source of phosphate. The effects of the 0, 1.5,
and 5 tons of lime per acre were more consistent but still
were not statistically significant though the 1.5 ton rate
appeared to be the best.

Both greenhouse and field soil samples were extracted
with Bray's Available extracting reagent as well as with
Bray's Adsorbed extracting reagent at two dilutions (1:10
and 1:50). With alfalfa and beans the latter method seemed
to give nearly equal results for both dilutions when the
amounts of phosphorus extracted were correlated with yields
(0.5 or higher). No significance was obtained for a similar
correlation of test results with the yield of wheat grain.

A significant negative correlation was obtained be-
tween the pH of field plot soil and the concentration of soil
phosphorus using Bray's adsorbed method with the 1:50 dilu-
tion.

The acid in the Eray's available extracting reagent
extracted large amounts of phosphorus from the soil fertili-

zed with rock phosphate thus being the cause of a poor corre-

lation with crop yields.

 

 

 

Vita

Hugh Ualter Hough
candidate for the degree of

Doctor of Philosophy

Dissertation: The effect of different phosphate carriers
and lime on the yield and phosphorus content
of alfalfa, beans, and wheat.

Outline of Studies:
Major subject: Soil Science

Minor subjects: Physical Chemistry
Farm Crops

Biographical Items:
Born, February 10, 1922, Hebron, Indiana

Undergraduate studies at Purdue University,
f 1940~1942, 1946-1947

Graduate studies: Purdue University, 1947-
1948; Michigan State College, 1949-
1953

Experience: Member of Army of the United
States 1942-1945; Faculty Sponsor in
Purdue Men's Dormitory System, 1946-
1947; Graduate Assistant, Purdue
University, Agronomy Dept., 1947-
1948; Instructor in Soil Science,
Michigan State College, 1949-1953.

Member: American Society of Agronomy,
Soil Science Society of America
Sigma Xi

 

 

3

 

I.
II.
III.

IV.

V.

VI 0
VII.

['11 ’ _ L I 0‘ 'I {’3 I' , FF ‘ .-‘4:
‘53.! H A. 'UKJLuL.aL‘\LU

INTRODUCTION
REVIEW OF LITARATURE
EXP SE IL-x'LIL-‘w TAL

Materials
Methods
Soils

EAPERIMENTAL RLSULTS

Greenhouse
Alfalfa
Yields
Composition
Soil Tests
Beans
Yields
Composition
Soil Tests
Wheat
Yields
Composition
Soil Tests

PHOSPHATE CARRIERS VERSUS LIES HATE
Beans
Yields
Correlations

DISCUSSION AND SUMMARY

LITERATURE CITED

’11

 

m
(if?

H

OJ

12
16

18

18
18
18
24
28

r.

05

34

r:
U

37
'1
u

43
4e
46
46
51
5:5

57

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

\

Table

1.

2.

3.

4.

11.

LIST OF TABLES

Characteristics of phosphate fertilizer
materials supplied by Tennessee Valley
Authority

Analysis of variance, greenhouse data
analysis of variance, field data

Alfalfa yields as affected by several phos-
phorus carriers applied at two rates of P205
to limed and unlimed soil

Phosphorus content of alfalfa as affected by
several phosphorus carriers applied at two ra
rates of P205 to limed and unlimed soil

Total phosphorus removed in alfalfa tops as
affected by several phosphorus carriers
applied at two rates of P i to limed and

. 2 5
unlimed soil

Mean available phosphorus contents determined
by different methods of chemical extraction
of the variously treated soils after having
been cropped with alfalfa

The effect of various phosphorus carriers
applied at two rates of P00 to limed and
unlimed soil on the yieldcand phosphorus
content of beans

Mean available phosphorus contents determined
by different methods of chemical extraction
of the variously treated soils after having
been cropped with beans

Wheat yields as affected by several phosphorus

carriers applied at two rates of P205 to
limed and unlimed soil

A comparison of the yield of wheat with the

concentration of phosphorus in the grain and
straw as affected by several phosphorus car-
riers applied at two rates of P205 to limed

and unlimed soil

Total phosphorus removed in wheat tops as
affected by several phosphorus carriers
applied at two rates of P205 to limed and
unlimed soil

 

Page

10
15
15

19

26

29

32

41

44

 

 

 

 

 

 

Table

15.

14.

15.

16.

17.

 

 

List of Tables Continued)

Mean available phosphorus contents determined
by different methods of chemical extraction
of the variously treated soils after having
been cropped with wheat

Bean yields as affected by three rates of
lime applied to soils fertilized with several
phosphorus carriers.

pH values where three rates of lime were
applied to soils fertilized with several
phosphorus carriers

Mean available phOSphorus contents determined
by different methods of chemical extraction
of the variously treated soils after they had
been cropped with beans

Correlation coefficients of correlations be-
tween yield and soil tests or between pH and
soil tests

Page

45

47

49

52

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIST OF PLATES

Plate
1 The Effect on the Growth of Alfalfa of
Different Phosphate Carriers at Two Rates,
with and without Lime
2 The affect of Differ nt Phosphate Carriers

at Two Rates, With and Without Lime on the
Growth of Beans.

5 The Effect on the Growth of wheat of
Different Phosphate Carriers at Two Rates,
with and iithout Lime

Page

23

Cr)
U"

40

- u‘ A...“

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

Figure

1

 

 

LI-b'l' CF FIG-Laue

Page
Field outline and soil type map. Phosphate
carrier vs. lime levels, been eXperiment. 17

 

THE EFFECT or DIFmHEHT PHOSPHATE CARRIERS AND
LIME ON THE YIELD AAD PHOSPHORUS CONTENT or
ALFALFA, DEALS, AND ‘J'JHEAT

INTRODUCTION

The rapid increase in the amount of fertilizer distri-
buted after World War II brought into sharp focus the limita-
tions in the production of superphosphate. It was felt by
many agronomists that the limited production of superphos-
phate might seriously affect fertilizer production and usage.
This stimulated a re-examination of the efficiencies, pro-
perties, and possible supplies of all phosphate carriers.

Increased production of superphosphate was hampered by
an increasingly short supply of sulphuric acid. Depletion
of the sulphur stockpiles plus expansion of the chemical
industries were the chief causes of the short supply of sul-
phuric acid for fertilizer production.

All industries using sulphuric acid examined the possi-
bility of substituting other acids in their processes or of
accomplishing either the elimination of the acid or the in-
creasing of its efficiency. The alternatives available to
the phosphate fertilizer industry for additional phosphate
fertilizer production beyond that possible with the present
supply of sulphuric acid may be listed as: (1) partial or
complete substitution of nitric or phosphoric acid for sul-
phuric acid in the acidulation of phosphate rock; (2) pro-
duction of metaphosphates; (5) production of defluorinated

phosphates; (4) direct use of pulverized raw phosphate rock.

 

2.

While some of these materials are not new to the

agronomists, it seemed wise to test both the old and the new

materials quite thoroughly with different crops, at various
rates of application, and with different rates of lime
application.

Present soil tests have been calibrated with field
tests in which superphosphate has been the source of added
phosphorus. It may be necessary to recalibrate these tests
when other sources of phosphate fertilizer are used. For
this reason it was felt that several different extracting
procedures should be used on the soil samples taken in this
study.

When the proper conditions for maxinum response from
the application of the materials used in this study are
known, it may be possible to utilize them profitably to

alleviate the phosphate fertilizer shortage.

 

‘ I

 

 

 

 

 

 

5.
REVIEW OF LITEEATURE

Fried and MacKenzie (10) found that with rock phos-
phate, the higher the soil pH, the lower the relative amounts
of fertilizer phosphorus to soil phosphorus is absorbed by
plants. With superphosphate, soil pH did not influence this
relative uptake. At pH 5.8, plant removal of phosphorus from
superphosphate equalled or exceeded removal from rock phos-
phate even when the latter material was applied at rates
which added four times as much P205.

In a greenhouse study of four Michigan soil types,
Ripley (23) obtained higher yields of crops and higher phos-
phorus content of sap where superphosphate was applied at 100
pounds per acre than where treatments of finely ground rock
phosphate as high as 1600 pounds per acre were applied.

Even when rock phosphate was applied at two to five
times the P2C5 rate of superphosphate on various Indiana
soils Eiancko and Conner (35) found that the returns were
much greater from the superphosphate applications.

Whittaker, et a1 (34) found in the greenhouse that, for
sudan grass and wheat, rock phosphate in general gave much
lower crop response than the other phosphates and that res-
ponse was less affected by varying placement. They also
showed that tricalcium phosphate and especially dicalcium
phosphate gave greatly reduced yields in a localized place-
ment. Localization of the phosphate in a band placement or

mixing with a limited prOportion of the soil in the pot were

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

4.

optimum placements for monocalcium phosphate, the principal
phosphatic component of superphosphate.

In general, Jacob and Ross (15) found that fused rock
phosphate and calcium metaphosphate were approximately equal
to superphosphate as sources of phosphorus for the growth of
plants on acid and neutral soils, but the results of a sin-
gle series of experiments indicated that these materials, as
well as the other types of water-insoluble phosphates, are
not so effective as water-soluble phosphates (monocalcium
phosphate and superphosphate) on alkaline soils.

Rich and Lutz (22) showed that in comparison to super-
phosphate at 100, rock phosphate applied in equivalent rates
of P205 gave a relative yield of 92 for alfalfa and 84 for
wheat. They also used corn, wheat, red clover-timothy, al-
falfa, and pasture to test dicalcium phosphate and trical-
cium phosphate against concentrated superphosphate. Their
results showed that dicalcium phosphate was inferior to the
concentrated superphosphate though superior to tricalcium
phosphate for both the wheat and alfalfa. The wheat gave the
lowest response of all crops tested with dicalcium and tri-
calcium phOSphates.

On the calcareous soils of Idaho, Toevs and Baker (31)
found rock phosphate unsatisfactory as a source of phosphorus
for alfalfa and several other crops. They also showed fused
tricalcium phosphate to be an unsatisfactory source of phos-
phorus on alkaline soils. For calcium metaphosphate they had

inconsistent results, but in general found it to be inferior

‘ “h~‘ m..- I

 

 

fir'g
‘J, !,

 

 

W4.

 

 

 

5.

to superphosphate and better than fused tricalcium phosphate.

According to Volk (32) superphosphate and calcium meta-
phosphate were the best phosphate fertilizers for Oats and
sorghum, fused rock phosphate was almost as good as the for-
mer two, and ordinary rock was decidedly inferior.

Brammel (3) growing oats in the field on Brookston silt
loam in Michigan found that of the non-nitrogen bearing phos-
phates, superphosphate Was highest in availability followed
by dicalcium phosphate which was nearly equalled by fused tri-
calcium phosphate and calcium metaphosphate. He also found
that differences in availability to the plant of phosphorus
from the various phosphate carriers became prOgressively less
pronounced during the growing season.

Stanford and Nelson (29) used dicalcium phosphate, alpha
tricalcium phosphate, superphosphate, and calcium metaphos-
phate on three soils in Iowa for oats and alfalfa, and con-
cluded that yields of dry matter at various stages of growth
and grain yields at harvest gave no indication of a differen-
tial response to phosphate sources.

Working with the same phosphate materials in Colorado,
Olsen and Gardner (20) obtained increases in yield from the
application of superphosphate and calcium metaphosphate for
sugar beets and wheat.

Alway and Nesom (1) stated that for alfalfa both cal-
cium metaphosphate and fused tricalcium phosphate would be as

effective as superphosphate when Well incorporated with the

as
D.

,-<——

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6.

soil in advance or at the time of planting the crop, at least
on all but calcareous soils. They also showed that the bene-
fit from top-dressing alfalfa with calcium metaphosphate was
slight during the first season and much greater during the
second season, in fact, nearly equal to superphosphate.

Sherwood, et a1 (25) used fused tricalcium phosphate,
calcium metaphosphate, and concentrated superphosphate at
equal total P205 rates on pasture and failed to obtain signi-
ficant differences in yields. The phosphorus content of the
herbage was virtually independent of yield.

On the alkaline or calcareous soils of Montana, Green
(12) found both fused tricalcium phosphate and calcium meta-
phosphate to be much inferior to superphosphate for alfalfa,
oats, and wheat.

Mooers (19) in Tennessee reported calcium metaphos-
phate as equal and fused tricalcium phosphate as somewhat
inferior to superphosphate in field tests with potatoes, corn,
wheat, millet, soybeans, and cOWpeas.

For a wheat, corn, lespedeza rotation in Kentucky,
Roberts, et a1 (24) reported fused tricalcium phosphate, cal-
cium metaphosphate, and superphosphate as practically alike
in their influence on yields.

Terman (30) in a greenhouse study with different parti-
cle sizes of fused tricalcium phosphate found that liming the
soil decreased the effectiveness of its larger particles. In
field tests, there were no significant differences in yields

of corn and wheat from plots receiving triple superphOSphate

 

.
.a
I,
.

 

 

 

 

 

7.

or 6-mesh, 40-mesh, and 80-mesh fused tricalcium phOSphate.

In a greenhouse experiment with annual yellow clover
on a calcareous soil, Hinkle (14) reported that treble super-
phosphate produced yields significantly better than those
produced with calcium metaphosphate. Using alfalfa on the
same soil in the field he obtained no significant difference
in yields as a result of using superphosphate, treble super-
phosphate, or calcium metaphosphate.

In field tests with various crops using superphosphate,
calcium metaphosphate, and potassium metaphosphate, Chandler
and Musgrave (7) found the yields resulting from the potas-
sium metaphosphate treatments to be equal or slightly higher
than those from the superphosphate treatments while calcium
metaphosphate treatments gave equal or slightly lower yields
than did superphosphate. The concentration of phosphorus in
sudan grass tissue grown on plots treated with potassium
metaphosphate was also equal or slightly higher than in that
grown on plots treated with superphosphate.

Volkerding and Eradfield (35) studied the solubility of
potassium and calcium metaphosphates in water and weak salt
solutions. They reported that the presence of calcium carbon-
ate greatly decreased the solubility of calcium metaphos-
phate but increased that of potassium metaphosphate.

Ensminger and Cope (8) working sixteen years with cotton
on a Norfolk fine sandy loam report that dilute acid-soluble

phosphorus was highest in the soil on the limed plots (pH 6.5)

 

 

 

 

 

8.

and lowest in that on the unlimed plots (pH 6.0). Soils
fertilized with tricalcium phosphate contained more dilute
acid-soluble phosphorus than did soils fertilized with super-
phosphate. The neutral 0.5 N NH4F solution extracted more
phosphorus from soil which had received superphosphate than
it did from soil treated with tricalcium phosphate.

Bowers (2) found the best correlations between alfalfa
yields and soil phosphorus tests when he used the Bray and
Kurtz method (6) for the total adsorbed plus acid soluble
ffaction.

When plotting Baule percentage yields against soil test
results as advocated by Bray (4, 6), Smith and Cook (26) ob-
tained their best results with a 1:50 extraction ratio of
Bray and Kurtz's (6) adsorbed phosphorus method for wheat
grown on various soils in the greenhouse. (Correlation coef-
ficient r - -O.6603).

Long and Seatz (l7) correlated the results of several
different phosphorus extractants against the yields of un-
phosphated plots and expressed them as percentage yields of
the phosphated plots. They obtained low and nonsignificant

g values.

IE:m_mlumnumfl_1

__

 

 

[[[ll‘

 

9.

EXPERIMENTAL
Materials

The phosphate carriers used in this study were raw rock
phosphate, dicalcium phosphate, fused tricalcium phosphate,
potassium metaphosphate, calcium metaphosphate, superphos-
phate, and concentrated superphosphate.

The rock phosphate used in the greenhouse experiments
was pulverized raw rock. For the experiments carried on in
the field, the finely ground Florida phosphate rock sold as
Aero-Phos was obtained from the American Cyanamid Company.
The Aero-Phos has a guaranteed available phosphoric acid con-
tent of three per cent and a guaranteed total phosphoric acid
content of thirty-three per cent.

The twenty per cent superphosphate used in both the
greenhouse and field studies was obtained from the Lansing
plant of the Davison Chemical Corporation. This product was
not granulated. Pu1Verized raw rock phosphate, dicalcium
phosphate, potassium metaphosphate, and calcium metaphosphate
were provided in five pound lots and the dicalcium phosphate,
fused tricalcium phosphate, potassium metaphosphate, calcium
metaphosphate, and concentrated superphosphate was provided
in two hundred pound lots by the Tennessee Valley Authority.

The characteristics of the various phosphate materials
supplied by the Tennessee Valley Authority are listed in
Table I.

.wcasmesfimsn
Hmefismso mo sonH>HQ .sofipeen poeaaoam>em .mefiso .pposmfim .m .9 .LE he sweucsoos

 

 

 

 

 

 

-- - -- o.mm m.ae e.se m.me e- eon.HH we eflmam meanemoes
uneasm UopmApsmosoo
-- e.m -- o.mm - m.oe e.ao ow- emm.ea we eHoHa Aoeopmmefia nude
-- m.o -- 0.0m - m.me e.me ma- moe.ee ea manage encesufiecoov spend
amosmmpms adaoamo
-- e.m m.mm e.s - s.me m.me oe- Osm.mm ooH eaofis Aoeopmoafifl as“;
-- m.H m.am e.m - -- m.ee 0e- omo.s om sweeps emcoapaeeoov opens
. -mohmmpma adfimwmpom
O
1. mm.o - -- m.oe - -- «.mm ow- omm.mH ms camps
mm.o - -- m.oe - -- e.mm ow- omm.mH as sweeps measswoaa
adfioamofins Ummsm
No.0 - -- m.oe m.o o.ee o.se NH- msm.m ma eases memes
-- - -- m.oe m.o o.ee e.se ma- msm.m ma sweeps -moam assuaaofiq
om.m - -- m.se - -- m.mm cos- mas.aa mm sweeps mpmasmoam aoom
3mm Umwd Awards—m”
was
nSHom mane seesaw .oz
m m popes naam>d Hmpoe .m. .04 Hm“
a oo o a one moms .mNHm .neg -smpme
was .4.>.s .a.>.a ewes
R .mfimmamsd Heofismso -Hpsmm hpfipsoeH madam Hmfismpms epmnmmonm

 

 

espasoauea smaae>
oemmmsseh an UmfiHmQSm mamasepma somaafipseh opmnmmOhm mo mefipmasmpomnmho .H wanes

 

 

 

11.

In the case of the rock phosphate, fused tricalcium
phosphate and potassium metaphosphate, the percentage of
total P205 was used in determining the amount of material to
add for the different application levels. However, with
the other phosphate materials, application rates were based
on available P205.

The rates of P205 applied in the greenhouse were sug-
gested in the following way. The ten-year rotation studies
being conducted at the Ferden farm by the Soil Science De-
partment included two rates of fertilization with 4-16-8
fertilizer--4OO pounds and 1000 pounds respectively per five
year rotation. It was decided that the test crops (alfalfa,
beans, and wheat) chosen from these rotations would show more
distinct differences in the greenhouse if the 1000 pound rate
of 4-16-8 or 160 pound rate of P205 were to be used. However,

the 160 pound rate of P 0 required only 500 pounds per acre

2 5
of rock phosphate which is about one-third the amount recom-
mended in some states. On this basis and the somewhat low
solubility of some of the other phosphate carriers it was
decided that the higher P205 rate should be 480 pounds per
acre.

Due to the proportion of K20 in potassium metaphosphate,
it was necessary to think in terms of a 4-16-11 rather than
in terms of a 4-16-8 for these experiments.

The nitrogen and K 0 portions of the 4-16-11 were sup-

2
plied on beans and wheat in the greenhouse as a liquid mixture

of potassium nitrate and potassium chloride except in the

 

 

 

 

12.

case of the potassium metaphosphate treatment where the hit-
rogen was applied as an aqueous solution of ammonium nitrate.
The alfalfa seed was inoculated with an approved inoculant
and received no added nitrOgen. However, the K20 for the
alfalfa was supplied in a similar manner by an aqueous solu-
tion of potassium chloride. The nitrogen and K20 for the
beans in the field were supplied by solid ammonium nitrate
and solid muriate of potash respectively.

In the greenhouse cultures, precipitated calcium car-
bonate was used in place of limestone at the rate of two tons

per acre. In the field experiment limestone meal was applied

at one and one-half, and three tons per acre.

Methods

The fertilization and planting techniques will be dis-
cussed for each crop separately.

The moisture equivalent was determined on the soil used
in the greenhouse so that the soil could be watered to or
near that point with distilled water.

All plant material grown in the greenhouse was harves-
ted with tinsnips, oven dried from twelve to twenty-four hours,
and ground with a Wiley mill. Before the wheat was ground it
was carefully thrashed so that the grain could be kept separ-
ate from the straw and chaff. One gram of the dry, ground
plant material was weighed out of each sample for wet ashing

with a mixture of nitric, perchloric, and sulfuric acids.

Tiff.

1"?

 

 

 

13.

The ash was taken up in warm approxiwately tenth normal
hydrochloric acid, filtered and washed with the same warm
acid, and brought up to a volume of 100 milliliters when
cool. A ten milliliter aliquot was in turn taken for the
determination of phosphorus as the phosphovanado-molybdivan-
ado-molybdate phosphoric acid complex according to the
adaptation for bi010gical materials proposed by Koenig and
Johnson (16). The color was measured at one hour with a
Lumetron colorimeter whose blue filter has its maximum
transmittancy at 420 mu. The dilution factor was 250.

After the final harvest of crops in the greenhouse a
200 to 300 gram sample of soil was composited from seven or
eight different places in the upper one-third of the pot
where the lime and fertilizer had originally been mixed
with the soil. After being air dried each soil sample was
gently crushed with a rolling pin and then passed through a
two millimeter sieve to remove rocks and roots.

The pH of the soil sample was measured with a line
operated Macbeth pH meter. These samples were also used
for the soil tests.

Smith (26) working with tomatoes and wheat in the
greenhouse found the following extracting solutions and soil
solution ratios of Bray and Kurtz (6) to be quite promising
when the amount of phosphorus removed was compared to the
plant growth response: (1) adsorbed phosphorus extracting

reagent used at a ratio of ten milliliters to one gram of

 

 

l4.

soil; (2) acid-soluble and adsorbed phosphorus extracting
reagent used at a ratio of ten milliliters to one gram of
soil; and (3) adsorbed phosphorus extracting reagent used at
a ratio of fifty milliliters to one gram of soil.

The three extracting methods listed above were used on
samples of soil from each pot in the greenhouse and on dup- _.
licate samples from each sub-plot in the field. The one to
ten extracting ratio was achieved by using three grams of t

soil and thirty milliliters of extracting solution, and the

 

one to fifty ratio was obtained with three grams of soil
and 150 milliliters of extracting reagent.

A ten milliliter aliquot or when necessary a 5 or a 2
milliliter aliquot of the extractant was taken for phosphorus
determination as molybdenum blue using 1, 2, 4 aminonapthol
sulfonic acid for a reducing agent as suggested by Fiske and
Subbarow (9).

The difference between the amount of phosphorus removed
by the adsorbed phosphorus extractant and the amount removed
by the acid-soluble and adsorbed phosphorus extractant was
determined for each soil sample and was described as the
acid-soluble fraction. This value was desired because of
its similarity to that determined by the Spurway (28) re-
serve extraction.

Plant yield and composition data as well as the soil
test data for phosphorus were subjected to analysis of vari-

ance. The analysis of variance outline applicable to the
alfalfa, beans, and wheat experiments performed in the green-

house is shown in Table 2.

 

 

 

 

Table 2. Analysis of Variance, greenhouse data

 

 

 

Source df Sum of Mean F
Squares Square

Total 77

Replications 2

Treatments 12

Cks vs P 1

Rate 0f P205 1

Carriers 5

Carriers x rate 5
Error A 24

Lime (subplots) 1

Lime x Treatments 12

Lime x Carriers 5

Rate x Lime 1

Cks vs P x Lime 1

Carriers x Rate x

lime 5
Error B 26

 

 

The analysis of variance outline applicable to the bean
experiment performed in the field is shown in Table 3.

Table 3. Analysis of Variance, field data

 

 

Source df Sum of Mean F
Squares Square
Total 71
Replications 2
Treatments 7
Cks vs P 1
Within P 6
Error A 14
Lime (subplots) 2
Lime vs no lime 1
Rates of lime 1
Lime x Treatments 14
Error B 32

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Soils

 

Miami sandy loam used in the greenhouse for this study
was obtained in Clinton County, Michigan, from the east half
of the northwest one fourth of the southeast quarter of
Section 21, Range 2 West, Township 6 North.

The bean plots were located on the same farm but in
the southeast quarter of the northeast quarter of the south-
west quarter of Section 21, Range 2 West, Township 6 North.
The soils mapped in the area of the plots by Dr. E. P.
fihiteside were Miami sandy loam, B slope, also Miami sandy
loam, C slope, Conover sandy loam, 3 slope, and Brookston
silt loam, A slope.

The Miami sandy loam had an AP layer of 0-8 inches of
sandy loam; an A2 layer of 8-10 inches of light sandy loam;
a B1 layer of lO-15 inches of heavy sandy loam; a B2 layer
of 15-30 inches of clay loam; and a C layer of loam at 30
inches.

The Conover silt loam had an AP layer of 0-8 inches of
sandy loam; an 32 layer of 8-19 inches of medium sandy loam;
a B layer of 19-28 inches of clay loam; and a C layer of
heavy loam.

The Brookston silt loam had an A? layer of 0-9 inches

of silt loam; a G layer of 9-15 inches of silty clay loam;

1
a G2 layer of 15-26 inches of clay loam; a G3 layer of 26-44
inches of silty clay loam; and a G4 layer of clay loam be-

yond 44 inches.
The areas involved for each can readily be seen in

Figure l.

 

 

 

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Ihosphatc
lime levels, bean experiment.

Field outline and soil type map.

carrier vs.

Figure l o

 

III!

 

 

 

18.

EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS

Greenhouse

 

Alfalfa

In this experiment with alfalfa there were two rates of
phosphorus used with zero and two tons of lime. The pots
were filled two-thirds full of soil and then phosphate ferti-
lizer was mixed into the remaining soil before placing in
the upper third of the pot. when lime was required, preci-
pitated calcium carbonate was thoroughly stirred into the
upper three-inch layer of the soil. Nitrogen and potassium
were added in solution after the pot was filled with soil.
The pots were brought to moisture equivalent and allowed to
stand one month before they were again moistened and planted.
The inoculated alfalfa seed was scattered in a 1/2-inch deep
depression formed by pressing the rim of a flower pot into
the soil. The soil was then firmed over the seed with the
hands.

Three harvests were made, each taken at the full bloom
stage. All treatments were run in triplicate and the yields

are reported in Table 4.

Yields
All phosphate carriers applied at the rate of 160
pounds of P205 produced an increase where no lime was applied.
Superphosphate gave the highest yields, almost double those

of the check. The cultures treated with rock phosphate,

 

 

 

 

Table 4.

Alfalfa yields as affected by several phosphorus
carriers applied at two rates of P C
and unlimed soil.
cultures)

19.

(Miami sandy lo
(Grams per pote)

 

5 to limed
Em in pot

 

Rock Dical- Fused Tri

Potassium

Calcium Super-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cutting Check phos- cium calcium Meta-
phate phos- phosphate phosphate pmsimte
phate
160 Pounds Egoéper. No Lime
1 6.2 13.4 17.3 18.3 16.6
2 12.9 18.9 16.4 16.0 15.1
3 12.1 15.6 15.1 14.3 13.8
Total 31.2 47.9 48.8 48.6 45.5
160 Pounds onfiper 2 Tons Lime
1 4.9 7.8 14.3 15.4 17.2
2 13.8 16.3 17.7 14.1 15.5
3 14.9 13.3 18.1 17.8 16.1
Tot 33.6 37.4 50.1 47.3 48.8
480 Pounds P205 per No Lime
1 6.2 15.7 19.2 19.8 23.2
2 12.9 16.7 17.1 15.7 18.2
3 12.1 16.6 16.3 15.7 14.8
Tot 31.2 49.0 52.6 51.2 56.2
480 Pounds P205 per 2 Tons Lime
1 4.9 10.5 16.9 15.1 17.9
2 13.8 15.2 17.1 16.2 15.9
3 14.9 13.0 16.0 18.2 16.0
Total 33. 38.7 50.0 49.5 49.8

 

*Mean of 3 replications.

.r.____wi_1

 

 

 

 

 

 

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20.

 

dicalcium phosphate, and fused tricalcium phosphate yielded
about the same amount,approximate1y 1-1/2 times the yield
of the check. The calcium metaphosphate treatment resulted
in yields slightly less than did the three previously men-
tioned treatments. The wheat treated with potassium meta-
phosphate yielded about 1-1/3 times as much as did that which
was unfertilized. The results show, that on this unlimed
Miami soil, there was little difference between rock phos-
phate, dicalcium phosphate, and fused tricalcium phosphate

as a source of phosphorus for alfalfa at 160 pounds of P205
per acre.

When the soil was limed at the rate of two tons per
acre, wheat yields were slightly increased. The yield as
affected by rock phosphate was considerably reduced by the
applications of lime. Dicalcium phosphate, fused tricalcium
phosphate, potassium metaphosphate, and calcium metaphos-
phate all resulted in essentially the same yields, smaller
than those which resulted from the application of super-
phosphate.

Lime did not change the response which wheat made to
superphosphate, dicalcium, or fused tricalcium phosphate.

The phosphate source should not be rock phosphate when this
soil has been limed, according to the indications of this
experiment. The metaphosphates, however, showed much im-

provement where the soil was limed.

 

 

 

21.

When the P205 rate of application was increased to 480
pounds per acre in an unlimed soil, the wheat treated with
rock phosphate, dicalcium phosphate, and fused tricalcium
phosphate yielded four to eight per cent more than where the
lower rate was applied. The higher rates of potassium meta-
phosphate, calcium metaphosphate and superphosphate caused
much greater increases in yields. It is interesting to note
that 480 pounds of potassium metaphosphate resulted in the
same increase in yield as the 160 pound rate with two tons of
lime. These results would seem to indicate that increasing
the phosphate rate per acre would only be advisable for potas-
sium metaphosphate, calcium metaphosphate, and superphos-
phate. Comparing the two rates of phosphate when limed, rock
phosphate, dicalcium phosphate, fused tricalcium phosphate,
and calcium metaphosphate gave no significant increase in
yield. Only potassium metaphosphate and superphosphate gave
a significant increase in yield for an increase in the rate
of phosphate applied.

It has long been recognized that superphosphate is
adapted to soils with a wide pH range. The results of this
experiment tend to indicate that potassium metaphosphate and
calcium metaphosphate may also be used in soils where there
is a liberal supply of calcium or at least a fairly high re-
action. Potassium metaphosphate was the only material
studied which increased the yield at the higher rate of
phosphate application when the soil was limed. This experi-

ment does not give a complete picture of the lime rate and

 

 

 

22.

phosphorus rate for potassium metaphosphate. Further
studies with this material are necessary.

In general, for the lower rate of phosphate the
yields of the unlimed cultures were higher at the begin-
ning and gradually decreased with the later cuttings. On
the limed cultures the first cutting yields were lowest
with yields tending to increase with successive cuttings,
except for those treated with the potassium metaphosphate
and calcium metaphosphate where there was a slight decrease
from the first to last cuttings.

Plate 1 shows the general appearance of the plants

Just before the third cutting.

 

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24.

Composition

For a more complete definition of the plant response
characteristics of these phosphate materials it was decided
to analyse the plant material. The concentration of phos-
phorus in the plant tissue is reported in Table 5. At the
160 pound rate of P205, where no lime was applied, the
highest concentration of phosphorus in the tissue was found
in the plants treated with potassium metaphosphate. The
next highest Was found in those treated with tricalcium phos-
phate. Then in decreasing order so far as phosphorus com-
position was concerned came the plants treated with calcium
metaphosphate, superphosphate, dicalcium phosphate, and rock
phosphate. The untreated plants contained the least phos-
phorus; when lime was added, the phosphorus concentration
was lowered in plants grown in untreated soil and those
treated with dicalcium and fused tricalcium. Iith all other
materials at the lower rate of application, lime additions
resulted in an increase in concentration of phosphorus in
the plants. The increase was slight in the case of rock phos-
phate. The most marked increase occurred with potassium
metaphosphate.

When the phosphate rate was increased to 480 pounds
per acre, the phoSphorus concentration in the plant tissue
was markedly increased. Rock phosphate application resulted
in the smallest increase in concentration of the phospharus

in the tissue. Ihen lime was applied with the 480 pound

 

 

 
 
  

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25.

treatment, the concentration of phosphorus found in the

 

tissues was decreased in all cases except where potassium
metaphosphate was applied. Lime at the high rates of cal-
cium phosphate application consistently decreased the con-
centration of phosphorus in the tissue, while at lower rates
of phosphate, lime increased the concentration of phosphorus m
in the tissue in several instances. Potassium metaphosphate
in this study caused a direct increase in concentration of

phosphorus in the plant tissue where lime was applied and

 

where phosphate was increased. It behaved so differently H
from the other carriers that more study on this material
will be necessary.
The weighted mean figures in Table 5 were obtained by
dividing the total phosphorus in all tissue removed from the
culture by the weight of all tissue removed, thus giving the
average concentration of phosphorus.
To get the amount of phosphorus supplied by the soil
and the fertilizer, it is necessary to multipw one factor by
the other. This has been done in Table 6 where the total

amount of phosphorus removed in alfalfa tops is reported.

 

The phosphorus removed by these plants came from either the
soil or the phosphate material applied to the soil. In this
case the same soil was used for all treatments. It if is
assumed that the soil has a relatively uniform phosphorus
supplying power, then the variation in amounts removed will

be strongly influenced by the Kind of carrier applied since

 

Table 5 o

26.

Phosphorus content of alfalfa as affected by
several phosphorus carriers applied at two rates
of P20 to limed and unlimed soil. (Miami sandy
loam in pot cultures) (Milligrams P per gram of
oven dry tissue*)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rock Dical- Fused Tri- Pmmssium Calcium Super-
Cutting Check phos- cium calcium Meta- Meta- phos-
phate phos- phosphate phosphate phos- phate
phate phate
160 Pounds P205 per Acre: No Lime
1 1.23 1.20 1.43 1.51 1.39 1.68 1.47
2 1.21 1.49 1.49 2.21 2.65 1.56 2.49
3 .74 0.69 1.08 1.28 1.72 1.17 0.58
Weighted
mean 1.03 1.15 1.34 1.68 1.86 1.49 1.47
160 Pounds P205 per Acre: 2 Tons Lime
1 1.34 1.39 1.15 1.01 1.72 1.26 1.65
2 1.16 1.71 1.71 1.73 3.28 1.93 2.59
3 0.62 0.47 0.88 1.32 2.09 2.08 0.83
Neighted
mean 0.95 1.20 1.25 1.34 2.35 1.74 1.62
480 Pounds P205 per Acre: No Lime
1 1.23 1.37 1.60 1.93 1.98 1.43 2.71
2 1.21 1.23 2.16 3.15 3.83 2.34 3.56
3 0.74 1.16 1.91 1.85 2.32 3.57 1.30
Weighted
mean 1.03 1.25 1.88 2.28 2.66 2.29 2.46
480 Pounds P205 per Acre: 2 Tons Lime
1 1.34 1.23 1.54 1.84 1.80 1.52 1.73
2 1.16 1.43 1.78 1.90 3.58 2.40 4.83
3 0.62 0.51 0.98 1.13 4.25 2.65 1.72
Weighted
mean 0.95 1.07 1.44 1.60 3.08 2.16 2.34
*Mean of 3 replicates.

 

 

Table 6.

Total phosphorus removed in alfalfa tOps as

affected by several phOSphorus carriers applied
at two rates of P205 to limed and unlimed soil.

(Miami sandy loam in pot cultures)

P per pots)

(Milligrams

 

Rock Dical- Fused Tri Potassium Calcium Super

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A “i- m .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cutting Check phos- cium calcium Meta- Meta- phos-
phate phos- phosphate phosphate phos- phate
phate phate
160 Pounds P205 per Acre: No Lime
1 7.63 16.08 24.74 23.91 27.89 27.64
2 15.61 28.16 24.44 32.60 23.56 46.56
3 8.95 10.76 16.31 20.47 16.15 12.59
Total 32.19 55.00 65.49 76.98 67.60 86.79
160 Pounds P205 per Acre: 2 Tons Lime
1 6.57 10.84 16.45 34.06 21.67 29.54
2 16.01 27.87 30.27 57.73 29.92 47.40
3 9.24 6.25 15.93 31.56 33.49 19.26
Total 31.82 44.96 62.65 123.35 85.08 96.20
480 Pounds P205per Acre: No Lime
1 7.63 21.51 30.72 43.16 33.18 61.52
2 15.61 20.54 36.94 64.34 42.59 70.49
3 8.95 19.26 31.13 32.71 52.84 30.68
Total 32.19 61.31 98.79 116.72 140.21 128.61 162.69
480 Pounds P205 per Acre: 2 Tons Lime
1 6.57 12.92 26.03 39.60 27.21 35.98
2 16.01 21.74 30.44 63.01 38.16 73.54
3 9.24 6.63 15.68. 69.70 42.40 43.86
Total 31.82 41.29 72.15 172.3 107.77 153.38

 

 

 

*Mean of 3 replications

 

 

28.

all were applied to supply the same quantities of P205. The
outstanding values in Table 6 are for potassium metaphosphate
which had a remarkable ability to supply the plants with
phosphorus in a limed soil. Table 6 also shows that rock
phosphate applied to soil which is limed fails to adequately
supply phOSphorus for the growing crop as evidenced by the
low value for phosphorus removed where the 480 pound treat-
ment was made with lime. The supplying power of fused tri-
calcium phosphate was also reduced when lime was applied to

the soil 0

Soil Tests

Rapid chemical soil tests are used in obtaining an in-
dication of fertilizer needs of soil. These soil tests were
calibrated against soils where no phosphorus, rock phosphate,
or superphosphate was applied. It seemed desirable to eva-
luate several extracting methods against the phophate sources
used in this experiment. The methods of sampling, prepar-
ation for extraction, and extracting are described on page
14. The results for these tests on the soils where alfalfa
was grown are shown in Table 7. In all cases but one the
extracting solutions removed more phosphorus from the soils
which received the higher rate of phosphorus. An exception
was found for the limed soil with high rate rock phosphate
treatment and tested by the Bray adsorbed method with the
ratio of one part soil to ten parts of extracting solution.

In several instances the strong acid extracting reagent

 

 

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30.

removed more phosphorus from limed, rock phosphate treated
soil than from that treated with rock but not limed. This
was especially true where the rock, dicalcium, and fused
tricalcium phosphates were applied. However, the two ad-
sorbed phosphorus methods resulted in the removal of less
phosphorus from the limed soil. The highest phosphorus
removal by the strong acid was from the soil treated with
rock phosphate. Yields, however, were lower where rock was
applied than where the phosphate was of any other form.

.A simple correlation was run between the test results
and the grams of dry tissue obtained per culture. The re-
sults failed to show a correlation between yield and soil
test for the acid soluble phosphorus by difference extrac-
tion method. The adsorbed plus acid soluble phosphorus

showed a correlation coefficient of .248 which is signifi-

cant at the 5% level. Higher correlations were obtained for

adsorbed phosphorus with either ratio. The l-lO ratio

correlation with yields was .639 and the 1-50 ratio correla-

tion was .605, both significant at the 1% level.

 

 

 

 

9 ‘ ,l' ' III.

..

I:
t? ‘ , ~4‘ .1 :1 I

 

31.

BEANS

~ Pots were filled two-thirds full with Miami sandy
loam. The phosphate materials and lime, each added separ-

ately to the remaining third, were stirred in thoroughly

 

before being placed in the pot. Nitrogen and potash were

-‘fij

then added in solution and additional moisture added to
bring the soil to moisture equivalent. After this had
dried until the soil was suitable for planting, a flower

pot was used to create a depression in the soil about 1/2

 

LD

inch deep. Twenty bean seeds were equally spac d in the
depression and the soil pressed firmly against the seed. The
pots were covered with paper and allowed to stand until the
beans germinated and then were thinned to eight per pot.

The cultures were watered with distilled water, the maximum
amount added being sufficient to bring the soil moisture
back to the moisture equivalent. The beans were allowed to
grow until the blossom stage was reached, photographs were
taken and the plants then cut off about l/E-inch above the
surface of the soil. The tissue was dried and’ground as
described in the "Methods" section of this stud‘. Phosphor-
us was determined in the dry plant tissue. The results of

these determinations along with the yield results are shown

in Table 8.

 

 

 

 

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33.

Yields

Except in the case of the cultures which were unlimed
and treated with rock phosphate, increasing the rate of
phosphorus applied increased the yield whether the soil was
limed or not. Liming increased the yields of the check
slightly but for all phosphate materials, at both rates,
liming resulted in a decrease in yield. The smallest de-
creases as a result of lime however, were obtained where
potassium metaphosphate and superphosphate fertilizers were
applied at the higher rates. On the unlimed soil, the beans
yielded better with the dicalcium phosphate than did the
alfalfa but yielded less on the rock and the fused trical-

cium phosphate. The relationship between yields of beans as

W

gaffected by potassium metaphosph te, calcium metaphosphate,
and superphosphate on the unlimed soil was essentially the
same as for the alfalfa. On the limed soils, however, the
potassium metaphosphate and superphosphate resulted in by
far the highest bean yields. Most of the other materials

were almost entirely ineffective where lime was applied.

Composition
The phosphorus concentration of the bean tissue was in-
creased by lime where there was no phosphate applied. For
all phosphate carriers, however, at both rates of P205
application, the phosphorus concentration in the tissue was
decreased by lime. The smallest decrease was for the high

rate of superphosphate but not significantly so.

 

 

34.

The results for the total phosphorus content of been
plants were parallel to those of the phosphorus concentra-
tion in the tissue. The amount of phosphorus removed by the
plants treated with potassium metaphosphate was greater than
for any of the other materials including superphosphate.
This was more a result of the high phosphorus concentration
in the tissue than it was of the high yield.

The general appearance and growth of the bean plants
under the various conditions of this experiment can be seen

in Plate 20

Soil Tests

The results of soil tests after beans were very simi-
lar to those after alfalfa as indicated in Table 9. The
correlation coefficients obtained between the soil test re-
sults and yield of beans for the various extracting solu-
tions are as follows: adsorbed plus acid soluble was a posi-
tive .231, significant at the 5% level; acid soluble by
difference was a negative .05 which is not significant;
adsorbed 1:10 was a positive .788, significant at the 1%
level; and adsorbed using the extracting ratio of 1:50 was a
positive .752, significant at the 1; level. As was the case
with the alfalfa, the results from the two adsorbed methods

were not significantly different.

 

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55.

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37.

Ti H 7 SAT

The pots for wheat were handled similarly to those for
beans. Twenty five wheat seeds were placed in each pot and
the soil firmed over them, and then covered with paper until
the seeds had germinated. After the plants were past the
danger of damping-off, they were thinned to 12 plants per
culture. The wheat was kept watered with distilled water so

the soil moisture was never greater than the moisture equiva-

lent. The wheat plants were allowec to mature and harvested
by cutting the heads off and keeping them separate and then
cutting the straw l/2-inch above the soil so as not to con-
'tandnate the samples with soil containing phosphorus. These
.nmaterials were dried--the straw kept for grinding and the
sseeed thrashed and weighed and kept for analysis. The chaff

VVEiES added to the straw and both were ground for analysis by

titles methods outlined in the "Methods" section of this study.

Yields

The yields of grain and straw are shown in Table 10.
rThu-E‘s yields of grain for all carriers at the 160 pounds per
8C3JI‘E3 rate and not limed were essentially the same except for
PCD‘:=L< phosphate. The rock phosphate and check yields were
akD‘CDLit half those of other treatments. There was more varia-
tj-(Dxa in the straw and chaff weights. Added lime caused a
deczIf‘ease in all grain yields except where superphosphate was
aEWEY]_1ed at the heavy rate. In the cases of the fused trical-

C1‘1I11 phosphate, dicalcium phosphate, rock phosphate, and the

 

Table 10.

Sheet yields as affected by several phosphorus

carriers applied at two rates of P205 to limed

and unlimed so
cultures)

il.

(Miami sandy loam in pot
(Grams per pot#)

 

Phosphate Carriers

No Lime

2 Tons Lime

 

Grain Straw Total Grain Straw Total

 

 

 

     
  
 

 

 

  
  
  
  
  
  

 

and and
Chaff Chaff
Check 2.7 5.3 8.0 1.4 3.9 5.3
160 Pounds P205 per Acre
Dicalcium Phosphate 5.0 9.4 14.4 2.7 6.8 9.5
Fused tricalcium phosphate 5.5 10.7 16.2 2.2 5.7 7.9
Potassium Metaphosphate 5.5 9.9 15.4 4.6 8.5 13.1
lalcium Metaphosphate 5.1 9.6 14.7 3.6 7.8 11.4
Lbuperphosphate 5.0 11.7 16.7 4.2 9.5 13.7
480 Pounds P205per Acre
(Dck Phosphate 3.8 9.2 13.0 1.6 4.5 6.1
33>1.calcium Phosphate 5.3 11.9 17.2 4.3 8.7 13.0
Fused tricalcium phosphate 5.3 10.9 16.2 2.8 6.7 9.5
«E’<D"tassium Metaphosphate 6.0 14.3 20.3 5.2 10.7 15.9
Calcium Metaphosphate 5.5 15.1 20.6 4.8 9.9 14.7
Super-phosphate 4.7 12.0 16.7 5.1 10.0 15.1

 

'—

T‘IVIsean of 3 replicates

 

 

 

 

9.

Cr}

check, yields were greatly reduced by the lime. Relatively
small decreases as a result of lime occurred where the potas-
sium metaphosphate and the low rate of superphosphate were
applied. The decrease was intermediate where the phosphate
carrier was calcium metaphosphate. The weight of straw and
chaff did not vary with treatment as much as did the weight
of grain.

Increasing the rate of P205 application to 480 pounds
per acre did not appreciably affect the yield for any mater-
ial except potassium metaphosphate and rock phosphate.
Liming the soil at the higher rate of phosphate application
decreased the grain yield in all cases except where super-
;fliosphate was applied. The only difference brought about by

tine different rates of phosphate and added lime occurred
vvkiere dicalcium phosphate was used, the depression in yield
13£3;ing less where the phosphate rate was greater. The yields
VV€31re not significantly increased by the rock phosphate. At
't1:1€3 higher rate of phosphate, straw and chaff yields were
nl<:lI“e variable where lime was applied than elsewhere in the
e X periment .
The general appearance in growth of the wheat plants

E313 about heading time can be observed from Plate 3.

Composition
A comparison of the yield of wheat grain with the con-
teer1.t of phosphorus in the grain and the straw is shown in

qk1t3:18 11. The concentration of phosphorus in the wheat grain

 

 

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41.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Table 11. A comparison of the yield of wheat with the-
concentration of phosphorus in the grain and-
straw as affected by several phosphorus car-
riers applied at two rates of P20 to limed
and unlimed soil. (Miami sandy 18am in pot
cultures*)

Phosphate Carriers NO Lime 2 Tons Lime L
Yield Mgms P/gm of Yield Mgms P/gm oi
(grams dry tissue ams dry tissue
/pot) Grain Straw pot) Grain Straw

Check 2.7 3.28 0.20 1.4 3.43 0.30

160 Pounds P205 per acre

Rock Phosphate 2.3 4.85 0.43 1.5 5.96 0.38

g Dicalcium Phosphate 5.0 4.68 0.03 2.7 5.70 0.14

i Fused Tricalcium Phos-

j phate . 5.5 4.49 0.45 2.2 5.58 0.32

1 Potassium metaphosphate 5.5 5.53 0.47 4.6 3.85 0.48

2 Calcium Metaphosphate 5.1 5.28 0.41 3.6 5.87 0.77

/ superphosxrhate 5.0 5.83 0.41 4.2 5.13 0.14

/

Lil-80 Pounds 132(5 per acre

/ IRock Phosphate 3.8 4.76 0.24 1.6 5.37 0.47

, IDicalcium Phosphate 5.3 6.53 0.60 4.3 4.49 0.58
IFused Tricalcium Phos-

phate 5.3 6.80 0.93 2.8 6.13 0.68

-I?otassium Metaphosphate 6.0 7.12 1.87 5.2 6.79 0.58

(:halcium Metaphosphate 5.5 8.38 1.78 4.8 5.16 1.29

EEtherphosphate 4.7 7.47 1.68 5.1 6.80 0.52

 

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42.

was not significantly different as a result of the various
phosphate materials at the rate of 160 pounds of P205 and
unlimed. Where the soil was limed, all materials resulted
in essentially the same content of phosphorus in the seed
except for the potassium metaphosphate treatment which
caused a decidedly lower concentration. The concentration
of phosphorus in the straw was essentially the same for all
materials except the dicalcium phosphate which caused a de-
crease in phosphorus in both limed and unlimed soil. The
superphosphate treatment also resulted in a low concentra-
tion of phosphorus in the straw when applied at the 160
pound rate with lime. Where lime was added, the calcium
Inetaphosphate caused a high phosphorus content in the straw
sand also in the seed. The behavior of potassium metaphos-
éfikiate was different that it was in the alfalfa and the beans.
CDII the other hand the calcium metaphosphate seemed to be a
'EDEBtter source of phosphate for wheat than it was for alfalfa
01" beans.

The phosphorus concentration in the straw and chaff
63{Essentially paralleled that of the grain at the 480 pound
:r'EECte of P205 on unlimed soil. Furthermore, the phosphorus
chcentration in the grain, for all materials except the rock
IDITLCEpmate, was higher than where the materials were applied
8‘13 the lower rate. where the soil received rock phosphate
t:l'lea phosphorus concentration in the grain was increased by
tzklfiB application of lime. For other phosphate treatments the

ph~C>sphorus content of the grain was decreased where the soil

 

 

 

 

43.

was limed.
The total amount of phosphorus removed in wheat tops

was calculated and recorded in Table 12. The highest amounts

removed at both rates and at both levels of lime occurred

with but one exception where the metaphosphates were applied.
For all other materials liming caused a decrease in the

amount of phosphorus removed from the soil.

Soil Tests
The soil tests following the growth of the wheat again

point to the inadvisability of using the adsorbed plus acid

soluble and the acid soluble by difference methods on treated

soils with rock phosphate.
The amounts of phosphorus extracted by these various

tZests (Table 12) were intermediate between the amounts ex-

tZIFECted following alfalfa and beans. The correlation coef-

IT'i.cients between these tests and the yields of wheat grain

C>k3tained were not significant. They did, however, fall in
‘t:ltle same relative order as those for the tests on the other

czixficbpped soils. The value for adsorbed plus acid soluble was
51 Iaositive .041. That for the acid soluble by difference

VV22155 a negative .026 and those for the adsorbed at both ex-

1:3'=“‘saction ratios were a positiVe .12.

 

 

 

Table 12.

44.

Total phosphorus re oved in wheat tops as

 

affected by several phosphorus carriers applied

at two rates of P20

to limed and unlimed soil.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(hiami sandy loam in pot cultures) (Milli-
grams P per pots)
Phosrhate Carriers _;;No Lime 2 Tons Lime ‘1
‘ Grain Straw Total Grain Straw Totafl
and ~% and ‘
Chaff Chaff
I
Check 8.86 1.06 9.92 4.80 1.17 5.9T
160 Ppunds P205 per Acre l
Rock Phosphate 11.18 2.52 15.48 8.94 1.79 10.75
I
Dicalcium Phosphate 23.40 0.28 23.68 15.59 0.95 16.3%
Fused Tricalcium Phos- E
phate 24.70 4.82 29.52 12.28 1.82 14.10
jPotassium Metaphosphate 30.42 4.65 35.07 17.71 4.08 21.79
i
(Jalcium Metaphosphete 26.93 3.94 30.87 21.13 6.01 27.14
ESuperphosphate 29.15 4.80 55.95 21.55 1.55 22.88
. I
480 Pounds P205 per Acre i
i ..
tFEcDCK Phosphate 18.09 2.21 20.30 8.59 2.12 10.71
13>i.calcium Phosphate 34.61 7.14 41.75 19.31 5.05 24.3
EPIJLSed Tricalcium Phos-

IQHlate 36.04 10.14 46.18 17.16 4.56 21.72
E><3>tassium Metephosphate 42.72 26.74 69.46 55.51 8.21 41.52
C=Ea51c1um Metaphosphate 48.09 28.88 72.97 24.77 12.77 57.54
EiLJLIDerphosphate 55.11 20.18 55.27 34.68 5.20 59.88
____~_¥ .

 

 

 

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46.

PHOSPHATE CARRIERS VERSUS LIMZ RATE

Beans

After seeing the results from the three crops (alfalfa,
beans, and wheat) in the greenhouse, it was decided to try
these various carriers in the field and conpare them with 0,
1.5, and 3 tons of lime per acre with beans seleCted as the
first crop. Three replicates were set up for the eight phos-
phate treatments and the lime treatments were put in as sub-
plots.~ The soil was plowed, disked, and harrowed and after
the plots were staked out nitrogen and potassium fertilizers
were applied with a grain drill. The soil was then harrowed
thoroughly and the separate phosphorus carriers were drilled
in. Lime was then applied on the surface with an E-Z-Flow
lime spreader and the soil was harrowed again before the
beans were planted. The beans were planted in 28 inch rows,
four rows per sub-plot. Harvests were taken from the two
center rows. Precipitation seemed to be properly spaced pro-
viding adequate moisture for a good yield. The site selected
was not as uniform as was desired, there being three soil
types, Miami sandy loam (both E and C slcpes), ConOVer sandy
loam, and Brookston silt loam. The site selected had been
used for a wheat-clover rotation, and clover was ploWed down

for this experiment.

Yields
The yields of beans in bushels per acre are given in

Table 14. The yields from block to block varied a great deal,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

47.

Table 14. Been yields as affected by three rates of lime
applied to soils fertilized with several phos-
phorus carriers. (Field experiment in Miami
sandy loam, Conover sandy loam, and Erookston
silt loam soils) ‘

 

 

hOSphate Carriers at Lime Block Sum Mean
80 pounds P205 per acre (Tons
per 1 2 3
acre)
Check 34.8 25.5 17.2 77.5 25.8

(oh-
N)
O)
O
()1

29.1 23.9 79.5 26.5
3.3 18.2 17.7 69.2 3.1
Rock Phosphate 32.2 26.5 20.8 79.5 26.5
24.4 21.3 79.5 26.5
28.6 22.4 20.3 71.3 23.8

MH
03
(A
I
03

25.0 28.1 13.5 66.6 22.2
“9.1 25.5 18.2 72.8 24.3
27.0 22.4 20.8 70.2 23.4

Dicalcium Phosphate

(0114
t\

22.9 23.9 19.8 66.6 22.2
23.4 26.5 75.9 25.3
30.2 27.6 21.8 79.6 26.5

Fused Tricalcium Phosphate

NIH
to
03
O
O

19.8 23.9 71.8 23.9
22.4 21.8 75.4 25.1
25.0 23.9 24.4 73.3 24.4

Potassium Metaphosphate

NIH
C»)
l-—’
O
N

23.9 22.9 18.2 65.0 21.7
25.0 19.8 71.3 3.8
32.2 19.2 16.1 67.5 22.5

Calcium Metaphosphate

NIH
N)
03
O
01

25.5 21.8 15.6 62.9 21.0
27.0 19.2 72.2 24.1
22.4 24.4 18.2 65.0 21.7

Superphosphate

NIH
m
G
O
O

Concentrated Superphosphate 22.9 28.6 17.2 68.7 22.9

(Jill—'0 Oil—'0 (ND-‘0 (Hi-'0 Oil-‘0 (ND-‘0 (ill-‘0 (fll—‘O
m
(D
I—'

 

4 50.2 28.0 27.0 83.2 27.7
21.8 25.0 25.0 71.8 5.9
Sum 885.1 585.0 488.2 1758.5
23,3.
25.7

 

 

 

*Mean yields for 0, 1%, and 3 ton lime treatments respectively

 

 

 

48.

and as a result the significance for replications was at the
12 level. Differences in yield caused by phosphate treat-
ments showed no significance and only slight significance
occurred for the lime treatments. In general, the highest
yields were in block one, followed in order by blocks 2 and 3.

The data reported in Table 14 show that the yields
which resulted from the 1.5 ton rate of lime were highest ex-
cept in the case of rock phosphate and fused tricalcium phos-
phate. Keeping the variant yields of rock phosphate and
fused tricalcium phosphate in mind, an examination of Table
15 shows that in blocks 2 and 3, where rock phosphate was
applied, the unlimed and limed (1.5 tons) sub-plots had about
the same pH. This parallels the similarity in yields. An
examination of the pH values for blocks 1 and 3 for fused tri-
calcium phosphate and the 1.5 and 3 ton lime levels reveals a
similar situation. This would tend to indicate that there is
a strong relationship between the pH and the ability of the
soil to supply phosphorus to the plants from the sources
applied as well as from native soil phosphorus.

The soils of each sub-plot were sampled by taking ten
samples and compositing them from each sub-plot and then re-
peating the procedure so that there were duplicate composite
samples for each of the 72 sub-plots. According to Reed and
Rigney (21) this should give an accuracy of 6 ppm. for the
phosphorus determinations. These samples were treated by
analytical methods described earlier and the results of the

different phosphorus extractions are shown on Table 16. The

 

 

 

49.

Table 15. pH values where three rates of lime were applied
to soils fertilized with several phosphorus
carriers. (Field experiment in Miami sandy
loam, Conover sandy loam, and brookston silt
loam soils.

 

 

Phosphate Carriers Lime Block Mean

applied at 80 pounds (Tons —-————-——————-— based
PZOSper acre. per 1 2 3 on H ion

acre) conc.

Check 0.0 6.5 5.7 5.2 5.5

1.5 6.6 6.0 5.4 5.8

3.0 6.7 6.1 5.7 6.0

Rock PhOSphate 0.0 6.2 6.1 5.7 5.9

1.5 6.5 5.9 5.8 6.0

3.0 6.7 6.1 6.2 6.3

Dicalcium Phosphate 0.0 6.2 6.1 6.0 6.1

1.5 6.5 6.0 5.8 6.0

3.0 6.5 6.3 6.0 6.2

Fused Tricalcium Phosphate 0.0 6.1 5.7 5.5 5.7

1.5 6.4 6.0 5.9 6.0

3.0 6.3 6.4 5.9 6.1

Potassium Metaphosphate 0.0 6.2 6.1 6.1 6.1

1.5 6.1 6.1 5.7 5.9

3.0 6.4 6.2 6.0 6.2

Calcium Metaphosphate 0.0 6.0 6.0 5.3 5.6

1.5 6.2 6.2 5.3 5.7

3.0 6.2 6.0 5.7 5.9

Superphosphate 0.0 5.8 5.8 5.7 5.8

1.5 6.1 5.9 5.6 5.8

3.0 6.3 6.3 6.6 6.4

Concentrated Superphosphate 0.0 5.9 5.8 5.9 5.9

1.5 6.0 6.0 5.9 6.0

3.0 6.0 6.2 6.2 6.1

 

 

 

   

50.

Table 16. Mean* available phosphorus contents determined
by different methods of chemical extraction of

the variously treated soils after they had been

 

 

cropped with beans. (P expressed in ppm.)
Phosphate Carriers Lime Bray‘s Bray's Acid Eray's
bt so pounds r205 (Tons Adsorb- Ad- solu- Ad-
per acre per ed / sorbed ble by sorbed.
acre) Acid (1:10) diff. (1:50)
__ 1_ hp Soluble

Check 0 28.6 14.4 14.2 20.9
1% 25.4 14.0 11.4 24.5

3 34.8 14.3 20.5 23.7

Rock Phosphate O 30.5 10.1 20.4 16.0
1% 35.7 11.6 24.1 19.2

3 35.7 11.0 24.7 17.5

Dicalcium Phosphate 0 27.0 12.7 14.3 20.6
1% 29.7 12.4 17.3 21.7

3 26.6 11.7 14.9 19.8

Fused Tricalcium Phosphate O 35.4 13.0 22.4 20.6
1% 3009 1104 1905 20.0

3 26.4 11.4 15.0 20.6

Potassium Metaphosphate 0 22.6 12.5 10.1 19.0
1% 19.5 11.4 8.1 16.0

3 23.2 11.6 11.6 17.0

Calcium Metaphosphate 0 25.1 14.0 11.1 20.2
1% 27.4 13.1 14.3 19.6

3 24.7 12.9 11.8 18.5

Superphosphate 0 45.4 15.9 29.5 24.4
1% 41.5 16.5 25.0 29.0

3 36.2 17.3 18.9 27.1

Concentrated Superphosphate 0 31.3 14.8 16.5 26.5
1% 30.7 12.6 18.1 22.1

3 40.5 18.2 22.3 30.0

 

 

*Mean of three replications

 

 

51.

results do not show any distinct pattern or offer any
significant trends due to phosphorus treatment or to lime

treatment.

Correlations

With so little variation in these data it was deci-
ded they should be correlated with both yield of beans and
pH values obtained for each of the plots. Where the amount
of phosphorus extracted by the various methods was correla-
ted with the bean yields in the field, it was found that the
Bray adsorbed plus acid soluble method gave a negative cor-
relation of .109,which is not significant. The acid soluble
by difference technique gave a positive correlation of .134,
also not significant. For the adsorbed methods, however,
there was a negative correlation of .553 which is signifi-
cant at the 1% level for the 1-10 extracting ratio. The 1-50
extracting ratio gave a negative correlation of .502, sig-
nificant at the 1% level. When the amount of phosphorus ex-
tracted from the soil was correlated with the pH of the
samples involved, it was found that there was not a signifi-
cant correlation for the acid soluble plus adsorbed method or
the acid soluble by difference method. The adsorbed at the
1-10 extracting ratio and the 1—50 extracting ratio gave
negative correlations which were significant at the 1; level.

See Table 17.)

 

52.

 

 

Table 17. Correlation coefficients of correlations
between yield and soil tests or between pH
and soil tests.
Crop 1 df Bray's Bray's Acid Bray‘s
Adsorbed Ad- Eolu- Ad-
/ Acid sorbed ble by sorbed
Soluble (1:10) diff. (1:50)
Alfalfa yields (pots) 77 0.248* 0.639wk 0.000 0.605*#
Wheat yields (pots) 77 0.041 0.128 -0.026 0.12
Bean yields (pots) 77 0.231* 0.788uk-0.205 0.732*#
Bean yields (field) 71 -0.109 ~0.553w* 0.134 -0.502**

 

 

 

 

 

*Significant at the 5
**Significant at the 1

per cent level.
per cent level.

 

 

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53.

DISCUSSION AND SUwMARY

Rock phosphate supplied for alfalfa in the greenhouse
resulted in about the same yield of dry plant material as
did most carriers other than superphosphate. The concentraé
tion of phOSphorus in the alfalfa plant tissue was somewhat
lower and the total amount of phosphorus removed per acre was
lower than where other forms of phosphate were applied at
the rate of 160 pounds of P205 per acre without lime. Lime
reduced the yield and slightly increased the concentration
of phosphate in the plant tissue. The same was true for both
beans and wheat. it the higher rate of application, plants
treated with rock phosphate and without lime, yielded slightly
more than where the low rate was used but the application of
lime reduced the yield for all creps. The values for both the
concentration of phosphorus in the plant tissue and the total
amount of phOSphorus removed by plants were reduced by the
application of lime.

Under the conditions of this experiment, the yields of
alfalfa treated with dicalcium phosphate at the 480 pound
rate were increased slightly by lime. The higher rate of
phosphorus was not particularly beneficial to alfalfa. 31th
beans the yields were depressed at both rates of phosphate
application when the soil was limed, but there was a positive
reSponse to the higher rate of phosphate application. The
yield increase with wheat for additional phosphate was more

pronounced on the limed than on the unlined soil. The

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54.

concentration of phosphorus in alfalfa tissue, as affected

by the dicalcium phosphate, decreased when lime was applied
but there was a grefter concentration of phosphorus in the
tissue grown on the soil treated with heavier phosphate appli-
cations. Ehile the concentration of phosphorus in the bean
plants was greatly increased by increasing the rate of phos—
phate application on unlined soil, it was markedly reduced

by the application of lime. 0n wheat, however, lime appli-

fiA‘I -

cation increased the concentration of phosphorus in the straw
with dicalcium phosphate and also increased the concentration
in the grain at the 160 pound level. Lime decreased both the “"
concentration of phosphorus in the grain and in the straw at
the 480 pound level of phosphate.
Increasing the rate of application of fused tricalcium ,
phosphate had little effect on alfalfa yields while the addi-
tion of lime seemed to reduce yields slightly. However, in-
creasing the rate of phosphate application was beneficial to
been yields on both the limed and unlimed cultures but lime
did severely reduce the yields where fused tricalcium phos-
phate was used. This severe reduction in yield due to liming
was also apparent in wheat treated with this form of phosphate.
Alfalfa yields were markedly increased by lime when
fertilized with potassium metaphosphate, at both rates of
phosphate application. There was a response to both rate of
phosphate and lime with the bean crop, but the lime slightly
reduced the yield. For wheat the situation was similar to

that for beans.

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55.

Alfalfa fertilized with calcium metaphosphate gave a
positive yield response at the 160 pound rate of P205 and to
lime, but at the higher rate of phosphate application yield
was reduced by liming. Line inhibited the yield of beans at
both levels of calcium metaphosphate. There was some in-
crease in yield due to increase in rate of phosphate appli-
cation.

Superphosphate with alfalfa produced positive yield re-
sponses for both rates of phOSphorus and only a slight reduc-
tion in yield, if any, from the application of lime. There
was a very slight reduction in yield of beans, at either level
of phosphate application, when lime was applied and an in-
crease for additional phosphorus applied. Cn wheat there was
no increase in yield for additional phosphorus on the unlimed
soils but some increase when limed.

For alfalfa there was generally a favorable response to
phosphate rate and lime for potassium metaphosphate, calcium
metaphosphate, and superphosphate. The two outstanding
materials for beans were potassium metaphosphate and super-
phosphate, while for wheat potassium metaphosphate, calcium
metaphOSphate, and superphosohate were the leading materials,
with fused tricalcium phosphate showing up favorably under
certain conditions. The leading material for all crops was
superphosphate. The potassium metaphosphate was of particu-
lar interest in encouraging high yields and producing plant

material with a high phosphate content at the higher pH

 
      

 

 

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56.

levels with alfalfa, beans, and wheat. This was not found
to be consistently true with the other phosphate carriers
which agrees with Ripley (23).

In general, the adsorbed extraction method of Bray (6)
gave the best results under the conditions of this experi-
ment and phosphorus extractions correlated quite readily with
yields, with a high correlation coefficient. A similar
check of the field results gave a high coefficient when the
adsorbed method was correlated with pH. The correlations
obtained were somewhat different than those obtained by
powers (2) in his study, but he used total adsorbed and total
adsorbed plus acid soluble which are slightly different pro-
cedures for extracting.

There was not a significant difference between the re-
sults from the two extracting ratios. (See Table 17.) How-
ever, Emith and Cook (26) found the adsorbed 1-50 extracting
ratio superior to the adsorbed l-lO extracting ratio. Their
method of correlating yield response with test results was
somewhat different than that used here. They also used
several soils in the greenhouse, while here only one soil

was used in the greenhouse and three in the field.

 

 

 

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57.

LITIRATURE CITiD

Alway, F. J. and hesom, G. H. Effectiveness of calcium
metaphosphate and fused rocx phosphate on
alfalfa, Jour. Amer. 50c. Agron., 36:73-
88, 1944.

bowers, Albert H. The relation between forms of soil
phosphorus and response of alfalfa and
small grain to added phosphate. Master's
Thesis, Michigan Etate College. 1947.

Brammell, w. A study of the utilization by oats of phos-
phorus from the soil and from various phos-
phatic fertilizers as measured by tracer
techniques. master's Thesis, Michigan State
College. 1952.

Bray, R. H. Soil-plant relations: I. The quantitative
relation of exchangeable potassium to crop
yields and to crop response to potash addi-
tions. Soil Sci. 58:505-324, 1944.

dray, R. H. Soil-plant relations: II. Ealanced ferti-
lizer use through soil tests for potassium
and phosphorus. Soil Sci., 60:463-473,
1945.

Bray, R. H. and Kurtz, L. T. Determination of total,
organic, and available forms of phosphorus
in soils. soil bci., 59:39-45, 1945.

Chandler, R. F. and Musgrave, R. B. A comparison of
potassium chloride and potassium metaphos-
phate as sources of potassium for crop
plants. Soil Sci. Soc. Amer. Proc., 9:151-
153, 1943.

Ensminger, L. 3. and Cope, J. T., Jr. Effect of soil
reaction on the efficiency of various phos-
phates for cotton and on loss of phosphorus
by erosion. Jour. Amer. soc. agron., 39:
1-11, 1947.

Fiske, Cyrus H. and Eubbarow, Y. Journal of EiolOgical
Chemistry, 66:575-400, 1925.

Fried, M. and MacKenzie, a. J. Rock phosphate studies
with neutron irradiated rock phosphate.
Coil fici. Hoe. Amer. Proc. 1948, 14:226-
251, 1949.

 

 

 

 

 

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(11)

(12)

(13
(14)

(16)

(17)

(18)

(19)

Gray, Clarence.

Green, J.

Hignett, T. P.

Hinkle, D. A.

Jacob, K. D. and

Koenig, Ruth Adele, and Johnson, C. R.

Long, 0. H., and

Mitchell, J., Dion, H. G., Kristjanseon, A. M., and

Niooers, CO A.

Olsen, 5. R. and

    
  

58.

A study of the phosphorus supplying
powers of some Michigan soils. PhD
Thesis, Michigan State College, 1952.

Phosphate investigations in Montana.
Montana Agr. HXpt. Eta. Bull. 556,
1938.

(Personal communications) 1951.
Efficiency of various phosphate ferti-
lizers on calcareous soils for alfalfa

and sweet clover. Jour. Amer. Soc.
Agron., 54:913-918, 1942.

Ross, H. H. Nutrient value of phos-
phorus in defluorinated phosphate,
calcium metaphosphate, and other phos-
phatic materials as determined by
growth of plants in pot experiments.
Jour..Agr. Res., 61:539-560, 1940.

Cnlerimetric
determination of phosphorus in bio-
logical materials. Industrial and
Engineering Chemistry (Analytical Ed.)
14:155-156, 1942.

Seatz, L. F. Correlation of soil tests
for available phosphorus and potassium

with crop yield responses to fertilize-
tion. Soil Sci. Soc. Amer. Froc., 17:

258-262, 1953.

'10..-.“4-‘WJ’szfl: n‘. ..

Spinxs, w. T. Crop and variety re-
sponse to applied phosphate and uptake
of phosphorus from soil and fertilizer.
Agron. Jour. 45:6-11, 1955.

The comparative values of different
phOSphates. Tennessee ngr. prt. :ta.
null. 141. 1929.

Gardner, Robert. Utilization of phos-
phorus from various fertilizer mater-
ials. IV. Sugar beets, wheat, and
barley in Colorado. Eoil Sci., 68:
163-169, 1949.

 

 

 

 

  

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(21)

(24)

(27)

(28)

(29)

(30)

    

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59.

Reed, J. Fielding, and Higney, J. A. Soil sampling
from fields of uniform and nonuni-
form appearance and soil types. Jour.
Amer. Soc. Agron., 39:26-40, 1947.

Rich, C. I., and Lutz, L. A. Crop response to phos-
phate fertilizer in Virginia. Virg.
.Agr. Bxpt. eta. Tech. Bull. 115,
1950.

Ripley, Philip C. The effect of soil type on the avail—

ability of finely ground rock phos-

phate. Master's Thesis, Hichigan

state College, 1929.

Roberts, G., Freeman, J. F., and Miller, H. Field
tests of the relative effectiveness
of different phosphate fertilizers.
Kentucky Agr. ixpt. eta. Bull. 420.
1942.

Sherwood, R. w., Halverson, J. 0., floodhouse, H. w.,
and Smith, F. H. Effect of fertili-
zation on the nitrogen, calcium, and
phosphorus contents of pasture her-
bage. Jour. Amer. soc. ngron., 59:
841-858, 1947.

smith, Floyd T., and Cook, R. L. A study of the rela-

tionship between chemically available
phosphorus and plant growth response
on several Michigan soils. Soil Sci.

Soc. Amer. Proc., 17:26-50, 1953.

Soil Survey of Clinton County, hichigan.

Soil Testing: A practical system of
soil fertility diagnosis. Hich. Agr.
lxpt. dte. Tech. Bull. 132 (Third
revision). 1944.

Spurway, C. H.

Stanford, George, and helson, L. 5.; Utilization of
phosphorus from various fertilizer
materials: III. Cats and alfalfa
in Iowa. Soil Eci., 68:157-161.

Effectiveness of fused phosphate of
different particle size. Soil Sci.
Soc. Amer. Proc. 1945, 9:15 -158,
1944.

Terman, Gilbert L.

 

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Toevs, J. L., and Laxer, G. C.

Volk, e.

Volkerding, C. G., and Bradfield, R.

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60.

Progress re ort of

phosphate and other fertilize investi-
gations at the Aberdeen iranch Station.
Idaho Agr. lxpt. eta. null. 230, 19:9.

P
1"

Availability of rock and other phosphate
fertilizers as influenced by lime and
form of nitrogen fertilizer. Jour.

.Ame . Soc. Agron., 56:46-56, 1944.

The solubility
and reversion of calcium and potassium
metaphosphates. Soil gci. ioc. Amer.
Proc., 1942, 8:159—166, 1945.

Zhittaker, C. W., Coe, D. G., Lartholonew, R. P., Volk,

wiancko, A. T., and Conner, S. D.

G. 3., and Fader, L. F., Jr., Influence
of placement on response of crops to
calcium phosphates. Jour. Amer. Eoc.
Agron., 59:859-868. 1947.

Acid phosphate vs.
raw rock phosphate as fertilizer. Ind.

1gp. nxpt. Eta. Hull. 187. 1916.

 

 

 

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