Agronomic effectiveness of mixtures in the same granule of fully acidulated P fertilizers, phosphate rock and elemental sulfur

Author(s)

Fábio Ricardo Coutinho Fontes César

• Document type: Doctoral Thesis
• Press: Piracicaba.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALA/BC)
• Defense date: 2016-09-14

Examining board members

Takashi Muraoka; Leonardo Theodoro Bull; Edson Luiz Mendes Coutinho; Rafael Otto; Raffaella Rossetto

• Advisor: Takashi Muraoka

Abstract

Brazilian soils has low phosphorus (P) availability. Due to the mineralogical composition of these soils, fertilization is a challenge, because of the specific adsorption and precipitation processes, causing low P recovery from fertilizers. Fully acidulated P fertilizers (FAP), practically with all P soluble in water, are the most used sources in Brazil. However, they may not be the most appropriate sources for these soils. Theoretically, the ideal phosphate fertilizer would be the one which supplies the initial plant demand as well as releases slowly P during the crop cycle, allowing better synchronization between the plant demand and dissolution of P source. Based on this premise, the aim of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of phosphate fertilizers produced by mixture of FAP, Bayóvar phosphate rock (PR) and elemental sulfur (S0) in the same granule. The fertilizers were evaluated in incubation, greenhouse and field trials. The incubation study was carried out to evaluate the diffusion, availability and reaction products of P and S from the fertilizers: monoammonium phosphate (MAP), triple superphosphate (TSP) and MES (MicroEssentials®); and the produced fertilizers: MAP+PR, MAP+PR+S0[2:1], MAP+PR+S0[1:1], TSP+PR and TSP+PR+S0[2:1], obtained by granulation of FAP with PR in the ratio 1:1, based on total P content, with or without S0 in the composition. Fertilizers with MAP in the composition resulted in better P diffusion and availability than the fertilizers with TSP. The S0 improved the P diffusion and availability mainly from fertilizers produced with MAP. Two experiments were carried out in greenhouse, with the objectives to: study the FAP and PR ratio and S0 presence in the mixture; quantify the S0 effect for increasing the P uptake from PR, using 32P; and evaluate the fertilizers with S0 in the composition to provide sulfur (S) for maize, comparing them with commercial sources. The S0 presence in the granule improved the P uptake on 26 and 18% from the fertilizers produced with 50 % from MAP or TSP, respectively. The fertilizers with S0 in the composition were less efficient than powdered S0 providing S to maize, but they were better than commercial fertilizer with bentonite+S0. The field trial was carried out with soybean in an Oxisol in Cerrado region, Itiquira-MT. The fertilizers evaluated were: MAP, PR, MAP+PR, MAP+PR+S0[2:1] and MAP+PR+S0[1:1] applied in band or broadcast. The fertilizers MAP+PR+S0[2:1] and MAP+PR+S0[1:1] were better than MAP+PR and similar to MAP on soybean yield and agronomic efficiency. Fertilizers produced by MAP+PR and S0 in the same granule can be potential sources to be used in agriculture, could be alternative sources for FAP, moreover can supply S to crops. Probably this was the first study using the abovementioned association. Other studies in others soils and weather conditions should be carried out to confirm the potential use of these sources. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 13/10758-8 - Manufacture and agronomic evaluation of potential phosphate fertilizers
• Grantee: Fábio Ricardo Coutinho Fontes César
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate