Co-fertilization of Sulfur and Struvite-Phosphorus in a Slow-Release Fertilizer Improves Soybean Cultivation

Author(s)

Valle, Stella F. ; Giroto, Amanda S. ; Guimaraes, Gelton G. F. ; Nagel, Kerstin A. ; Galinski, Anna ; Cohnen, Jens ; Jablonowski, Nicolai D. ; Ribeiro, Caue

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE; v. 13, p. 12-pg., 2022-05-10.

Abstract

In face of the alarming world population growth predictions and its threat to food security, the development of sustainable fertilizer alternatives is urgent. Moreover, fertilizer performance should be assessed not only in terms of yield but also in root system development, as it impacts soil fertility and crop productivity. Fertilizers containing a polysulfide matrix (PS) with dispersed struvite (St) were studied for S and P nutrition due to their controlled-release behavior. Soybean cultivation in a closed system with St/PS composites provided superior biomass compared to a reference of triple superphosphate (TSP) with ammonium sulfate (AS), with up to 3 and 10 times higher mass of shoots and roots, respectively. Root system architectural changes may explain these results, with a higher proliferation of second order lateral roots in response to struvite ongoing P delivery. The total root length was between 1,942 and 4,291 cm for plants under St/PS composites and only 982 cm with TSP/AS. While phosphorus uptake efficiency was similar in all fertilized treatments (11-14%), St/PS achieved a 22% sulfur uptake efficiency against only 8% from TSP/AS. Overall, the composites showed great potential as efficient slow-release fertilizers for enhanced soybean productivity. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 16/10636-8 - From the cell factory to the Biodiesel-Bioethanol integrated biorefinery: a systems approach applied to complex problems in micro and macroscales
• Grantee: Roberto de Campos Giordano
• Support Opportunities: Program for Research on Bioenergy (BIOEN) - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 16/09343-6 - DEVELOPMENT AND AGRONOMIC EVALUATION OF A NEW FERTILIZER BASED ON NANOCOMPOSITES SULFUR-PHOSPHATE MINERAL
• Grantee: Gelton Geraldo Fernandes Guimarães
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• FAPESP's process: 18/10104-1 - Nanocomposites Preparation from Urea modified with Glycerol for optimization of Process of Controlled Release of Nutrients
• Grantee: Amanda Soares Giroto
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral