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Dissolution rate and agronomic effectiveness of struvite fertilizers – effect of soil pH, granulation and base excess

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Abstract

Aims

Struvite (MgNH4PO4.6H2O) recovered from wastewater can be used as fertilizer. The agronomic effectiveness of struvite has mostly been evaluated using ground fertilizer mixed through soil. However, fertilizers are most commonly applied in granular form in the field. In this study, we assessed the dissolution and effectiveness of different struvites when applied in granular or powdered form.

Methods

Phosphorus (P) diffusion in soil, determined using a visualization technique and chemical analyses, and P uptake by 6-week old wheat was compared for soluble fertilizer (monoammonium phosphate, MAP), a commercial struvite and three synthesized struvites with different excess MgO, in both granular and ground form.

Results

Ground struvite mixed through soil quickly dissolved and its agronomic effectiveness was similar to that of MAP. For pure granular struvite, the granule dissolution rate ranged from circa 0.03 mg d−1 in alkaline soil to 0.43 mg d−1 in acidic soil. Excess base in the struvite fertilizer reduced its dissolution rate. The P uptake by wheat followed the order MAP > > struvite ≥ control (no P), with no significant difference between the control and the struvite treatment in alkaline soil.

Conclusions

Both fertilizer characteristics (particle size, excess base) and soil pH strongly affect the dissolution rate of struvite and hence its agronomic effectiveness.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by The Mosaic Company. We also thank Ashleigh Broadbent, Bogumila Tomczak, and Colin Rivers for their technical assistance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Fertilizer Technology Research Centre, Soil Science Group, School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, The University of Adelaide, PMB 1, Waite Campus, Glen Osmond, SA, 5064, Australia

    Fien Degryse, Roslyn Baird, Rodrigo C. da Silva & Mike J. McLaughlin

  2. CSIRO Land and Water, PMB 2, Glen Osmond, SA, 5064, Australia

    Mike J. McLaughlin

Authors
  1. Fien Degryse
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  2. Roslyn Baird
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  3. Rodrigo C. da Silva
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  4. Mike J. McLaughlin
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Correspondence to Fien Degryse.

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Responsible Editor: John Hammond.

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Degryse, F., Baird, R., da Silva, R.C. et al. Dissolution rate and agronomic effectiveness of struvite fertilizers – effect of soil pH, granulation and base excess. Plant Soil 410, 139–152 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-016-2990-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-016-2990-2

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