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Effects of Ground Rock Phosphate and Elemental S on Yield and P Uptake of Maize in Western Kenya

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 October 2008

A. R. Bromfield ,
I. R. Hancock  and
D. F. Debenham
A. R. Bromfield
Affiliation:
Kenya Agricultural Research Institute, PO Box 30148, Nairobi, Kenya
I. R. Hancock
Affiliation:
Kenya Agricultural Research Institute, PO Box 30148, Nairobi, Kenya
D. F. Debenham
Affiliation:
Kenya Agricultural Research Institute, PO Box 30148, Nairobi, Kenya
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Summary

The effect on maize yields of ground rock phosphate, alone or mixed with sulphur in either of two proportions, and of single-superphosphate, was measured at five consecutive harvests. At the first harvest single-superphosphate increased yield by 1.54 t and the best of the mixtures by 0.56 t grain/ha. Ground rock phosphate alone had no effect on yield. At the third harvest there were no yield differences between sources; because yields produced by rock phosphate and the mixtures improved. The cumulative increase in yield produced by single-superphosphate was 3.58 t/ha and by rock phosphate 2.69 t grain/ha, but because the fertilizer cost ratio was 3:1, additional grain produced by rock phosphate cost half as much. The apparent P recovery ranged from 5.40 to 8.28 kg/ha, with most from single-superphosphate and least from the mixture containing most elemental-S.

Type
Research Article
Information
Experimental Agriculture , Volume 17 , Issue 4 , October 1981 , pp. 383 - 387
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1981

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References

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