New study finds alternative phosphate source for sustainable soil fertility.
Phosphate rock fertilizer was studied in acidic soils using three extraction methods. The researchers found that the dissolution of the phosphate rock was similar in both soils, with more phosphate rock leading to less dissolution. Most of the applied phosphate was recovered in specific forms in the soils. This suggests that phosphate rock could be a good long-term phosphorus source in these soils, as long as certain factors are not limiting.