Authors: Vincent Fitzgerald Wright Bryson Alando Brown Mark Anglin Harris
Publish Date: 2010/09/12
Volume: 63, Issue: 3, Pages: 469-476
Abstract
Capabilities of two phosphaterich organic wastes to quench phosphorus P fixation in a stored highphosphorusfixing tropical bauxite overburden were examined in a field experiment Prior grinding and ensiling of shrimp shell waste facilitated increased solubility and hence phosphorus fixation quenching in the soil Normal plantavailable P concentrations were exhibited by the overburden for up to 4 months after application despite the cultivation and harvesting of plants in the treated beds Tenyearold stored overburden treated with ensiled shrimp shell silage or chicken manure exhibited P levels of 10 and 11 respectively 4 months after treatment application This represents a small excess over normal concentrations of free P in the overburdens These P levels dropped to 0055 and 0060 respectively after 8 months The capacity of the soil to fix phosphorus was thus rapidly “filled” with an excess of P in the overburden However increased P fixation in the second 4month period was attributed to the inherently high levels of Ca2+ in the ground Therefore amelioration based on quarterly applications promises a longterm corrective for Pfixing in stored bauxite overburdens
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