The potential to use calcium phosphite (Ca-Phi) as phosphorus (P) fertilizer may represent an effective recycling of P-containing by-products. A greenhouse experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of Ca-Phi (38 kg Pha-1) on soil properties and the growth parameters of four green manure species in clay and sandy soils using Ca- Phi, TSP (triple superphosphate) and control (no fertilization) as treatments. Eight weeks after sowing, we measured aboveground biomass yield, phosphite (Phi) concentration in plant biomass, different soil P pools as well as microbial biomass nutrients. Compared to control, the addition of Ca-Phi did not negatively affect green manure yield, except for lupine (Lupinus albus L.) in clay soil. The Phi concentration in plant biomass varied across species and soil type with a maximum concentration of about 400 mg Phi kg-1 for mustard (Brassica juncea L.) in clay soil. Compared to control, TSP and Ca-Phi fertilization had a similar effect on different P pools and microbial biomass nutrients (C, N and P) although the response was soil–type dependent. In the sandy soil, after Ca-Phi addition the amount of available P (PNHCO3) increased to the same extent as in the TSP treatment (i.e. around 6 mg P kg-1) suggesting that Ca-Phi was, at least partly, oxidized. In the clay soil with high P fixing capacity, Ca-Phi promoted higher PNaHCO3 than TSP likely due to different solubility of chemical P forms. Additional studies are however required to better understand soil microbial responses and to quantify the P agronomical efficiency for the following crop under Ca-Phi fertilization.
Fontana M., Bragazza L., Guillaume T., Santonja M., Buttler A., Elfouki S., Sinaj S.
Valorization of calcium phosphite waste as phosphorus fertilizer: Effects on green manure productivity and soil properties.
Journal of Environmental Management, 285, (112061), 2021, 1-9.
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ISSN Print: 0301-4797
ISSN Online: 1095-8630
Digital Object Identifier (DOI): https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.112061
ID pubblicazione (Codice web): 46760 Inviare via e-mail