Use of phosphate and potassium in tropical crop production

Mutert E., . and Woo Y.C., . and Beaton J.D., . (1994) Use of phosphate and potassium in tropical crop production. [Proceedings Paper]

Phosphorus and potassium may substantially limit yields of crop grown under submerged conditions in the tropics.In intensified farming systems such as high yielding rice-rice systems the two nutrients are essential to establish sustainable productivity under upland rainfed conditions.Many highly weathered acid tropical soils Ultisols Oxisols Spodosols are deficient in both nutrients.Some fertilizer trials in Indonesia provide evidence that a high initial P application in combination with mulch from a leguminous cover crop enhances P-availability and the residual phosphorus efficiency on acid savanna soils for five cropping seasons in different farming systems.Potassium usually the least needed nutrient in low yield upland agriculture becomes essential when yields are maximised especially under conditions of non-optimal water supply.While for rice nitrogen is the dominant nutrient requirement in the case of plantation crops it is potassium.Preliminary result from a field experiment on oil palm under South Thailand conditions show the importance of adequate K-supply for increasing the yield of young oil palms in the early years of maturity.Efficient K-nutrient management should include recycling of crop residues and avoid leaching losses.Due to its relative immobility phosphorus from fertilizers is hardly moved subsoils or leached but can be easily be lost by erosion.

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Abstract

Phosphorus and potassium may substantially limit yields of crop grown under submerged conditions in the tropics.In intensified farming systems such as high yielding rice-rice systems the two nutrients are essential to establish sustainable productivity under upland rainfed conditions.Many highly weathered acid tropical soils Ultisols Oxisols Spodosols are deficient in both nutrients.Some fertilizer trials in Indonesia provide evidence that a high initial P application in combination with mulch from a leguminous cover crop enhances P-availability and the residual phosphorus efficiency on acid savanna soils for five cropping seasons in different farming systems.Potassium usually the least needed nutrient in low yield upland agriculture becomes essential when yields are maximised especially under conditions of non-optimal water supply.While for rice nitrogen is the dominant nutrient requirement in the case of plantation crops it is potassium.Preliminary result from a field experiment on oil palm under South Thailand conditions show the importance of adequate K-supply for increasing the yield of young oil palms in the early years of maturity.Efficient K-nutrient management should include recycling of crop residues and avoid leaching losses.Due to its relative immobility phosphorus from fertilizers is hardly moved subsoils or leached but can be easily be lost by erosion.

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Item Type:	Proceedings Paper
Additional Information:	5 ills. 11 tables 11 refs.
AGROVOC Term:	PHOSPHATE FERTILIZERS
AGROVOC Term:	POTASSIUM
AGROVOC Term:	PLANT PRODUCTION
AGROVOC Term:	FERTILIZERS
AGROVOC Term:	THAILAND
AGROVOC Term:	THAILAND
Geographical Term:	MALAYSIA
Depositing User:	Ms. Norfaezah Khomsan
Last Modified:	24 Apr 2025 05:27
URI:	http://webagris.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/16499

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