EFFECTIVE PLACEMENT OF FERTILIZERSDr. JA Janse van Vuuren

Greenhouse Trial & Research Centrewww.greenhousetrials.co.za

Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrition Symposium“Effective Stewardship of Fertilizer in Practice”

21st August 2018, CSIR Convention Centre, Pretoria

Introduction

Variation in soil properties

Restraints of current soil sampling methodology

Sampling tools

Soil Doctor®

Real time soil sensors

Soil acidity the Australian experience

Prevention of detrimental effects of Spatial Variability

Different sampling methodologies

Field trial

Movement of lime in soils

Capacity and Intensity

Conclusions

References

Soil sampling for FAS is dependent on obtaining representative samples.

Fixed cultivation practices result in spatial variation in soil chemical properties.

Band placement of fertilizers being a major contributor.

Physical variation in row crops, on the row and away from the row, cause further heterogeneity in the soil.

If the nature and extent is not taken into account, averagesare obtained which have no resemblance to the chemical environment in the root zone.

Soil Variations are due to:

1. OVER FIELD VARIATION:

Natural (inherited) variation due the 5 soil forming factors:

Parent material, climate, topography, vegetation and time.

2. IN FIELD VARIATION:

Man-made variation due to management practices.

Row cropping, band placement of fertilizers, herbicides and other ameliorants.

This adds to the heterogeneity of chemical properties associated with soil fertility.

Despite the pivotal role of soil microorganisms in agro-ecosystems, we still have limited understanding of the complex response of the soil micro biota to organic and mineral fertilization in the very long term.

Soil is not material specific.

Soil properties are:

Extremely variable, not randomly distributed.

Systematic, time and space dependent.

The dilemma is that soil is not an isotropic medium, but rather strong an-isotropic, laterally and vertically.

Spatial variation in soil is a continuum from mega-to micro-scopic levels of resolution.

Soil scientists understand the kinetics of chemical reactions of a homogeneous soil sample.

Extrapolating the results to a larger more heterogeneous rhizosphere proves more challenging.

Similarly it is very difficult for microbiologists to account for changes in microbe-populations in the rhizosphere when the crop cover undergoes major changes.

It is not possible to model a system according to a typical response to cultivation practices without a sound understanding of spatial and time connected variation on a small and large scale.

Taking into account the number of samples taken annually and the heterogeneity of soils, it is clear that the intensity of sampling, even for precision agriculture, is inadequate.

Samples taken on the same GPS reference points:

Traditional Auger (7,5 cm diameter) – 15 cm deep.

Vehicle mounted probe (2.5cm diameter) 20 cm deep

RTSS-mounted tractor with cross-sectional view of the soil penetrator and probe housing.

Soil Acidity. A guide for WA farmers and consultants Chris Gazey, Stephen Davies & Ronald Master

Samples

Sampling between row

PREVENTION OF DETRIMENTAL EFFECTS OF SPATIAL VARIATION IN CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF SOILS UNDER FIXED CULTIVATION PRACTICES.

Dr. JA Janse van Vuuren. PhD Thesis 1991, University of Pretoria, Department of Soil Science

Analysis variation over row

pH(H2O) 4,8 6,7 5,9

Average 5,9

Arbitrary Standard deviation – 2,2

Arbitrary Standard deviation – 2,2 mg/kg

Analysis variation over row

mg/kg lowest highest average

P (Bray 1) 16 115 28

Average –28 mg/kg

Multi –sampler used at end of season

Single sampler used at start of season

>6 5,9 – 5,6 5,5 – 5,1 5,0 – 4,6 4,5 – 4,0 FERTILIZER

BAND <4

288mm

684mm

AVERAGE36mm

>6 5,9 –5,6

5,5 –5,1

5,0 –4,6

4,5 –4,0

FERTILIZER

BAND <4

280mm

840mm

40mm

AVERAGE

Location: Farm Lusthoff District Lichtenburg, NW-Province. JPJ Kruger season 1988/89

Soil: Form – Avalon, Series Heidelberg, SaLm

pH(H2O) Top (0-15cm) 6,1; 19% Clay; Ca 498 mg/kg

pH(H2O) Sub (>30cm) 6,0; 27% Clay; Ca 558 mg/kg

Randomized block design with 4 replicates

Plot sizes - 20 x 9,12 meter (182,4m2)

Nett: 18 x 4,56 m (82,08m2) side rows discarded

Plant density 14, 133 plants/ha

Rainfall total for season 486mm

Mixed amorphic lime granules with the fertilizer in a 1:1 ratio at plant

kg/ha kg/ha Maize yield (kg/ha)

Fertilizer3:2:0 (25) + Zn

Lime granulesamorphous dolomite

Difference

Treatments 50 0 4661 b

50 50 5063 ab 402

100 0 4617 b

100 100 5288 a 671*

150 0 4888 ab

150 150 5424 a 536

Replicates 1 4855

2 5078

3 4998

4 5029

Average 4990

Co-efficient of variation 5,17

LSD (p=0,05) (TUKEY) Treatments 580

Means with the same letters do not differ significantly at the 5% significant level

8 Perspex rings, 90mm diameter, 2cm high, stacked onto each other to form a 16cm tube, taped together.

Tube filled with a un-buffered acid soil (pH <4(H20) up to 2nd last ring.

One gram of pelletized lime was spread on the soil surface.

Columns filled with water bringing the soil to field water capacity after free water drained from the tube.

The equivalent of 250mm of water/ha was added and left to dry.

Rings of column separated retaining soil in every ring.

Soil analyzed for Ca, Mg.

Procedure repeated to simulate 500 and 1000mm rainfall.

Procedure repeated using Ca(OH)2

The relative efficacy of different liming materials was tested in columns containing an acid un-buffered soil.

The different lime sources were banded in the center of the columns, at the equivalent of 10ton/ha.

Cation and Anion-root probes were placed 2cm below

the ameliorant bands in the soil at an angle.

Another set was placed 3cm below and perpendicular

to the top probes.

Probes were left in the soil the soil for 72 hours, removed, rinsed and analyzed.

Probes were replaced a further 3 times at 7 day intervals.

After placement the equivalent of 128mm of rain was applied and repeated after every placement. A total of 500mm equivalent water was applied.

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3days

10days

17 days

24days

31days

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CAPACITY FACTOR: is independent of:

Particle size distribution (Normally between 1,7mm - 1μ)

Physical form (granules, micronized powders or liquid limes)

Origin (Amorphous or crystalline)

One ton of a commercial lime (<1,7mm) same neutralizing capacity as 1ton of liquid lime (0,8μcentre cut)

INTENSITY FACTOR:

The smaller the particle size distribution of the product, the larger the surface area, the speedier neutralization of acid occurs, as efficacy remains a contact reaction.

Agricultural limes (carbonates) have very limited solubility in water.

Cold water 25°C - 0,00153grams/100cm3.

Hot water 75°C - 0,00190grams/100cm3.

Movement of calcium carbonate into the soil from surface application is time dependent.

Liming material applied on the top soil, reaction on the first2,5cm is almost immediately, up to 5cm is affected over a few months, and over years the pH changes even into the 7,5 -10 cm.

The problem however is that subsoil acidity occurs in the sub 15cm layers where it is difficult to ameliorate.

Normal broadcasting of agricultural liming materials essential –there is no substitute for correcting over field soil acidity –capacity factor.

Surface application of liming materials is not effective, has to be incorporated into the soil.

Liquid Lime – (0,8μcc) Very expensive, very specific application in fertilizer band. Only option with Hydro-seeding – intensity factor.

Liquid hydroxides also very expensive– at planting, if close to the seed, danger of burn and volatilization of Nitrogen

Granulation of micronized (40 μcc particle size). Main application as diluent for fertilizer at plant – increases efficacy of fertilizers on soils with low pH.

Reaction of w.s.-P applied in the fertilizer band precipitating with amorphic- Fe & Al hydroxide usually present in acid soils, are reduced.

Stimulation of beneficial soil micro-flora (bacteria & actinomyces) and microbial processes.

Efficacy of banded herbicides in these zones are probably increased.

Strong tendency to increases in yield.

No negative effects were observed in mixing lime with fertilizers in the research, it remains a safe option.

Crop Technology, Inc. Soil Doctor® Soil Sensing System, EM38, www.soildoctor.com; info@soildoctor.com

Franzen, D. Extention Soil Specialist. Growing problem of surface soil acidity in long-term no-till. June 10, 2018, Posted in soil health. North Dakota Stae University Extension.

Francioli, D, Shultz, E., Lentendu, G., Wubet, T., Buscot, F. & Reitz T. Mineral vs. organic Amendments: Microbial community structure, activity and abundance of agriculturally relevant microbes are driven by long-term fertilization strategies. Front. Microbial., 14 September, 2016. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2016.01446

Gazey, C., Davies, S. & Master R. Soil Acidity. A guide for WA farmers and consultants. 2nd Edition, Bulletin 4858, April 2014. Department of Agriculture & Food. Western Australia.

Janse van Vuuren, J.A., 1991. Prevention of detrimental effects of spatial variation in chemical properties of soils under fixed cultivation PhD Thesis, Department of Soil Science, University of Pretoria.

Janse van Vuuren, J.A. & Claassens A.S., The use of PRSTM root probes as a tool to determine the neutralizing efficacyof soil ameliorants. ISSPA 2015, 14th International Symposium for Soil and Plant Analysis. Kona Beach, Hawaii.

Wilding, L.P., 1985. Soil spatial variability, Nielsen & Bouma (eds.). In Proc. Of a workshop of the ISSS and the SSSA. Las Vegas, USA. 166 – 194.

Kodaira, M., Shibusawa, S, 2012. Using a mobile real-time soil visible-near infrared sensor for high resolution soil property mapping, Geoderma, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2012.09.007

Thank you!