Crop Nutrition
Phosphate rock is important for crop nutrition because it contains phosphorus(P), which is essential for plant life and is regarded by scientists as a "primary" plant nutrient along with potassium(K) and nitrogen(N).
•Phosphorus performs a key role in plant photosynthesis, nutrient transport and energy transfer.
•A plant with the proper amount of phosphorus available to it will grow more vigorously, mature earlier and provide higher yields than plants with inadequate phosphorus.
•Phosphorus deficiency will result in stunted growth, lack of fruit or flowers, wilting and leaves that may have a purple cast (due to poor photosynthesis).
•Mixing a phosphorus-rich fertilizer with soil when planting will help the plant establish a stable root system and aid in strong initial growth, better water-use efficiency, early maturity and higher crop yields.
According to the International Plant Nutrition Institute, the picture above shows an example of an extreme P (phosphorus) deficiency in a corner of a research field in Storrs, Connecticut (courtesy of Dr. Tom Morris, University of Connecticut). The photo was taken July 27, 1999. The two tall rows of corn on the right received 30 lb P2O5/acre in a band 2 inches below and to the side of the seed row. The six rows on the left and center did not receive any P fertilizer.
Phosphorus (P) deficiency in corn is often expressed as reddish-purple coloration of leaves, especially in young plants. This coloration results from build-up of sugars that cannot be properly metabolized with inadequate P.
The optimum use of crop nutrients is essential to growing the food the world needs.
Soils may be naturally low in nutrients like phosphorus, or they may become deficient due to nutrient removal by crops over the years without replenishment, or when high-yielding crop varieties are grown that have higher nutrient requirements than do local varieties.
•Soils are often tested to determine deficiencies so that fertilizers with appropriate nutrient composition are used. A deficiency in one nutrient can hinder a plant's efficient use of other nutrients.
•The addition of crop nutrients can double or triple a farmer's yield per acre.
•Agricultural experts estimate that crop nutrients directly account for 40 to 60% of crop yields.
Plants require relatively large quantities of phosphorus (P). For instance, a 10 metric tonne/hectare (160 bushel/acre) corn grain crop takes up about 42 kilogram P/hectare (37 pounds P per acre).
Crop Nutrition Example: Phosphorus Requirement in Mediterranean Region*
Phosphorus Crop Requirement Crop
Low Soft Wheat, oat, corn, sunflower, soybean, sugar cane
Medium Durum wheat, barley, sugar beet, rice, cotton, carrot, artichoke, melon, onion, cucumber
High Leguminous crop, tomato, potato, tobacco, lettuce
Source: World Phosphate Institute. Requirements are based on soil studies undertaken within the region.
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