Hydrolysis of ammonium polyphosphate in soils under aerobic and anaerobic conditions

Abstract

The hydrolysis of fertilizer-grade solid and liquid ammonium polyphosphate (APP) was studied on an aluvial (Entisol, Typic Ustifluvent), a sodic (Entisol Aquic Ustifluvent), and a laterite (Oxisol, Aquox) soil under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. The hydrolysis rate was the fastest on laterite, intermediate on sodic, and slowest in the alluvial soil. Ammonium polyphosphate hydrolyzed more rapidly under anaerobic than under aerobic conditions. The hydrolysis of liquid ammonium polyphospahte was faster than that of solid ammonium polyphosphate in all soils. The half-life values for the polyforms of P in liquid ammonium polyphosphate ranged from 1.6 to 2.0 days under anaerobic and from 5.2 to 8.7 days under aerobic conditions. The corresponding values for solid ammonium polyphosphate were 3.9 to 9.2 days under anaerobic and 12.5 to 27.0 days under aerobic conditions.