Abstract
Phosphorus (P) is an essential nutrient for grassland production systems. However, continuous applications of P fertilizers result in soil P accumulations, increasing the risk of P losses in runoff and erosion. This study aims to investigate the field-scale variability of soil-test P (STP) in two contrasting grassland fields using descriptive statistics and geostatistics for accurate recommendations on soil sampling strategy and sustainable approaches to P management. A young grassland (YG; 2 years) and an old grassland (OG; 10 years under permanent pasture) were classified as humo-ferric podzol and received organic fertilizers. Soil samples were collected in 16-m by 16-m triangular grids at two depths (0–5 and 5–20 cm). They were analyzed for available P and other soil elements extracted using the Mehlich-3 method (M3). The agri-environmental P saturation index (P/Al)M3 was calculated. Phosphorus accumulation was observed in OG (0–5 cm) as a result of long-term manure applications. Repeated applications of organic fertilizers can impact the long-term buildup of soil P, thus decreasing soil P va-riability and spatial dependence in permanent grasslands. A soil sampling strategy focusing on the 0–5 cm layer should be retained in permanent grasslands for sustainable P recommendations in Eastern Canada.
Highlights
Phosphorus (P) is an essential nutrient for most crops, including associated plants of grassland communities
The coefficient of variation (CV) ranged from 5% to 81%, with the highest obtained for the (P/Al)M3, and were classified as follows: low for soil pHwater and AlM3, moderate for FeM3, high for CaM3 and TC, and very high for the two soil P indices
The reduced spatial structure of soil P may affect the use of delineated management zones (MZs) for sustainable management of soil P in grassland fields
Summary
Phosphorus (P) is an essential nutrient for most crops, including associated plants of grassland communities When it is applied in excess of crop requirements, P can accumulate at the soil surface, leading to P runoff via soil erosion and to P contamination of the environment, including eutrophication of surface waters such as lakes [1,2,3]. To prevent this P contamination in the environment, the degree of P saturation of soils (%). Permanent grasslands include grazed pastures and grasslands harvested for hay and silage, or a combination of the two, and are located primarily in Western Europe, including the United Kingdom and Ireland [8]
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