The agronomic benefit of phosphate rock application with elemental sulfur depends on the reactivity and fertilizer placement

Abstract

A possible way to improve phosphate rock (PR) agronomic performance is through the addition of elemental sulfur (S0). We used 32P isotope dilution method to assess the P taken up by crops treated with PR. Two experiments, one with common bean and other with upland rice, were carried out, to evaluate the effect of S0 on the agronomic performance of two contrasting PR, applied in different methods. Gafsa (GPR) and Patos de Minas (PPR) were used as the high and low reactivity PR, respectively. The experiments were arranged in completely randomized design on factorial structure 2 × 2 × 2 + 2; which means 2 PR (GPR and PPR) versus 2 S0 condition (with or without-S0) versus 2 application methods (band and broadcast) plus 2 additional treatments (control and triple superphosphate). In band application the S0 increased the amount of P uptake by plants from fertilizer of GPR from 2.57 to 9.86 mg pot−1 for common bean and of 2.26 to 7.05 mg pot−1 to rice. Regardless the management adopted, less than 2% of P applied as PPR has been taken up by crops. The addition of S0 as a strategy to increase the agronomic performance of PR is PR characteristics dependent and fertilizers placement.