OPPORTUNITY TO INCREASE PHOSPHORUS EFFICIENCY THROUGH CO-APPLICATION OF

ORGANIC AMENDMENTS WITH MONO-AMMONIUM PHOSPHATE (MAP)

David GaleNSW Department of Primary Industries

andCharles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga

Project collaborators: Dr Jason Condon, Dr Mark Conyers and Dr Alison Southwell

Project funding from: GRDC, EH Graham Centre and Charles Sturt University

Topics covered in today’s presentation:

Why do we want to increase phosphorus efficiency? Why are we interested in organic soil amendments?

Glasshouse trial results

Conclusions and Future research

Audience questions

Why are we interested in organic soil amendments?

Why are we interested in organic soil amendments?

Why are we interested in organic soil amendments?

Why are we interested in organic soil amendments?

Why are we interested in organic soil amendments?

Why are we interested in organic soil amendments?

Why are we interested in organic soil amendments?

Why are we interested in organic soil amendments?

Why are we interested in organic soil amendments?

Glasshouse trial

Design– Barley (Hordeum vulgare cv. Hindmarsh)– Plastic pots (12.7 x 12.7cm, 14.5cm)– Randomised block design– 11 treatments– 4 replicates

Glasshouse trial

Sampling and analysis– Sampling pre-planting and after 8 weeks of

growth (harvest)– Above ground dry matter– Below ground dry matter– Soil phosphorus (P) Colwell P

Nitric acid digest

Conclusions In principle co-application of compost and

synthetic fertiliser leads to an increase in uptake efficiency

Utilisation efficiency does not appear to be benifited by coapplication, however, this is thought to be due to the interactions of other nutrients.

Current rates of compost are quite large

Future research

Reduce volumes Assess social implications

Continue investigation of the benefits of coapplication of compost and synthetic fertiliser for applications such as disease suppression.

With thanks to

Funding bodies– EHGC– GRDC– CSU

Project collaborators

Audience questions

Are there any questions?