Ghiath A. Alloush(1) and Suliman Younes* (2)
(1). Dept of Soil and Water Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Lattakia, Syria.
(2). General Commission for Scientific Agricultural Research –Alhenadi Research Station, Lattakia, Syria.
(*Corresponding author: Dr. Suliman Younes. E-Mail: sulimanyounes89@gmail.com).
Received: 27/08/2024 Accepted: 9/03/2025
Abstract:
This study aims at investigating the possible use of phosphate rock (PR) as alternative to triple super phosphate (TSP) in slightly acidic Basaltic soil (pH= 6.2). Two experiments were conducted in agriculture engineering faculty in Lattakia: the first is an incubation study for soil received phosphorus from PR or TSP with or without organic fertilizer (OM). PR dissolution was measured as function of time; and the second experiment was carried out in a pot study growing maize plants. The dissolution of PR was quick in presence of organic fertilizer (OM+PR) compared to application of PR alone (PR), the effect of organic matter was on dissolution speed rather than rate of dissolution. The dissolution rate of PR reached 35% of the added PR after 90 days of incubation irrespective of organic matter presence. The application of organic fertilizer alone or in combination with PR or triple supper phosphate (TSP) didn’t increase plant dry matter production of maize while root growth was increased which in turn decreased shoot to root ratio. The application of TSP or OM increased P concentrations in both shoot and roots tissues. The application of PR alone did not have an effect of P concentration in either shoots or roots unless PR application was companied with the application of OM. The calculation of agricultural relative effectiveness of PR (ARE, %) showed a values of 73.1% for maize when compared to application of TSP.
Keywords: Phosphate Rock Dissolution, Agricultural Effectiveness, Organic fertilizer, Available Phosphorus.
Full Paper in Arabic: pdf