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Recent findings have highlighted the possibility of increased fluoride (F) concentrations in herbage through F taken up from soil via the plant root. This paper aimed to assess the risk of F concentrations reaching phytotoxic or zootoxic concentrations in pasture plants. Five plant species commonly found in improved pastures in Australia, the sown species subterranean clover (Trifolium subterranean) and cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata), and weeds barley grass (Hordeum leporinum), scotch thistle (Onopordum acanthium) and sorrel (Rumex acetosella) were grown in complete nutrient solutions with graded levels of added F to determine the effects of F− activity in solution on phytotoxicity and uptake of F by their roots. A model was developed using data from these solution culture experiments and data from the literature. The model assessed uptake of F by plants grown over a range of soil pH values and determined the risk of F taken up through the plant roots reaching phytotoxic concentrations, or concentrations potentially injurious to grazing animals, in the plant shoots. Modelling data suggested that the plants studied would not accumulate phytotoxic concentrations of F in shoots or concentrations of F deleterious to grazing animals through root uptake in neutral pH agricultural soils. The risks from F addition to soils in phosphatic fertilisers leading to reduction in pasture growth or animal health are therefore low. However, in highly F-polluted soil, as the soil becomes more acidic or alkaline, the risk of zootoxic concentrations of F in shoots of plants would increase.

We investigated (1) the effect of constant and altered inorganic phosphate (P i ) supply (1-100 mmol m -3 ) on proteoid root production by white lupin (Lupinus albus L.); and (2) the variation in citrate efflux, enzyme activity and phosphate uptake along the proteoid root axis in solution culture. Proteoid root formation was greatest at P i solution concentrations of 1-10 mmol m -3 and was suppressed at 25 mmol m -3 P i and higher. Except at 1 mmol m -3 P i , the formation of proteoid roots did not affect plant dry matter yields or shoot to root dry matter ratios, indicating that proteoid roots can form under conditions of adequate P supply and not at the expense of dry matter production. Plants with over 50% of the root system as proteoid roots had tissue P concentrations considered adequate for maximum growth, providing additional evidence that proteoid roots can form on P-sufficient plants. There was an inverse relationship between the P i concentration in the youngest mature leaf and proteoid root formation. Citrate efflux and the activities of enzymes associated with citric acid synthesis (phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase and malate dehydrogenase) varied along the proteoid root axis, being greatest in young proteoid rootlets of the 1-3 cm region from the root tip. Citrate release from the 0-1 and 5-9 cm regions of the proteoid root was only 7% (per unit root length) of that from the 1-3 cm segment. Electrical potential and 32 P i uptake measurements showed that P i uptake was more uniform along the proteoid root than citrate efflux.

We studied the interacting effects on NH3 loss and grain yield of adding (1) urease inhibitors to retard the hydrolysis of urea (2) the algicide terbutryn to limit floodwater pH increases, and (3) C2H2 (provided by waxcoated calcium carbide) to prevent NH3 oxidation. The algicide treatment maintained the floodwater pH values below 8 for the first 3 days after the urea application and depressed the maximum values below 8.5 on subsequent days. As a consequence, NH3 loss was significantly (P

Ammonia (NH3) volatilization is an important mechanism for nitrogen (N) loss from flooded rice fields following the application of urea into the floodwater. One method of reducing losses is to use a urease inhibitor that retards the hydrolysis of urea by soil urease and allows the urea to diffuse deeper into the soil. The two chemicals that have shown most promise in laboratory and greenhouse studies are phenylphosphorodiamidate [PPD] and N-(n-butyl)thiophosphorictriamide [NBPT], but they seldom work effectively in the field. PPD decomposes rapidly when the pH departs from neutrality, and NBPT must be converted to the oxygen analogue [N-(n-butyl)phosphorictriamide, NBPTO] for it to be effective. Our field studies in Thailand showed that NH3 loss is markedly reduced when PPD is added with the algicide terbutryn. The studies also showed that a mixture of PPD and NBPT was even more effective than either PPD or NBPT alone. It appears that initially PPD inhibited urease activity, and during this time at least part of the NBPT was converted to NBPTO; then as the activity of PPD declined, NBPTO inhibited the hydrolysis of urea. The combined urease inhibitor treatment reduced NH3 loss from 15 to 3% of the applied N, and increased grain yield from 3.6 to 4.1 t ha−1.

This paper reports a study, in a flooded rice field in Thailand, on the effects of two urease inhibitors, cyclohexylphosphorictriamide (CHPT) and N-(n-butyl)phosphorictriamide (NBPTO), the nitrification inhibitor phenylacetylene and an algicide treatment, consisting of alternate additions of copper sulfate and terbutryn at ~3 day intervals, on nitrogen (N) transformations and transfers, and grain yield. The addition of algicide reduced the growth of algae and maintained the pH of the floodwater below that of the control for 11 days. Judging from the ammoniacal N concentrations of the floodwater, phenylacetylene inhibited nitrification. The two urease inhibitors markedly reduced urea hydrolysis and CHPT was more effective than NBPTO. Addition of CHPT maintained the ammoniacal N concentration of the floodwater below 2 g m−3 for 11 days and reduced ammonia loss by ~90%. All urease inhibitor treatments in combination with algicide and / or nitrification inhibitor significantly (p < 0.05) increased the recovery of applied N by the plant. Addition of NBPTO or CHPT in combination with phenylacetylene and algicide resulted in a 2 or 3 fold increase of applied N in the grain, and significantly (p < 0.05) increased grain yield.

Poor N fertilizer use efficiency by flooded rice is caused by gaseous losses of N. Improved fertilizer management and use of nitrification inhibitors may reduce N losses. A microplot study using15N-labelled urea was conducted to investigate the effects of fertilizer application method (urea broadcast, incorporated, deep-placed) and nitrification inhibitor [encapsulated calcium carbide (ECC)] treatments on emission of N2+N20 and total loss of applied N on a grey clay near Griffith, NSW, Australia. Both incorporation and deep placement of urea decreased N2+N2O emission compared to urea broadcast into the floodwater. Addition of ECC significantly (P < 0.05) reduced emission of N2+N20 from incorporated or deep-placed urea and resulted in increased exchangeable ammonium concentrations in the soil in both treatments. Fifty percent of the applied N was lost when urea was broadcast into the floodwater. Total N loss from the applied N was significantly (P < 0.05) reduced when urea was either incorporated or deep placed. In the presence of ECC the losses were reduced further and the lowest loss (34.2% of the applied N) was noted when urea was deep-placed with ECC.

The effectiveness of wax-coated calcium carbide (as a slow-release source of acetylene) and nitrapyrin in inhibiting nitrification and emission of the greenhouse gases N2O and CH4 was evaluated in a microplot study with dry-seeded flooded rice grown on a grey clay near Griffith, NSW, Australia. The treatments consisted of factorial combinations of N levels with nitrification inhibitors (control, wax-coated calcium carbide, and nitrapyrin). The rate of nitrification was slowed considerably by the addition of wax-coated calcium carbide, but it was inhibited only slightly by the addition of nitrapyrin. As a result, the emission of N2O was markedly reduced by the application of wax-coated calcium carbide, whereas there was no significant difference in rates of N2O emission between the control and nitrapyrin treatments. Both nitrification inhibitors significantly reduced CH4 emission, but the lowest emission rates were observed in the wax-coated calcium carbide treatment. At the end of the experiment 84% of the applied N was recovered from the wax-coated calcium carbide treatment compared with ∼ 43% for the nitrapyrin and control treatments.

In tropical agroecosystems, limited N availability remains a major impediment to increasing yield. A 15N-recovery experiment was conducted in 13 diverse tropical agroecosystems. The objectives were to determine the total recovery of one single 15N application of inorganic or organic N during three to six growing seasons and to establish whether the losses of N are governed by universal principles. Between 7 and 58% (average of 21%) of crop N uptake duringthe first growing season was derived from fertilizer. On average, 79% of crop N was derived from the soil. When 15N-labeled residues were applied, in the first growing season 4% of crop N was derived from the residues. Average recoveries of 15N- labeled fertilizer and residue in crops after the first growing season were 33 and 7%, respectively. Corresponding recoveries in the soil were 38 and 71 %. An additional 6% of the fertilizer and 9.1 % of the residue was recovered by crops during subsequent growing seasons. There were no significant differences in total 15N recovery (average 54%) between N from fertilizer and N from residue. After five growing seasons, more residue N (40%) than fertilizer N (18%) was recovered in the soil, better sustaining the soil organic matter N content. Long-term total recoveries of 15N-labeled fertilizer or residue in the crop and soil were similar. Soil N remained the primary source of N for crops. As higher rainfall and temperature tend to cause higher N losses, management practices to improve N use efficiency and reduce losses in wet tropical regions will remain a challenge.

Seven different sample preparation methods (five ashing and fusion methods, an acid digestion method, an oxygen flask combustion method) and the AOAC extraction method (975.04) were compared with a newly developed sealed chamber digestion method for the determination of fluoride (F) in vegetation. Subterranean clover tissue was the test material. Fluoride concentration in digests was measured using a F ion‐selective electrode. The sealed chamber digestion carried out with nitric acid in Teflon chambers at 120°C for 6 hours gave the highest F concentration in the plant material and the highest recovery of added F of all methods. Tests on several types of plant material confirmed the superiority of the closed chamber digestion. The superiority of the method is attributed to the complete solubilisation of F in the sample and elimination of losses of volatile F.

Field studies were conducted over two seasons to examine the effect of Leucaena leucocephala as a green manure on the N uptake and yield of rice grown under lowland conditions. The treatments were 0, 4, 8, and 12t Leucaena ha-1 with 0,44, and 88 kg N ha-1 as urea in a factorial combination. N uptake was evaluated at maximum tillering, panicle initiation, and harvest. The incorporation of Leucaena increased N uptake throughout the vegetative period in both seasons, irrespective of the mineral-N level. At all levels of N, the grain yield increased significantly following the incorporation of Leucaena, and in both seasons the Leucaena treatment of 8 t ha-1 was almost as effective as the highest mineral-N application.

In Thailand a series of field experiments were run over three years from 1991 to 1993, testing the effects of urease inhibitors on ammonia loss from urea broadcast to flooded rice as well as on grain yield. The results showed that amendment with the algicide terbutryn and the urease inhibitors PPD and NBPT, either alone or in combination significantly reduced NH3 loss and increased grain yield. Experiments with the algicide in combination with the urease inhibitors NBPTO and CHPT demonstrated their effective action in reducing NH3 loss. When used alone urease inhibitors had no effect on grain yield, on the uptake of applied 15N by the grain nor on the uptake of 15N by the whole plant unless an algicide or algicide + nitrification inhibitor was added.

The crop species canola, narrow-leaf lupin, pigeon pea, soybean, sunflower, wheat and white lupin were grown in an Oxisol low in plant-available phosphorus (P), but high in total P, to investigate their capacities to access poorly-available soil P. The soil was labelled with 32P, and the plants were grown in a phytotron glasshouse. Values for specific 32P activity in plant tops were: white lupin > pigeon pea > canola, sunflower and wheat > narrow-leaf lupin and soybean. The results show that white lupin and, to a lesser extent, pigeon pea obtain P from a soil pool not available to the other species, particularly canola.

Ammonia volatilization is one of the main reasons for the poor efficiency of urea as a fertilizer for flooded rice. The rapid hydrolysis of urea, catalyzed by soil urease, and the high pH of the floodwater during daylight hours result in large losses of N by ammonia volatilization. One approach to decrease ammonia losses is to use compounds that retard the hydrolysis of urea, thus allowing the urea to diffuse deeper into the soil. This paper reports some results of laboratory and field experiments conducted to evaluate five compounds, N-(n-butyl) phosphorictriamide (NBPTO), cyclohexylphosphorictriamide (CHPT), phosphoryltriamide (PT), N-(n-butyl)thiophosphorictriamide and thiophosphoryltriamide, as inhibitors of urease activity in flooded soils.

Ammonia (NH3) volatilization is an important mechanism for nitrogen (N) loss from flooded rice fields following the application of urea into the floodwater. One method of reducing losses is to use a urease inhibitor that retards the hydrolysis of urea by soil urease and allows the urea to diffuse deeper into the soil. The two chemicals that have shown most promise are phenylphosphorodiamidate [PPD] and N(n-butyl) thiophosphorictriamide [NBPT], but they seldom work effectively. PPD decomposes rapidly when the pH departs from neutrality, and NBPT must be converted to the oxygen analogue for it to be effective. Our field studies in Thailand show that the activity of PPD can be prolonged, and NH3 loss markedly reduced, by controlling the floodwater pH with the algicide terbutryn. A mixture of NBPT and PPD in the presence of terbutryn was even more effective than PPD alone. It appears that during the time when the PPD was effective, NBPT was being converted to the oxygen analogue. The combined urease inhibitor — algicide treatment reduced NH3 loss from 10 to 0.4 kg N ha−1.

Subsurface soil acidity poses a major limitation to productivity of legume-based pastures in southern Australia. A pot experiment was undertaken to study the effectiveness of various surface-applied materials (gypsum-G, phosphogypsum-PG and fluoride-F) as ameliorants of subsurface acidity. The surface stratum (0–40 mm) of the pasture soil studied, which had been limed recently to pH 5.4 (0.01 M CaCl2), overlay the subsurface stratum (40–100 mm) of pH 4.2. Three rates of each material were applied to the soil surface in factorial combination with three rates of P. Trifolium subterraneum cv. Woogenellup (subterranean clover) was grown in the pots for 80 days.

Changes in the chemistry of an acidic grey massive earth soil in response to various ameliorant treatments (gypsum and phosphogypsum in the presence or absence of lime) were investigated in a subterranean clover-based pasture in the southern highlands of New South Wales. Lime, gypsum, and phosphogypsum, or lime in combination with gypsum and phosphogypsum were broadcast at 2500 kg ha-1 on the surface of the soil in May 1990. Pasture production was determined and the soil was sampled to 25 cm depth, 6 and 18 months after treatment application. Surface soil pH was increased to 6-1 by the application of lime, gypsum plus lime and phosphogypsum plus lime treatments in the 0-5 cm depth interval, but remained unchanged when gypsum or phosphogypsum was used alone. Calcium chloride extractable aluminium increased down the soil profile under all treatments to 10-15 cm, but was highest in the gypsum treatment at depth. The application of phosphogypsum increased the 0.01 m CaCl2 extractable fluoride in the surface 5 cm from 26 to 43 �M. In contrast, fluoride concentrations were decreased to between 5.3 and 7.3 �M in the lime, gypsum plus lime and phosphogypsum plus lime treatments. Gypsum and phosphogypsum decreased the concentration of Al3+ in solution and on the exchange sites in the 0-5 cm depth interval. However, the effectiveness of the amendments to reduce toxic Al3+ concentrations were confined to the surface 5 cm. The concentration of aluminium and the activity of Al3+ in the 0-5 cm soil layer at both soil samplings were decreased by the amendments. Lime, and gypsum or phosphogypsum in combination with lime, were the most effective treatments for reducing the activity of Al3+. The activity of Al3+ increased with depth in all treatments. The pH and activity of Al3+ measured in the 0.01 m CaCl2 extracts plot near the gibbsite solubility line and suggest that Al solubility was controlled by this mineral. Exchangeable Ca in the 0-5 cm soil layer was significantly increased by the application of lime whereas exchangeable aluminium was decreased by lime, gypsum and phosphogypsum. There was no significant change in exchangeable cations other than Al below the surface 5 cm which suggests limited leaching of lime, gypsum and phosphogypsum in the profile within the 18 month study period. Pasture yield was significantly increased by the addition of lime and was related to the decrease in the activity of Al3+ in the surface soil.

Preliminary investigations of the K availability of some commonly occurring rocks of Sri Lanka showed that granulitic gneiss, pink granite, migmatitic gneiss and microcline granite release relatively high amounts of K indicating the capability of using these to provide K in plant nutrition. The finer crushed sizes are more effective in releasing K, and the availability of the K-reserves under appropriate soil conditions makes them possible substitutes for synthetic K fertilizers.

In lowland rice (Oryza sativa L.) soils, NH4+-N is considered the most important inorganic nitrogen form. Therefore, we examined the influence of NH4+ fertilizer application and N uptake of the crop on the level of exchangeable and nonexchangeable soil NH4+ Field experiments at three sites in major

The release of non-exchangeable (fixed) NH 4 + and the importance of exchange-able NH 4 + at transplanting (initial exchangeable NH 4 + ) for rice (Oryza sativa L.) growth was studied in representative lowland rice soils of the Philippines.

Fluoride (F) is an impurity in phosphatic fertilisers and significant amounts of F will be added to soils with long-term application of phosphatic fertiliser to soil. There is a risk that F concentrations in soil may increase to levels toxic to plants or grazing animals. If F added to soil remains in the upper soil profile, due to high reactivity with soil, grazing animals could increase their intake of F through inadvertent ingestion of F-enriched soil. This study determined the distribution of F in the soil profile of medium (>8 years) and long-term permanent pastures (>50 years) where F had been applied as an impurity in phosphatic fertiliser, and assessed the potential bioavailability of fertiliser F in soil. Long-term application of superphosphate was linked to increased concentrations of the more soluble fraction of F in soil. The more soluble F fraction in the soil surface led to increased F concentrations in herbage (from 11 to 22 mg F/kg). Fluoride concentrations in herbage were not high enough to be toxic to plants or grazing animals. Fluoride applied as an impurity in phosphatic fertiliser was generally found to accumulate in the upper soil profile (0–6 cm depth). Such increases could also increase F ingestion by ruminants through incidental soil ingestion while grazing. The risk of fluorosis to grazing animals is low at present, but with continued application of fertiliser to soil containing high concentrations of F, and depending on the bioavailability of fertiliser-derived F in soil, we estimate that fluorosis may become an issue in the next 25–50 years in highly fertilised pasture soils.