Phosphorus dynamics in Vertosols: improving fertilizer management

Phosphorus (P) increasingly constrains crop productivity in Australian Vertosols (Australian Soil Classification, Isbell et al., 2021). However, P behaviour and dynamics in Vertosols are still not well understood especially within complex cropping systems. To complement our knowledge in P dynamics in Vertosols and collect critical information as a baseline for future agricultural model development, nine Vertosols were incubated with various P fertilizer treatments. Phosphorus dynamics were modelled in relation to physical and chemical properties. Results indicate that physical and chemical properties and P dynamics of the Vertosols are highly variable and differ substantially from the other soil types. This suggests that inclusion of selected soil properties to current soil P models could help to improve the understanding of the fate of applied P in Vertosols. This will be critical for future development of sustainable P fertilizer management strategies.