Effects of phosphorus amended low phosphorus soil on soybean (Glycine max L.) and wheat (Titicum aestivum L.) yield and phosphorus uptake

A major constraint for crop production on disturbed soils is phosphorus (P). A 2-year field study was conducted on a disturbed soil to evaluate broiler litter ash (BLA) as an inexpensive phosphorus fertilizer for soybean. BLA or super phosphate (SP) was applied at four rates and planted with soybean followed by wheat. At soybean growth stage R3, two plants from each plot were removed for tissue analysis. Soybean tissue P concentration distributions were in the order pods > leaves > stems > roots. At maturity, soybean grain and wheat tissue yields were not significantly affected by P source. Except for the high superphosphate rate for the second crop, P concentrations of soybean grain and wheat tissue were not significant between P source. In this study, BLA was as effective as SP for growth of soybean grain and wheat tissue, suggesting that BLA can be used as an inexpensive P fertilizer on low P disturbed soils.