The impact of partially acidulated phosphate rock, triple superphosphate and their combinations on micronutrients uptake by wheat

Abstract EN

This study was conducted during the Winters of 1999–2000 and 2000–2001 in the experimental field of the College of Agricultural Studies in Shambat area.

The treatments tested comprised two phosphate sources, namely the imported triple super phosphate (TSP), widely used by farmers, and a local partially acidulated phosphate rock (PAPR) from Jebel Kurun in the Nuba Mountains.

The treatments were applied at three comparable levels (43.0, 64.5 and 86 kg ha-1 2 5 P O designated as 1p, 1.5p and 2p).

Inoculation of wheat seeds with Vesicular–Arbuscular Mycorrhizae (VAM) was also tested.

A combination of the two P sources and their rates was also included in the study.

The treatments were arranged in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) in the field to study the effect of the two P sources, their combinations and seed inoculation with VAM on the availability and uptake of the micronutients Fe, Zn, Mn and Cu by wheat plants.

The results indicate that, the micronutrients contents in plants receiving the local PAPR reflecte an equal and, in certain cases, higher levels than the imported TSP treatments.

The inoculation of seeds with VAM fungus did not showes a significant increase in the micronutrients up take by plants.

The results also show that, mixing of the local PAPR with TSP at relatively low rates increase its effectiveness in micronutrients uptake suggesting the possibility of partially replacing the TSP by the PAPR.