A Survey of Phosphorus in the Yaqui Valley, Sonora, Mexico

Barbara Cade-MenunBarbara Cade-Menun

Geological and Environmental Sciences Stanford University

1.

International Rice Research Institute

Soil phosphorus concentrations are of interest environmentally for two reasons:

2.

Lake Experiment, Manitoba, 1973

P Added

No P

Concerns in the Yaqui ValleyConcerns in the Yaqui Valley

High N fertilizationHigh N fertilization DroughtDrought Increased animal productionIncreased animal production

Research Objective:Research Objective:

To assess the concentrations of soil P To assess the concentrations of soil P throughout the Yaqui Valleythroughout the Yaqui Valley

To determine if P might limit crop growth.To determine if P might limit crop growth. To determine if land application of manure To determine if land application of manure

would be appropriate would be appropriate

Obregon

Zone 3

Zone 1

Zone 2Samples collected by D. LobellJuly 20010-20 cm depth; 5 replicates per field

Soil Data by ZoneSoil Data by Zone

Zone 1Zone 1 Zone 2Zone 2 Zone 3Zone 3

pHpH 7.57 7.57 aa

(0.016)(0.016)

7.37 7.37 bb

(0.038)(0.038)

7.35 7.35 bb

(0.029)(0.029)

Total CTotal C 0.074 0.074 bb

(0.001)(0.001)

0.085 0.085 aa

(0.002)(0.002)

0.082 0.082 aa

(0.003)(0.003)

Total NTotal N 0.984 0.984 aa

(0.014)(0.014)

0.980 0.980 aa

(0.021)(0.021)

0.924 0.924 bb

(0.026)(0.026)

CN RatioCN Ratio 15.61 15.61 aa

(0.249)(0.249)

13.35 13.35 bb

(0.157)(0.157)

13.36 13.36 bb

(0.274)(0.274)

Zone 3

Zone 1

Zone 2

Soil Texture by ZoneSoil Texture by Zone

Zone 1Zone 1 Zone 2Zone 2 Zone 3Zone 3

SandSand 23.1 23.1 aa

(2.15)(2.15)

15.6 15.6 aa

(3.11)(3.11)

15.8 15.8 aa

(2.77)(2.77)

SiltSilt 32.3 32.3 bb

(2.49)(2.49)

36.3 36.3 bb

(2.03)(2.03)

49.7 49.7 aa

(2.59)(2.59)

ClayClay 44.8 44.8 aa

(1.63)(1.63)

47.2 47.2 aa

(3.62)(3.62)

34.5 34.5 bb

(2.64)(2.64)

Zone 3

Zone 1

Zone 2

Soil Data by ZoneSoil Data by Zone

Zone 1Zone 1 Zone 2Zone 2 Zone 3Zone 3

CaCa 7943.9 7943.9 aa

(195.1)(195.1)

5393.7 5393.7 bb

(153.4)(153.4)

4410.6 4410.6 cc

(164.8)(164.8)

FeFe 42.8 42.8 bb

(1.50)(1.50)

67.6 67.6 aa

(2.04)(2.04)

70.8 70.8 aa

(1.61)(1.61)

AlAl 299.1 299.1 cc

(18.0)(18.0)

614.4 614.4 aa

(12.8)(12.8)

397.2 397.2 bb

(20.2)(20.2)

NaNa 347.8 347.8 aa

(14.6)(14.6)

323.8 323.8 aa

(14.4)(14.4)

233.0 233.0 bb

(21.9)(21.9)

Zone 3

Zone 1

Zone 2

Total Soil PhosphorusTotal Soil Phosphorus

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

1800

2000

Field Number

To

tal

P (

mg

P p

er k

g s

oil

)Zone 1:

803.1 (24.9) cZone 3:

1287.1 (23.7) aZone 2:

1095.9 (20.9) b

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

1 4 32 35 38 41 44 8 11 14 17 20 23 26 29

Field Number

Ava

ilab

le P

(m

g P

per

kg

so

il) Zone 1:

5.61 (0.39) cZone 3:

17.35 (1.47) aZone 2:

11.63 (0.98) b

Available Phosphorus (Bray P)Available Phosphorus (Bray P)

P Saturation IndexP Saturation Index

0

0.02

0.04

0.06

0.08

0.1

0.12

Field Number

PS

I (P

/Fe,

Al,

Ca)

Zone 1: 0.004 (0.0002) c

Zone 2: 0.012 (0.0008) b

Zone 3: 0.021 (0.0028) a

Phosphorus Retention CurvesPhosphorus Retention Curves

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

0 50 100 150 200 250

Equilibrium P Concentration (mgP/l)

P A

dsor

bed

(mg

P/k

g so

il)

Zone 1

Zone 2

Zone 3

Zone 1 Soils and FertilizersZone 1 Soils and FertilizersFieldField FertilizersFertilizers

Carlos ValenzuelaCarlos Valenzuela 150 kg NH150 kg NH33, 100 kg 11-52-0, 100 kg 11-52-0

Luis Arturo Arraya Luis Arturo Arraya 200 kg Urea200 kg Urea

Luis Arturo ArrayaLuis Arturo Arraya 200 kg Urea, 200 kg 11-52-0200 kg Urea, 200 kg 11-52-0

Cesar V.Cesar V. Gallinaza Seca, 11 t/haGallinaza Seca, 11 t/ha

M. Lopez LavaM. Lopez Lava No fertilizerNo fertilizer

P in Fertilized soilsP in Fertilized soils

FertilizersFertilizers Total PTotal P Available PAvailable P PSIPSINHNH33, 11-52-0, 11-52-0 541.8541.8 0.510.51 0.0040.004

Urea, no PUrea, no P 622.0622.0 1.031.03 0.0050.005

Urea, 11-52-0Urea, 11-52-0 537.8537.8 1.341.34 0.0050.005

Gallinaza SecaGallinaza Seca 966.8966.8 1.341.34 0.0040.004

No fertilizerNo fertilizer 349.3349.3 3.973.97 0.0050.005

10.0 / 40.0 0.02 / 0.05

Summary of P ResearchSummary of P Research

Soils in Zone 1 (NE) have a low P Soils in Zone 1 (NE) have a low P concentration, with a high P retention concentration, with a high P retention capacitycapacity

Soils in Zone 3 (NW) are P-saturated, with Soils in Zone 3 (NW) are P-saturated, with the potential for P transfer to waterthe potential for P transfer to water

Manure application to land?Manure application to land?

Manure application to soils in Zone 1 would Manure application to soils in Zone 1 would be a beneficial source of Pbe a beneficial source of P

Low risk of P saturation from manure Low risk of P saturation from manure application in Zone 1; high risk in Zone 3application in Zone 1; high risk in Zone 3

Wide-scale manure application should be Wide-scale manure application should be carefully monitoredcarefully monitored

Future Research NeededFuture Research Needed

Evaluate nutrient status of different types of Evaluate nutrient status of different types of manuremanure

Develop a consistent manure product, Develop a consistent manure product, (through composting ?)(through composting ?)

Establish guidelines for manure storage and Establish guidelines for manure storage and application, to avoid environmental riskapplication, to avoid environmental risk

Policy PerspectivesPolicy Perspectives

This information is useful to farmers, regional This information is useful to farmers, regional planners, livestock producersplanners, livestock producers

To be implemented, valley-wide coordination To be implemented, valley-wide coordination required to collect manure, turn it into a useful required to collect manure, turn it into a useful product, and monitor manure applicationproduct, and monitor manure application

MicronutrientsMicronutrients

Zone1Zone1 Zone 2Zone 2 Zone 3Zone 3

BB 3.69 3.69 aa (0.103)(0.103)

3.49 3.49 aa (0.124)(0.124)

3.00 3.00 bb (0.117)(0.117)

CuCu 2.41 2.41 bb (0.094)(0.094)

2.95 2.95 aa (0.088)(0.088)

2.42 2.42 bb (0.081)(0.081)

MnMn 151.4 151.4 cc (6.06)(6.06)

205.6 205.6 bb (5.76)(5.76)

231.3 231.3 aa (7.05)(7.05)

ZnZn 0.98 0.98 bb (0.094)(0.094)

1.49 1.49 bb (0.088)(0.088)

1.74 1.74 aa (0.082)(0.082)

Soil Exchangeable ZincSoil Exchangeable Zinc

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

3.5

4.0

4.5

5.0

Field Number

Meh

lich

Zin

c (

mg

Zn

per

kg

so

il)

Zone 1: 0.98 (0.09) b

Zone 2: 1.42 (0.09) b

Zone 3: 1.74 (0.08) a