Growing Species with Low Phosphorus Requirements
Presentation
Characterization of the technique
Description of the technique :
| François Dumoulin | CA 60 | francois.dumoulin(at)agri60.fr | Fresnoy le Luat (60) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rémy Ballot | INRA | remy.ballot(at)grignon.inra.fr | Grignon (78) |
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Maximize the share in the rotation of crops with low phosphorus requirement (wheat in rotation, sunflower, flax, maize grain…) to medium (barley, straw wheat, legumes…) compared to crops with high requirement (beet, rapeseed, potato, alfalfa…). The phospho-potassic fertilization reasoning method established by COMIFER defines as low requirement the crops whose yield losses in case of phosphorus deficiency do not exceed 5%. This method recommends skipping phosphate fertilization for low requirement crops at lower soil phosphate content than for medium requirement crops. For high requirement crops (whose yield losses exceed 30% in case of deficiency), skipping is never recommended.
Implementation period On established crop
Spatial scale of implementation Farm
Application of the technique to...
All crops : Easily generalizable
All soil types : Easily generalizable
All climatic contexts : Easily generalizable
Effects on the sustainability of the cropping system
"Environmental" criteria
Effect on air quality : Increasing
GHG emissions : DECREASE
Effect on water quality : Increasing
N.P. : DECREASE
Effect on fossil resource consumption : Decreasing
fossil energy consumption : DECREASE
Other : No effect (neutral)
Air : Maximizing the share of low phosphorus requirement crops in the rotation reduces the amount of phosphate fertilizer applied, thus reducing greenhouse gas emissions related to their manufacture, transport…
Water : Maximizing the share of low phosphorus requirement crops in the rotation reduces the amount of phosphate fertilizer applied, thus potentially reducing phosphorus transfers to water.
Fossil energy : Maximizing the share of low phosphorus requirement crops in the rotation reduces the amount of phosphate fertilizer applied, thus reducing energy consumption related to their extraction, transport…
Accumulation of pollutants in soils : Decrease
Maximizing the share of low phosphorus requirement crops in the rotation reduces the amount of phosphate fertilizer applied, and thus the input flows of trace metal elements (TMEs) into the fields.
"Agronomic" criteria
Productivity : No effect (neutral)
Soil fertility : No effect (neutral)
Water stress : No effect (neutral)
Functional Biodiversity : No effect (neutral)
"Economic" criteria
Operating costs : Decreasing
Maximizing the share of low phosphorus requirement crops in the rotation reduces the amount of phosphate fertilizer applied, thus reducing fertilization costs.
Mechanization costs : Variable
Maximizing the share of low phosphorus requirement crops in the rotation reduces the frequency of phosphate fertilizer applications, thus reducing mechanization costs related to spreading. But in many cases, phosphorus is applied with other elements. Changing or diversification of the crop rotation can also lead to increased mechanization costs.
Margin : Increasing
The reduction in fertilization costs without yield penalty should lead to increased profitability of the cropping system.
Other economic criteria : Decreasing
Fuel consumption : Decrease
Maximizing the share of low phosphorus requirement crops in the rotation reduces the frequency of phosphate fertilizer applications, thus reducing fuel consumption related to spreading, unless phosphorus is usually applied with other elements.
"Social" criteria
Working time : Decreasing
Maximizing the share of low phosphorus requirement crops in the rotation reduces the frequency of phosphate fertilizer applications, thus reducing the workload related to spreading, unless phosphorus is usually applied with other elements.
Observation time : Increasing
Implementing a reasoned phosphate fertilization taking into account (1) crop requirements, (2) past practices of fertilization, (3) residue management practices and especially (4) soil phosphorus content requires regular soil analyses (every 4-6 years minimum).
To learn more
- Basics of reasoning : 4 criteria to decide
- -Le Souder C. (Arvalis)
Perspectives agricoles n°292, p32-34, Press article, 2003
- PK fertilization reasoning : Pushing practice to the limits
- -Le Souder C., Castillon P. (Arvalis)
Perspectives agricoles n°354, p44-46, Press article, 2009
- P, K and Mg contents of harvested plant organs
- -COMIFER
Technical brochure, 2009
