The long‐term soil phosphorus balance across Chinese arable land. (30th August 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ma, J.; Liu, Y.; He, W.; He, P.; Haygarth, P. M.; Surridge, B. W. J.; Lei, Q.; Zhou, W.
• Is Part Of: Soil use and management. Volume 34:Number 3(2018)
• Page Start: 306
• Page End: 315
• Publication Date: 2018-08-30
• Subjects: Soil P balance -- long‐term soil P accumulation -- sustainable P management -- P use efficiency; Soil management -- Periodicals; 631.4
• DOI: 10.1111/sum.12438
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0266-0032

Abstract

Abstract: Quantifying temporal and spatial variation of soil phosphorus (P) input, output and balance across Chinese arable land is necessary for better P management strategies. Here, we address this challenge using a soil P budget to analyse the soil P balance in arable land across the whole of China, for the period 1980–2012. Results indicated that the total P input to soil increased from 22.5 kg P/ha in 1980 to 79.1 kg P/ha in 2012. However, the total P output from soil only increased from 17.9 kg P/ha in 1980 to 36.9 kg P/ha in 2012. Therefore, the average net soil P surplus in China increased from 4.6 kg P/ha in 1980 to 42.1 kg P/ha in 2012. Our research found great variation in soil P balances across different regions. Soil P balance varied between regions with the order of southeast (SE) > north central (NC) and the middle and lower reaches of Yangtze River (MLYR) > southwest (SW) > northwest (NW) > northeast (NE). Phosphorus that has accumulated in agricultural soil across China could theoretically meet crop P demands for approximately 4.8–12.0 yrs, depending on the bioavailability of P stored in soils. Increasing the return rates of manure and straw could substantially reduce the demand for fertilizer‐P. This paper represents a basis for more targeted, regionally informed P fertilizer recommendations in Chinese soils.