Phosphorus concentration and export by silage maize and cut grassland under temperate climate

Bijeenkomst: EGF2015
Auteur: D’Haene K., De Vliegher A. and Hofman G.
ISBN: 978-9090-289-61-8
Jaar van uitgifte: 2015
Producttype: Paper
Algal blooming caused by phosphorus (P) losses from agricultural soils to ground- and surface water is a major problem as P is typically the limiting factor for eutrophication in freshwater systems. To fine-tune the advice on P fertilisation and increase P-use efficiency, it is important to have up to date information on amounts of phosphate (P2O5) exported by crops. We re-analysed Flemish nitrogen fertilization experiments on silage maize (Zea mays) and cut grassland (Poaceae) to derive their quantities of exported P2O5. The median P2O5 export by silage maize increased significantly from 78 kg P2O5 ha‑1 in the last decade of the 20th century to 94 kg P2O5 ha‑1 in recent years (median of 2.1 g P kg‑1 dry matter (DM)). This increase is due to the higher crop yields. The median P2O5 export for cut grassland remained at approximately 110 kg P2O5 ha‑1 with a median of 4.1 g P kg‑1 DM.