THE USE OF ROCK PHOSPHATE AS A SOURCE OF PHOSPHORUS ON A SLIGHTLY ACID CLAYEY SOIL IN TANZANIA

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AFRIKA FOCUS Vol. 2. Nr. 2, 1986, pp. 127-138 THE USE OF ROCK PHOSPHATE AS A SOURCE OF PHOSPHORUS ON A SLIGHTLY ACID CLAYEY SOIL IN TANZANIA MSAKY, J.J.T. (1), B.M. MSANYA (2) & A.P. URIYO (3) Sokoine University of Agriculture, Department of Soil Science, P.O. Box 3008, Morogoro, TANZANIA. SUMMARY The effectiveness of rock phosphate as a phosphorus nutrient source was studied as compared to triple superphosphate (TSP), a common fertilizer used in Tanzania. Initial results showed that rock phosphate can be used as a P source for growing maize. Its application increased both grain yields and soluble floride extractable P in the soil. TSP still proved to be superior to rock phosphate for the direct effect experiments in terms of both grain yield and soluble fluoride extractable P. However, for the residual effects experiment, rock phosphate was equally effective as TSP. Grinding rock phosphate beyond -40+60 mesh did not result in an increase in soluble P. However, increase in levels of application resulted into increased soluble P in soil. A combination of fineness and level of application resulted into an increased amount of soluble P. This combination should thus be used as a criterion in the use of rock phosphate as a P nutrient source for plant growth. KEYWORDS : Rock Phosphate, phosphorus source, soils, Tanzania ' INTRODUCTION With the possible exception of nitrogen, no other element has been as critical in the growth of plants in the field as has phosphorus (Brady, 1974). A lack of this element is extremely

Transcript of THE USE OF ROCK PHOSPHATE AS A SOURCE OF PHOSPHORUS ON A SLIGHTLY ACID CLAYEY SOIL IN TANZANIA

AFRIKA FOCUS Vol . 2. Nr. 2, 1986, pp . 127-138

THE USE OF ROCK PHOSPHATE AS A SOURCE OF PHOSPHORUS ON A SLIGHTLY ACID CLAYEY SOIL IN TANZANIA

MSAKY, J .J .T. (1), B.M. MSANYA (2) & A.P. URIYO (3) Soko ine Un ive rs i t y o f A g r i c u l t u r e , D e p a r t m e n t o f Soil Sc ience , P.O. Box 3008, Morogoro , TANZANIA.

SUMMARY

The e f f e c t i v e n e s s o f r o c k phospha te as a phosphorus n u t r i e n t s ou r c e was s t u d i e d as c ompa r ed t o t r i p l e s upe r pho spha t e (TSP), a common f e r t i l i z e r used in Tanzania. In i t i a l r e su l t s showed t h a t r o c k phospha te can be used as a P s ou r ce f o r g row ing maize. I t s app l i c a t i on i n c reased b o t h g ra in y ie lds and so lub le f l o r i d e e x t r a c t a b l e P in t h e so i l . TSP s t i l l p r o ved t o be s upe r i o r t o r o c k phospha t e f o r t h e d i r e c t e f f e c t e x pe r imen t s in t e r m s o f b o t h g ra in y ie ld and so lub le f l u o r i d e e x t r a c t a b l e P. However, f o r t h e res idua l e f f e c t s e x pe r imen t , r o c k phospha te was equal ly e f f e c t i v e as TSP. Gr ind ing r o c k phospha te beyond -40+60 mesh d i d no t r e s u l t in an inc rease in so lub le P. However, i nc rease in levels o f app l i c a t i on r e s u l t e d i n t o i n c reased so lub le P in so i l . A comb ina t i on o f f i neness and level o f app l i c a t i on r e s u l t e d i n t o an i n c reased amount o f so lub le P. This c omb i na t i on shou ld thus be used as a c r i t e r i o n in t h e use o f r o c k pho spha t e as a P n u t r i e n t s ou r c e f o r p l an t g r o w t h .

KEYWORDS : Rock Phospha te , phosphorus sou r ce , soi ls, Tanzania '

INTRODUCTION

W i t h t h e poss ib le e x c e p t i o n o f n i t r o g en , no o t h e r e l emen t has been as c r i t i c a l in t h e g r o w t h o f p l an t s in t h e f i e l d as has phosphorus (Brady, 1974). A lack o f t h i s e l emen t is e x t r e m e l y

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ser ious as i t may even p r e v e n t t h e u p t a k e o f o t h e r n u t r i e n t s by p lan t s . The impo r t a n c e o f phosphorus f o r p l an t g r o w t h has r e ce i v ed spec ia l c on s i d e r a t i o n in t h e f o rmu l a t i o n o f commerc i a l f e r t i l i z e r s .

In Tanzania, s upe rphosha t e a c coun t s f o r abou t 90 pe r c e n t o f t h e f e r t i l i z e r phosphorus used . T r ip l e s upe r pho spha t e (TSP) is be ing m a n u f a c t u r e d f r o m r o c k phospha te i m p o r t e d f r o m overseas. The local ma te r i a ! o c c u r r i n g in abundance a t Minj ingu, N o r t h e r n Tanzania, cou ld be advantageous ove r t h e i m p o r t e d r o c k phospha te . I t s e x p l o i t a t i o n wi l l n o t r e qu i r e much f o r e i g n exchange i n ve s tmen t espec ia l l y in t h e long run .

One o f t h e d i sadvantages o f t h e local ma te r i a l is t h e low phospha te (24.5 'I. t o t a l BL 0, ) and high s i l i ca (29.9 7. as Si 0, ) c o n t e n t wh i ch impl ies t h a t i t may become r a t h e r expens ive t o c o n c e n t r a t e t h e o r e as f e e d ma te r i a l t o w a r d s t h e i ndus t r i a l m a n u f a c t u r e o f t r i p l e s upe rpho spha t e f e r t i l i z e r . However, cons i de r i ng t h e avai lable phospha te s t a t u s and t h e f a i r l y high ca l c ium and magnesium c o n t e n t , i t may be used as a raw phospha t i c ma te r i a l in wel l p owde r ed f o r m in p lace o f t r i p l e s upe r pho spha t e t o some e x t e n t . I t should also be s t r e s s e d t h a t t h e use o f t h e local ma te r i a l in t h e i ndus t r i a l m a n u f a c t u r e o f TSP c anno t be ru l ed ou t a t t h i s moment .

E xpe r imen t s c o n d u c t e d in Tanzania b e t w e e n 1959 and 1970 w i t h r o c k phospha te along w i t h s upe rpho spha t e on g r oundnu t s as a t e s t c r o p showed t h a t t h e w a t e r so lub le s ou r c e o f phospha t i c f e r t i l i z e r s a re genera l l y a more e f f i c i e n t sou r ce o f phospha te t han t h e g round r o c k phospha te , t hough t h e l a t t e r has much t h e same res idua l e f f e c t (Le Mare, 1959 and Anderson , 1970).

The g row ing energy p rob l em and soar ing p r i c e s o f i m p o r t e d r o c k phospha te c oup l ed w i t h Tanzania 's i nadequa te f o r e i g n exchange cal ls f o r a need f o r b e t t e r eva lua t ion and u t i l i z a t i o n o f local r e sou r ce s . The c u r r e n t s t u d y compr i s i ng o f a ser ies o f e x pe r imen t s was c a r r i e d o u t w i t h t h e fo l l ow ing o b j e c t i v e s :

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i - t o i n ve s t i ga t e on t h e use o f t h e r o c k phospha te d e p o s i t as a s ou r c e o f phosphorus t o c r op s

ii - t o mon i t o r res idua! e f f e c t s o f app l i ed r o c k phospha te on c r o p y ie lds

iii - t o i n ve s t i ga t e on t h e r e l a t i v e e f f i c i e n c y o f t h e o r e as c ompa red w i t h t h e commonly used t r i p l e s upe r pho spha t e f e r t i l i z e r .

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The soi l on wh i ch t h e e x p e r i m e n t s w e r e c o n d u c t e d was c h a r a c t e r i z e d and c l a s s i f i ed as Typ ic Rhodus tu l t a c c o r d i ng t o Soil Taxonomy (U.S.D.A.-S.C.S., 1975), based on i t s morpho log i ca l c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s and t h e phys i co - chem i ca l d a t a p r e s e n t e d in t a b l e 1.

Powde red Minj ingu r o c k phospha te o f t h e meshes g iven in t a b l e 2 was p rov i ded by t h e S t a t e Mining C o r p o r a t i o n (STAMICO) and was analysed f o r t o t a l and avai lable phosphorus by s t a nda r d me thods . TSP was used t o m o n i t o r t h e p e r f o r m a n c e o f t h e r o c k phospha te in inc reas ing c r o p y ie lds .

A s imple c omp l e t e l y r andom i zed b lock des ign w i t h t h r e e r ep l i c a t i on s was used and inc luded f o u r r a t e s o f f e r t i l i z e r app l i c a t i on : 0, 20, 40 and 60 kg P/ha f o r each mesh s i ze . The t r i a l s w e r e c a r r i e d o u t on t h e Un ive r s i t y Farm (Morogoro, du r i ng 1976, 1977 and 1978 c r o p p i n g seasons (March-Augus t ) using maize as a t e s t c r o p . The year l y w e a t h e r c ond i t i o n s on t h e a rea rema ined q u i t e s t a b l e du r i ng t h e pe r i od o f e x p e r i m e n t a t i o n .

The p e r f o r m a n c e o f t h e r o c k phospha te was mon i t o r e d t h r o u g h (a) d i r e c t e f f e c t s e x p e r i m e n t t o c he ck t h e immed ia te e f f e c t o f t h e r o c k phospha te app l i c a t i on on c r o p y ie lds and (b) res idua l e f f e c t s e x p e r i m e n t t o see t h e e f f e c t o f t i m e on t h e re lease o f phosphorus f r o m r o c k phospha te .

Fo r t h e d i r e c t e f f e c t s e x pe r imen t , b o t h r o c k phospha te and t r i p l e s upe rpho spha t e w e r e b r o a d c a s t e d and i n c o r p o r a t e d i n t o t h e soi l t w o weeks b e f o r e p l an t i ng . No phospha te

Table 1 : Physico-chemical properties of the soil

Depth (cm. )

Sand i

Silt Clay

B.D. g/cc

„III pH 1:2.5 soil-

liquid H.,0 IM KCl

total ..V

Avail. P V I

ppm.

Exch. cations meq./lOOg

Mg

C E C ™ meq./ 100 g soil

Ap 0- 20 42 6 8 4 49 0 1 21 6 5 6 1 1 63 0 15 14.9 8 23 4 81 0 58 1 38 9 14 25 2 59 5

B l t 20- 45 33. 9 8 1 58 0 1 34 6 3 4 3 0 72 0 13 n.d. 4 00 2 84 0 08 0 18 n d. 30 0 23 5

B21t 45- 75 31. 6 8 1 60 3 1 18 6 1 4 4 0 58 0 11 n.d. 3 20 2 84 0 16 0 07 n d. 25 2 24 9

B22t 75-110 29 3 10 4 60 3 1 18 6 0 4 4 0 55 0 09 n. d. 2 00 3 24 0 23 0 0 7 n d. 28 0 19 8

B23t 110-200+ 2 7 1 12 6 60 3 1 16 6 1 4 2 0 39 0 08 n. d. 3 60 2 43 0 47 0 09 n d. 30 6 21 6

I.Hydrometer method (Day, 1965x) II. Core method (Blake, 1965x)

III. Modified glass electrode method (Peech, 1965x) IV. Wet combustion method - Walkley and Black (Allison, 1965x) V. Macro-Kjeldahl method (Bremner, 1965x)

VI. Bray and Kurtz method (1945)

VII. C a 2 + and M g 2 + EDTA titration (Head, 1965x) N a + and K +-Flame photometry H +-Menlich's method (1953)

VIII. NHÎ-saturation method (Chapman, 1965x) 4

X : In Black, C.A. et al. (1965). n.d. : not determined.

c a r r y i n g ma te r i a l was app l i ed in t h e res idua l e xpe r imen t a l f i e l d and t h e p l o t boundar ies f r o m t h e 1977 d i r e c t e f f e c t s e x p e r i m e n t w e r e ma in ta ined du r i ng t h e t i l l age ope r a t i on s .

T a b l e 2. M i n j i n g u r o c k phospha te mesh s i z e s and t h e i r phospha te forms

Mesh s i z e (*) 7 t o t a l P i n 7. P c i t r i c a c i d

(*) F i n e n e s s o f r o c k phospha te i n c r e a s e s downwards

Maize v a r i e t y I longa c ompos i t e was sown a t 75 cm b e t w e e n t h e rows and 30 cm w i t h i n t h e row spac ing . For t h e res idua l e f f e c t , t h e same v a r i e t y o f maize was g rown du r i ng 1978 c r o p p i n g season on t h e r e s p e c t i v e t r e a t m e n t p l o t s used in 1977. N i t r o g en a t 40 N kg/ha was t o p d r e s s e d a t knee he igh t f o r b o t h d i r e c t and res idua l e xpe r imen t s . Fo r p l an t analysis, a c ompos i t e sample cons i s t i ng o f ear leaves ( the u p p e r m o s t l ea f o p p o s i t e t h e t o p m o s t cob) f r o m t e n randomly s e l e c t e d p l an t s was c o l l e c t e d f r o m t h e p l o t s a t c ob f o r m a t i o n . The samples w e r e d r i e d in an oven a t 105* C t o c o n s t a n t mo i s t u r e and g round in a Wi l ly mi l l . The g round ma te r i a l was ashed and analysed f o r P by t h e v anada t e -mo l y bda t e ye l low co l ou r me t hod (Chapman and P r a t t , 1961).

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

r o c k phospha te s o l u b l e

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11 + 22 22 + 40 40 + 60 80 + 100

10.50 11 .00 11 .40 1 1 .70 11.70

9 .75 10 .50 10.10 10.50 9 .62

(a) D i r e c t and res idua l e f f e c t s

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Table 3 shows t h e e f f e c t o f app ly ing P c a r r y i ng mate r i a l s on t h e ava i lab i l i ty o f soil P a t c ob f o r m a t i o n s t age f o r 1976 and 1977 (average f o r t w o years) .

T a b l e 3 . Mean a v a i l a b l e phospho rus l e v e l s (ppm) i n the s o i l a t cob f o r m a t i o n

Sou r ce s Meshes L e v e l s o f a p p l i c a t i o n ( kg P/ha) 0 20 40 60 Means

Rock -11 +22 10. 7 12.5 12. 9 12. 8 12.2 phospha te -22 +40 13 . 7 14.8 15. 7 17. 5 15.4

-40 +60 12. 8 14.0 14 . 9 19. 8 15.4 -80 +100 11 . 1 14.3 19. 7 18 . 1 15.8 -100 14 . 2 16.9 15. 6 15. 0 15.4

T r i p l e 15 . 8 17.4 18 . 6 22 . 4 18.6 s u p e r ­phospha te

Means 13. 1 15 ,0 16 . 2 17 . 6 15.5

Increas ing r a t e o f P app l i c a t i on r e s u l t e d in i nc reased levels o f so lub le f l u o r i d e e x t r a c t a b l e phosphorus in t h e soi l sampled a t c ob f o r m a t i o n . There was a s l i gh t i nc rease in so lub le f l u o r i d e e x t r a c t a b l e phosphorus f r o m - 1 1 +22 t o - 40 +60 mesh r o c k phospha te . However, i t appears t h a t g r i nd ing t h e ma te r i a l i n t o f i n e r p a r t i c l e s does no t necessar i l y r e su l t in an inc rease in f l u o r i d e e x t r a c t a b l e phosphorus . S t a t i s t i c a l analysis on t h e e x t r a c t a b l e phosphorus d a t a revea led t h a t t h e inc rease in so lub le f l u o r i d e e x t r a c t a b l e phosphorus f r o m t h e p l o t whe r e t r i p l e s upe rphospha t e had been app l i ed , when compa red t o t h e t r e a t m e n t s t h a t had r e c e i v ed -11 + 22 mesh r o c k phospha te we r e highly s i gn i f i c an t .

The c o n c e n t r a t i o n o f P in t h e leaves i nc reased s i gn i f i c an t l y w i t h inc reas ing P r a t e s in t h e case o f t r i p l e s upe rpho spha t e t r e a t m e n t . A s imi lar b u t s l i gh t l y less c on s i s t e n t t r e n d was obse r ved f o r t h e r o c k phospha te t r e a t m e n t s ( tab le 4).

Tab l e 4. Mean phospho rus c o n c e n t r a t i o n (7.) i n ma i ze l e a v e s a t cob f o r m a t i o n

P Sou r ce s Meshes L e v e l s o f a p p l i c a t i o n (kg P/ha) 0 20 40 60 Means

Rock -11 + 22 0. 19 0 .22 0.21 0 .20 0 .21 phospha te -22 +40 0. 21 0.21 0. 20 0 . 25 0 .22

-40 +S0 0. 19 0 .22 0.21 0 . 25 0 .22 -80 +100 0. 19 0.21 0 .20 0 .20 0. 20 -100 0 . 12 0.21 0.19 0 .25 0 .19

T r i p l e 0. 17 0 .20 0 .22 0 .25 0.21 s upe r pho spha t e

Means 0. 18 0.21 0.21 0 .25 0.21

S i g n i f i c a n t e f f e c t s : L e v e l s Meshes LSD P = 0 01 0.011 0. 015

W i t h r ega rd t o mesh s izes o f app l i ed r o c k phosphate , t h e r e was only a s l i gh t inc rease in l ea f P c o n c e n t r a t i o n f r o m -11 + 22 t o - 40 +60 mesh, and th i s was only in t h e case o f t h e h ighes t level o f r o c k phospha te app l i c a t i on (60 kg P/ha).

Table 5 shows gra in y ie ld d a t a f o r 1976 and 1977 as a f f e c t e d by f e r t i l i z a t i o n w i t h d i f f e r e n t sources o f phosphorus . In b o t h years inc reas ing levels o f P app l i c a t i on r e s u l t e d in i nc reased y ie lds o f maize. The y ie lds ob t a i n ed f r o m t h e app l i c a t i on o f t r i p l e s upe rpho spha t e w e r e supe r i o r t o t ho se ob t a i n ed a t s imi lar r a t e s o f Minj ingu r o c k phospha te app l i c a t i on . Mesh s izes also a f f e c t e d t h e y ie ld o f maize in b o t h years a l though t h e increases in y ie ld w i t h inc rease in mesh s i ze w e r e n o t c on s i s t en t . Fo r t h e d i r e c t e f f e c t i t wou ld appea r t h a t unde r t h e p r e s e n t c i r c ums t an ce s g r i nd ing t h e o r e beyong - 40 +60 mesh may no t necessar i l y give supe r i o r p e r f o r m a n c e . F u r t h e r m o r e , g r i nd ing t h e ma te r i a l i n t o t h e f i n e r meshes beyong - 40 +60 mesh may inc rease t h e r a t e o f P f i x a t i o n because o f t h e

Table 5 : Grain yield (Kg./ha) of maize as affected by fertilization with different sources of phosphorus

P Sources Meshes 19 76 Meshes 1977

Levels of application Levels of appli rat i on (Kg P/ha) (Kq IV ha )

0 20 40 60 0 20 40 60 Mean

Rock phosphate -11+22 3051 3050 2 7 50 3463 3076 233 7 2592 2939 2346 2553

-22+40 298 7 3750 3951 3 580 3592 2538 3 209 3 36 5 3121 3058

-40+60 3919 3805 3 74 3 3838 3830 3045 3150 3224 3270 31 72

-80+100 3950 3532 33 71 3884 3629 2 760 3000 3334 3301 3098 -100 3403 3958 402 8 4215 2896 3350 3 3 50 34 38 3587 3317

Triple 3 790 4166 3619 Superphosphate 35 3 4 4181 4468 4874 4264 2978 3542 3 790 4166 3619

Means 3474 3713 3685 3991 2759 3140 3348 3298

Significant effects : Levels Meshes Levels Meshes LSD p = 0.01 246 720 510 622

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i nc reased t o t a l s u r f a c e area o f t h e r o c k phospha te . In such c i r c ums t an ce s t h e r e wi l l be cons i de rab l e c r o p imp rovemen t in y ie ld mos t l y in subsequen t years as t h e P r a t e g e t s s lowly re l eased .

Table 6 shows t h e e f f e c t o f res idua l P on t h e y ie ld o f I longa c ompos i t e maize in 1978. S i gn i f i c an t y ie ld inc reases due t o P app l i c a t i on f o r all levels w e r e ob t a i ned ove r t h e c o n t r o l (0 level).

T a b l e 6. E f f e c t o f r e s i d u a l P on t he y i e l d o f I l o n g a c o m p o s i t e ma i ze (kg P/ha)

P Sou r ce s Meshes L e v e l s o f a p p l i c a t i o n (kg P/ha) 0 20 40 60 Means

Rock -11 + 22 1375 1563 1800 1856 1649 phospha t e -22 +40 1632 1743 2095 1904 1844

-40 +60 1868 2007 2184 2142 2050 -80 +100 1803 2009 1910 1931 1913 -100 1647 1966 2075 2176 1966

T r i p l e 1562 2290 224 1 2253 2087 s upe r pho spha t e

Means 1648 1930 2051 2044

S i g n i f i c a n t e f f e c t s LSD P = 0.01

A l though cons i de rab l e v a r i a t i on in y ie ld was ob t a i ned due t o mesh s izes, t h e e f f e c t s w e r e no t c on s i s t e n t . The y ie lds f r o m t h e p l o t s whe r e t r i p l e s upe r pho spha t e had been app l i ed w e r e genera l l y h igher t han t ho se f r o m t h e t r e a t m e n t s t h a t had r e c e i v ed r o c k phospha te app l i ca t i ons . Prev ious e x p e r i m e n t s have genera l l y shown t h a t t h e d r y m a t t e r y ie ld response t o r o c k phospha te is less t h an t h a t t o s upe r pho spha t e in t h e s h o r t t e r m , e x c e p t on ac id soi ls ( F i t z p a t r i c k , 1961). In t h e l a t e r years o f long t e r m

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e xpe r imen t s , in wh i ch t h e f e r t i l i z e r s a re added in a s ingle in i t ia l app l i c a t i on , t h e cumu la t i ve y ie ld response t o r o c k phospha te may o r may no t be as g r e a t as t h a t ob t a i ned w i th , s upe rpho spha t e (McLachlan, 1960 ; Russel l , 1960). Russell (1960) sugges ted t h a t r o c k phospha te might be used t o more advantage whe re t h e labi le phosphorus c o n t e n t o f t h e soi l had been inc reased by prev ious f e r t i l i z a t i o n t o t h e e x t e n t t h a t f u r t h e r supp l ies a re needed only t o mainta in t h e labi le s t o r e o f phosphorus , and t h a t t hey might be pa r t i c u l a r l y u se fu l whe r e w a t e r so lub le phospha te is read i l y l eached .

( b ) I n t e r a c t i o n e f f e c t

S t a t i s t i c a l analysis f o r t h e 1977 r e su l t s showed a d e f i n i t e i n t e r a c t i o n p a t t e r n b e t w e e n mesh s i ze and levels o f app l i c a t i on o f r o c k phospha te . The i n t e r a c t i o n e f f e c t was ve ry highly s i gn i f i c an t (F = 6.142***). This means t h a t f o r t h e e f f e c t i v e use o f r o c k phospha te b o t h t h e f i neness and t h e r a t e o f app l i c a t i on should be c on s i de r ed as i m p o r t a n t f a c t o r s and t h e main f a c t o r s c on t r o l l i n g t h e amount o f avai lable P f o r p l an t u p t a k e . However, t h e res idua l e x p e r imen t d i d n o t show any s i gn i f i c an t i n t e r a c t i o n e f f e c t (F = 0,94).

CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

The r e su l t s ob t a i n ed in t h i s s t u d y c lea r l y i nd i c a t e t h a t t h e local r o c k phospha te can be used in p owde r ed f o r m t o improve c r o p y ie lds . I t was also a ppa r en t t h a t unde r t h e cond i t i on s o f t h e e xpe r imen t s , f i neness o f t h e phospha te mate r i a l is a c on t r o l l i n g f a c t o r in P re lease f o r p l an t s . In th i s r e s p e c t , g r i nd ing o f r o c k phospha te up t o - 40 +60 mesh s i ze is r e commended f o r op t imum y ie lds . Gr ind ing t h e mate r i a l i n t o f i n e r p a r t i c l e s izes may be un j u s t i f i a b l y c o s t i y and may no t necessar i l y improve c r o p y ie lds pa r t i c u l a r l y in t h e s h o r t run .

As f o r t h e r a t e s o f phospha te app l i c a t i on , i t was also obvious t h a t i nc reased levels o f phospha te improved c r o p y ie lds .

-Ha**-

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Cons ider ing t h e r e su l t s ob t a i n ed f r o m b o t h t h e d i r e c t and res idua l e f f e c t s o f phospha te app l i c a t i on , t h e r a t e o f 40 kg P/ha can be r e commended as an ideal one.

Las t l y t h e au tho r s wou ld s t i l l l ike t o u rge t h e gove rnmen t o f Tanzania t o f u r t h e r a s t udy on t h e poss ib i l i t i es o f using t h e local r o c k phospha te in f u t u r e as a f e e d mate r i a l f o r t h e m a n u f a c t u r e o f s upe rpho spha t e f e r t i l i z e r s by t h e Tanzania F e r t i l i z e r Company. The a rguments aga inst i t s use f o r t h a t pu rpo se (i.e. high c o s t s o f c o n c e n t r a t i n g t h e ore) need t o be s u b s t a n t i a t e d by a mu l t i - d i s c i p l i n a r y s tudy) .

NOTES

MSAKY, J.J.T. (1) ; B.M. MSANYA (2) and A.P. URIYO (3) L e c t u r e r s (1 and 2) and P r o f e s s o r (3) r e spec t i v e l y . P r e sen t addresses : .1. S c i ence du Sol , I n s t i t u t Nat iona l Agronomique Pa r i s -

Gr ignon, 78850 Thiverval Gr ignon, FRANCE. 2. S t a t e Un ive rs i t y Ghent , Depa r tmen t o f General Pedology,

Kr i jgs laan 281, 8 -9000 Ghent , BELGIUM. 3. I n t e r na t i o na l I n s t i t u t e o f T rop i ca l Ag r i c u l t u r e , P.M.B. 5320

Ibadan, NIGERIA.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The au tho r s wish t o exp re s s thanks t o t h e S t a t e Mining Co r po r a t i o n (STAMICO) o f Tanzania f o r p rov id ing t h e r e s ea r ch f unds .