Managing phosphorus : under acid soils environment
Malaysia lies within the world’s humid tropical region with high humidity, abundant annual rainfall (2,000-3,000 mm), and very little variation in temperature (averaging 27°C). As a result, the soils are highly weathered with low pH, high in aluminium (Al), and of poor nutrient status. These soi...
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| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Inaugural Lecture |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Universiti Putra Malaysia Press
2010
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| Online Access: | http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/114283/1/114283.pdf http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/114283/ https://pnc.upm.edu.my/upload/dokumen/20170731155300Managing_Phosphorus_Under_Acid_Soils_Environment.pdf |
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| Summary: | Malaysia lies within the world’s humid tropical region with high
humidity, abundant annual rainfall (2,000-3,000 mm), and very little
variation in temperature (averaging 27°C). As a result, the soils
are highly weathered with low pH, high in aluminium (Al), and of
poor nutrient status. These soils are inherently low in water-, diluted
acid- or alkali-soluble phosphorus (P) with values of less than 10
mg P kg-1 (Owen, 1947; 1953), while total soil P for soils suitable
for agriculture practices is commonly less than 300 mg P kg-1 soil
(Law and Tan, 1973). Consequently, P deficiency is widespread
and P fertilisers are required to improve the fertility status of the
soil for crop production.
Phosphorus is one of the major elements for plant nutrition and
is usually taken up by plants in relatively smaller amounts compared
to nitrogen (N) or potassium (K). Phasphorus occurs in plants in
numerous forms, such as phosphorylated sugars and alcohols, and
as phospholipids which have a wide range of functions (Tisdale
and Nelson, 1975). The main function is in energy transfer as a
component of adenosine triphosphate (ATP). On hydrolysis, the
high energy pyrophosphate bond in ATP releases energy to drive
other plant processes, such as those involved in the active uptake
of plant nutrients.
Although the nutrient status of Malaysian soils is poor, especially
for P, a substantial amount of Malaysia’s income (RM 55.0 billion)
is expected to be derived from agricultural activities in 2010 (Wong,
2007). The major export contributors (54.5% of total agricultural
exports) are oil palm, rubber, cocoa, tea, and pepper crops which
are planted in the estate and sub-estate sectors. The success of such
plantation-based crops in Malaysia depends on chemical fertiliser
inputs, such as that of N, P, and K. |
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