Phosphorus Availability and Release Pattern from Activated Dolomite Phosphate Rock in Central Florida.

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Chemistry
• Soil Science
• Materials Science

Background:

• Phosphate rock is a key source of phosphorus (P), an essential plant nutrient.
• Traditional P fertilizers can lead to nutrient loss and environmental issues.
• Developing efficient and sustainable P fertilizer technologies is crucial for agriculture.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel method for converting dolomite phosphate rock (DPR) into slow-release phosphorus (P) fertilizers.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of activated DPR as a P source for crops.

Main Methods:

• Dolomite phosphate rock (DPR) was powdered to <100 mesh.
• DPR was activated using organic molecules under optimized reaction conditions.
• Available P was quantified by water-soluble P release.
• Plant biomass of maize and millet was measured after application of activated DPR.
• X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) were used for material analysis.

Main Results:

• Activation with organic molecules increased water-soluble P release from DPR by 3.32 to 7.46 times compared to the original material.
• Activated DPR provided greater phosphorus supply than superphosphates (SP).
• Activated DPR significantly increased maize and millet biomass, showing higher effectiveness than monoammonium phosphate and SP.
• XRD and FTIR analyses confirmed that activation stimulated P release without altering DPR's crystal structure.

Conclusions:

• Novel technology effectively converts DPR into slow-release P fertilizers using organic molecule activation.
• Activated DPR demonstrates superior P supply and crop yield enhancement compared to conventional fertilizers.
• This method offers a sustainable approach to utilizing phosphate rock resources for improved agricultural productivity.