Phosphorus fertilizer: from commodity to speciality - from fertilizing the field to fertilizing the plant
Sandeep Sharma1, Prem S Bindraban2, Christian O Dimkpa3
1Division of Plant Physiology, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi 110012, India.
Abstract:
Phosphatic fertilizers are indispensable for sustainable agriculture, but phosphorus (P) scarcity has drawn global attention with respect to research and policy discussions. Soil conditions (pH, organic matter, metal oxides), P-fertilizer form and its application methods, and plant growth mechanisms influence plant P availability. Given the nonrenewable nature and low use efficiency of P, the development of speciality P-fertilizers and improved application methods are essential for reducing environmental P losses and increasing plant P uptake, thereby improving P use efficiency (PUE). This paper explores strategies for using innovative P-fertilizers targeting plant physiological processes instead of conventional bulk field applications to enhance PUE.
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