Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Nutrient Leaching In Undisturbed Cores Of An Acidic Sandy Podosol Following Simultaneous Potassium Chloride And Di-Ammonium Phosphate Application, Ian Phillips, Edward Burton

Associate Professor Edward D Burton

In south-east Queensland, Australia, extensive areas of sandy soils (Podosols) with shallow (<1>m) watertables are used for exotic pine tree production. Despite concerns that surface-applied fertilisers (di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) and potassium chloride (KCl)) may be contributing to a decline in local groundwater quality, published information on nutrient leaching in these Podosols is scarce. Large (0.3 m i.d. · 0.85 m long) undisturbed soil cores were intermittently leached with deionised water following a single surface application of KCl in combination with DAP. Potassium was applied at rates (equivalent on a surface area basis) of 0 (K0), 50 (K50), 100 (K100) …