Summary
This comparative study evaluated five established soil phosphorus tests using samples from long-term field experiments across Europe, the oldest exceeding 100 years. Whilst quantity-based tests (ammonium oxalate, ammonium lactate, Olsen P) generally outperformed intensity-based tests in predicting crop yield, no single test was clearly superior except that oxalate extraction performed poorly. The combination of quantity and intensity tests provided marginally improved prediction of crop yield, and the analysis yielded critical phosphorus thresholds valid across European soil types.
UK applicability
These findings are directly relevant to UK soil testing and phosphorus management recommendations, as the study included contrasting European soil types and established field trials conducted across multiple countries. The critical phosphorus values derived may inform UK fertiliser advisory standards, though application should account for specific UK soil characteristics and management histories.
Key measures
Soil phosphorus availability quantified by five different extraction methods; crop yield responses; goodness of fit in Mitscherlich models; critical phosphorus values; soil type classification
Outcomes reported
The study compared five established soil phosphorus tests (ammonium oxalate, ammonium lactate, Olsen P, calcium chloride, and DGT) across 218 soil samples from 11 soil types and long-term field experiments in five European countries. It assessed how well each test predicted crop yield responses across contrasting soil conditions.
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