For these situations, you’ll need to know how to add phosphorus to your soil.
In some cases, the best remedy may be a combination of both.
A soil test can pinpoint the cause and help you choose the best approach to correct the problem.
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What Does Phosphorus Do For Soil?
Phosphorus is one of three elements essential to all plant growth.
Along with nitrogen and potassium, phosphorus is the P in theNPK formulafound on garden fertilizer labels.
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It supports photosynthesis and helps manufacture chlorophyll which gives foliage its green color.
Here are eight ways to increase available phosphorus and improve plant performance in your garden.
Commercial fertilizers are quickly depleted and repeated applications can harm plants with salt buildup and affect pH balance.
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Applied in autumn, usable phosphorus can remain in the soil for up to six months.
Animal Manure
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All manures add phosphorus to soil but in relatively small amounts.
Chicken and horse manures contain the highest amounts with about 80 percent taken up by the soil immediately.
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Fresh manure contains pathogens and can lose some nutrient value through aging.
Still, manure composted using high heat and well-aged manure are the safest choices for edible crops.
It can also be spread fresh in autumn and tilled under in spring.
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It contains a high amount of phosphorus at 12 to 24 percent immediately available to plants.
It breaks down best in soil with abalanced to slightly acidic soil.
Unlike commercial formulas, fish emulsion doesn’t cause harmful salts to accumulate in soil.
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This makes compost an ongoing practice for improving soil performance with the greatest benefit from repeated annual applications.
Lime
Phosphorus breaks down best in soil with a balanced pH level of 7 to 7.5.
Acidic soil can bind it and prevent plants from using it.
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It consists of granulated limestone or dolomite with high concentrations of calcium and magnesium.
Lime is applied once just before planting.
Rock Phosphate
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Rock phosphate is mined rock with high levels of phosphorus.
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Basalt, granite and rhyolite are examples of this bang out of rock.
Soft rock phosphate is a powdered form added to soil at planting time.
Rock phosphate is also used in larger form as a decorative mulch.
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This is a slow release form that takes five years to break down completely.
Fertilizers with a higher second number, such as 10-20-5, act quickly to boost phosphorus for plants.
Epsom saltdoes not contain any of the primary elements needed by plants; nitrogen, phosphorus or potassium.
It is made up of magnesium, sulfur and oxygen.
Phosphorus Basics: Understanding Phosphorus Forms and Their Cycling in the Soil.
Alabama A&M and Auburn University Extension
