Impact of organic and mineral fertilising on aluminium mobility and extractability in two temperate Cambisols

Abstract

Different fertilisation systems cause changes in the content of mobile aluminium (Al) forms in the soil as a result of soil pH changes. Long-term stationary fertilisation experiments established in 1996 at 2 sites were evaluated. Experiments consisted of unfertilised control treatment and 6 other treatments, combining mineral fertilisation with the application of farmyard manure, sewage sludge and straw. To record the changes in mobile Al forms, we used 5 extraction procedures with agents: water, CaCl₂, KCl, CaCl₂/DTPA (CAT) and Mehlich 3 solutions. At treatment nitrogen (N) + straw, topsoil acidification was observed, resulting in the increased content of mobile Al. At treatments with mineral fertilisation (N, NPK), increased content of mobile forms of Al was recorded. Application of cattle manure and sewage sludge helped to stabilise the soil pH and reduce mobile Al forms. The close correlation between the methods determining the exchangeable Al (CaCl₂ and KCl solutions) was observed; however, KCl extraction was more favourable in soils of low Al extractability, as the amount of extracted Al was 3–4 times higher. Positive correlations were determined between Al extracted by Mehlich 3 solution and the content of exchangeable Al. The less frequently used CAT method also turned out to be perspective for mobile Al determination. Furthermore, aluminium content determined in Mehlich 3 extract was compared with mobile phosphorus amounts in H₂O, CAT and Mehlich 3, respectively. All three investigated phosphorus forms showed significantly negative correlations with Al.