Formation of ternary organic acids-Fe-P complexes on the growth of wheat (Triticum aestivum)

Abstract

ABSTRACT Phosphorus (P) reacts with chemical and mineralogical constituents in the soil, mainly in tropical and subtropical soils. Therefore, strategies have been used to reduce the adsorption of P to the soil, among them, the formation of complexes that could decrease P adsorption to the soil. Two experiments were carried out to evaluate the formation of organic acid-Fe-P complexes in the laboratory and the efficiency of these complexes on the growth of wheat plants (T. aestivum) grown under greenhouse conditions. In experiment 1, seven low-molecular-weight organic acids (OA) were selected and a protocol for the formation of complexes between organic acid and Fe3+ at pH 4.0 was performed. After stirring, P was added to the organic acid-Fe complex to form the ternary complex. The remaining P was evaluated to determine the amount of P in the complex. In experiment 2, the three OAs which had the largest amount of complexes were selected, together with a treatment with soluble P and a control. Wheat was grown in potted soil in a greenhouse for 34 days. The amount of ternary organic acid-Fe-P complexes formed varied from 5 to 42% of the added P. However, when these complexes were added to the soil, in treatments with greater amount of complex formed there was lower growth of wheat. Thus, the ternary complex with organic acid-Fe-P has little effect on the performance of wheat plants.