Issue |
Agron. Sustain. Dev.
Volume 29, Number 2, April-June 2009
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Page(s) | 371 - 379 | |
DOI | https://doi.org/10.1051/agro:2008046 | |
Published online | 18 October 2008 |
DOI: 10.1051/agro:2008046
A method for assessing available phosphorus content in arable topsoils over large spatial scales
Stéphane Follain1, 2, Christian Schvartz1, Pascal Denoroy3, Christine Villette4, Nicolas P.A. Saby5, Dominique Arrouays5, Blandine Lemercier6 and Christian Walter61 ISA, Laboratoire Sols et Environnement, 48 boulevard Vauban, 59046 Lille, France
2 UMR LISAH / Montpellier SupAgro / INRA / IRD, 2 place Pierre Viala, 34060 Montpellier Cedex 2, France
3 UMR INRA / ENITA Bordeaux, TCEM (1220), INRA Centre de Recherche de Bordeaux-Aquitaine, 71 avenue Edouard Bourlaux, BP 81, 33883 Villenave d'Ornon Cedex, France
4 Laboratoire Départemental d'Analyses et de Recherche, rue Fernand Christ, 02007 Laon Cedex, France
5 INRA, US 1106, CR d'Orléans, Unité Infosol, avenue de la Pomme de Pin, BP 20619 Ardon, 45166 Olivet Cedex, France
6 UMR INRA / Agrocampus Rennes Sol, Agronomie et Spatialisation, 65 rue de Saint-Brieuc, CS 84215, 35042 Rennes, France
Accepted 9 July 2008 ; published online 18 October 2008
Abstract - Human activities, and more specifically agricultural activities, have
modified the way the ecosystem functions through the use of fertilizers.
When these inputs are not being utilized reasonably, they can lead to a
degradation in both soil and water quality. As a result of the subsequent
environmental problems and socio-economic constraints, the concept of
sustainable fertilization was born. The main goal behind sustainable
fertilization is to reduce the amount of fertilizers used while maintaining
soil fertility and farmer revenues. We have designed herein a methodology
for assessing the phosphorus bioavailability in arable topsoils on France's
national scale, on the basis of this sustainable fertilization concept. We
will consider the sustainability of a cropping system that requires
balancing nutrient removal from the soil by fertilization, in order to avoid
environmental risks. The originality of this method lies in quantitative
results stemming from the French Soil Test Database (BDAT) and their
evaluation using the RegiFert
software, which incorporates
soil characteristics and crop sensitivity to nutrient availability.
According to the proposed procedure, we determined the phosphorus
bioavailability class of French arable soils at the cantonal scale. Cantons are areas of average surface of 140 km2. This methodology
constitutes an attempt to gather all analytical results into a common
diagnostic framework on the national scale (for France), while taking into
account the local pedological context and crop production requirements. With
this procedure, we are able to conclude that 77% of cantons are situated
below the critical level regarding crop needs. Furthermore, this diagnosis
suggests that the available phosphorus content in soils is considered
insufficient with respect to any crop potential requirement. From an
environmental standpoint, however, this situation could be considered as
generating the lowest pollution risk. Nevertheless, 23% of the cantons
exhibit a soil phosphorus accumulation that is not necessary with regard to
agricultural uses. In this case, no fertilization is required and the
pollution risk is increased. On the national scale, bioavailability class
frequencies are structured spatially, with gradients correlated to soil
parameter spatial distribution, and tend to reflect land use patterns.
Key words: soil fertility / sustainable agriculture / sustainable fertilization / available phosphorus / soil database / BDAT
Corresponding author: follain@supagro.inra.fr
© INRA, EDP Sciences 2008