Radioisotopic labeling reveals inaccuracy of phosphorus use efficiency of ammonium phosphate fertilizers calculated by the difference method

Abstract Management of phosphorus (P) inputs to agroecosystems is often evaluated by phosphorus use efficiency (PUE), but different calculation approaches may yield discrepancies in estimated PUE values. We evaluated PUE (i) indirectly calculated by difference in crop P uptake between a P‐fertilized...

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Main Authors: Andrew J. Margenot, Neha Chatterjee, Chongyang Li
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-06-01
Series:Agricultural & Environmental Letters
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/ael2.70022
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author Andrew J. Margenot
Neha Chatterjee
Chongyang Li
author_facet Andrew J. Margenot
Neha Chatterjee
Chongyang Li
author_sort Andrew J. Margenot
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Management of phosphorus (P) inputs to agroecosystems is often evaluated by phosphorus use efficiency (PUE), but different calculation approaches may yield discrepancies in estimated PUE values. We evaluated PUE (i) indirectly calculated by difference in crop P uptake between a P‐fertilized versus a P‐unfertilized control (PUEdiff) and (ii) directly measured by tracing radioisotopically labeled fertilizer P (PUEisotope). Using two ammonium phosphate fertilizers of high (monoammonium phosphate [MAP]) and low (struvite) water solubility in three soils with non‐limiting extractable soil P concentrations (Mehlich‐3 P > 25 mg kg−1), we find dissimilar PUEisotope versus PUEdiff. PUEdiff often yielded negative values (77% of observations), whereas PUEisotope was (i) positive and (ii) higher (two‐ to fourfold) for MAP than struvite, and (iii) unassociated with soil Mehlich‐3 P concentrations. Thus, PUEdiff appears to underestimate PUE and miss differences in PUE among fertilizerss. Our results raise the need to reconsider calculation of PUE and to address practical challenges to in situ measurement of PUEisotope.
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spelling doaj-art-813bb83a01334a4ba82b0a97757328ea2025-08-20T03:29:58ZengWileyAgricultural & Environmental Letters2471-96252025-06-01101n/an/a10.1002/ael2.70022Radioisotopic labeling reveals inaccuracy of phosphorus use efficiency of ammonium phosphate fertilizers calculated by the difference methodAndrew J. Margenot0Neha Chatterjee1Chongyang Li2Department of Crop Sciences University of Illinois Urbana‐Champaign Urbana Illinois USADepartment of Crop Sciences University of Illinois Urbana‐Champaign Urbana Illinois USAAgroecosystem Sustainability Center, Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment University of Illinois Urbana‐Champaign Urbana Illinois USAAbstract Management of phosphorus (P) inputs to agroecosystems is often evaluated by phosphorus use efficiency (PUE), but different calculation approaches may yield discrepancies in estimated PUE values. We evaluated PUE (i) indirectly calculated by difference in crop P uptake between a P‐fertilized versus a P‐unfertilized control (PUEdiff) and (ii) directly measured by tracing radioisotopically labeled fertilizer P (PUEisotope). Using two ammonium phosphate fertilizers of high (monoammonium phosphate [MAP]) and low (struvite) water solubility in three soils with non‐limiting extractable soil P concentrations (Mehlich‐3 P > 25 mg kg−1), we find dissimilar PUEisotope versus PUEdiff. PUEdiff often yielded negative values (77% of observations), whereas PUEisotope was (i) positive and (ii) higher (two‐ to fourfold) for MAP than struvite, and (iii) unassociated with soil Mehlich‐3 P concentrations. Thus, PUEdiff appears to underestimate PUE and miss differences in PUE among fertilizerss. Our results raise the need to reconsider calculation of PUE and to address practical challenges to in situ measurement of PUEisotope.https://doi.org/10.1002/ael2.70022
spellingShingle Andrew J. Margenot
Neha Chatterjee
Chongyang Li
Radioisotopic labeling reveals inaccuracy of phosphorus use efficiency of ammonium phosphate fertilizers calculated by the difference method
Agricultural & Environmental Letters
title Radioisotopic labeling reveals inaccuracy of phosphorus use efficiency of ammonium phosphate fertilizers calculated by the difference method
title_full Radioisotopic labeling reveals inaccuracy of phosphorus use efficiency of ammonium phosphate fertilizers calculated by the difference method
title_fullStr Radioisotopic labeling reveals inaccuracy of phosphorus use efficiency of ammonium phosphate fertilizers calculated by the difference method
title_full_unstemmed Radioisotopic labeling reveals inaccuracy of phosphorus use efficiency of ammonium phosphate fertilizers calculated by the difference method
title_short Radioisotopic labeling reveals inaccuracy of phosphorus use efficiency of ammonium phosphate fertilizers calculated by the difference method
title_sort radioisotopic labeling reveals inaccuracy of phosphorus use efficiency of ammonium phosphate fertilizers calculated by the difference method
url https://doi.org/10.1002/ael2.70022
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