Quenching the High Phosphorus Fixation of Hawaiian Latosols

Abstract

Abstract Hawaii aluminous‐ferruginous latosols are severely deficient in total and available phosphorus and have very high phosphorus fixation capacities. This severely limits croup production. Results of 6‐year field experimentation indicate that the problem of phosphorus fixation and low yields can be overcome by a heavy initial phosphorus treatment which quenches the fixation complex, and thus diverts the extra phosphorus to maximum yield production. Additional phosphorus must be added every few years to replace depletion by crop removal, erosion and slow residual fixation. Long‐term yields indicate the costs of reclamation may be readily amortized over a 10‐ to 20‐year period.