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Agricultural industry

Phosphorus Tailings Boost Corn Yield in Acidic Red Soil

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Researchers from Yunnan Agricultural University have made a groundbreaking discovery regarding the effects of phosphorus tailings on corn growth in acidic red soil. A recent field experiment in Qujing, Yunnan (2023-2024), tested the effects of combining phosphorus tailings with reduced chemical fertilizers on soil properties, microbial communities, and corn yield and quality. The study found that phosphorus tailings reduced soil acidification, increased microbial diversity, and improved corn yield, quality, and protein content.

Key Takeaways:

  • Phosphorus tailings reduced soil acidification by 0.54-0.9 units in the top 0-10 cm layer compared to the control group.
  • The treatment combination of phosphorus tailings and 80% standard fertilizer (T3) raised soil pH and increased total, available, and soluble phosphorus by 952.82, 28.46, and 2.04 mg/kg, respectively.
  • Treatment T3 exhibited the highest microbial diversity (Chao1 and Shannon indices increased by 177.57% and 37.80% versus CK) and a more complex bacterial co-occurrence network (114 edges versus 107 in CK).
  • Corn yield under T3 improved by 13.72% over the control group, with increases in hundred-grain weight (+6.02%), protein content (+18.04%), and crude fiber (+9.00%).
  • The study concluded that phosphorus tailings indirectly increased yield by modifying soil properties and pH, while * phosphorus-reducing bacteria had a modest positive influence.

Statistics:

  • 952.82 mg/kg: increase in total phosphorus in the 0-20 cm layer under treatment T3.
  • 28.46 mg/kg: increase in available phosphorus in the 0-20 cm layer under treatment T3.
  • 2.04 mg/kg: increase in soluble phosphorus in the 0-20 cm layer under treatment T3.
  • 13.72%: improvement in corn yield under treatment T3 compared to the control group.
  • 6.02%: increase in hundred-grain weight under treatment T3.
  • 18.04%: increase in protein content under treatment T3.
  • 9.00%: increase in crude fiber under treatment T3.

Sources:

  • Regulatory Mechanism of Phosphorus Tailings and Organic Fertilizer Jointly Driving the Succession of Acidic Soil Microbial Functional Groups and Enhancing Corn Yield. Agriculture, 2025, 15(19): 2011. (Agriculture - http://www.mdpi.com/journal/agriculture)
  • Yunnan Agricultural University Researchers Publish Findings in Agriculture (Regulatory Mechanism of Phosphorus Tailings and Organic Fertilizer Jointly Driving the Succession of Acidic Soil Microbial Functional Groups and Enhancing Corn Yield). Life Science Weekly. October 28, 2025; p 8331.

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