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. 2024 Dec 25;14(1):16.
doi: 10.3390/plants14010016.

Phosphogypsum as Fertilizer: Impacts on Soil Fertility, Barley Yield Components, and Heavy Metals Contents

M Barka Outbakat  1   2 , Moussa Bouray  1   2 , Redouane Choukr-Allah  1   2 , Mohamed El Gharous  1   2 , Kamal El Omari  3 , Khalil El Mejahed  1   2
Affiliations

Phosphogypsum as Fertilizer: Impacts on Soil Fertility, Barley Yield Components, and Heavy Metals Contents

M Barka Outbakat et al. Plants (Basel). .

Abstract

According to the FAO, 828 million people were facing acute food insecurity in 2021. Fertilization is a critical input factor in crop production and food security achievement. Therefore, fertilization is a critical input factor in crop production and food security achievement. However, there is room for improvement in the application of fertilizers in certain regions. Thus, new fertilizers with a relatively low cost could enhance farmers' access to these essential inputs. Phosphogypsum (PG) is used as fertilizer because it contains many nutrients essential for plant growth, including calcium, sulfur, and phosphorus. A two-year field experiment was conducted using two Moroccan PG products (PG1 and PG2, obtained from two different industrial sites), applied at four rates (0, 1.5, 3, and 4.5 t/ha). The aim was to assess the impact of PG source and rate on barley crops, including yield component, nutrients uptake, and heavy metals content. The study's findings revealed that as the rate of PG application increased, there were significant enhancements in the number of spikes, tillers, grains, total biomass, grain yield, and thousand-grain weight. In fact, when compared to the control, the application of 1.5, 3, and 4.5 t/ha of PG led to a remarkable increase in grain yield by 21%, 34%, and 39%, respectively. Furthermore, the uptake of nutrients (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, and S) by the shoots and grains was significantly influenced by the PG application rates, with higher rates resulting in greater nutrient uptake. Notably, the application of PG had no discernible impact on the heavy metal content in shoots, grains, or soil.

Keywords: fertilization; heavy metals; nutrients uptake; phosphogypsum; soil; yield parameters.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Field trial location.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Climatic conditions during 2021.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Climatic conditions during 2022.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Effect of phosphogypsum rate on barley’s grain yield during 2021 and 2022 seasons. Letters indicate the statistical differences between the effects of PG rates within each year separately. Error bars represent the standard error.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Effect of phosphogypsum rate on barley’s total biomass during 2021 and 2022 seasons. Letters indicate the statistical differences between the effects of PG rates within each year separately. Error bars represent the standard error.
Figure 6
Figure 6
The relationship between phosphogypsum rate and shoot nutrients uptakes. Data points represent the mean of the two growing seasons in 2021 and 2022.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Effect of phosphogypsum rates on soil pH at the end of each season (2021 and 2022). Letters indicate the statistical differences between the effects of PG rates within each year separately. Error bars represent the standard error.
Figure 8
Figure 8
Effect of phosphogypsum rate on soil nutrient contents (A): P2O5 and SO42−-2021, (B): P2O5 and SO42−-2023. Letters indicate the statistical differences between the effects of PG rates. Error bars represent the standard error.
Figure 8
Figure 8
Effect of phosphogypsum rate on soil nutrient contents (A): P2O5 and SO42−-2021, (B): P2O5 and SO42−-2023. Letters indicate the statistical differences between the effects of PG rates. Error bars represent the standard error.
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