Agronomic potential of indigenous phosphate rocks as a phosphorus fertilizer in Zambia - Interim report

Abstract

One of the major problems that has inhibited the development of economically successful agriculture in many areas of the tropics is the poor soil fertility for crop production (Chien & Hammond, 1988). Many tropical regions are low in both total and available phosphorus (P), which is an essential plant nutrient. Studies in Northern Zambia revealed that crops seldom produced yields without additional phosphorus applications. In the last decade, demand has been met by imported fertilizers but this isa drain on the foreign exchange. Efforts have, therefore, been made in recent years to find alternative sources of supplying P for crop production in the high rainfall areas of Northern Zambia. Attention has focused on the use of low-cost indigenous material such as locally available phosphate rock (PR) deposits and their derivatives.