Phosphorus (P), an essential macronutrient, is used by plants in balance with other macronutrients and must, therefore, be supplied to crops as a fertilizer in sufficient quantities. Phosphorus availability to plants, however, is not always proportional to its amounts applied, but varies with the soil moisture regime, soil pH, soil texture and structure, organic matter content and the microflora. Soil pH is the most important factor that affects P availability. Even though triple superphosphate (TSP)is the best known and used P fertilizer, research has shown that phosphate rock (PR) can be equally productive when used scientifically, especially by lowering soil pH with the help of sulfur and sulfur-oxidizing Thiobacillus spp. bacteria, or with similar acid-producing microorganisms.
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