Diffusive gradients in thin films predicts crop response better than calcium-acetate-lactate extraction

Abstract Soil P testing has been widely used to predict crop yields, uptake, and fertilizer demands in agriculture. Diffusive gradients thin films (DGT) provides a zero-sink soil test which mimics diffusion-controlled plant uptake previously found availability crops better than conventional quantity-based tests highly weathered Australian, though not European soils. Here we tested the performance of DGT Austrian German standard quantity calcium acetate lactate (CAL) explain variation yield response winter wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) spring barley Hordeum vulgare long-term fertilization experiments at four different sites eastern Austria. Phosphorus extracted with (P-DGT) CAL (P-CAL) correlated well similar soils but across large site properties such as carbonate equivalent water availability. The predictive power for (R 2 = 0.42) grain 0.32), grains 0.36) was clearly superior that CAL, less dependent on properties. compared is consistent diffusion-limited water-limited cultivated critical values deficiency derived from Mitscherlich-type fits 80% relative are 64.9 26.2 µg L −1 , respectively, differential crops.