Lecture 25 

Other Phosphate Fertilizers – Part 1 

Enriched Superphosphate 
“Enriched” superphosphate is essentially a mixture of SSP and TSP, usually made by 
acidulation of phosphate rock with a mixtur of sulfuric and phosphoric acids. Theoretacally, any 
grade between SSP and TSP can be produced, but the usual range is 25% - 35% P 
2 

O 
5 

. Processes 
and equipment are about the same as for SSP[4]. 
Enriched superphosphate may be a useful product for application in sulfur-deficient areas 
where SSP would supply more sulfur than necessary. One advantage is that mixed acid of the 
proper concentration can be obtained by mixing concentrated sulfuric acid(93% or 98% H 
2 

SO 
4 

) 
with dilute phosphoric acid(30% P 
2 

O 
5 

), thereby avoiding the need for concentrating the latter. 

Ground Phosphate rock is effective only on acid soils (pH 6 or less). This statement 
applies to apatitic rocks not to calcined aluminum phosphate ores that are effective on neutral or 
calcareous soils. 
Phosphate rocks are also more effective in warmer climates, in moist soils, and on crops 
that have fairly long-term growing patterns. They are less effective for short-season crops grown 
under cool soil temperatures, particularly in the first year of application. 
It is generally agreed that the rock should be finely ground and well mixed with the soil. 
However, there is some difference of opinion as to the usefulness of very fine grinding. The 
majority opinion seems to be that there is little to be gained by grinding finer than about 90% 
through 100-mesh (0.147 mm), although there are some who claim that very fine grinding such 
as 80% through 320-mesh (0.043 mm) is worthwhile. 
Ground rock that has been granulated after grinding has given rather poor first-crop 
results even when the granules disintegrate in the soil, presumably because granulation reduces 
the area of contact with the soil. However, in most of the tests, the granules have been in the 
range of 1-4 mm. 
 
While it is generally agreed that reactivity is important, there is some disagreement as to 
how important it is and how to measure it. Chemical methods for evaluating reactivity are 
discussed later. The importance of reactivity is greatest for the first crop or season; the long-term 
or residual effectiveness does not seem to be closely related to reactivity. Rocks of relatively low 
reactivity have shown good long-term effectiveness. 
Some investigators have attributed the response to phosphate rock to annul rainfall; better 
results were obtained on well-watered soils. 
Ground phosphate rock has been advocated and used for reclaiming low-phosphorus soils 
of abandoned farms or of new (previously uncultivated) land of low native phosphorus fertility. 
Calcination is carried out in a fluidized bed. Experiments showed that maximum citrate 
solubility was obtained in the range of 400 
0 

– 600 
0 

C. The maximum solubility in alkaline 

ammonium citrate solution was about 70%; the solubility in 2% citric acid solution is much 
lower, about 20% - 30% [5]. The product is used for direct application after being ground to pass 
a 100-mesh (0.15mm) screen. 
14.3 Basic Slag 
Basic slag, also called Thomas slag, is a byproduct of the steel industry. Iron made from 
high-phosphorus ore is converted to steel in a Thomas converter by oxidation in contact with a 
basic (high C 
a 

O) slag. The usual range of P 

2 

O 
5 

content in slag that is used for phosphate 

fertilization is 10% - 20%. Sometimes phosphate rock is deliberately added to the blast furnace 
charge to increase the phosphorus content of the iron and thereby increase the P 
2 
O 
5 

content of 
the slag. 
Basic open-hearth slag also may contain P 
2 

O 
5 

up to 10% - 20%, and it is used in 

agriculture in some countries, both for liming and phosphorus supply. 
The P 
2 

O 
5 

in basic slag is mainly present as calcium silicophosphates – silicocarnotite 

(5CaO•P 
2 

O 
5 

•SiO 
2 

) and nagelschmitite (7CaO•P 

2 

O 
5 

•SiO 
2 

). Small amounts of fluorspar (CaF 

2 

) 
may be added to slags to decrease their viscosity during the steel-refining process. Such slags 
contain fluorapatite and are likely to be less suitable for fertilizer use. 
 
Potassium Phosphates 
Potassium Phosphates are excellent fertilizers, and their very high analysis is an 
advantage that has stimulated much research in an effort to find an echonomical production 
process. However, no process has been developed that is economical enough to result in 
widespread production; therefore, present use is limited to special purposes for which the high 
cost can be justified. 
At present, most of the potassium phosphates used in fertilizers are produced from 
potassium hydroxide or carbonate and phosphoric acid and are used in liquids for foliar 
application or other specialty uses. 
Some of the alternative salts of potassium phosphates are given in table 14.7. 
Phosphate Potassium Salts 
Compound Formula Grade 
Monopotassium phosphate KH 
2 

PO 
4 

0-52-35 
Dipotassium phosphate K 
2 

HPO 
4 

0-40-54 
Tetra potassium pyrophosphate K 
4 

P 
2 

O 
7 

0-43-57 
Potassium metaphosphate KPO 
3 
0-60-40 
In addition, a potassium polyphosphate solution of 0-26-27 grade has been produced 
from superphosphoric acid and potassium hydroxide; it contains a mixture of ortho, pyro, and 
higher polyphosphates. 
TVA, SAI, and others have produced potassium metaphosphate in pilot plants by high- 
temperature reaction of KCl and phosphoric acid. The pure material, KPO 
3 

, has a grade of about 

0-60-40 and, thus, a 100% nutrient content (on an oxide basis). 
 
Bone Meal 
Bone meal is a mixture of crushed and coarsely ground bones that is used as an organic fertilizer 
for plants and formerly in animal feed. As a slow-release fertilizer, bone meal is primarily used 
as a source of phosphorus. 
As a fertilizer, the N-P-K ratio of bone meal is generally 4-12-0, though some steamed bone 
meals have N-P-Ks of 1-13-0. Bone meal is also an excellent organic source of calcium. Organic 
fertilizers usually require the use of microbes/bacteria in the soil in order to make the nutrients in 
the fertilizer bio-available. That can result in irregular release of phosphorus/calcium. In sterile 
potting soil, there may be no microbes to release the nutrients. 
Finely ground bone meal may provide quicker release than coarsely ground. Phosphates do not 
easily pass through soil. So mixing the bone meal with the soil or putting it in the planting hole 
can help. 
Fused Calcium Magnesium Phosphate 
If a mixture of phosphate rock and olivine or serpentine (magnesium silicate) is fused in 
an electric furnace [11]. The molten product is quenched with water and used in a finely divided 
state as a fertilizer. The product, a calcium magnesium phosphate (CMP) glass, contains about 
20% P 
2 

O 
5 

and 15% MgO. Over 90% of the product is soluble in citric acid. 
The theoretical compositions of some magnesium-containing minerals that can be used to 
produce CMP are: 
Olivine (Mg, Fe) 
2 

SiO 
4 

Serpentine Mg 
3 

H 
4 
SiO 
9 

Garnierite (Mg, Ni) H 

2 

SiO 
4 

Magnesite MgCO 
3 
 
The minerals are variable in compositions; iron, nickel, and sometimes manganese may 
substitute for magnesium. Magnesium oxide, obtained by calcining magnesite or extracting it 
from sea water, can be used in the process; in this case, silica must be added in sufficient 
quantity to result in 20% - 30% SiO 
2 

in the product.