The use of phosphorus fertilizers in agriculture is a proven fact and is beyond doubt. Also, the use of phosphorus fertilizers for foliar nutrition is effective for all crops.
The topic which is still in question is about the use of phosphorus in the form of phosphite as fertilizer for plants. Phosphites have different properties than phosphates. Fertilizers of this type contain phosphite ion, which has one oxygen atom less than phosphate ion, which makes it mobile, it easily moves in plants and soil. Most researchers have concluded that phosphites have fungicide effect, they act as plant growth stimulators and reduce manifestation of phosphorus deficiency (Tambascio et al. (2014).
THE MAIN DIFFERENCES BETWEEN PHOSPHATES AND PHOSPHITES
| PHOSPHATE | PHOSPHITE |
| Main function | |
| Source of phosphorus | Fungicide |
| Bio stimulator | |
| Antistressant | |
| Becomes a source of phosphorus after conversion in the cells | |
| Assimilation temperature | |
| ≥+15 °С | ≥+5 °С |
| Time needed for foliar uptake | |
| From a couple of days till a couple of weeks | Within 24 hours |
| Interaction with other nutrition elements | |
| Interacts with Са+3,Fe+3, Al+3, creating inaccessible forms of these elements | No inaccessible forms found when interacting with Са+3,Fe+3, Al+3 |
| Action on plants | |
| Stimulates root system growth | Stimulates root system growth |
| Improves yield quantity and quality | Improves chlorophyll production |
| Helps the plants to overcome stress | |
| Improves yield quantity and quality | |
| Helps nitrogen uptake at low temperatures (≥+5 °С) | |