Abstract
THE solld rock substratum of County Offaly is almost exclusively Carboniferous limestone without igneous intrusions, overlain by extensive patches of bog land and glacial limestone drift. The aphosphorosis in Offaly cattle described by Prof. E. J. Sheehy1 may be a permanent characteristic of certain areas ; but during recent years the annual loss of tricalcium phosphate through the export of cattle from Eire has been of the order of 25,000 tons2 in contrast to the 17,0003,4 mentioned for New Zealand. This has not been restored to the soil. The normal imports, seriously reduced during the war period, are about four times as great. The drain on phosphorus from the soil is also being considerably aggravated by increased tillage, although the emergency production of phosphorite from West Clare5 has offset this to a limited extent. There must therefore be certain areas where the rate of release of phosphorus from the rock via the soil into the vegetation can no longer keep pace with the demand, and where accordingly there will be created a deficiency in available phosphorus for years, unless it is artificially replaced. Significantly, this is reported from old pastures. The temporary restriction of phosphate imports would be of less account, but for the constant irreversible loss through the cattle export trade.
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References
Sheehy, E. J., Nature, 157, 440 (1945).
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Armstrong, E. F., Nature, 150, 453 (1942).
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Oakley, K. P., Geological Survey of Great Britain, War-time Pamphlet No. 8, Part IV, (1942), quoting Bishopp, D. W.
Wheelton Hind, Proc. Roy. Irish Acad., 25, Sect. B, No. 4 (1905).
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BISHOPP, D. Aphosphorosis and Phosphate Reserves. Nature 158, 25 (1946). https://doi.org/10.1038/158025b0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/158025b0
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