Evidence of plaggen soils in SW Norway

This study aimed at clarifying whether a notable group of soils of the Jæren region, SW Norway, with deep humus‐rich top soils support a man‐made genesis. Four sites were investigated. The soils are characterized by thick top soils of 45, 70, 80, and 90 cm, which are enriched in soil organic matter and often also in artifacts, like fragments of potter's clay, indicating an anthropogenic origin. Soil pH ranges from 5.4 to 6.2 (H₂O) and 4.4 to 5.3 (CaCl₂), respectively. Soil organic C (SOC) contents range from 6.4 to 51.6 g kg^?1 and N contents vary between 0 and 2.9 g kg^?1. Increased P contents of up to 2,924.3 mg kg^?1 total P (P_t) and 1,166.4 mg kg^?1 citric acid‐soluble phosphorus (P_c) in the humus‐rich top soils support the assumption of an anthropogenic influence. Although many characteristics indicate an anthropogenic genesis, one soil lacks the required depth of 50 cm of a plaggen horizon and cannot be classified as Plaggic Anthrosol (WRB) and Plagganthrept (US Soil Taxonomy). As the requirement is 40 cm in the German system, all soils can be classified as Plaggenesch. The formation of these soils is related to human activity aiming at increasing soil fertility and overcoming the need of bedding material, the basic aims of the plaggen management in Europe. Highest P contents ever found for this kind of soils and references from the literature indicate that the formation of the soils in Norway started at Viking time, hence, being older than most other Plaggic Anthrosols.     

Plaggic Anthrosol: Soil of the Year 2013 in Germany: An overview on its formation,distribution, classification,soil function and threats

The Plaggic Anthrosol (German: Plaggenesch) has been elected “Soil of the Year 2013” in Germany. This article reviews present knowledge on the formation, distribution, classification, soil functions, and threats of Plaggic Anthrosols. As the colors of Plaggic Anthrosols differ, we introduce a “Grey Plaggic Anthrosol” and a “Brown Plaggic Anthrosol”. The term Plaggic Anthrosols is used in WRB, whereas those soils are classified as Agrosems according to the Russian, as Plagganthrepts according to the US Soil Taxonomy, and Plaggenesch according to the German taxonomy. The formation of Plaggic Anthrosols is the result of a former arable land use technique, the plaggen agriculture, starting ≈ 1000 y ago and lasting since the introduction of mineral fertilization. During processing plaggen agriculture, plaggen or sods of humic topsoil horizons were cut in the landscape, carried to the stables, enriched with dung, and subsequently spread out onto the fields as an organic‐earthy manure. The manure decomposed and humified, whereas the mineral fraction remained and raised the land surface by 0.1 cm y^–1 in average. Hence, the diagnostic horizon, a thick (70–130 cm) humus‐rich man‐made epipedon, often containing artefacts, was formed over time. The main region of spatial distribution of Plaggic Anthrosols is NW Germany, The Netherlands and NE Belgium. Minor occurrences are reported from other parts of Europe. Compared to the associated soils, Plaggic Anthrosols hold considerable natural, archive and utilization functions, but are threatened by degradation when their use as arable soil is rendered.     

Genese und Klassifikation von Organomarschen der Wesermarsch

Formation and classification of humus-rich marshland soils of the Weser marshland, Germany The formation and classification of marshland soils are still controversial. To improve the knowledge on the formation of humus-rich marshland soils 11 soil profiles have been investigated. The soils mostly showed Phragmitis in the subsoil. The Gr-horizons began at low depths (40–60 cm). The clay content was often about 60% and the C_org content up to 480 g kg^?1. The amount of total sulfur was up to 29.6 g kg^?1, that of exchangeable sulfate up to 4608 mg kg^?1 and that of sulfate in the saturation extract 51.2 mg l^?1. With pH (H₂O) values between 2.0 and 7.4, Carbonate/S ratios < 3 and total sulfur contents > 7.5 g kg^?1 some soils showed “Actual Acid Sulfate Soil” (AASS) properties. The pH(per) values varied between 2.4 and 7.1, thus some profiles showed “Potential Acid Sulfate Soils” (PASS) properties. Brakish as well as marine environments with an intensive sulfur dynamics and carbonate leaching are likely within the geogenetic phase of soil development. Via the control of the water regime the pedogenetic phase is mainly of anthropogenic influence. We propose to classify humus-rich marshland soils into “Organomarsch” and “Thiomarsch” on the soil type level of the German systematics.     

Phosphorus status of some paddy soils in Bangladesh

Abstract

Phosphorus status of Bangladesh paddy soils covering the major paddy soil types was assessed in terms of parent materials and physiography. Total P concentration ranged from 172 to 604 mg kg^?1 in the topsoil and from 126 to 688 mg kg^?1 in the subsoil, and varied with the physiography to which the soils belonged. In most soils, the available P concentration was much higher for the topsoil than for the subsoil. The inorganic P concentration was higher than the organic P concentration, except for one soil series from the Old Himalayan Piedmont Plain, and was significantly and positively correlated with the total P concentration. Among the inorganic forms, only the concentration of Al-bound P showed a significant correlation with that of available P based on the Bray P-2 method in both topsoil and subsoil. In general, the P status was critically low in paddy soils of the terrace area. Normal growth of paddy rice in this area is expected to be difficult without application of P fertilizer.     

Phosphorus leaching from clay soils can be counteracted by structure liming

Two field experiments with drained plots on clay soils (60% and 25% clay) demonstrated a significant reduction in leaching of total phosphorus after application of structure lime. Aggregate stability was significantly improved. Phosphorus leaching in particulate form was significantly reduced following structure liming at the site with a very high clay content. Sites representing low (50 mg kg^?1) and high (140 mg kg^?1) levels of phosphorus extractable with acid ammonium lactate in topsoil displayed differing effects on leaching of dissolved reactive P (DRP). This form of phosphorus was only significantly reduced compared with the control at one site with high topsoil phosphorus status and relatively high (17–18%) degree of phosphorus saturation in the subsoil. Laboratory experiments with simulated rain events applied to topsoil lysimeters from the same site also demonstrated a significant reduction in leaching of DRP. These findings indicate that structure liming is an appropriate leaching mitigation measure on soils with both a high clay content and high soil phosphorus status.     

Initial soil organic carbon concentration influences the short-term retention of crop-residue carbon in the fine fraction of a heavy clay soil

Among factors controlling decomposition and retention of residue C in soil, effect of initial soil organic C (SOC) concentration remains unclear. We evaluated, under controlled conditions, short-term retention of corn residue C and total soil CO₂ production in C-rich topsoil and C-poor subsoil samples of heavy clay. Topsoil (0–20 cm deep, 31.3 g SOC kg^?1 soil) and subsoil (30–70 cm deep, 4.5 g SOC kg^?1 soil) were mixed separately with ¹³C–¹⁵N-labeled corn (Zea mays L.) residue at rates of 0 to 40 g residue C kg^?1 soil and incubated for 51 days. We measured soil CO₂–C production and the retention of residue C in the whole soil and the fine particle-size fraction (<50 μm). Cumulative C mineralization was always greater in topsoil than subsoil. Whole-soil residue C retention was similar in topsoil and subsoil at rates up to 20 g residue C kg^?1. There was more residue C retained in the fine fraction of topsoil than subsoil at low residue input levels (2.5 and 5 g residue C kg^?1), but the trend was reversed with high residue inputs (20 and 40 g residue C kg^?1). Initial SOC concentration affected residue C retention in the fine fraction but not in the whole soil. At low residue input levels, greater microbial activity in topsoil resulted in greater residue fragmentation and more residue C retained in the fine fraction, compared to the subsoil. At high residue input levels, less residue C accumulated in the fine fraction of topsoil than subsoil likely due to greater C saturation in the topsoil. We conclude that SOC-poor soils receiving high C inputs have greater potential to accumulate C in stable forms than SOC-rich soils.     

Biochemical characterization of urban soil profiles from Stuttgart, Germany

The knowledge of biochemical properties of urban soils can help to understand nutrient cycling in urban areas and provide a database for urban soil management. Soil samples were taken from 10 soil profiles in the city of Stuttgart, Germany, differing in land use—from an essentially undisturbed garden area to highly disturbed high-density and railway areas. A variety of soil biotic (microbial biomass, enzyme activities) and abiotic properties (total organic C, elemental C, total N) were measured up to 1.9 m depth. Soil organic matter was frequently enriched in the subsoil. Microbial biomass in the top horizons ranged from 0.17 to 1.64 g C kg⁻¹, and from 0.01 to 0.30 g N kg⁻¹, respectively. The deepest soil horizon at 170-190 cm, however, contained 0.12 g C kg⁻¹ and 0.05 kg N kg⁻¹ in the microbial biomass. In general, arylsulphatase and urease activity decreased with depth but in three profiles potentially mineralizable N in the deepest horizons was higher than in soil layers directly overlying. In deeply modified urban soils, subsoil beside topsoil properties have to be included in the evaluation of soil quality. This knowledge is essential because consumption of natural soils for housing and traffic has to be reduced by promoting inner city densification.     

Phosphorus accumulation and leaching risk of greenhouse vegetable soils in Southeast China

Over-fertilization has caused significant phosphorus(P) accumulation in Chinese greenhouse vegetable production(GVP) soils. This study, for the first time, quantified profile P accumulation directly from soil P measurements, as well as subsoil P immobilization, in three alkaline coarse-textured GVP soil profiles with 5(S5), 15(S15), and 30(S30) years of cultivation in Tongshan, Southeast China. For each profile, soil samples were collected at depths of 0–10(topsoil), 10–20, 20–40, 40–60, 60–80, and 80–100 cm. Phosphorus accumulation was estimated from the difference in P contents between topsoil and parent material(60–100 cm subsoil). Phosphorus mobility was assessed from measurements of water-soluble P concentration(PSol). Finally, P sorption isotherms were produced using a batch sorption experiment and fitted using a modified Langmuir model. High total P contents of 1 980(S5), 3 190(S15), and 2 330(S30) mg kg~(-1) were measured in the topsoils versus lower total P content of approximately 600 mg kg~(-1) in the 80–100 cm subsoils. Likewise, topsoil PSol values were very high, varying from 6.4 to 17.0 mg L~(-1). The estimated annual P accumulations in the topsoils were 397(S5), 212(S15), and 78(S30) kg ha~(-1) year~(-1). Sorption isotherms demonstrated the dominance of P desorption in highly P-saturated topsoils, whereas the amount of adsorbed P increased in the 80–100 cm subsoils with slightly larger P adsorption capacity. The total P adsorption capacity of the 80–100 cm subsoils at a solution P concentration of0.5 mg L~(-1) was 15.7(S5), 8.7(S15), and 6.5(S30) kg ha~(-1), demonstrating that subsoils were unable to secure P concentrations in leaching water below 0.5 mg L~(-1) because of their insufficient P-binding capacity.     

Studies of P accumulation in soil/sediment profiles used for large-scale wastewater reclamation

We studied the long‐term accumulation processes and material balances of phosphorus (P) in the soil/sediment profiles of large‐scale effluent recharge basins used for wastewater reclamation by the soil aquifer treatment (SAT) system. The objective was to quantify and clarify the long‐term performance of soil/sediment in the SAT system as a sorbent to filter out P from the recharged effluent. Total P concentration in the soil/sediment profiles of the Shafdan wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) increased over 25 years of operation (1977–2001) by 20–220 mg kg^?1, as a result of adding loads of 0.17–6.2 kg m^?2 of P. Retained P in the 0–2.0 m soil layer increased from 0.06 to 0.31 kg m^?2 with increasing cumulative load of P while the retained percentage gradually decreased from 19 to 5% of the cumulative P load. Accumulation rate of P in the 0–0.15 m horizon in the basins was inversely proportional to recharge time, decreasing from ～28 mg P kg^?1 year^?1 during the first 3 years of operation, to <2.3 mg P kg^?1 year^?1 between the 20th and 25th years of operation. Thus, P content in this horizon approached a steady state after about 10–15 years of effluent recharge under the operational conditions of the Shafdan WWTP. Phosphorus concentration in deeper horizons increased at constant rates of approximately 7.8, 5.9 and 2.9 mg P kg ^?1 year^?1 in the 0.15–0.30, 0.30–0.60 and 1.80 to 2.10‐m horizons, respectively, over the 25 years of effluent recharge. However, the accumulation front of P appears gradually to have moved deeper in the soil profile. In general, this phenomenon may be explained by kinetic limitations to the achievement of full adsorption equilibrium for P between the flowing solution and the solid phase components of the soil. In addition, both the increase of EPC₀(the equilibrium P concentration in solution at which there is no sorption or desorption to or from the soil under the given conditions), caused by long‐term effluent recharge, and gradual decrease of the annual average concentration of P in the effluent input after 1995, may result in the steady‐state level of P in the topsoil of the basin.     

Characteristics of phosphorus accumulation in soils under organic and conventional farming in plastic film houses in Korea

Organic farming (OF) is a fast growing alternative for sustainable agriculture in Korea. However, information on the effects of OF on the soil properties and environmental conservation is limited. In order to determine the effects of OF on the soil properties, 31 fields under OF (hereafter referred to as "OF fields") and 61 fields under conventional farming (CF) (hereafter referred to as "CF fields") in plastic film houses were selected throughout Korea and the soil chemical properties were investigated, including the P distribution characteristics. Average organic matter (OM) content was significantly higher (44 g kg^-1) in the OF fields then in the CF fields (24 g kg^-1). Bray-2 P values were 986 and 935 mg kg^-1 in the OF and CF soils, respectively, markedly exceeding the optimum range. Average total P (T-P) values were 2,973 mg kg^-1 in the OF fields and 1,830 mg kg^-1 in the CF fields. The high T-P values were due to repeated application of manure compost with a low N/P ratio. Inorganic P was the dominant fraction with 62–65% of T-P. The amounts of residual and organic P were significantly lower. The level of OF organic P was significantly higher (453 mg kg^-1) compared to the 106 mg kg^-1 value for the CF fields. Fractionation of soil inorganic P showed that Ca-P predominated with 1,332 mg kg^-1 in the OF fields, which was associated with soil pH values over 6.0. The main inorganic P fraction in the CF soils whose pH values were generally less than 6.0 consisted of Al-/Fe-P. The levels of water-soluble P was significantly higher (65 mg kg^-1) in the OF fields than in the CF fields (24 mg kg^-1). These results indicated that the OF system may lead to a serious degradation of the soil environment due to the accumulation of phosphorus and may be an important source of water pollution compared to the CF systems in Korea.     

Effects of Broiler Litter Management Practices on Phosphorus,Copper, Zinc,Manganese, and Arsenic Concentrations in Maryland Coastal Plain Soils

Abstract

The objective of this research was to assess the long‐term effects of broiler litter applications on soil phosphorus (P), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), and arsenic (As) concentrations in Chesapeake Bay watershed Coastal Plain soils. Litter and soil samples were collected from 10 farms with more than 40 years of broiler production and from wooded sites adjacent to fields and were analyzed for P and metal contents. Averaged over farms, total P and metal concentrations in the litter were 12.8 g kg^?1 P and 332, 350, 334, and 2.93 mg kg^?1 Cu, Zn, Mn, and As, respectively. Surface (0–15 cm) soil pH values were greater than (5.7–6.4) the 0‐ to 15‐cm depth at wooded sites (3.5–4.3). Surface soil Bray 1 P values (149–796 mg kg^?1) in amended fields were greater than wooded sites (4.4–17 mg kg^?1). The 1N nitric acid (HNO₃)–extractable metal concentrations were higher in amended soils than in wooded areas and were 7.7–32, 5.7–26, 12.3–71, and 0.6–3.0 mg kg^?1 for Cu, Zn, Mn, and As, respectively, compared to 0.76–14, 4.6–22, 1.6–70, and 0.14–0.59 mg kg^?1 for the same metals, respectively, in wooded areas. Results from this study demonstrated that long‐term broiler litter applications have altered the chemical properties of the Coastal Plain soils of the Maryland Eastern Shore. Metal concentrations were low in the surface layer of amended fields and typically decreased with depth. Phosphorus additions rather than metals are most likely to contribute to the degradation of the Chesapeake Bay watershed.     

Urban soil pollution in Damascus,Syria: concentrations and patterns of heavy metals in the soils of the Damascus Ghouta

The objective of the study was to assess the extent and severity of heavy metal contamination of arable soils of the Damascus Ghouta, an area with intensive agricultural production. We examined the present degree and spatial distribution of heavy metal concentrations in 51 soil profiles and in 22 topsoil samples in the Damascus Ghouta. The soils were digested with aqua regia for heavy metal analysis. Pb, Cu and Zn concentrations in the topsoils exhibited anthropogenic increased values. The major sources for the heavy metal contamination in Damascus city are most possibly emissions from vehicles. These emissions transported by air and sewage water together with household and industrial sewage effluents have been considered to be responsible for the increased heavy metal concentrations found in the soils of the central Barada area. However, the values were in most cases below tolerable values of soil for agricultural use. Cr concentrations up to 1800 mg kg⁻¹ were found near a tannery industrial estate. Concerning the health risk of the population bioavailability and mobility of heavy metals seems to be of minor importance, based on the soil properties found in the study area. However, direct ingestion of soil, e.g., by children and inhalation of dust may contribute largely to the accumulation of heavy metal in human and livestock.     

Changes in soil fertility and leaf nutrient concentration at a sugar cane plantation in Papua New Guinea

Abstract

Commercial sugar cane (Saccharum qfficinarum) cultivation in Papua New Guinea started in 1979 at a plantation in the Ramu valley where Udifluvents and Hapluderts are the dominant soil types. The sugar cane is not irrigated and receives only nitrogen (N) fertilizers (±90 kg N ha^‐1 y^‐1). Changes in soil chemical fertility were assessed by comparing soil fertility data from the mid‐1980s and 1990s and by comparing soil fertility data from sugar cane and adjoining natural grassland. Between the mid‐1980s and 1990s the topsoil pH had declined significantly (p<0.001) by 0.3 units and this was accompanied by a decline in cation exchange capacity (CEC) of 34 mmol_c kg^‐1. Total N levels in the topsoils declined (p<0.001) from 2.5 to 1.9 g kg^‐1 and available P from 36 to 27 mg kg^‐1 during the same period. Exchangeable potassium (K) also declined significantly (p<0.05) with 1.3 mmol_c kg^‐1, but changes in exchangeable calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) were not significant. The decline in soil fertility was highest in the topsoil although significant changes occurred up to 0.6 m depth. Total N decreased in the 0–0.15 and 0.15–0.30 m soil horizons, but increased in the lower horizons, possibly because of nitrate leaching. A similar degree of soil fertility decline was observed when soils under sugar cane and adjoining natural grassland were compared. However, the interrow had a slightly lower fertility level in comparison to within sugar cane rows. The decrease in total N, available phosphorus (P) and exchangeable K in the soil coincided with a decrease in the leaf N, P, and K concentrations of the sugar cane over the past 10 years. It was concluded that soil fertility had markedly declined under sugar cane monocropping although levels remained favorable for sugar cane cultivation. For sustainable soil management, nutrient inputs as well as small applications of lime may eventually be needed.     

Relationship of Phosphorus Fractions with Soil Properties in Mothbean Growing Acid Soils of North Western Indian Himalayas

Phosphorus (P) availability in acid soils is affected and hence it is important to monitor the distribution of P in acid soils. Here, the relationship was investigated taking 81 surface (0–0.20 m) soil samples into consideration collected from 21 mothbean cultivated areas and were analyzed for different phosphorus fractions in relation to their physical and chemical properties. Results revealed that available P ranged from 8.19 to 15.46 kg ha^–1 which lies in a slightly low-to-medium range. Available P was significantly positively correlated with organic carbon and cation exchange capacity (CEC). The content of soil total P increased significantly with organic carbon and was found in range between 201.00 and 596.11 mg kg^–1 which was in suffice category. Various phosphorus fractions under study viz., Al–P, Fe–P and Ca–P ranged between 20.23–32.28, 34.80–51.44 and 8.57–15.00 mg kg^?1, respectively. Among the various P fractions, organic carbon was positively correlated with Fe–P and Ca–P.     

Black soil degradation by rainfall erosion in Jilin,China

Black soils, originally characterized by a deep, dark A‐horizon, are widespread in the Northeast Plain of China and have been one of the most fertile agricultural resources in the country. However, more than a half‐century of intensified management degraded its productivity, mainly with the loss of the dark‐coloured A‐horizon by rainfall erosion. Using the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE), the rainfall erosion losses of black soils in YuShu and DeHui counties of Jilin Province were estimated. The rate of loss of thickness of the A‐horizon of black soils and the time over which the A‐horizons of some black soils in the region might be lost were evaluated. The results showed that about 4–45 t ha⁻¹ topsoil could have been lost each year under corn (Zea mays L.) production. Soybean (Glycine max L. Merr) production would double the losses. Soil losses were directly related to soil type, tillage practices and crop grain yields. The thickness of the A‐horizon of black soils in the region decreased at rates of 0ċ5–4ċ5 mm yr⁻¹, depending on soil type and management practices. Corn production may have resulted in an annual loss of 8ċ3 million tonnes of topsoil from black soils alone in Jilin Province; soybean production could have greatly increased this loss. Traditional intensified farming can accelerate the degradation of black soils; conservation tillage has great potential to prevent rainfall erosion losses for the same soils. Accordingly, to preserve and restore the productivity of black soils, conservation tillage is appropriate and should be adopted in Jilin. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Local background concentrations of trace elements in soils: a case study in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg

Background concentration values of trace elements were determined for soils in the southern part of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, which are developed on the Bituminous shale (BS), the so-called “Bifrons” shale, and the “Minette” (M) Fe-oolitic sandstone substrates. Sampling sites with minimal anthropogenic influence were selected, and soil profile samples were analysed for major and trace element contents. A clear distinction is seen between the trace element content of the soils developed on the Minette sandstone on the one hand and those developed on shales on the other hand. For the Minette soil samples, most elements are present in concentrations exceeding those reported in literature for soils developed upon sandstones, with, for example, values of up to 278 mg kg⁻¹ As (median value 123 mg kg⁻¹), 287 mg kg⁻¹ Cr (median value 126 mg kg⁻¹), and 95 mg kg⁻¹ Co (median value 33 mg kg⁻¹). In the shale soil samples, concentrations are generally lower except for Cu and Mo. These elements reach maxima of up to 66 mg kg⁻¹ Cu (median value 41 mg kg⁻¹) and 59 mg kg⁻¹ Mo (median value 26 mg kg⁻¹). The results confirm the importance of determining background concentrations locally.Bivariate analysis shows a linear relationship between Fe content and elements such as As, Co, and Ni for the Minette soils. No relationship is found between trace element concentrations and clay or organic carbon (OC) content, but this could be due to the limited variation of these factors among the studied soils. A reconnaissance study with regard to the availability of the trace elements in the Minette soil samples shows that these elements are quite immobile and hence of minimal threat to the ecosystem.     

Economics of phosphorus fertilization of barley as influenced by concentration of extractable phosphorus in soil

Abstract

Field experiments were conducted at 60 sites in central and north‐central Alberta to determine the yield response of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) to phosphorus (P) fertilizer and economics of P application on soils with different concentrations of extractable P in the 0–15 cm soil layer. On the unfertilized plots, barley yield increased with increasing concentration of extractable P in the soil up to 22 mg P kg^‐1, but the yield response to applied P decreased. The net present value (NPV) of returns from P fertilization increased with increasing rate of P up to approximately 51 kg P₂O₅ ha^‐1. The NPV of applied P decreased with increasing concentration of extractable P in soil. On soils with extractable P more than 22 mg P kg^‐1, P application did not result in positive NPV.     

Lowland Rice Response to Thermophosphate Fertilization

Abstract

Use of adequate rates of phosphorus (P) in crop production on high‐P‐fixing acid soils is essential because of high crop response to P fertilization and the high cost of P fertilizers. Information on lowland rice response to thermophosphate fertilization grown on Inceptisols is limited, and data are also lacking for soil‐test‐based P fertilization recommendations for this crop. The objective of this study was to evaluate response of lowland rice to added thermophosphate and to calibrate P soil testing for making P fertilizer recommendations. A field experiment was conducted for two consecutive years in central Brazil on a Haplaquept Inceptisol. The broadcast P rates used were 0, 131, 262, 393, 524, and 655 kg P ha^?1, applied as thermophosphate Yoorin. Rice yield and yield components were significantly increased with the application of P fertilizer. Average maximum grain yield was obtained with the application of 509 kg P ha^?1. Uptake of macro‐ and micronutrients had significant quadratic responses with increasing P rates. Application of thermophosphate significantly decreased soil acidity and created favorable macro‐ and micronutrient environment for lowland rice growth. Across 2 years, soil‐test levels of Mehlich 1–extractable P were categorized, based on relative grain yield, as very low (0–17 mg P kg^?1 soil), low (17–32 mg P kg^?1 soil), medium (32–45 mg P kg^?1 soil), or high (>45 mg P kg^?1 soil). Similarly, soil‐test levels of Bray 1–extractable P across 2 years were very low (0–17 mg P kg^?1 soil), low (17–28 mg P kg^?1 soil), medium (28–35 mg P kg^?1 soil), or high (>35 mg P kg^?1 soil). Soil P availability indices for Mehlich 1 extractant were slightly higher at higher P rates. However, both the extracting solutions had highly significant association with grain yield.     

The decomposition of cocoa leaves and their effect on phosphorus dynamics in tropical soil

Higher-yielding varieties of cocoa make heavier demands on phosphorus resources in soils and so it is important that the role of leaf litter in cycling P is understood. Fresh cocoa leaves and leaf litter were incubated moist with a soil inoculum for 80 days when between 16 and 33% of the mass was lost. Materials containing large amounts of P or incubated with added inorganic P initially decomposed more rapidly than those containing smaller amounts, indicating that decomposition was limited by lack of P. Fresh leaves had half of their P in an acid-soluble (0.1 m H₂SO₄) form, most of which was also water soluble, whereas in the litters about a third was acid-soluble. During incubation, P-rich materials showed an increase in the acid-soluble fraction and a decrease in water-soluble P. Litters with small concentrations of P simply lost P from the acid-soluble into the non-soluble organic fraction, and no water-soluble P remained after 80 days. –A soil from a cocoa-growing site fertilized with P contained almost four times as much biomass P as the non-fertilized control (30 and 8 mg kg^–1 soil, respectively), the amounts of bicarbonate-extractable P being 32 and 4 mg kg^–1. Soils from these and one other cocoa-growing site (8 mg kg^–1 biomass P, 7 mg kg^–1 bicarbonate-extractable P) were incubated either alone, with cocoa litter, or with cocoa litter plus inorganic P. In the soil that had the small amount of NaHCO₃-extractable P (4 mg kg^–1) addition of litter caused the biomass P to increase from 8 to 16 mg kg^–1 after 1 week's incubation, the increase being larger than the amount of P added in the litter, but in the other two soils biomass P was not increased. Addition of inorganic P had no effect on biomass P in any of the soils. –Decomposing litter may compete with the crop for P, but addition of fertilizer P may increase the rate of mineralization of organic P in the litter. Suitable management of fertilizer P should allow the rate of release of P from the litter to be adjusted to suit crop demands.     

Phosphate sorption by calcareous Vertisols and Inceptisols as evaluated from extended P-sorption curves

The plant availability of phosphate applied to calcareous soils is affected by precipitation and adsorption reactions, the relative significance of which is not well known. We used extended P-sorption curves obtained at phosphate addition rates up to 340 mmol P kg^?1 soil to examine the relative contribution of precipitation and adsorption by 24 calcareous Spanish Vertisols and Inceptisols. Adsorption was dominant at 1 day and at small rates of addition (10–35 mmol P kg^?1). With increasing clay and Fe and Al oxides contents of the soil, more phosphate was sorbed before the sorption curve bent upwards, as a result of Ca phosphate precipitation. Sorption curves showed a nearly vertical intermediate region, the length of which increased with time, suggesting that a Ca phosphate buffered the concentration of P in solution. The buffering concentration decreased with time, suggesting a progressive transformation of more to less soluble forms of Ca phosphate. A phase less soluble than octacalcium phosphate seemed to control the concentration of P in solution at 180 days in most soils. The apparent solubility of this phase decreased with increasing carbonate content in the soil. Precipitation of poorly soluble Ca phosphates apparently predominated up to a P addition dose ranging from about 30 mmol P kg^?1 in some soils to more than 340 mmol P kg^?1 in others. At larger doses, the way additional P was bound to the solid phase was different; phosphate was probably adsorbed, at least in part, to low-affinity sites on silicate clays and oxides. The proportion of sorbed phosphate that was isotopically exchangeable decreased with time, soil carbonate content and P addition dose for doses <100 mmol P kg^?1. This is consistent with the idea that P in Ca phosphates is less isotopically exchangeable than P adsorbed on mineral surfaces. At larger additions of P, isotopic exchangeability was unrelated to the soil properties measured, probably because there was a variety of sorbed P forms influenced in turn by different soil components.