Aluminum and iron estimated by Mehlich‐3 extractant in mine soils in Galicia,northwest Spain

Abstract

The efficiency of Mehlich‐3 reagent as an extractant for aluminum (Al) and iron (Fe) was studied in Galician coal mine soils, in the process of reclamation. Mehlich‐3 Al and Fe values were compared to those from other Al and Fe tests and with phosphorus (P) sorption. The soils are very heterogeneous, consisting mainly of carbonaceous and non‐carbonaceous clays and shales, which are often rich in pyrite. Some of them have been amended with topsoil or fly ash. One hundred forty samples, from 0 to 15 or 15 to 30 cm, were analyzed. The pH values ranged from 2.7 to 8.4; oxalate and pyrophosphate Al from 0 to 1.17%, and 0.02 to 0.58%, respectively; and oxalate and pyrophosphate Fe from 0.02 to 2.25% and 0 to 1.28%, respectively; PSI (P sorption index) values varied between 0 and 55.1. The Mehlich‐3 Al values ranged from 24 to 2600 mg kg^‐1. A close relationship was observed between Mehlich‐3 and oxalate Al values (r=0.77), although the regression line tended to be curvilinear. Mehlich‐3 Al was better correlated than oxalate Al to pyrophosphate Al (r=0.66 vs. r=0.59) and also to pH‐NaF (r=0.89 vs. r=0.74). The Mehlich‐3 Al is almost as good as oxalate Al in estimating non‐crystalline Al, the correlation coefficients between log PSI and log (Mehlich‐3 Al) or log (oxalate Al) being 0.51 and 0.57, respectively. The Mehlich‐3 Fe correlated to available (r=0.63), exchangeable (r=0.65) and soluble Fe (r=0.66), but not to non‐crystalline Fe.     

Phosphate sorption by red mediterranean soils from Greece

Abstract

In nineteen surface horizons of red Mediterranean soils from various locations of Greece, phosphorus (P) sorption experiments were conducted and the sorption characteristics were studied in relation to soil properties. Phosphate sorption data were fitted both to the Langmuir and Freundlich equations. From these equations, the following P sorption parameters were determined from the Freundlich equation, X = ACⁿ, the parameters A (the phosphate sorbed at C = 1 mg P/L), n (the P sorption intensity), the P sorption index (PS = X/log C) and maximum P sorption (Xmfr). From the Langmuir equation, C/X = 1/KXm + C/Xm, the parameters K (showing the bonding energy), maximum P sorption (Xmla), the quantity of P adsorbed at a standard concentration of 0.2 mg P/L (P0.2), and P maximum buffering capacity (PMBC). The Freundlich parameter A was strongly correlated to the clay and sesquioxides ("free”; iron and aluminum oxides and amorphous iron oxides) content. Seventy‐four percent of the variance of this parameter was explained by clay and “free”; iron (Fe) content. The Freundlich parameter n was significantly correlated with pH and amorphous iron oxides content, while 52% of its variance was explained by amorphous Fe and dithionite extrac‐table aluminum (Al). The P sorption maxima calculated from the Freundlich equation were in general lower than those calculated by the Langmuir equation. Both these parameters were strongly correlated with clay and more slightly with sesquioxides content. About 50% of their variance was explained by clay content of the soils. The P sorption index was strongly correlated with the clay content and less strongly with dithionite‐extractable Fe and Al. The P‐buffering capacity calculated from the data of Langmuir equation was also strongly correlated with these two parameters. In addition, clay content and dithionite‐extractable Fe and Al were well correlated to the amounts of P required to obtain an equilibrium concentration of 0.2 mg P/L while 61% of the variation of this parameter was explained by the clay and the dithionite‐extractable Fe content. From these findings, it seems that for the red Mediterranean soils from Greece, P sorption is affected by clay content and iron and aluminum oxide contents.     

Changes in distribution of inorganic soil phosphorus forms with phosphate desorption by iron oxide‐impregnated paper strips

Abstract

The release of soil phosphorus (P) to solution has been described by extraction of soil with iron (Fe)‐oxide coated paper strips. Little information is available, however, on where this P is coming from. The effect of removal of reversibly adsorbed soil P on the distribution of inorganic P forms was investigated for 12 Italian soils. Phosphate was removed from these soils by Fe‐oxide strips after incubation with P (0 and 100 mg P kg^‐1) for 90 days. With no applied P, 3 to 17% of the total soil active P [saloid‐P, aluminum‐phosphate (Al‐P), iron‐phosphate (Fe‐P), and calcium‐phosphate (Ca‐P) was removed by the Fe‐oxide strips. The change in strip‐P following P addition (100 mg kg^‐1 soil), ranged from 12.9 to 53.5 mg P kg^‐1, with P coming almost entirely from the active P fractions. A close relationship between the changes in desorbed strip‐P after P equilibration and soil P sorption index (SI) was found for the studied soils (r²=0.96). Thus, the release of soil P for plant uptake or transport in runoff was a function of the amount of “actively”; sorbed P and an estimate of P sorption.     

Capacity of soils for sorption of hydrogen sulfide

Abstract

Studies with 42 soils selected to obtain a wide range in properties showed that air‐dry and moist soils have substantial capacities for sorption of H₂S from air (averages, 9.8 and 12.5 g S kg^‐1 soil, respectively). Soil properties influencing the capacities of air‐dry soils for sorption of H₂S included sand and clay contents, DCB‐soluble Mn, exchangeable Na, DCB‐soluble Fe, and total DCB‐soluble metals. The corresponding capacities of moist soils were influenced by sand and clay contents, DCB‐soluble Mn, and surface area. It was possible to closely predict the H₂S sorption capacities of both air‐dry and moist soils (R² = 0.804 and 0.918, respectively) from consideration of their properties.     

Impact of Soil Sorption Characteristics and Bedrock Composition on Phosphorus Concentrations in two Bohemian Forest Lakes

Phosphate (PO₄-P) sorption characteristics of soils and bedrock composition were determined in catchments of two mountain lakes, Ple?né Lake (PL) and ?ertovo Lake (CT), situated in the Bohemian Forest (Czech Republic). The aim was to explain higher terrestrial P export to mesotrophic PL compared to oligotrophic CT. Concentrations of Al and Fe oxides were the dominant parameters affecting soil ability to adsorb PO₄-P. Depending on concentrations of Al and Fe oxides, P sorption maxima varied from 9.7 to 70.5 mmol kg^?1 and from 7.4 to 121 mmol kg^?1 in organic and mineral soil horizons, respectively. The catchment weighted mean PO₄-P sorption capacity was 3.4 mol m^?2 and 11.9 mol m^?2 in the PL and CT soils, respectively. The higher PO₄-P sorption capacity in the CT catchment was predominantly associated with higher pools of soil and Fe oxides. The CT bedrock (mica schist) released one order of magnitude less P than the PL bedrock (granite) within a pH range of catchment soils (pH_CaCl2 of 2.5–4.5). The higher ability of PL bedrock to release P and the lower ability of PL soils to adsorb PO₄-P thus contributed to the higher terrestrial P loading of this lake.     

Sorption of phosphorus by some surface soils from Quebec in relation to their properties

Abstract

Surface horizons from Podzolic and Gleysolic soils were collected in various parts of the province of Quebec, Canada, and equilibrated with various amounts of KH₂PO₄ in 0.01 M CaCl₂ for 48 hours. P sorption data conformed to the linear form of the Langmuir and Freundlich equations. P solubility isotherms showed evidence of hydroxyapatite formation in most samples studied, whereas equilibration solutions of only few samples were saturated with respect to either dicalcium phoshate dihydrate or octocalcium phosphate. These reaction products were associated to soil pH and levels of added phosphate. The average values of the Langmuir sorption maximum for these studied Gleysolic and Podzolic samples were 763 and 1096 μg/g respectively. These values were higher than those obtained by the segmented and modified Freundlich models.

Relationships between the soil characteristics and P sorption parameters were evaluated by regression analysis. Among all variables, oxalate‐extractable Fe plus Al content of the Podzolic samples and the ratio of oxalate—extractable Al to clay of the Gleysolic samples gave the best significant correlation coefficients. Furthermore, soil pH and various ratios such as pyrophosphate‐extractable Fe and Al, oxalate‐extractable Fe and organic matter to clay were found to be significantly correlated only with the P sorption parameters of the Gleysolic samples.     

Calcium requirements for peanuts

Abstract

Surface soils from ten soil series representing five great groups were collected from Alaska. These soils were selected from the important agricultural areas covering a wide geographic distribution. These soils can be divided into two distinct groups based on their parent material: loess and volcanic ash. Phosphorus sorption maxima were calculated based on the Langmuir isotherms. The volcanic ash soils (Cryandept and Cryorthods) showed an average P‐sorption maxima of 10,122 mg/kg and loess soils averaged 3,934 mg/kg. Both groups have similar portions of phosphorus in the organic form (19%) and occluded form (8 to 9%). The nonoccluded‐P in the volcanic ash soils and the loess soils was 68% and 43% respectively, and the Calcium‐P was 4% and 29% respectively.

Regression analysis indicated that aluminum and iron are primarily responsible for P‐sorption. The dithionite extractable Al is responsible for P‐sorption in volcanic ash soils, while oxalate extractable Al is responsible for P‐sorption in loess soils. Dithionite and oxalate extractable Fe probably play a secondary role in P‐sorption. The sorption isotherm, regression analysis and the P‐fractionation data provide the agronomist with useful information to estimate P requirement of newly cleared soils.     

Estimation of Phosphorus Status of Soil Fe‐Enriched Concretions with the Acid Ammonium Oxalate Method

Abstract

Iron (Fe)‐enriched concretions, a complex natural matrix with high chemical heterogeneity and phosphate‐sorption capacity, is widespread in soils with restrictive drainage in Greece. However, the phosphorus (P) status and related characteristics of Fe‐enriched concretions in agricultural soils in areas where P fertilization is mainly inorganic are relatively unknown. Active noncrystalline Fe and aluminum (Al) oxides (Feox, Alox), oxalate extractable P (Pox), P sorption capacity (PSC), and the degree of P saturation (DPS) of Fe‐enriched concretions from agricultural imperfectly drained soils in central Greece were determined using the acid ammonium oxalate method. The concretions contain 13 times as much Feox, twice as much Alox, and almost 15 times as much Pox than the surrounding soil matrix. Pox accounted for 50–80% of total P of the soil concretions, indicating strong accumulation of noncrystalline P components (Al‐ and Fe‐P). The PSC, expressed as a 0.5 (Alox+Feox), ranged from 184.7 to 314 mmol kg^?1, demonstrating the strong affinity of the Fe‐enriched concretions for P. The DPS, which represents the fraction of concretion sorbent surface coverage by P, was computed as 100 (Pox/PSC) with values ranging from 6 to 13% (mean=8%). The results of this study indicate that the Fe‐enriched concretions, due to their high noncrystalline Fe and Al oxides content, act as major sink of phosphate, controlling the location, mobility, and dynamics of P in agricultural soils with restrictive drainage.     

Phosphorus-Sorption Characteristics and Phosphorus Buffer Coefficients of Some Important Soils in Lao PDR

An estimated 97 percent of the soils in Laos are characterized by low phosphorus (P). This characteristic, together with high acidity, constrains food crop production. The P status, sorption, and associated properties were evaluated for fifteen important agricultural soils from the uplands. Soil pH values ranged from 4.5 to 5.9. Soil organic carbon (C) varied from 7.0 to 22.9 g kg^?1. Soil clay varied from 179 to 709 g kg^?1. The cation exchange capacity (CEC) also varied from 4.30 to 32.1 cmol_c kg^?1. Extractable P levels of thirteen of the fifteen soils were P deficient with medium to very high P sorption, indicating substantial fertilizer P requirements. Dithionite and oxalate aluminum and iron predicted P sorbed at 0.2 mg P L^?1. The extractable P increase per unit added P, P buffer coefficient (PBC), was low, also indicating high P sorption. Field studies are needed to confirm predictions of P requirements.     

Influence of soil properties on the response to phosphorus in some tropical soils: I. Initial response to fertilizer

The availability of fertilizer P in six P-deficient tropical soils from Brazil, Kenya, Malaysia and Indonesia was assessed by grass in a pot experiment. Grass dry matter yield (D) and fertilizer P(F) were fitted to a Mitscherlich equation: D= a?b exp(?cF), and P uptake (U) and F to the linear equation: U=α+βF. Fitted parameter β equals the proportion of P recovered in one crop and it varied widely between soils, ranging from 12 to 51%. Quantitative assessments of fertilizer-P availability could also be made using dry-matter data alone if the rates of fertilizer used were well distributed along the response curve, when Mitscherlich parameter c was correlated well with β. Chemical measurements were made on uncropped soil. Phosphate sorption isotherms were measured, using ³²P to assess exchangeable and non-exchangeable phosphate. The availability parameters c and β were correlated best with parameter b_e, the phosphate buffer capacity derived from the fitted Freundlich isotherm for exchangeable phosphate, suggesting that the mobility of exchangeable phosphate is a major influence on P availability. Al and Fe were extracted with acid oxalate, citrate-dithionite and pyrophosphate reagents, and parameters c and β correlated best with Al extracted by acid oxalate. These relationships were inverse, showing that Al in disordered mineral forms lowers the availability of fertilizer P.     

美国不同轻质集料的磷吸附特性比较

In this study, phosphorus(P) sorption of thirteen light-weight aggregates(LWAs) from USA was compared during batch equilibrium experiments in order to identify those materials which had the highest P sorption capacity for further study. Seven different levels of sorption activity were observed, which were broadly grouped into three categories—high performing, middle performing, and low performing aggregates. Chemical analysis of Ca, Al, Fe, and Mg was used to describe the differences between LWAs. There was a significant correlation between cation(especially Al, Ca, Fe, and Mg) content and P sorbed. Langmuir isotherms were used to describe P sorption maximum and binding affinity for four of the top five performing LWAs, Universal, Stalite "D", Stalite "Mix", and TXI.The fifth aggregate, Lehigh, exhibited more complex sorption, and was better described by the Freundlich isotherm. Universal had a mean P sorption at the highest concentration of 824 mg kg-1, well above its calculated sorption maximum(702 mg kg-1), and also had the highest binding affinity(1.1 L mg-1). This experiment suggests that the top performing LWA(Universal) may perform poorly in column and field studies due to observed precipitates, which could degrade constructed wetland performance. Other LWAs may exhibit superior field performance due to their high calculated sorption maxima. In general, these results highlight the importance of batch experiments as a first step in identifying materials suitable for column and field experiments.     

上海土壤磷的吸附特性及缓冲性能的研究

本文以上海土壤为对象,研究选定了土壤磷等温吸附试验条件为:水土比10,平衡时间6天,控温25℃,磷加入量为100,200,400,600μgP/g土,溶液基质为0.01M CaCl₂。磷缓冲能力试验条件为:平衡时间2天,磷加入量为20,40,100,200μgP/g土。根据Freundlich, Tempkin和Langmuir方程计算的土壤吸附指标与土壤类型及土壤性质有密切关系,是土壤磷素肥力的重要指标。反映土壤缓冲能力的“磷肥指标”与土壤有机质、粘粒、活性铝及pH值相关较好。上海几种主要土壤中以青紫泥的最大吸附量(X_m),0.2ppm P吸附量和“磷肥指标”为最高,其次为青黄土,沟干泥和黄泥头,最小为夹沙泥。应用磷吸附指标与“磷肥指标”来预测土壤需磷量,初步试验是可行的,但实际应用还需进一步试验研究。     

三氯乙酸提取硅作为水稻缺硅诊断指标的可行性

Potassium chloride, Na-pyrophosphate,CuCl2,NH4-oxalate,dithionit-citrate-bicarbonate(DCB) and Na-citrate solutions were employed to etract aluminum(Al) and iron(Fe) sequentially and separately from 15 acidic soils located at the Mangshan Mountains,Hunan Province,China,Many evidences showed that separate pyrophosphate extracted mainly KCl-extractable Al,organo-Al complexes and some inorganic Al compounds,whereas separate CuCl2 extracted KCl-extractable Al and some organo-Al complexes,CuCl2 extracted much less amounts of Al than pyrophosphate did from the soils .Separate oxalate did not extract all KCl-pyrophosphate-CuCl2-oxalate seuentially extractable Al and Fe ,Also,separate DCB did not extract all KCl-pyrophosphate-CuCl2-oxalate-DCB sequentially extractable Al. The forms of Al extacted by oxalate and DCB from the soils were majorly noncrystalline.The interlayered materials of 1.4-nm intergrade minerals of the soils were attributed mainly to hydroxy Al polymers.     

树木年轮及其根部土壤元素含量的对数线性相关模型的验证及应用

Nine Platanus acerifolia(Ait),Willd.trees growing in the Nanjing Children Teacher‘s School,Nanjing,China ,were selected to determine the contents of 13 chemical elements both in the 1994‘s growth rings,C(Z,t),and in the soils near the roots,C′(Z,t),of the trees ,The results showed that the relationship be-tween C(Z,t) and C′(Z,t) followed the logarithmic liner correlation moedl.lgC′(Z,t),=a(Z) b(Z)lgC(Z,t),Based on this model the chrono-sequences of chemical element contents in the soils were reproduced fromt those ih the tree rings;i.e., the dynamic variations in the chemical element contents of the soils at the sites were trced.In this study the chrono-sequences of the chemical elements including Cd,Pb,Mn,Co and Zn in the soils near the roots of a Platanus acerifolia tree from 1957 to 1994 were established ,and the background values of Cd,Pb,Mn,Co and Zn in the soil were calcuated by taking the lowest values of the chrono-sequences of the element conents as upper limits of the background values.     

Expression of andic properties in soils from Galicia (NW Spain) under forest and agricultural use

The organic matter (OM) of soils with andic properties has long been considered highly stable because of the presence of Al–humus complexes and sorption of organic ligands onto amorphous compounds. In this study, we characterized soils under different land use regimes located within an amphibolitic massif close to Santiago de Compostela (Spain), where soils with andic properties are present. Slash and burn agriculture was a common practice in the area until the second half of the 20th century. Thereafter, modern agriculture was progressively introduced into the area (AGR soils), and the rest of the land was either reforested or abandoned (FOR soils). We found that the mean organic C content of AGR soils (48.7 g kg^?1) was ～ 50% that of FOR soils (94.2 g kg^?1). Mean soil pH was significantly greater (P < 0.05) in the AGR than in the FOR soils (4.95 compared with 4.63), which is attributed to liming and Ca‐phosphate fertilization of the former. Mean concentrations of the Al forms studied (extractable with CuCl₂, sodium pyrophosphate, ammonium oxalate, or NaOH) were significantly smaller (P < 0.01) in AGR (1.4, 4.9, 9.3, 11.0 g kg^?1, respectively) than in FOR soils (3.9, 10.2, 16.5, 17.9 g kg^?1, respectively). The results show the vulnerability of the OM and Al–humus complexes in these soils to modern agricultural practices, which has led to the attenuation – and in some cases even the disappearance – of andic soil properties in a relatively short time (< 30 years) following changes in land use/management. We propose the inclusion of the formative element ‘andic’ in the criteria for the definition of Umbrisol subunits; this would avoid the abrupt discontinuity observed in the current World Reference Base classification.     

The Contrasting Effect of Goethite and Hematite on Phosphate Sorption and Desorption by Terre Rosse

Phosphate sorption and desorption in soils are markedly influenced by iron oxides, although little is known on how the common iron oxides differ in their behaviour towards added phosphate. In this study, we investigated phosphate sorption and desorption in the clay fractions of 12 Terre Rosse that ranged widely in Fe oxide content, had very low contents of oxalate-extractable Fe oxides and different hematite/goethite ratios. Phosphate sorption at an equilibrium concentration of 1 mg P 1^?1 was correlated with the goethite but not with the hematite content of the clay fractions. When phosphate was desorbed by electro-ultrafiltration, the difference in desorption half-time between untreated and deferrified clays was positively correlated with the goethite but not with the hematite content. These results suggest that goethite is more active than hematite in phosphate sorption and retention by soils.     

Phosphate sorption by Egyptian,Ethiopian and German soils and P uptake by rye (Secale cereale L.) seedlings

Phosphate sorption was studied in samples (0 - 20 cm depth) of five soils from Egypt (pH 7.4 - 8.7), four soils from Ethiopia (pH 3.9 - 5.3) and six soils from Germany (pH 3.3 - 7.2). Sorption parameters were calculated according to Pagel and Van Huay (1976) and according to Langmuir (Syers et al., 1973). Phosphate sorption parameters and oxalate extractable Fe and Al (Fe_ox, Al_ox) were related to the phosphate uptake by young rye plants in Neubauer pot experiments. P sorption parameter after Pagel and Van Huay (A) correlated significantly positively with the Fe_ox and Al_ox content in acid (r = 0.73) as well as in calcareous soils (r = 0.89) if the whole equilibrium concentration range (0 - 14 mg P/L) was considered. The relations calculated after Langmuir (B) were similar. P uptake by rye in acid soils was negatively correlated with the affinity constant n (r = ?0.76, (A)). In calcareous soils, a negative correlation between P uptake and affinity constant was calculated in the lower P equilibrium range (0 - 2.8 mg P/L) only for (B). Thus, P uptake decreased with increasing strength of P bonding to soil. From these results it is concluded that phosphate sorbed to Fe/Al oxides is an important P source for plants in acid and calcareous soils.     

Predicting phosphorus sorption isotherm parameters in soil using data of routine laboratory tests

Knowledge of phosphorus(P) sorption dynamics across different soil types could direct agronomic and environmental management of P. The objective of this study was to predict P isotherm parameters for a national soil population using data of routine laboratory tests. Langmuir and Freundlich sorption parameters were calculated from two different ranges(0–25 and 0–50 mg P L~(-1)) using an archive of representative agricultural soil types from Ireland.Multiple linear regression(MLR) identified labile forms of aluminium(Al) and iron(Fe), organic matter(OM), cation exchange capacity(CEC), and clay as significant drivers. Langmuir and Freundlich sorption capacities, Freundlich affinity constant, and Langmuir buffer capacity were predicted reliably, with R~2 of independent validation 0.9. Sorption isotherm parameters were predicted from P sorbed at a single concentration of 50 mg P L~(-1)(S_(50)). An MLR prediction of P sorption maximum in the 0–50 mg P L~(-1) range was achieved, to an accurate standard, using S_(50), OM, and Mehlich-3 Fe(R~2 of independent calibration and validation being 0.91 and 0.95, respectively). Using Giles' four shapes of isotherms(C, L, H, and S), L non-strict-and C-shaped isotherm curves accounted for 64% and 27% of the soils, respectively. Hierarchical clustering identified a separation of isotherm curves influenced by two ranges of Mehlich-3 Al. Soils with a low range of Mehlich-3 Al(2.5–698 mg kg~(-1)) had no incidence of rapid sorption(C shape). Single point indices, Al, or available soil data make the regression approach a feasible way of predicting Langmuir parameters that could be included with standard agronomic soil P testing.     

Soil properties affecting solid–liquid distribution of As(V) in soils

The prediction of the mobility of arsenic (As) is crucial for predicting risks in soils contaminated with As. The objective of this study is to predict the distribution of As between solid and solution in soils based on soil properties and the fraction of As in soil that is reversibly adsorbed. We studied adsorption of As(V) in suspensions at radiotrace concentrations for 30 uncontaminated soils (pH 4.4–6.6). The solid–liquid distribution coefficient of As (K_d) varied from 14 to 4430 l kg^?1. The logarithm of the concentration of oxalate‐extractable Fe explained 63% of the variation in log K_d; by introducing the logarithm of the concentration of oxalate‐extractable P in the regression model, 85% of the variation in log K_d is explained. Double labelling experiments with ⁷³As(V) and ³²P(V) showed that the As to P adsorption selectivity coefficient decreased from 3.1 to 0.2 with increasing degree of P saturation of the amorphous oxides. The addition of As(V) (0–6 mmol kg^?1) reduced the K_d of ⁷³As up to 17‐fold, whereas corresponding additions of P(V) had smaller effects. These studies suggest that As(V) is adsorbed to amorphous oxides in soils and that sites of adsorption vary in their selectivity in respect of As and P. The concentration of isotopically exchangeable As in 27 contaminated soils (total As 13–1080 mg kg^?1) was between 1.2 and 19% (mean 8.2%) of its total concentration, illustrating that a major fraction of As is fixed. We propose a two‐site model of competitive As(V)–P(V) sorption in which amorphous Fe and Al oxides represent the site capacity and the isotopically exchangeable As represents the adsorbed phase. This model is fitted to ⁷³As adsorption data of uncontaminated soils and explains 69% of the variation of log K_d in these soils. The log K_d in contaminated soils predicted using this two‐site model correlated well with the observed log K_d (r = 0.75). We conclude that solubility of As is related to the available binding sites on amorphous oxides and to the fraction of As that is fixed.     

The Effect of Vermicompost on Transformation Rate of Available P Applied as Chemical Fertilizer in a Calcareous Clay Soil

The effects of vermicompost (VC) (0% and 1% w/w) on treated calcareous clay soil with 0 and 50 mg phosphorus (P) kg^?1 as calcium phosphate [Ca(H₂PO₄)₂.H₂O] was investigated. The soil samples were incubated for 7, 30, 60, 120, and 150 d at 25 ± 1°C and Olsen-P was measured after each incubation time. Results showed that Olsen-P increased 36% and 38% after VC addition in treated soil with 0 and 50 mg P kg^?1, respectively. Recovery of Olsen-P in treated soils with VC, combined fertilizer VC + P, and fertilizer P was 42%, 42%, and 17%, respectively. The rate coefficient in treated soils with fertilizer, VC, and combined fertilizer VC + P was 0.033, 0.026, and 0.023 mg kg^?1 d^?1/2, respectively. It seems that the process that leads to the decrease in available P in amended soils, is controlled by P diffusion into sorption sites in micropores of aggregates.