Phosphorus Buffering Capacity Indices as Related to Soil Properties and Plant Uptake

ABSTRACT

Evaluation of the plant-available phosphorus (P) in calcareous soils is commonly performed by removing a portion of solid phase P using chemical extractants. Critical soil test values, however, may be affected by variation in sorption and buffering behavior of different soils. The objective of this study was to evaluate the importance of buffering capacity indices to predict P uptake by wheat (Triticum aestivum). Eleven surface soil samples were assayed for a number of P intensity (CaCl₂-P) and quantity (Olsen-P, Colwell-P, and Resin-P) factors. Some phosphorus buffering indices were obtained from P sorption equations. A single-point index of buffering was also determined experimentally. In a greenhouse experiment, wheat was grown for 35 and 70 days on the same soils and P uptake was determined. Nonlinear and linear equations described the P sorption data (P < 0.001). Buffering indices derived from these equations were highly correlated with single-point index of capacity. Clay content was the most important soil property affecting the buffering capacity factor. The phosphorus intensity index (CaCl₂-P) was weakly related to P uptake (P < 0.05). Among the quantity factors only Resin-P was significantly correlated with P uptake. Buffering indices showed significant but inverse relationships with P uptake only at 70 days harvest (r = ?0.69 to ?0.71; P < 0.05). Combination of intensity or quantity factors with buffering capacity indices, such as intensity/capacity or quantity/capacity indicators, improved considerably the ability to account for variations in P uptake by wheat.     

Transformation and recovery of fertilizer phosphorus applied to five Quebec Humaquepts

Abstract

Improving phosphorus (P) fertilizer efficiency while minimizing environmental impacts requires better understanding of the dynamics of applied P in soils. This study assessed the fate of fertilizer P applied in Quebec Humaquepts. A pot experiment with five textural Humaquepts, each receiving 0 (P0), 10 (P10), 20 (P20) and 40 (P40) mg P kg^?1 soil was conducted under barley (Hordeum vulgare L.)-soybean (Glycine max L.) rotations. A modified Hedley procedure was used for soil P fractionation. The clayey soils reached a plateau of dry matter at less P applied than the coarser-textured soils. Plant P uptake, soil labile inorganic P (resin-P?+?NaHCO₃-P_i) and moderately labile inorganic P (NaOH-P_i) increased proportionally with P rate. The coarser-textured soils had lower contents of labile and moderately labile P_i, but a larger increase in labile P_i than the finer-textured soils after receiving P additions. The applied P was retained primarily as soil labile P_i, accounting for 43–69% of total soil recovery of applied P, compared to 20–30% recovered as moderately labile P_i, and 7–29% assumed to be sparingly soluble P (HCl-P?+?H₂SO₄-P). The labile P_i recovery of applied P was linearly depressed with clay content, compared to a quadratic relation for the moderately labile P_i recovery. The results suggest the importance of accounting for soil texture along with soil P adsorption capacity when assessing the efficiency of applied P, P accumulation in soils and subsequently P nutrient management.