Fractionation and distribution of phosphorus in acid soils: Review

Abstract

Phosphorus (P) availability is commonly assumed to limit productivity in many tropical soils, yet there is relatively little information on the phosphorus chemical forms, distribution, and transformations that P acid soil. The best way to obtain of separate fractions of phosphorus in soil using series of solvents of different strength is sequential analysis. The method used was Chang and Jackson sequential analysis. Formation of the forms of soil phosphorus and their binding largely depends on soil pH. In neutral and alkali soils the main phosphate compounds are calcium phosphates, and their solubility depends mainly on the ratio Ca/PO4. In such soils, the activity of Ca ions increased resulting in reduced solubility of phosphate while in neutral and acidic soil the adsorption and desorption of phosphate mainly occurs at Al and Fe oxide surfaces.