Changes in soil phosphorus fractions across a toposequence in the estuary plains of Pakistan. Issue 11 (1st November 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Jamil, Sohail; Mehmood, Ayaz; Akhtar, Mohammad Saleem; Memon, Mehrunisa; Imran, Muhammad; Rukh, Shah; Qayyum, Abdul; Jenks, Matthew A.
• Is Part Of: Archives of agronomy and soil science. Volume 62:Issue 11(2016)
• Page Start: 1567
• Page End: 1577
• Publication Date: 2016-11-01
• Subjects: Apatite -- estuary plains -- soil development -- toposequence; Horticulture -- Periodicals; Soils -- Periodicals; 630.5
• DOI: 10.1080/03650340.2016.1155701
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0365-0340

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Understanding the regional dynamics of soil phosphorus (P) chemistry is essential for developing the best fertilizer management practices aimed at enhancing P use efficiency in cropping systems. The soil content of apatite, an important P-containing lithogenic mineral, can be influenced by its position in the local relief of a landscape. The objective of this study was to determine quantitative distribution of various P-forms in estuary plains of southern Pakistan in relation to soil genesis. Soils at different positions within the estuary plain were sampled at various genetic horizons. Apatite-P was the most abundant inorganic P constituent (380-590 mg kg −1 ) in all cases, followed in decreasing abundance by iron oxides surfaces adsorbed phosphorus (Fe-P), octacalcium phosphates (Ca8 -P), aluminum oxides with surface bound P (Al-P) and the least abundant was the phosphorus occluded in iron oxides mineral (Occl-P). The abundance of apatite-P and these other forms of secondary phosphate varied for the soils at different relief positions in these estuary plain landscapes.