Evaluation of the Mehlich 3 Reagent as an Extractant for Cations and Available Phosphorus for Soils in Mozambique. Issue 12 (4th July 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Fukuda, Monrawee; Nakamura, Satoshi; Fonseca, Anabela da Conceição Lopes; Nasukawa, Hisashi; Ibraimo, Momade Mamudo; Naruo, Kazuhiro; Kobayashi, Keiichiro; Oya, Tetsuji
• Is Part Of: Communications in soil science and plant analysis. Volume 48:Issue 12(2017)
• Page Start: 1462
• Page End: 1472
• Publication Date: 2017-07-04
• Subjects: ICP -- Mehlich 3 -- Mozambique -- Nacala -- soil diagnosis; Soil science -- Periodicals; Plants -- Chemical analysis -- Periodicals; Agricultural chemistry -- Periodicals; 631.405
• DOI: 10.1080/00103624.2017.1373789
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0010-3624

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Accurate soil testing procedures contribute to agricultural development of Mozambique. The Mehlich 3 (M-3) procedure has not been evaluated for Mozambican soils despite its wide applicability. Results showed M-3 solution could extract exchangeable calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), and potassium (K) as well as 1 M ammonium acetate (NH4 OAc), while M-3 was not appropriate for extraction of exchangeable sodium (Na). M-3 was an alternative procedure to Bray-I for available phosphorus (P) extraction. Although M-3 extracted 1.6 times more P than Bray-I, determination coefficient between the two procedures showed significantly high value. P content in M-3 extracts can determine using inductively coupled plasma spectrophotometers (ICP) to maximize the merits of M-3. In conclusion, M-3 is applicable for determination of exchangeable Ca, Mg, K, and available P, in a single determination using ICP, and should contribute to development of effective and accurate soil diagnosis in Mozambique.