Premium
Escape of Elemental Phosphorus from Soil when Applied as White Phosphorus or the Phosphorus‐Sulfur Eutectic Solution
Author(s) -
Warnock R. E.
Publication year - 1972
Publication title -
journal of environmental quality
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.888
H-Index - 171
eISSN - 1537-2537
pISSN - 0047-2425
DOI - 10.2134/jeq1972.00472425000100030024x
Subject(s) - phosphorus , white phosphorus , eutectic system , chemistry , pellets , sulfur , environmental chemistry , inorganic chemistry , materials science , organic chemistry , alloy , composite material
When molten white phosphorus was applied to soil and not adequately covered, oxides of P issued from the soil surface. The escape of P from soil fertilized with pellets of white phosphorus or the eutectic solution of P 4 ‐S 8 was determined. Most of the P recovered from the atmosphere was P 4 rather than oxides, furthermore, P 4 escape was considerably greater from phosphorus applied as the P 4 ‐S 8 eutectic solution than from pellets of white phosphorus. The escape of P 4 from the eutectic solution also persisted longer than from a like application of white phosphorus. No appreciable difference was found in phosphorus escape from a calcareous soil as compared to that from an acid soil. Phosphorus escape was reduced by deeper placement, but was not prevented by placement at a depth of 10 cm or by increased soil moisture levels up to field capacity. Phosphorus sulfides applied to soil did not release phosphorus as did the eutectic solution of P 4 ‐S 8 . Calculations suggest that hazardous levels of P 4 might accumulate in the air above fields fertilized with the P 4 ‐S 8 eutectic solution.