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Determination of Sorption Coefficient of Phosphorus Applied for Sugarcane Production in Southwestern Florida
Author(s) -
Muwamba A.,
NkediKizza P.,
Morgan K. T.
Publication year - 2016
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/jeq2016.03.0087
Subject(s) - sorption , fertilizer , freundlich equation , phosphorus , soil water , chemistry , environmental chemistry , electrolyte , environmental science , soil science , aqueous solution , adsorption , organic chemistry , electrode
Phosphorus is among the essential nutrients applied to sugarcane ( Saccharum officinarum L.) fields in the form of a fertilizer mixture (N, P, and K) in southwestern Florida. Sorption coefficient is used for modeling P movement, and in this study, we hypothesized that the sorption coefficient determined using fertilizer mixture (N, P, and K) will be significantly different from values determined using KCl and CaCl 2 , the electrolytes most commonly used for conducting sorption experiments. Supporting electrolytes, 0.01 mol L ‐1 KCl, 0.005 mol L ‐1 CaCl 2 , deionized (DI) water, simulated Florida rain, and fertilizer mixture prepared in Florida rain were used to characterize P sorption. Immokalee (Sandy, siliceous, hyperthermic Arenic Alaquods) and Margate (Sandy, siliceous hyperthermic Mollic Psammaquents) are the dominant mineral soils used for sugarcane production in southwestern Florida; we used the A and B w horizons of Margate soil and the A and B h horizons of the Immokalee soil for sorption experiments in this study. Freundlich sorption isotherms described P sorption data. The Freundlich sorption isotherm coefficients followed the trend 0.005 mol L ‐1 CaCl 2 > 0.01 mol L ‐1 KCl ≈ fertilizer mixture > simulated Florida rain ≈ DI water. Sorption coefficients were used for modeling P movement with HYDRUS 1D; similar P results were obtained with the 0.01 mol L ‐1 KCl and fertilizer mixture electrolyte treatments. The sorption coefficient for DI water and simulated Florida rain overpredicted P movement. The P sorption data showed the importance of choosing the appropriate electrolyte for conducting experiments based on the composition of fertilizer. Core Ideas Soil was sampled from two sugarcane fields with Margate and Immokalee soils. Electrolytes used were KCl, CaCl 2 , water, Florida rain, and fertilizer mixture. The K D of P applied to sugarcane fields of southwestern Florida should be determined using KCl. The kinetics of P applied to sugarcane fields of southwestern Florida can be studied using KCl. Movement of P in sugarcane fields should be modeled using K D determined with KCl.