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Phosphorus Fractions in Selected Nigerian Soils
Author(s) -
Udo E. J.,
Ogunwale J. A.
Publication year - 1977
Publication title -
soil science society of america journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.836
H-Index - 168
eISSN - 1435-0661
pISSN - 0361-5995
DOI - 10.2136/sssaj1977.03615995004100060026x
Subject(s) - soil water , phosphorus , weathering , environmental chemistry , chemistry , sedimentary rock , abundance (ecology) , mineralogy , zoology , geology , soil science , ecology , geochemistry , biology , organic chemistry
The distribution of total, organic, and various inorganic phosphorus forms was determined for six Nigerian soil profiles selected to cover different ecological zones and geological formations. Total P was generally low in most of the profiles ranging from 144 to 791 ppm. The basaltic Dogon Gaba soil contained the highest amounts while the soil formed on sedimentary deposits had the lowest values. The relative abundance of the extractable inorganic fractions was generally in the order of occluded P > Fe − P > Al − P > Ca − P except in Dogon Gaba and Agbaru (Etinan) where Al − P was more abundant than Fe − P and in Egbeda with Ca − P more important than Al − P (the latter being negligible in this soil). A large fraction of the inorganic P remained in the nonextractable or residual form especially in soils from the savanna region. Organic P was low in the soils from the savanna zone, but high in those soils from the forest region. The high percentage of occluded and residual P and the low level of active P indicated a high degree of weathering and a low available P status of the soils.