Phosphorus Sorption as Affected by Soil Properties and Termite Activity in Eastern and Southern Africa

Phosphorus is often the limiting nutrient to crop production in eastern Africa. Efficient management of P requires an understanding of the factors affecting availability of soil native P and applied fertilizer P. The objectives of this study were (i) to evaluate the relationships between soil properties and P sorption characteristics, and (ii) to assess the effect of termite activities on soil properties and P sorption characteristics. Phosphorus sorption isotherms were determined for 36 soils, including 7 samples from termite mounds and surrounding non‐termite soils from Uganda and Mozambique. Ammonium‐oxalate extractable Al (Al ox ) was the most important property explaining over 90% of the variation in P sorption maximum ( S max ) for Uganda and Mozambique soils. However, for the Ethiopia soils 88% of the variation was explained by Mehlich‐3 extractable Ca, ammonium‐oxalate extractable P (P ox ), and sand content. The S max of Uganda and Mozambique soils increased by 44 to 390% due to increased clay content from termite activities. The higher S max of termite mounds implies a greater demand for P fertilizer for low P soils but also a higher P storage capacity and reduced risk of P leaching. Termite mound could be considered as a potential soil amendment.