Distribution of zinc, cadmium, and copper forms in soils as influenced by phosphorus application

Abstract

Abstract High P levels can alter the surface properties of soil colloids, possibly resulting in a redistribution of trace metals among various forms in soils. Therefore, the effect of P levels (0, 60, and 120 mg P kg‐1 soil) was studied on the various chemical pools—water soluble plus exchangeable (WE), carbonates (CARB), organic (OM), Mn oxide (MnOX), amorphous Fe oxide (AFeOX), crystalline Fe oxide (CFeOX), and residual (RES) of Zn, Cd, and Cu—in three soils. Increasing P levels resulted in lowering Zn and Cd in the CFeOX, OM, and CARB fractions, with a concomitant increase in the AFeOX and WE fractions, and had no effect on the RES fraction. Phosphorus application influenced AFeOX‐Zn fraction more than any other fraction. The depressive effect of P levels was more pronounced on the CFeOX fraction than on the OM or CARB fraction of Zn and Cd. Applied P moved Cu from the less soluble or most stable forms (CFeOX, CARB and OM) to the intermediately soluble forms (AFeOX and MnOX) and the most soluble form (...