Phosphate responses in relation to soil tests and organic phosphorus

Abstract

Phosphate responses of wheat in a number of soil types have been correlated with the amounts of phosphate extracted by ten different methods. Of these only total organic phosphorus, and inorganic phosphorus extracted with hot 0·1N caustic soda, were significantly related to phosphate response, the former at the 1% level and the latter at the 5% level. The amount of organic phosphorus in the soil was also found to be significantly related, in each instance at the 5% level, to phosphate responses of grass and the percentage phosphate in the grass. When the amount of organic phosphorus was considered together with the phosphate retention capacity of the soil, to give a measure of available mineralized phosphate, the relationships to response (and uptake of phosphorus by grasses) was more significant than with organic phosphorus alone.The organic phosphorus fraction accounted for about 86% of the total soil phosphorus. Measurable amounts of water-soluble organic phosphorus were found with all the soils. The amounts were, however, not significantly related to phosphate response. Moreover, it was found that while the soil extract containing organic phosphorus decomposed, it did so without the production of mineral phosphate. From this, and further evidence in the literature, it is considered that the organic complex in the soil, rather than the water soluble phosphorus, is the main source for the plant.