Phosphate sorption by red mediterranean soils from Greece

Abstract

Abstract In nineteen surface horizons of red Mediterranean soils from various locations of Greece, phosphorus (P) sorption experiments were conducted and the sorption characteristics were studied in relation to soil properties. Phosphate sorption data were fitted both to the Langmuir and Freundlich equations. From these equations, the following P sorption parameters were determined from the Freundlich equation, X = ACn, the parameters A (the phosphate sorbed at C = 1 mg P/L), n (the P sorption intensity), the P sorption index (PS = X/log C) and maximum P sorption (Xmfr). From the Langmuir equation, C/X = 1/KXm + C/Xm, the parameters K (showing the bonding energy), maximum P sorption (Xmla), the quantity of P adsorbed at a standard concentration of 0.2 mg P/L (P0.2), and P maximum buffering capacity (PMBC). The Freundlich parameter A was strongly correlated to the clay and sesquioxides (free”; iron and aluminum oxides and amorphous iron oxides) content. Seventy‐four percent of the variance of this paramet...