PHOSPHORUS STATUS IN SOME SOILS OF DAMIETTA GOVERNORATE

Abstract

Phosphorus (P) is an essential plant nutrient, and its deficiency in soils severely restricts crop yields.In order toevaluate the phosphorus status in some soils of Damietta Governorate soils, chosen nineteen soil profiles were done at selected nineteen site to represent the soil of Damietta Governorate from north to south were studied . Soil samples were taken from each profile at three depths, (0-30, 30-60, and 60-90 cm). The obtained results could be summarized in: Total phosphorus content in profiles 6-19 which were clay and clay loam in texture was ranged from 585.5 to 3760.3 mg/kg soil which was found in layer C of the profile No.14 and 15, respectively. Total phosphorus significantly increased with increasing the distance from the sea. Total phosphorus in layer A and C was increased with the distance and the correlations were r= 0.69 and 0.3, respectively Total phosphorus was significantly correlated with clay and organic matter content. A negative significantly correlation was found between available phosphorus and the distance from the sea (r=-0.4), where it decreased with increasing the distance from the sea. - A non significant correlation was found between available phosphorus content and soil depth where available phosphorus had no constant trend with soil depth. - The available phosphorus contents (mg/kg soil) of Damietta governorate soils in the first five profiles, where the soil was sandy and sandy loam in texture were moderate in each layer, except the surface layer of profile 4. While available phosphorus content (mg/kg soil) of Damietta governorate soils in profiles from 6-19, where the soil was clay and clay loam in texture was low in A and B layers except the surface layer of profiles 8, 12, and 18 which were moderate. - A negative significant correlation was found between soil organic matter and available phosphorus content (r=-0.37), where available phosphorus content decreased with increasing soil organic matter and the distances from the sea. A negative significant correlation was found between available phosphorus content and soil pH (r=-0.34) where available phosphorus content decreased with increasing soil pH and the distance from the sea.