TRANSFORMATIONS OF APPLIED PHOSPHORUS UNDER THE

INFLUENCE OF ORGANIC MATTER AND PLANT GROWTH.

A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF

SOIL, WATER AND ENVIRONMENT, UNIVERSITY OF DHAKA
FOR THE PARTIAL FULFILLLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS
FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE IN SOIL SCIENCE

SUBMITTED BY
MD. SADIQUL AMIN
EXAMINATION ROLL NO. 3103
SESSION: 1998-1999
DEPARTMENT OF SOIL, WATER AND ENVIRONMENT
UNIVERSITY OF DHAKA

APRIL 2003

DEDICATED
TO
MY PARENTS

A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF SOIL, WATER

AND ENVIRONMENT, UNIVERSITY OF DHAKA IN PARTIAL
FULFILLLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF
MASTER OF SCIENCE IN SOIL SCIENCE

A THESIS
BY
EXAMINATION ROLL NO. 3103
SESSION: 1998-1999

APRIL, 2003.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I would like to convey my heartiest gratitude to almighty Allah for the successful
completion of my thesis in time. I feel proud to find myself as a student of Dr. Sirajul Hoque,
Professor, Department of Soil, Water and Environment, University of Dhaka. He is such a broad
hearted personality who even doesnt mind to carry sacs, full of soil on his shoulder in a hot
summer day for his student. Besides, his constructive guidance, valuable advice, affectionate
feelings and encouragement throughout the period of research work and also in the preparation
of the manuscript have given the thesis even a better finishing. I, therefore, dont have an apt
word to thank my supervisor. I prey to Allah for his healthy and happy life.
I have immense pleasure to express my sincere appreciation to my respected teacher Dr.
Md. Akhter Hossain Khan, Associate Professor, Department of Soil, Water and Environment,
University of Dhaka, for making his hand of help available to me whenever necessary.
I am grateful to Prof. Tofazzal Husain Khan, Chairman, Department of Soil, Water
and Environment, University of Dhaka, for ensuring the necessary research facilities during the
time of my thesis.
It is also a great pleasure for me to thank my respected teachers of the Department of
Soil, Water and Environment, University of Dhaka, especially to Prof. S. M. Imamul Huq,
Prof. Shahid Akhtar Hussain and Dr. S. Z. K. M. Shamsad.
My family deserves my heartiest thanks as they sacrificed a lot to provide me the best
possible education facilities so that I can concentrate upon my research. I feel extraordinarily
lucky to get a lot of well-wishing friends. I thank all of my friends.
I would like to express my gratefulness to Khandakar Qudrata Kibria, Lecturer, Soil
Science Discipline, Khulna University, Md Najmul Hasan, SSO, SRDI for their solid
cooperation whenever needed.

Author,
Md. Sadiqul Amin
Department of Soil, Water and Environment,
University of Dhaka

Contents
Title

Page No.

Chapter-1
Introduction

Chapter-2
Literature Review

2.1. Content of Inorganic Phosphorus in Soils ..........................................................7

2.2. Forms of Inorganic Phosphorus in Soils.............................................................8
2.3. Phosphorus Fractionation Methods.....................................................................11
2.4. Transformation of Added and Indigenous Phosphorus in Soils .......................15
2.5. Factors Controlling the Transformations and Availability of Phosphorus
in Soils ....................................................................................................................16
2.5.1. Influence of pH and Different Cations ...................................................................16
2.5.2. Influence of Soil Texture .......................................................................................18
2.5.3. Influence of Mineral Types....................................................................................19
2.5.4. Influence of Ageing ...............................................................................................19
2.5.5. Influence of Organic Matter...................................................................................20
2.5.6. Influence of Moisture.............................................................................................22
2.5.7. Influence of Temperature......................................................................................25
2.5.8. Influence of Microorganisms .................................................................................26
2.5.9. Influence of Liming................................................................................................27
2.6. Practical Significance of Phosphorus Fractions.................................................27
2.7. Relationship between Inorganic Phosphorus Fractions and
Available Phosphorus ...........................................................................................30
2.8. Effect of Phosphorus on Plant Growth ................................................................31

Chapter-3
Materials and Methods

34

3.1. Description of the Soil Series ...............................................................................34

3.1.1. Dhamrai Series .....................................................................................................34

3.1.2. Ghatail Series .......................................................................................................34
3.1.3. Silmandi series......................................................................................................35
3.1.4. Sonatala Series.....................................................................................................35
3.1.5. Badarkhali Series..................................................................................................35
3.1.6. Benarpota Soil ......................................................................................................35
3.2. Collection and Preparation of Soil Sample..........................................................36
3.3. Incubation Experiment ..........................................................................................36
3.4. Pot Experiment.......................................................................................................37
3.4.1. Collection and Preparation of Plant Sample .........................................................38
3.5. Methods for Soil Analysis .....................................................................................38

3.5.1. Analysis of Physical and Chemical Properties ...................................................... 38

3.6. Methods for Plant and Cowdung Analysis ..........................................................40
3.7. Methods for Fractionation of Inorganic Phosphorus .........................................41
3.7.1. Extraction of Soluble and Loosely Bound Phosphate (ES-P)................................43
3.7.2. Extraction of Aluminum Phosphate (Al-P).............................................................43
3.7.3. Extraction of Iron Phosphate (Fe-P)......................................................................44
3.7.4. Extraction of Reductant Soluble Phosphate (RS-P)..............................................44
3.7.5. Extraction of Calcium Phosphate (Ca-P) ..............................................................44
3.8. Method of Phosphorus Determination from the Extract ....................................45
3.9. Statistical Analysis ................................................................................................45

Chapter-4
Results and Discussion

46

4.1. Fractions of Inorganic Phosphorus in Soils........................................................46

4.1.1. Soluble and Loosely Bound Phosphate ................................................................46
4.1.2. Aluminium Phosphate ...........................................................................................53
4.1.3. Iron Phosphate......................................................................................................58
4.1.4. Reductant Soluble Phosphate...............................................................................64
4.1.5. Calcium Phosphate...............................................................................................70
4.2. Plant Parameters....................................................................................................79
4.2.1. Yield of Straw as Affected by Plant Population and Fertilizer Application.............79
4.2.2. Nutrient Uptake by Wheat.....................................................................................80
4.2.3. Interrelations between Different P Fractions .........................................................80
4.2.4. Relationships between Different Fractions of Inorganic P and Their Uptake
by Wheat...............................................................................................................81
4.2.5. Effect of Plant Population and Fertilizer Application on the Transformation of
P in to Different Forms ..........................................................................................82

Chapter-5
Summary and Conclusion

85

Chapter-6
References

89

Appendices -----------------------------------------------------------i

List of Tables
TABLE
PAGE NO.

TITLE

2.1

Changes in Al-P fraction in soil after 112d of flooding ...................................24

2.2

Association of different P-fractions in soil with crop nutrition in India...........29

3.1

A correlation between the soil series and different soil

classification systems........................................................................................36

3.2

Important physical and chemical properties of the soils...................................40

3.3

Nomenclature of the inorganic P fractions.......................................................43

4.1

Dry matter yield, P and N uptake as affected by plant population and

fertilizer application..........................................................................................80

4.2

Correlation coefficients for relationship between forms of P after

21 days after seed germination..........................................................................81

4.3

Correlation coefficient for relationships between P uptake by

wheat and forms of P after 42 days after seed germination..............................81

4.4

Inorganic P fractions as affected by plant of 21 days.......................................83

4.5

Inorganic P fractions as affected by plant of 42 days.......................................83

List of Figures
FIGURE

TITLE

PAGE NO.

3.1
Flow chart of inorganic P fractionation procedure for modified
Chang and Jackson (1957) method, as reported by Kuo (1996)....................42
4.1

Changes in ES-P content of Dhamrai series.........................................48

4.2

Changes in ES-P content of Ghatail series...........................................48

4.3

Changes in ES-P content of Silmandi series ........................................49

4.4

Changes in ES-P content of Sonatala series .........................................49

4.5

Changes in ES-P content of Badarkhali series..................................... 50

4.6

Changes in ES-P content of Benarpota series.......................................50

4.7

Changes in Al-P content of Dhamrai series..........................................54

4.8

Changes in Al-P content of Ghatail series............................................54

4.9

Changes in Al-P content of Silmandi series.........................................55

4.10

Changes in Al-P content of Sonatala series.........................................55

4.11

Changes in Al-P content of Badarkhali series.....................................56

4.12

Changes in Al-P content of Benarpota series......................................56

4.13

Changes in Fe-P content of Dhamrai series........................................59

4.14

Changes in Fe-P content of Ghatail series..........................................59

4.15

Changes in Fe-P content of Silmandi series.......................................60

4.16

Changes in Fe-P content of Sonatala series........................................60

4.17

Changes in Fe-P content of Badarkhali series....................................61

4.18

Changes in Fe-P content of Benarpota series.....................................61

4.19

Changes in RS-P content of Dhamrai series......................................65

4.20

Changes in RS-P content of Ghatail series........................................65

4.21

Changes in RS-P content of Silmandi series.....................................66

4.22

Changes in RS-P content of Sonatala series......................................66

4.23

Changes in RS-P content of Badarkhali series..................................67

4.24

Changes in RS-P content of Benarpota series...................................67

4.25

Changes in Ca-P content of Dhamrai series......................................71

4.26

Changes in Ca-P content of Ghatail series........................................71

4.27

Changes in Ca-P content of Silmandi series.....................................72

4.28

Changes in Ca-P content of Sonatala series......................................72

4.29

Changes in Ca-P content of Badarkhali series..................................73

4.30

Changes in Ca-P content of Benarpota series...................................73

*List of Appendices
APPENDIX

TITLE

PAGE NO.

An Example of SAS Program and Output file

II

Changes in ES-P content of soils

iv

III

Changes in Al-P content of soils

IV

Changes in Fe-P content of soils

vi

Changes in RS-P content of soils

vii

VI

Changes in Ca-P content of soils

viii

Abstract
Experiments were carried out to study the transformations of applied
phosphorus into inorganic fractions in soils. Laboratory incubation experiment was
conducted with six soils namely, Dhamrai, Ghatail, Sonatala and Silmandi series
soils, developed on old Brahmaputra Alluvium, Badarkhali series (acid-sulphate soil)
and Benarpota soil (saline soil). Phosphorus was added in solution form from
potassium dihydrogen phosphate alone or in combination with cowdung. The
changes of phosphorus fractions in course of time were assessed. In another
experiment wheat crop was grown in pots and the transformations of applied
phosphorus in soil were assessed to observe the influence of wheat plants with
varying plant population. The changes of phosphorus fractions under the influence
of organic matter and plant roots were discussed. The interconversions of different
P-fractions were noticed during the course of incubation experiment. The
availability of P from different P-fractions to wheat plants was also evident from the
pot experiment.

CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION

Introduction
Phosphorus is a non-renewable source and a major plant nutrient for higher
crop yield. It limits the crop production because only about 20% of applied P is
utilized by crop and remaining part is converted into insoluble forms (Dubey et al.,
1999). Applied P fertilizers react with soil constituents and are transformed into
different forms. Many soil constituents react with P to convert it into unavailable
forms and the dominance of individual fraction is largely controlled by soil
properties.
Knowledge on the transformation of applied phosphorus into specific
inorganic forms is important, as the fertilizer reaction product is the source of P
from soil (Rokima and Prasad, 1991). Phosphorus is an essential element for plant
growth and it has long been recognized as necessary to maintain profitable crop
production. It occupies a key place among the major nutrients because of its
relative scarcity among the light elements and its essential role in energy
transformations in all forms of life. It is needed most by the young fast growing
tissues and performs a number of functions related to growth, development,
photosynthesis and utilization of carbohydrate. It is a constituent of genetic material
of all living organisms.
Soil phosphorus exists in inorganic and organic forms. In most agricultural
soils, 50-75% of P is in organic form, although this fraction can vary from 10-90%
(Sharpley and Rekolainen, 1977). Inorganic P forms are associated with hydrous
sesquioxides and amorphous and crystalline Al and Fe compounds in acidic, noncalcareous soils and with Ca-compounds in alkaline, calcareous soils. Organic P
forms include relatively labile phospholipids, nucleic acids, inositol and fulvic acids,
while more resistant forms are comprised of humic acids. The lability of these
forms of P is based on the extent to which extractants of increasing acidity, applied
sequentially, can dissolve soil P (Sharpley and Rekolainen, 1977).
The inorganic phosphates in soils have been classified into easily soluble
phosphate (ES-P), aluminium phosphates (Al-P), iron phosphates (Fe-P), reductant
soluble phosphates (RS-P) and calcium phosphates (Ca-P) (Chang and Jackson,

1957). Phosphorus in adsorbed and/or mineral form is often coated (occluded) by

relatively insoluble oxides and hydroxides of Fe and Al. The occluded P is called RSP because strong reducing agents are required to dissolve the coating occluding the
P. These phosphate fractions occur in all soils, but differ in proportion according to
soil characteristics. Strong acid soils, usually highly weathered, are dominant in Al-P,
Fe-P and RS-P. Neutral and slightly acid soils usually contain all five fractions in
comparable amounts. Alkaline and calcareous soils are often dominant in Ca-P the
increase in any one fraction occurs at the expense of other inorganic fractions (Sah
and Mikkelsen, 1986).
With the application of P, available P content increases. The increase in
available P is a function of certain physical and chemical soil properties, such as clay,
organic carbon, Fe, Al, and calcium carbonate contents. Phosphate fertilizer added
to the soil is changed into all forms not only in acid soils but also at neutral
reactions. The P spectrum shifts from a Ca-P dominated one in young, neutralalkaline soils of high base status towards a scenario dominated by occluded and
reductant soluble P in old, highly weathered acidic soils. The later forms perhaps
represent the ultimate P-sink in many tropical and subtropical soils and to the
extent possible; fertilization practices should aim at reducing the conversion of
added P into these forms (Tandon, 1987).
The dynamics of phosphorus transformation in the soil system and its
fixation and release characteristics have been the subject of numerous investigations
but in actual practice the most pertinent issue is to know how much of phosphorus
can be made available to the growing crop from the native soil pool (Ghosh and
Hasan, 1979). Though the plants absorb P from the labile pool only, the relative
solubility of the inorganic P fractions governs the replenishment of the labile pool
when it is depleted by removal of P by the plant (Singhania and Goswami, 1979;
Sharma and Tripathi, 1984).
Since the different forms of soil P have different solubilities, the availability
and uptake of P largely depend on the amounts of different fractions present in soil.
Fractions of inorganic P in soils are the immediate sources for supplying P for crop

utilization. Certain portions of these are extracted by the reagents of soil test
methods (chemical) and the proportions extracted from each fraction, would vary
depending upon the nature of the soils and the efficiency of the extractants
(Kumaraswamy and Sreeramulu, 1991).
Marked variation in the different forms of inorganic P is a function of genetic
differences among soils (Chang and Jackson, 1958). Organic matter, calcium
carbonate and sesquioxides appear to be guiding factors in determining the
distribution of forms of P (Brady and Weil, 2002).
The distribution of various P fractions and their relative change under
continuous fertilization and manuring over a long duration was found to differ
according to soil and crop condition (Chang and Jackson, 1958; Chang and Chu,
1961; Islam, 1970; Mandal and Khan, 1977; Hedley et al., 1982; Tandon, 1987;
Rokima and Prasad, 1991; Kumar et al., 1999). The P concentration increases with
the increase in level of applied P. The soil incubated with Gliricidia along with graded
levels of P shows higher P concentration compared to no green manure incubated
soil (Kumar et al., 1999). The increase may partly be ascribed to the release of P
during mineralization of added green manure (Hundal et al., 1988). The organic
acids produced due to decomposition of organic matter complexes metal cation
Ca.
Aluminium and Fe thereby are helping in solubilization of soil native P and
reduction in P sorption (Kumar et al., 1999). Soils incubated with organic matter to
bring about intense soil reduction increases RS-P soil fraction (Mahapatra and
Patrick, 1969). Phospho-compost increases water-soluble P content of the soils. A
phosphate deficient acid soil incubated with phospho-compost increases available P
(Misra et al., 2002). Addition of organic manure (biogas slurry) improves overall soil
P status to higher level. Adsorption of added P decreases significantly with
incorporation of organic manure. Desorption of P is relatively higher in soils
amended with organic manures (Brar et al., 1999). Aluminium-P and Fe-P are the
major contributors to available P. Though all forms of P in the soil are known to
supply the nutrient to the solution, their relative contribution to the labile pool

from which plants absorb the nutrient depends mainly on the solubility of the
several phosphatic compounds as influenced by the relevant characteristics of the
soils (Ravindra and Ananthanarayana, 1999).
In alkaline soils, added P transforms more into saloid-P and Ca-P while in
acid soils, higher amount of Al-P and saloid-P was formed. Due to green

manure

addition saloid-P increases at the expense of other P fractions (Bahl and Singh,
1997).
Soluble forms of phosphate fertilizers when applied to acid soils are
transformed into less soluble Al-P and Fe-P because of the large contents of Fe and
Al in acid soils and the strong acidity of Al2O3 and Fe2O3 in such soils. Both these
forms on ageing are gradually converted into occluded iron phosphate and continue
to accumulate in the soil. Aluminium-P and Fe-P increase markedly as nitrogen and
phosphate fertilizers are applied. The transformation of soluble phosphate in acid
soil suggests that less soluble and cheaper forms of phosphate, such as rock
phosphate should be recommended.
Compost is effective in increasing the availability of phosphorus. It reduces
the conversion of phosphorus to Al-P and Fe-P but it increases the Ca-P in soil
(Chattopadhyay et al., 1990). The major portion of the added P is not utilized by the
wheat crop and is transformed into Al-P (23.8%) followed by Fe-P (21.9%). Higher
values of Al-P than those of Fe-P are found in soils treated with rock phosphate,
whereas a reverse trend is observed for superphosphate treatments. The addition
of farmyard manure increases transformation of phosphorus (Tripathi and Minhas,
1991).
On decomposition organic matters liberate P in soil and accumulate organic
acids, which interact with soil complexes to affect the availability through different
mechanisms (Singh et al., 1992). The information is lacking on release of phosphorus
and changes in P fraction in soil supplied with P fertilizer and amended with organic
matter. So the present study was designed to investigate the nature of the P
transformations occurring in soils amended with organic matter (cowdung).

The objective of the present study was to investigate the influence of organic
matter on the transformations of added phosphatic fertilizer and the effect of plant
populations on the utilization of phosphorus from different fractions.

Literature Review
Soil phosphorus (P) is an increasingly important consideration in the
development of P-based nutrient management strategies (Daniels et al., 2000). The
significant role of phosphorus in sustaining and build up of land fertility particularly
under intensive system of agriculture, has been amply demonstrated from the
results of large number of studies carried out all over the world. Soils are known to
vary widely in their phosphorus supplying power to crops. The dynamics of
phosphorus transformation in the soil system and its fixation and release
characteristics have been the subject of numerous investigations but in actual
practice the most pertinent issue is to know how much of phosphorus can be made
available to the growing crop from the native soil pool (Ghosh and Hasan, 1979).
While the phosphorus content of an average mineral soil compares
favourably with that of nitrogen, it is much lower than potassium, calcium or
magnesium. Of even greater importance, however, is the fact that most of the
phosphorus presents in soil is not readily available to plants. Also when soluble
fertilizer salts of this element are supplied to soils, their phosphorus is often fixed,
or render insoluble or unavailable to higher plants, even under the most ideal field
conditions (Brady and Weil, 2002).
Phosphorus is an essential element for plant growth and it has long been
recognized as necessary to maintain profitable crop production. It occupies a key
place among the major nutrients because of its relative scarcity among the light
elements and its essential role in energy transformations in all forms of life. It is
needed most by young fast growing tissues and performs a number of functions
related to growth, development, photosynthesis and utilization of carbohydrate. It is
a constituent of genetic material of all living organisms.
Phosphorus is a major nutrient because crops need P in large amounts and a
majority of soils are unable to furnish sufficient quantities of P for high yields on a
sustained basis. This drawback in cultivated soils can be, and is being corrected by
using P containing fertilizers and manures. Knowledge on the transformation of

added phosphorus into specific inorganic forms is important as fertilizer reaction

product is the source of P from soils (Rokima and Prasad, 1991).
There has been considerable interest in studying responses to P in different
seasons, primarily to arrive at a basis for allocating fertilizer P among seasons in
order to obtained maximum yield response per unit P applied in the rotation
(Tandon, 1987). It is, therefore, necessary to gain a greater understanding of the P
sorption and release characteristics of soils from a range of environments to
improve the predictive understanding of the processes, and to contribute to future
P management tactics (Ponnamperuma, 1985).
The review of literature presented in this chapter is pertaining to the
information related to the transformations of phosphorus in different soils under
varied soil properties.
2.1.

Content of Inorganic Phosphorus in Soils

The P content of soils in their natural state varies considerably, depending on

the nature of the parent material, degree of weathering and extent to which P has
been lost through leaching. The usual range of P in soils is of the order of 500 to
800 g g-1 (dry weight basis). Soils formed from acid igneous rocks are generally low
in P; those derived from basic rocks contain moderate to high amounts.
Unweathered calcareous soils of dry regions often have high P contents due to the
general lack of leaching and the presence of appreciable amounts of P in the form of
apatite (Stevenson, 1986).
The bulk of the soil phosphorus is in organic form. The content may range
from 15 to 85 percent of the total phosphorus. Of the inorganic forms, large
quantities occur in minerals where the phosphorus is part of the mineral structure,
as insoluble calcium, iron or aluminium phosphates. The calcium salts predominate
in neutral or alkaline conditions, the iron and aluminium salts in acid surrounding
(Alexander, 1977). Islam and Khan (1966) found that inorganic P content of
Bangladesh soils ranged between 102-509 g g-1 and the content was related to clay
and total P contents of the soils.

The distribution of inorganic P in soils was found to measure the degree of

chemical weathering, the chemical weathering sequence being calcium phosphate,
aluminium phosphate, iron phosphate and occluded phosphate. The later category
includes reductant soluble iron phosphate and aluminium-iron phosphate, occluded
in iron oxides (Chang and Jackson, 1958).
2.2.

Forms of Inorganic Phosphorus in Soils

Although P in soils occurs both in organic and inorganic forms, most of the

research efforts have been directed at inorganic P. Phosphorus bound to aluminium

(Al-P), iron (Fe-P), and calcium (Ca-P) constitutes the major active forms of
inorganic P. Relatively less active are the occluded and reductant soluble forms of P
(Tandon, 1987). The inorganic fraction of soil phosphorus occurs in numerous
combinations with Fe, Al, Ca, and other elements. Solubility of these compounds in
water varies from sparingly soluble to very soluble (Tisdale et al. 1985). De Datta et
al. (1989) reported that phosphorus in all forms exists in all soils, but Al-P and Fe-P
are more abundant in acid soils, while Ca-P dominates in neutral to alkaline soils.
The highly mobile P in sodic soils is thought to be associated with Na. They also
reported that the reductant soluble P fraction is too insoluble to be at any practical
significance in upland rice, but this fraction is important in lowland rice. Chang and
Jackson (1957) subdivided the inorganic phosphorus into a number of fractions, viz.
water soluble, Al, Fe, Ca, occluded Fe and occluded Al. Phosphorus also reacts with
clays to form generally insoluble clay-phosphate complexes (Tisdale et al., 1985).
The distribution of phosphorus among different fractions is largely controlled
by the reaction of the soil. Phosphorus forms difficultly soluble compounds with
Fe3+ and Al3+ at low pH, more soluble compounds with Ca2+ and Mg2+ at pH values
near neutrality, and difficultly soluble compounds with Ca2+ at higher pH values.
There is a wide range of variation in solubility of these phosphate compounds and
their availability to crops usually greatest within the pH range of 6 to 7 for most
agricultural soils (Tisdale et al., 1985).
The scientists of the different parts of the world made contribution to the
identification of different fractions of inorganic P in soils. Working with Indian soils,

Tripathi (1970) found that Fe-P and Al-P were higher in the new alluvial soils than in
the old alluvial, hill and forest soils.
In Malaysian soils distribution of inorganic P fractions showed that Fe-P
predominated in all soils, constituting an average of 79% of the inorganic P fraction.
Iron-P was followed by Ca-P, which was slightly more than Al-P (Bidin, 1986).
Patiram et al. (1990) found that in acid soils of Sikkim, among the different forms of
P, Fe-P was dominated, being approximately 1.5 times of Al-P or Ca-P, but Al-P and
Ca-P did not differ much. They also reported that residual P was highly related to
total and organic P but had the negative relationship with other forms of inorganic
P. Perumal and Velayutham (1977) observed that Al-P and Fe-P constituted 55% of
total P while Ca-P formed only 12%. The P forms were distributed as follows:
Unidentified P> Fe-P> Al-P> Ca-P= reductant soluble P>saloid-P.
Singh and Sinha (1977) found over 50% of the total P in the form of occluded
P in highly weathered acid soils of Bihar. In acid soils of south India, Vijayachandran
and Raj (1978) reported up to 40% of P in reductant soluble form.
In Alfisols of India with pH ranging from 5.5 to 6.8, the order of soil P
distribution was Fe-P> Ca-P> Al-P (Sahrawat, 1977). Bowman et al. (1978) observed
the distribution of different inorganic P forms in 20 surface soil samples belonging
to Alfisols and Vertisols orders and reported that in Alfisols the most dominant
form was Fe-P followed by Ca-P and Al-P. In Vertisols, however, the order of the
distribution was Ca-P> Fe-P> Al-P.
Westin and Buntly (1966) reached a general conclusion that the total of four
inorganic P fractions (NH4Cl-P, Al-P, Fe-P and Ca-P) were larger in Chestnut soils
than in the Chernozem soils, in studying the distribution of inorganic P fractions in
the soils of South Dakota. The proportion of P in the Al-P and Fe-P is the largest
fraction and in all the soils the percentage of Ca-P increased with a simultaneous
decrease in Al-P and Fe-P. The P content of the soils extracted with NH4Cl was low
in all soil samples.

Doddamani and Rao (1989) investigated the forms of P in soils of Karnataka

and found that Ca-P was the dominant mineral form of P in Vertisols and Inceptisols
and constituted up to 19.5 and 11.5 per cent, respectively, of the total soil P. Iron P
constituted 14.2, 9.1,2.5, and 2.4 per cent of the total P of Oxisols, Alfisols,
Vertisols and Inceptisols, respectively. The variation of reductant-soluble P followed
the order of Oxisols> Alfisols> Vertisols> Inceptisols. Occluded and saloid bound P
accounted for 2.9-3.0 and 0.5-0.6 per cent, respectively, of the total P. Viswanatha
and Doddamani (1991) working with Vertisols reported that distribution of Al-P,
Fe-P, reductant soluble P, occluded P, and Ca-P did not follow any definite pattern.
The Ca-P, however, was the dominant mineral form of P in two alkali soils studied.
Mandal (1975) found that Al-P, Fe-P, Ca-P, reductant soluble P and occluded
P fractions constituted about 7.2, 27.8, 46.6, 16.2, and 2.2 per cent, respectively, of
the total inorganically bound phosphorus in rice soils of West Bengal (India). Of the
fractions of inorganic P, Ca-P dominated over all other fractions. Basak and
Bhattacharya (1962) observed that Fe-P and Al-P constituted about 47% of the total
P content of the puddled soils. As the crop grew, the Fe-P and Al-P contents of the
soils decreased by about 183 kg P/ha. Khan and Mandal (1973) studied P
distribution in typical rice soils having pH value in the range of 4.9 to 6.6. Among
the inorganic P fractions Fe-P was 28%, Ca-P 47%, reductant soluble P 16%, while
Al-P was 7% and occluded Al-P was 2% of the total inorganic P. They concluded
from their study that because of the amount of high Fe-P, waterlogging would
increase available P.
Tandon (1987) discussed the distribution of different forms of P in Indian
soils and concluded that Ca-P constituted about 40 to 50 per cent of the total P in
most neutral to alkaline soils, and even more than 50 per cent P in highly calcareous
soils. Aluminium-P and Fe-P constituted up to 10 per cent of the total P in these
soils. In acid soils the increase in Al-P and Fe-P was less than the decrease in Ca-P,
mainly because of the predominance of reductant soluble and occluded P forms.
Fertilizer application was found to increase the Al-P and Fe-P fractions of the soil.

2.3.

Phosphorus Fractionation Methods

To understand the inorganic P status and availability in soil, diverse

fractionation schemes and soil tests have been developed. The P fractions have
been used to study the transformation of applied P fertilizer in soils and
interpretation of P soil test values (Kuo, 1996). Knowledge of the forms of P in soils
has become largely from chemical fractionations based on the ability of selective
chemical reagents to solubilize discrete types of inorganic P compounds (Stevenson,
1986).
Inorganic P can react with Ca, Fe, or Al to yield discrete phosphates such as
hydroxyapatite [Ca5(PO4)3OH], octacalcium phosphate [Ca4H(PO4)32.5H2O] and
variscite (AlPO4.8H2O) (Lindsay and Vlek, 1977; Lindsay, 1979). Their identification
in soil, however, is done mostly by solubility equilibria (Kuo, 1996).
Various chemical fractionation schemes have been developed in the effort to
characterize the forms of P in soils and sediments (Fraps, 1906; Fiser and Thomas,
1935; Williams, 1937; Dean, 1938; Ghani, 1943; Williams, 1950; Chang and Jackson,
1957; Khin and Leeper, 1960; Peterson and Cory, 1966; Williams et al., 1967, 1971).
The schemes evolved from the assumption that certain reagents preferentially
extract discrete chemical form (or pools) of the P in a given geological material.
Although the assumptions and the procedures have been criticized in connection
with the effects of reagents on pure compounds and mineral associations (Fife,
1962; Smith, 1965; Golterman, 1973), no attempt has been made to systematically
investigate the extractability of P in the common phosphate minerals of soils and
sediments (Williams et al., 1980). Most of the reasons are associated with the
difficulties of separating different P fractions. Since its inceptions, however, the
fractionation procedure of Chang and Jackson (1957) has been widely used for
investigations of the forms native inorganic P and transformations of P applied as
fertilizer.
Chang and Jackson (1957) modified the fractionation procedure of Dean
(1938) and their fractionation scheme is as follows:

1. Al- phosphate

Extraction with 0.1N NH4F

2. Fe- phosphate

Extraction with 0.1N NaOH

3. Ca- phosphate

Extraction with 0.5N H2SO4

4. Occluded Fe- phosphate

Extraction with dithionate-citrate

5. Occluded Al- phosphate

Extraction with 0.5N NH4F after dithionatecitrate extraction

Subsequent studies indicated that the various extractants were not as

specific as at first envisioned. Also difficulties were encountered with calcareous
soils and sediments because of retention of P by CaF2 formed from CaCO3 during
NH4F extraction (Williams, 1967). The readsorbed P was then recovered in other
fractions. The procedure of Chang and Jackson was modified by Williams et al.
(1967, 1971), who included a step to correct for readsorption of phosphate and a
revised nomenclature of the fractions extracted was suggested.
Three discrete classes of compounds, i.e., Al, Fe and Ca phosphates, some of
which could be occluded within coatings of Fe oxides and hydrated oxides were
separated initially by the Chang and Jackson (1957) procedure. According to the
conventional interpretations NH4F-P originates predominantly from Al-Phosphate,
such as variscite, or from phosphate bounded to Al-rich components, such as
allophane. The NaOH-P is believed to originate from Fe-phosphates, such as
strengite, or non-occluded phosphates bounded by sorption reactions to the
surfaces of Fe-rich minerals such as hydrated Fe oxides. The reductant-soluble P
fraction originates from phosphate occluded within the matrices of hydrated Fe
oxides, such as goethite, FeOOH (Williams et al., 1971). Acid extractable

Ca-P

appears to give a reliable estimate of non-included apatite.

Further changes of the Chang and Jacksons (1957) procedure were made by
Syers et al. (1972) in attempts to render the procedure more suitable for use with
calcareous soils. Their modification is outlined below, with fraction (5) being added
to account for the unextracted P.

1.

Fe and Al phosphates

Extraction with 0.1N NaOH

2.

P sorbed by carbonate during step 1

Extraction with 0.1M NaCl and citratebicarbonate solution

3.

P occluded within Fe oxides and Extraction

with

citrate-dithionate-

hydrous oxides

bicarbonate solution

4.

Ca phosphates

Extraction with 1N HCl

5.

Mineral phosphates

Inorganic P in final residue

Syers et al. (1972) extracted Al and Fe phosphates with NaOH solution.

Williams et al. (1972) also reported that NH4F reagent couldnt be used reliably to
distinguish between Al and Fe-bound forms of inorganic phosphate in soil materials.
Later Williams et al. (1980) applied a 4-steps extraction scheme (Dithionate-citratebicarbonate, NaOH, HCl and residual) to a large suit of phosphate minerals all of
which have been reported in soils or sediments.
Apart from fractionating inorganic P fractions, an elaborate fractionation
procedure has recently been used in attempts to separate inorganic and organic
forms of P in fractions (pools), which vary in their availability to plants (Bowman et
al., 1978; Chauhan et al., 1981; Hedley et al., 1982). Biologically available inorganic P
is removed first with an anion exchange resin, following which a mild extractant,
(0.5N NaHCO3) is used to remove labile inorganic and organic forms. Stronger
extracting reagents remove stable P forms. The sequential fractionation scheme of
Hedley et al. (1982) was tested for the soils of Galicia of North West Spain by
Trasar-Cepeda et al. (1986). Tiessen et al., (1984) established a regrouping of the
various P fractions obtained by the fractionation procedure of Hedley et al. (1982),
which provided a wider and more dynamic picture of the whole transformations
undergone by those P forms in the soil. Khaled (1993) also tested the procedure of
Hedley et al. (1982) in the soils of Bangladesh.
Reviewing the fractionation procedures, so far put forward and modified by
different scientists, Kuo (1996) suggested the following procedure for the
fractionation of inorganic P in soils.

A.

Fractionation for noncalcareous soils

1.

Soluble and loosely bound P

1M NH4Cl

2.

Aluminium phosphate (AlPO4)

0.5M NH4F (pH 8.2)

3.

Iron phosphate (FePO4)

0.1M NaOH

4.

Reductant-soluble phosphate

Citrate-dithionate-bicarbonate extraction

5.

Calcium phosphate

0.25M H2SO4

B.

Fractionation for calcareous soils

1.

Fe and Al phosphate

0.1M NaOH+ 1MNaCl

2.

Reductant-soluble phosphate

Citrate-dithionate-bicarbonate extraction

3.

Ca phosphate

0.5M HCl

Sabreen (1999) tested the procedure of Kuo (1996). Information currently

available in the literature indicated that the procedures for P fractionations have
undergone several modifications to make them suitable for the identification of P
fractions. These fractionation schemes play a significant role for the exploration of
labile pool of soil P.
2.4.

Transformation of Added and Indigenous Phosphorus in Soils

Knowledge on the transformation of added phosphorus into specific

inorganic forms is important, as fertilizer reaction product is the source of P from

soils (Rokima and Prasad, 1991). Phosphorus in most fertilizers is present largely in
water-soluble forms. When this water-soluble P is added to soil, it dissolves in the
soil water and quickly reacts with compounds of Al, Fe, Ca, etc. A variety of soilfertilizer reaction products are formed depending upon the fertilizer and soil
properties (Goswami and Sahrawat, 1982; Govindarajan and Rao, 1978; Tandon,
1976).
The transformation of added fertilizer P is mainly governed by the properties
of the soils. With the passage of time, certain inorganic P fractions are transformed
into other discrete forms as influenced by the soil properties (Hsu and Jackson,
1960).

The P fixing capacity of soils is an important soil parameter in formulating

adequate P levels for desired fertilizer response (Goswami and Banerjee, 1978).
When soluble P fertilizer is added to the soil, most of it is fixed initially as Al-P,
some as Fe-P, and the least amount as Ca-P except in calcareous soils. The initial
fixation could be attributed to the greater P sorption from solution, high in P in
submerged soil (De Datta et al., 1989).
Only a small fraction of the P occurs in water-soluble forms at any time. A
portion of the insoluble P appears to be somewhat more available to plants than the
bulk of the soil reserves. This fraction, designated as the labile pool, is believed to
consist of easily mineralized organic P and phosphates weakly adsorbed to clay
colloids. Several reasons can be given for the enhanced uptake of soil P, including
stimulation of phosphate solubilizing bacteria, greater turnover of P in the native
humus, and production of organic acids that dissolve insoluble phosphates through
chelation of Ca, Fe and Al (Stevenson, 1986).
The solid phases that can sorb P (including metal and organic P complexes as
well as orthophosphate) may be subdivided into (1) constant charge surfaces
especially crystalline clay minerals that interact with P primarily through their
surface held cations; and (2) variable charge surfaces, including the Fe and Al
hydrous oxides, and organic matter, for which sorbed ions, especially H+ and OHdetermine the surface charge (Kirk et al., 1989).
Soil phosphorus fractionation studies in laboratory under aerobic conditions
have revealed that a major portion of the applied phosphorus retained in Fe-P and
Ca-P fractions but transformation of applied P is likely to be greatly altered in the
presence of actively growing plant roots which give out acidic exudates (Jain and
Sarkar, 1979).
2.5.

Factors Controlling the Transformations and Availability of

Phosphorus in Soils
The availability of inorganic phosphorus is largely determined by (a) soil pH,

(b) soluble iron, aluminum and manganese; (c) presence of iron, aluminum and

manganese containing minerals; (d) available calcium and calcium minerals; (e)
amount and decomposition of organic matter; and (f) activities of microorganisms.
The first four factors are interrelated since soil pH drastically influences the
reaction of phosphorus with the different ions and minerals (Brady, 1990).
2.5.1. Influence of pH and Different Cations
Soil pH has a profound influence on quantity of P adsorption and
precipitation in soils (Tisdale et al., 1985). In the absence of added organic acid, the
solubility of residual ortho phosphate in the soil decreased as the pH value was
increased from 4 to 7 (Samuel et al., 1986).
The inorganic solid phase of phosphorus may be divided into two categories:
a) Sparingly soluble salts or minerals and

b) Phosphates adsorbed to the surface

of soil particles.
As regards sparingly soluble salts the most important cations responsible for
the binding of phosphates in soils are aluminium (Al3+), iron (Fe3+) and calcium
(Ca2+). Other cations seem to be minor importance in this respect.
The concentration of Al3+ and Fe3+ may simply be considered as controlled
by Al(OH)3 and Fe(OH)3. In most soils the concentration of phosphate ions in
solution has a maxima in the pH region 6 - 7. Increasing the pH still more means
precipitation of apatite, Ca10(OH)2(PO4)6 and Ca10F2 (PO4)6, both having low
solubilities and consequently giving low concentration of phosphate ions in the soil
solution.
The availability of phosphorus to plants is determined to no small degree by
the ionic form of this element. The ionic form in turn is determined by the pH of
the solution in which the ion is found. Thus in highly acid solutions only H2PO4- ions
are present. If the pH is increased, first HPO42- ions and finally PO43- ions dominate.
At intermediate pH levels two of the phosphate ions may be present
simultaneously. Thus, in solutions at pH 7.0, both H2PO4- and HPO42- ions are
found. The H2PO4- ion is somewhat more available to plants than is the HPO42- ion.
In soils, however the presence or absence of other compounds or ions at different

pH levels complicates this relationship. For example, the presence of soluble iron
and aluminum under very acid condition, or calcium at high pH values, will markedly
affect the availability of the phosphorus.
The basic iron and aluminum phosphates have a minimum solubility around
pH 3-4. At higher pH values some of the phosphorus is released and the fixing
capacity is somewhat reduced. Even at pH 6.5, however, much of the phosphorus is
probably still chemically combined with iron and aluminum. As the pH approaches
6, precipitation as calcium compounds begins; at pH 6.5 the formation of insoluble
calcium salts is a factor in rendering the phosphorus unavailable. These facts seem
to indicate that maximum phosphate availability to plants is obtained when the soil

pH is maintained in the 6 - 7 ranges

2.5.2. Influence of Soil Texture

Most of the compounds with which phosphorus reacts are in the finer soil
fractions. As a consequence phosphorus fixation tends to be more pronounced in
clay soils than in the coarser textured ones. Soil texture has a greater effect on P
transformation (Huffman, et al., 1996).
Texture affects the P-supplying power in three ways:
(a).

The porous system diffusion coefficient of P in solution increases as the

clay content increases.

(b).

The capacity of the solid phase P to renew the concentration in solution

increases as the soil contains more clay.

(c).

The same rate of fertilizer P causes a smaller increment in P concentration as

the clay content increases. That means: more phosphorus is needed on soils
with high clay content than of soils with low in order to get the same
response all other factors equal.
The most important factors governing P sorption are the surface area of the

clay fraction and the type of constituents present. Many papers report a positive

correlation between P sorption and clay content, which would be due simply to an
increasing surface area for adsorption as clay content increased. However, soils of
similar clay contents often exhibit a marked difference in phosphorus sorbing ability,
and, using selective extractants, this can generally be traced to the amounts of
different forms of Fe and Al in the clay fractions. Coefficients of multiple regression
equations relating P sorption to the different forms of Fe and Al give estimates of
their P sorbing ability (Wada et al., 1989).
2.5.3. Influence of Mineral Types
Soils derived from minerals high in Al and Fe and low in alkaline metals as Ca
and Mg by nature or as a consequence of weathering are normally poor in
phosphates and fix phosphate strongly. The fixing power decreases as more Ca and
Mg enter into the mineral structure. On soils containing considerable amounts of
CaCO3 the phosphates will mostly be found as apatites of low solubility. Soil
mineralogy is the key factor affecting P fixation (Juo and Fox, 1977).
2.5.4. Influence of Ageing
With time, changes take place in the reaction products of soluble phosphates
and soils. These changes generally result in a reduction in surface area of the
phosphates and a similar reduction in their availability. An increase in the crystal
size of precipitated phosphates occurs in time. This decreases their surface area.
Also, the phosphorus held by calcium carbonate, or by iron or aluminum oxide
particles, penetrates into the particles itself. This leaves less of the phosphorus near
the surface where it can be made available to growing plants. This process of aging
reduces phosphate availability.
Debnath and Mandal (1982) found that at the initial stage the distribution of
added P in different products in acid and alkaline soils was in the order Al-P > Fe-P
> Ca-P > RS-P and Ca-P > Al-P > Fe-P > RS-P, respectively. On ageing Fe-P
increased consistently, whereas Al-P and Ca-P increased up to 15-30 days and
decreased thereafter. The lability of the formed phosphates was more than that of
the respective species of native phosphates. The specific activity of Al-P increased

up to 15-30 days and then declined, whereas that of Fe-P showed two peaks and
that of Ca-P declined consistently on ageing.
2.5.5. Influence of Organic Matter
Organic matter affects the phosphorus availability either directly by
displacement of phosphate from iron and/or aluminum phosphate, or by influencing
(a) the decrease in redox potential and (b) pH changes. Microorganisms, which
secrete organic acids such as lactic, glycolic etc, have a great role in the
solubilization of inorganic phosphates (Hayman, 1975). Normally organic matter
increases the solubility of phosphate in soils. Two mechanisms may be responsible
for that:
(a)

Organic anions compete with phosphate ions for the binding sites on the soil
particles.

(b)

Complex organic anions chelate Al3+, Fe3+ and Ca2+ and thus decrease the
phosphate precipitating power of these cations.
The organic matter in itself contains phosphorus. Roughly 50% of the total

phosphorus in a soil with variations from 20 to 80% is bound up in organic

compounds.
The organic phosphorus is continuously released as orthophosphate ions
when microorganisms break down the organic matter. As is well known the
microbiological activities are controlled by ecological factors such as temperature,
moisture content, oxygen pressure, pH and so on. This microbiological release of
phosphorus is not always phased with the maximum plant uptake. The optimum pH
for release of organic phosphorus coincides with the optimum conditions for
availability of inorganic phosphates (pH 6-7).
Inorganic phosphorus ions released from organic matter equilibrate quickly
with the inorganic phosphate systems and it is most difficult to recognize the special
effect of released organic phosphorus on the plant growth. Anyhow it sometimes
plays an important role.

There may also be adverse effect of putting in organic material namely if the
content of phosphorus is low in it. The microorganisms attacking the organic
material may then immobilize inorganic phosphates and fewer phosphates will be
available for the plants.
The soils initially rich in organic matter or organic P and inositol P contents
showed high mineralization rates under submerged conditions. (Sood and Minhas,
1989). Humic substances associated P and available P contents increased with the
addition of organic material and of insoluble phosphate compounds (Khalil and ElShinnawi, 1989). Natural and incorporated organic matter in the soil may solubilize
phosphates through formation of organic acids which complex with the phosphorus
and then through the metabolism of the organic radicals, the phosphates are
liberated (Malavolta, 1967). Application of organic matter to upland (aerobic) soils
generally decreases P sorption (Frossard et al., 1986; Meek et al., 1979; Reddy et al.,
1980; Kuo, 1983).
Additions of organic residues to acid soils can improve P availability. During
decomposition of organic residues, a wide range of organic compounds is released
from the residues and/or is synthesized by the decomposer microflora. The two
most important groups in relation to Al toxicity and P availability are soluble humic
molecules and low molecular weight aliphatic organic acids. Both these groups of
substances can complex with phytotoxic monomeric Al in soil solution, thus
detoxifying it and they can also be adsorbed to Al and Fe oxide surfaces
consequently blocking P adsorption sites (Haynes and Mokolobate, 2001).
Several methods have been applied in order to increase the availability of
insoluble soil P such as using phosphate solubilizing soil microorganisms and the
addition of organic matter. Organic matter transformed the occluded-P to Fe-P,
while the interaction between Aspergillus niger and the organic matter increased
soluble-P from insoluble Fe-P (Maningsih and Anas, 1997).
Transformation of P from rock phosphate and superphosphate with and
without farmyard manure and in combination were studied. The major portion of
the added P was not utilized by the wheat crop and was transformed into Al-P

(23.8%) followed by Fe-P (21.9%). The transformation of saloid-P was of less.

Higher values of Al-P than those of Fe-P were found in soils treated with rock
phosphate, whereas a reverse trend was observed for superphosphate treatments.
The addition of FYM increased transformation of phosphorus. Al-P and Fe-P were
significantly correlated with both available P in soil and P uptake by wheat. Calcium
bound P (Ca-P) and saloid-P also had a positive correlation. (Tripathi and Minhas,
1991).
2.5.6. Influence of Moisture
Water regimes strongly influence soil P chemistry both directly through
changes in water content and indirectly through changes in soil physicochemical
conditions (Kirk et al., 1989). The effect of wetting and drying on soil properties in
general, and plant nutrient status in particular, has been the subject of a number of
studies (Haynes and Swift, 1985).
Fields may remain fallow at a time for two to three months and during this
period undergo alternate wetting and drying cycles consisting of high temperature
and intermittent rainfall. There are possibilities that fluctuation in soil water affect
the availability of phosphorus to the crops (Chhillar et al., 1991).
As only dissolved phosphate ions are immediately available, certain moisture
content is always necessary for plant uptake. Moisture is also necessary for the
important diffusion process. It is also shown that drying sometimes decreases the
solubility of phosphates more or less irreversibly. The mechanism behind this
phenomenon might be the change of the redox potential and, for example, oxidizing
Fe2+ to Fe3+, the latter ion having a stronger precipitating power on phosphate ions
than the former. Adverse condition due to low moisture content may to certain
degree be compensated by high input of easily soluble phosphates. The most stable
Al-P, Fe-P and Ca-P minerals are variscite, strengite, and fluorapatite, respectively.
A number of chemical and electrochemical changes occur in soil during the
flooding and drainage periods. Adjustment in soil pH towards neutrality, increase in
the partial pressure of CO2, increase in ionic strength of the soil solution and

decrease in redox potential to an anoxic state during flooding, and reversal of these
conditions upon drainage affects the stability of many soil minerals. Hence, P from
one mineral form theoretically may be transformed into another (Lindsay, 1979). As
the pH of an acid soil increases upon flooding, the solubility of strengite and
variscite increase. In contrast, when the pH of alkaline or calcareous soil decreases
upon flooding the stability of the Ca-P minerals decrease.
Flooding decreased Eh and increased pH and drainage returned Eh and pH to
near initial values (Vadas and Sims, 1999). Phosphorus added to flooded rice soils
undergoes basically similar reaction as in upland soil except that conversion into FeP form becomes more important (Singhania and Goswami, 1978). The largest
increase in the mean phosphorus content was observed under submerged condition
than under wetting/drying field capacity or at air-drying pretreatments (Chhillar et
al., 1991). The high concentration of cations that develop in flooded soil solutions
favours formation of soluble metal orthophosphate complexes, especially with Fe3+,
Ca2+ and Mg2+. Metal P complexes that are positively charged may be more strongly
adsorbed by charged surfaces than orthophosphate, which complicates the effect of
pH changes on P retention by flooded soils. Concentrations of organically bound or
organically complexed P may also be high in flooded soil solutions because of the
high concentration of dissolved organic-P complexes are typically less significant
(Kirk et al., 1989).
Sah and Mikkelsen (1986) studied the P transformation that occurred after
anoxic soils are drained associated with acute P deficiencies in rotation crops
following rice. Significant changes in the inorganic P fractions- aluminum-P (Al-P),
iron-P (Fe-P), calcium-P (Ca-P), and reductant soluble-P (RS-P) occurred in soils
during their flooding and draining cycles. Typically, the Fe-P fractions increased and
Al-P fractions decreased when soils were

flooded. The Ca-P fraction increased

during flooding in two soils that had initially high levels of Ca-P but was almost
unchanged in two other soils of lower Ca-P content. The RS-P fraction decreased
during flooding in the soils subjected to annual flooding for rice, whereas it
increased in soils subjected to annual flooding. During the drainage period, Fe-P and

Al-P fractions decreased and the RS-P fraction increased in flooding rice-cropped
(Oryza sativa L.) soils, probably due to occlusion of Fe-P and Al-P by hydrated Fe
and Al oxides.
In the soils studied, Sah and Mikkelsen (1986) found that there was a general
decrease in Al-P fraction during the flooding period. At the end of 112 of during the
flooding, the Al-P fraction in the soils was about 33 to 55% of that at 0 d of flooding
(unflooded soils). The net change in the Al-P fraction, after 112d of flooding is
reported in Table 2.1.
Table 2.1. Changes in Al-P fraction in soil after 112d of flooding.
Al-P fraction in soil
Soil

Before flooding

After 112d

Decrease due to
flooding

g g-1

Sacramento clay

59.0

28.3

208

Stockton clay

44.9

26.6

169

Meyers clay

36.6

11.7

313

Willows clay

54.2

18.9

287

Ramamoorthy and Bisen (1971) studied the transformation of added

phosphorus in soils under waterlogged condition and observed that a large
proportion of the added amount was transformed into iron and aluminium
phosphates. They further concluded that the dynamics and the magnitude of
transformation are more influenced by Fe2O3 and active iron content rather than
pH of the soils.
Ahmad (1967) studied the changes in forms of inorganic phosphorus in four
rice soils and observed that on submergence and development of anaerobic
conditions, aluminium phosphate, alkali extractable iron phosphate and calcium
phosphate increased but reductant soluble phosphorus decreased.

Results of many experiments showed that solution P increases to some

extent following flooding and continues to increase during the first half of the rice
growing season; but it subsequently decreases, although not returning to the
preflooding level by the end of the growing season (Khalid et al., 1977; Choudhury,
1986).
Ponnamperuma (1985) explained increase in solution P following flooding
and subsequent decrease in solution P. Increases in solution P can be explained by
reduction of Fe (III) oxides holding sorbed P on their surfaces and within their
crystalline matrices, and reduction of Fe(II) P compounds.
2.5.7. Influence of Temperature
Lower P concentration in the soil solution was considered to be the reason
for lower P uptake under lower temp conditions (Sumio, 2002). Temperature is
one of the most important ecological factors and influences biological as well as
chemical reactions of phosphorus. Especially in the early spring under nordic
conditions the root

development and the uptake capacities of the plants may be

retarded by cold weather. Also there, it is possible and useful to compensate the
adverse conditions with easily soluble phosphates in the active root zone. The rate
of most chemical and biological reactions increases with increasing temperature.
Mineralization of P from soil organic matter or crop residues is dependent on soil
biological activity, and increases in temperature stimulate biological activity up to
the optima for the predominant biological systems. The dissolution of fertilizer P
granules and resultant reactions with soil components to produce less soluble
reaction products are hastened by higher temperature. For example, the solution P
concentration decreases with increasing soil temperature following the addition of
several fertilizer P sources.

Results of most studies show that P adsorption

generally increases with higher temperatures. Other studies show that P extracted
from soils to which fertilizer had been added decreased when the soil incubation
temperature were above 150C. Phosphorus adsorption in soils of warm regions in
the world is generally greater than in soils of temperate regions.

2.5.8. Influence of Microorganisms

Stewart (1980-1981) has depicted microbial activity as a wheel that rotates
in the soil, simultaneously consuming and releasing P to the soil solution.
Microorganisms can affect the P supply to higher plants in three different ways: (1)
by decomposition of organic P compounds, with release of available inorganic
phosphate, (2) by immobilizing available phosphates into cellular material, and (3) by
promoting the solubilization of fixed or insoluble mineral forms of P, such as
through production of chelating agents.
Normal rhizosphere roots were found to bring phosphate into solution far
more effectively than uninfected roots. Biswapati et al. (1992) studied the effect of
growth and subsequent decomposition of cyanobacteria on changes in P fractions
under submerged condition. The growth of cyanobacteria in soils caused an
increase in organic P with concomitant decreases in Olsen-P, Al-P, Fe-P, and Ca-P,
but little change in reductant-soluble Fe-P and occluded Al-P. Such changes have
been attributed to the solubilization of different inorganic P fractions and
subsequent assimilation of the released P by cyanobacteria. The decomposition of
cyanobacterial biomass in soils caused an increase in Olsen-P with a simultaneous
decrease in other P fractions, except the Ca-bound P. Development of intense
reducing condition and formation of organic acids with chelating properties have
been suggested as the cause of these changes.
Past studies have demonstrated the ability of soil microorganisms to
solubilize phosphate rock. The soil microbiota includes chemoautotrophs capable of
oxidizing S from more reduced sources causing the acidification of soil (Wainwright
et al., 1986). The resultant acidification can cause solubilization phosphate rocks.
Bacteria isolated from the rhizosphere of chickpea and alkaline soil
demonstrated diverse levels of phosphate solubilization activity under in vitro
condition in the presence of various carbon and nitrogen sources. Acid production
may have contributed to phosphate solubilization (Nautiyal et al., 2000).

2.5.9. Influence of Liming

The small amount of control that can be exerted over phosphate availability
seems to be associated with liming (Brady and Weil, 2002). Liming is one of the
processes, which govern the practical control of phosphorus availability. The
simplest mechanism processes is the exchange of H2PO4- by hydroxyl groups. With
due consideration of pH, lime obviously decreases the amount of fixed phosphorus
(Amarasiri and Solsen, 1973).
2.6.

Practical Significance of Phosphorus Fractions

Since different forms of soil P have different solubility and stability constants,

there is a need to investigate the form of soil P that is actually utilized by plant.
The differences in the extractability of various phosphorus fractions by
different crops have been shown by a number of workers (Patel and Mehta, 1961;
Al-Abbas and Barber, 1964; Singh, 1974; Singhania and Goswami, 1974). The
availability of different forms of P to crops has been judged by two broad
procedures: (1) from the difference in the fraction of soil P before and after crop
growth and (2) from multiple regression studies with soil P fractions and crop
responses to applied phosphorus. Available evidences show that there exists a
certain amount of crop specificity with regard to P fraction. This is very valuable
information while recommending fertilizer dose, based on soil test crop response
studies and also for the suitability of a soil test method for a particular soil crop
situation. A method, which does not preferentially extract the P fraction required
by the crop, is not expected to show a good correlation with crop response.
Further, this information is particularly valuable in developing soil test based
fertilizer recommendation, for a cropping system (Goswami and Singh, 1979).
Ramamoorthy and Bisen (1971) have shown that the energy required for the
absorption of P by wheat from Fe-P and saloid-P is less than that from Ca-P by 930
to 1013 and 267 to 404 calories, respectively; and rice has a greater capacity than
wheat for extraction P from Fe-P. Wheat could not utilize the residual P in the

form of Fe-P, which was the major transformation product of P after rice (Singhania
and Goswami, 1974).
Singh (1974) showed that both Al-P and Ca-P fractions that are specifically
utilized by wheat were depleted in bajra-wheat and rice-wheat rotation, but there
was a definite build up in Ca-P and Al-P in mung-rice-wheat rotation.
Singh et al. (1979) have shown that difference between rice and wheat for P
uptake from different fractions is with respect to Al-P and Fe-P. In rice there was a
positive contribution of Al-P whereas in wheat it was negative. They suggested that
under reduced condition Al-P and Fe-P contribute to P yield but not under upland
conditions as in wheat.
Various forms of P are interrelated and contributed to the pool of plantavailable P according to their physico-chemical properties such as composition,
solubility, surface area, age etc. Data on the distribution of P into different forms
are summarized in Table-2.2.
Several studies have shown that Al-P and Fe-P fractions are the major
contributors to the plant available P under most situations (Table -2.2.). This can so
even where Ca-P is much more abundant than Al-P or Fe-P. The value of a P
fraction for plant growth depends not so much its quantity as on its physicochemical qualities. Work with radioisotopes and chemical statistical analyses have
substantiated the importance of Al-P and Fe-P (Debnath and Mandal, 1982; Gupta
and Virmani, 1974; Mandal, 1975). This does not mean that Ca-P is an inert fraction.
Much of it is the source of Al- and Fe-P in unfertilized soils and can perhaps be
termed as a "slow release" form in comparison with Al-P and Fe-P. Reductant
soluble P was found to correlate with the crop uptake in some Indian soils.
Occluded-P did not show any relationship with crop uptake. The Ca-P is more

Table 2.2. Association of different P-fractions in soil with crop nutrition in India.
Crop

P- fraction related to crop

Soil

ES-P

Alluvial
Rice

Al-P

Fe-P

Ca-P

Red & black

Alluvial(s)

Wheat
Pearl millet

*
*

Submontane

Alluvial

Alluvial(s)

Red-P

Alluvial
Red

Maize

Alluvial

Finger millet

Red

Cowpea

Alluvial

Black gram

Red

Green gram

Red

Ground nut

Alluvial

Jute

Red

Alluvial

Coffee

Laterite

Sunflower

Red

*
*
*

(s)- sodic soil

closely associated with the nutrition of legumes (Pasricha and Rana, 1985)
whereas Fe-P is of particular importance in the rice nutrition under submerged soil
conditions (Tandon, 1987).
2.7.

Relationship

between

Inorganic

Phosphorus

Fractions

and

Available Phosphorus
In recent years, following the early work of Al Abbas and Barber (1964),
many workers have attempted to establish a chemical basis for the other-wise
empirical methods by working out simple correlations between soil test values and
various inorganic P fractions (Patel and Mehta, 1961; Velayutham and Jain, 1971;
Singhania and Goswami, 1979). These results have shown that both Olsen and Bray

methods are correlated well individually with Al-P, Fe-P and Ca-P fractions but they
do not bring out clearly the relative importance of one or the other fraction
extracted by these soil tests. However, multiple correlation regression studies have
provided valuable information regarding the relative contribution of the different
fractions towards the available P measured by particular soil test methods.
The use of multiple regression analysis has given better data of the possible
direction in which attentions or modifications can be made to make the soil test
more suitable by matching the co-efficient, as judged from similar or dissimilar
algebraic signs of regression co-efficient in the multiple regression equation
connecting yield, P uptake and soil test values for P fractions. Their studies are,
therefore, useful in developing an Ideal Soil Test for P by extracting the various soil
P fractions in such a manner that the extraction pattern by the chemical extract
duplicates that made by the plant during its growth (ISSS, 1979).
Valayutham and Jain (1971) developed a soil test for the rice growing black
soils of Coimbatore by modifying the Olsens reagent in respect of its pH from 8.5
to 8.2, so that the pattern of regression co-efficient of the P fractions matches with
those for P uptake by the plant.
Ahmed and Islam (1975) compared the amounts of inorganic phosphates in
different forms with various methods of determination of available phosphorus in
ten Bangladesh soils. Correlation studies between the soil test values obtained by
any two methods revealed that the correlation co-efficient was usually higher when
both soil test values were well correlated with a common phosphate fraction. This
indicated a similarity of methods in selective dissolution of specific phosphate forms.
Singhania and Goswami (1979) found that after a period of 150 days
(unsaturated moisture condition) Al-P continued to remain the main source of
Olsen and Bray-P in alluvial and black soils but Fe-P in red and laterite soils, both
under uncropped condition. It was further observed from the R2 values that the
contribution of all the four fractions (Al-P, Fe-P, Ca-P, Red-Sol-P) together was
more towards Olsen-P under uncropped condition but towards Bray-P under
cropped condition. Phosphorus extracted by NaHCO3 from a wide range of soils

worldwide highly correlated with Al-P or Fe-P forms (Kamprath and Watson,
1980), but not with Ca-P. Yang and Jacobsen (1990) found that higher Olsen-P soils
had higher summation of Pi (inorganic P) fractions than lower Olsen-P soils in
calcareous soils of Montana (U.S.A.).
2.8.

Effect of Phosphorus on Plant Growth

Phosphorus is a constituent of every cell in a plant. An adequate supply of

phosphorus stimulates early root formation and growth. It aids in addition to

hastening maturity. It is essential for cell division. It stimulates tillering and seed
formation.
The P requirements of cultivated crop plants are high right from the early
growth stages and by large P uptake by crop plant is completed toward the end of
maximum growth.
It is important to know the quantity of P requirements to produce a unit
yield. This provides an estimate of the net demand for P by the crop on the soil
fertilizer complex. For most grain crops, both straw and grain yield following
summer crops were nonsignificant, whereas the effect of N on grain yield was
significant where the previous crop had been chickpea which is contrary of farmers
opinion (Pala et al., 1991).
Although most plants take up P throughout the entire growing season, about
50% of the seasonal total of P is consumed by the time plants have accumulated
25% of their seasonal total of dry matter. Plant species differ in their requirements
for P, ability to extract P from the soil, and response to insoluble forms of P
fertilizer. Crops that are relatively efficient in using relatively insoluble forms of P
include alfalfa, buckwheat, millet, lupins and sweet clover; inefficient crops include
barley, cotton, corn, oats, potatoes and wheat (Stevenson, 1986).
Eskandanion and Sayyadian (1991) showed that grain of wheat did not
respond significantly to P fertilizers except at two sites among 22 wheat trials.
Yurtsever and Gadikaglu (1991) experimented the effect of P on different varieties
of wheat and concluded that yield of all varieties progressively increased with

increasing P application rates. Statistical analysis indicated that the effects of P

fertilizer rates on grain yield were significant.
Aziz Gharbi et al. (1991) showed that added P fertilizer enhanced grain yield
of durum wheat in nearly 50% when other factors are adequate. Rashid et al. (1991)
stated that without P fertilization, the percent yield were <66% of the potential
yield and response to P application exceeded 34%, thereby indicating P deficiency in
all soils.
Plants take up P from the soil solution and the concentration of P influences
uptake (Wild, 1964). In recent years there has been considerable interest in
determining the critical level of soil solution P required for optimum growth. The
concept that the three variables such as growth, nutrient quantity in the whole
plant, and nutrient concentration of certain tissues, are related directly and that has
been used in studies of plant-soil relationships for many years. However, the
relationship between plant growth and nutrient concentration in plant tissue is of
greater importance with respect to the use of plant analysis as a practical diagnostic
tool. Only a portion of the plant is needed for this use, whereas the whole plant is
needed to measure the total quantity of nutrient absorbed per plant (Kamprath and
Watson, 1980).
According to Jones (1970) element absorption and plant growth should
parallel each other during most of the vegetative growth period if growing
conditions are normal. The total amount of P absorbed by crops is seldom less than
10 or greater than 50 P2O5 per acre per crop.
Phosphorus uptake and dry matter of the first wheat crop were positively
related to loosely bound-P. In alum sludge-affected soils applied P is immobilized
mainly as Al-P, and Mehlich 1-P and loosely bound-P are reliable estimators of P
availability (Cox et al., 1997).

Materials and Methods

A laboratory incubation experiment with six representative soil series of
Bangladesh and a pot experiment with one of the series were carried out to
determine the effect of organic matter treatments on the transformation of applied
and native phosphorus at field capacity moisture condition with time and uptake of
P by wheat plants and the resultant changes of different inorganic fractions by plant.
3.1.

Description of the Soil Series

Six soils series used in the present investigation are described below

according to the Reconnaissance Soil Survey Report (1981). A correlation between

the soil series with the classification systems are presented in Table 3.1.
3.1.1. Dhamrai Series
The Dhamrai series comprises seasonally flooded, poorly drained soils
developed in mainly moderately fine textured Brahmaputra Alluvium on the upper
slopes of the ridges (locally in inter-ridge depressions) on the young and active
Brahmaputra (Jamuna) floodplains. They are grey to olive-grey, finely mottled
yellow-brown or olive friable, loams to silty clay loams with grey coatings
surrounding coarse prismatic angular blocky peds in the subsoil.
3.1.2. Ghatail Series
The Ghatail series comprises seasonally flooded poorly drained soils
developed in fine textured alluvium on the oldest Brahmaputra floodplain. They
have a mixed dark grey and olive-brown to yellowish brown, silty clay to clay
subsoil, with strong prismatic and angular blocky structure and continuous thick
dark dry cutans along ped faces.
3.1.3. Silmandi Series
The Silmandi series comprises seasonally flooded, poorly to somewhat
poorly drained soils developed in moderately finely textured Brahmaputra alluvium
on the upper slopes of ridges on the old Brahmaputra and Jamuna floodplains. They
are grey, finely mottled brown or yellowish brown, friable, silty clay loams, with

grey coatings along root channels and vertical cracks in the subsoil. They are neutral
to moderately alkaline in reaction in the subsoil.
3.1.4. Sonatala Series
The Sonatala series comprises intermittently to seasonally flooded,
somewhat poorly drained soils developed in medium to moderate fine textured
Brahmaputra alluvium on the upper slopes of ridges on the old and young
Brahmaputra floodplains. They are friable silt loams to silty clay loams with
overlying pale brown appearance when dry but greyish when wet. Grey coatings
may be present along root channels and occasionally along vertical cracks. They
vary from slightly and moderately alkaline below the cultivated layer.
3.1.5. Badarkhali Series
The Badarkhali series comprises intermittently and seasonally flooded,
imperfectly drained, moderately fine textured soils developed in the mangrove tidal
floodplain. They have grey mottled brown, extremely acid, silty clay loam soils with
moderate blocky structure.
3.1.6. Benarpota Soil (series unidentified)
The Benarpota soil comprises seasonally shallowly to moderately flooded,
poorly drained soils developed in tidal clay deposits. They have a grey to dark grey
silty clay to clay soils with moderate to strong prismatic and blocky structure with
dark grey cutans along with ped faces in the B horizon. The high pH value of the
soil is likely to create micronutrient deficiency and phosphate fixation problem.
3.2.

Collection and Preparation of Soil Samples

The soil samples were collected from specific locations and were processed

for the subsequent experiment and analysis. All the soils were collected at a depth
of 0-15 cm on the basis of composite sampling.
The collected soil samples were air dried, ground and sieved through a 2 mm
sieve. The samples were then preserved for analysis.

Table 3.1. A correlation between the soil series and different soil classification
systems
Soil Series
Dhamrai

USDA Family Name

FAO-UNESCO
Subunit

Typic Haplaquepts (Loamy,

Chromi- Eutric

Non-Calcareous

mixed, non-acid,

Gleysol

Grey Floodplain

hyperthermic)
Ghatail

Soil

Typic Endoaquepts (Clayey,

Chromi- Eutric

Non-Calcareous

mixed, non-acid,

Gleysol

Grey Floodplain

hyperthermic)
Silmandi

Soil

Aeric Endoaquepts (Loamy,

Chromi- Eutric

Non-Calcareous

mixed, non-acid,

Gleysol

Grey Floodplain

hyperthermic)
Sonatala

Soil

Aeric Endoaquepts (Loamy,

Chromi- Eutric

Non-Calcareous

mixed, non-acid,

Gleysol

Grey Floodplain

hyperthermic)
Badarkhali

General Soil Type

Soil

Typic Sulfaquepts (Clayey,

Chromi-Thionic

mixed, acid, hyperthermic)

Gleysol

Acid Sulphate Soil

Benarpota

3.3.

Incubation Experiment
An incubation experiment was carried out in the laboratory of the

Department of Soil, Water & Environment, University of Dhaka with Dhamrai,

Ghatail, Silmandi, Sonatala, Badarkhali soil series and Benarpota soil to determine
the effect of organic matter treatments on the transformation of applied and native
phosphorus at field capacity moisture condition.
There were three treatments for each soil, viz. 0 kg P/ha (P0), 25 kg P/ha
(P25) and 25 kg P/ha + cowdung (0.22% P) at the rate of 20 t/ha (P25+OM).
Phosphorus was applied through reagent grade potassium dihydrogen phosphate
(KH2PO4) in solution form. Four hundred gram soil was incubated in 1000 ml
capacity plastic containers after applying the treatments. The pots were covered
with parafilms to prevent the loss of water through evaporation. The oven dry
weight of the soil was determined gravimetrically. There were three replications for

each treatment. Soil sample was drawn from each treatment at 0, 3, 7, 14, 28 and
42 days of incubation. Simultaneously, soil was sampled at each sampling time for
determination of water content for expressing the results on the oven dry basis.
The fractionation of inorganic P was carried out by following the procedure
as suggested by Chang and Jackson (1957) with modification as cited by Kuo (1996).
3.4.

Pot Experiment
A pot experiment with wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) was carried out during

rabi season (04/12/2001-23/01/2002) in the nethouse of the Department of Soil,

Water and Environment, University of Dhaka. Dhamrai soil series was used for the
pot experiment. One kg of air-dried soil was taken in 18 cm high 13 cm diameter
plastic pot. Phosphorus from TSP at the rate of 25 kg P/ha was applied to the soil. A
basal dose of each of N and K at the rate of 85 and 35 kg/ha was applied as urea
and MP, respectively. The fertilizers were mixed thoroughly with the soil as per
treatment combinations in the form of solution. Soils in the pot were kept at field
capacity at the time of seed sowing. The outside of the plastic pot was darkened
with black paint.
The experimental design was completely randomized factorial with 2 levels
of P and 3 levels of plant density with 3 replications per treatment. Wheat seeds
(HYV Kanchan) were sown on 4th December 2001. After 7 days from germination
plant population was maintained at normal and double of the normal level. Three
plants for normal seed rate and six plants for double the seed rate were maintained
in the plots. Pots were watered regularly to keep the moisture at field capacity
level whenever needed.
3.4.1. Collection and Preparation of Plant Sample
Plant samples were collected after 42 days from seed germination. Wheat
plants (shoots) were cut with a pair of scissors and washed carefully with distilled
water and then sun dried. Sun dried plant samples were again oven dried at 70oC
for 48h and dry weights were recorded. Finally the dried samples were ground and

were preserved in the plastic bags. The plant samples were chemically analyzed for
N and P.
Soil sample was collected from the pot at 21 days and 42 days after the
germination of wheat seeds.
3.5.

Methods for Soil Analysis

3.5.1. Analysis of Physical and Chemical Properties

Measurements of selected physical and chemical properties of the soils were
carried out in triplicate according to conventional methods. Data of the physical
and chemical analysis are presented in Table 3.2.
Particle size analysis
Particle size analysis of the soils was done by hydrometer method as
described by Day (1965). Textural classes were determined by Marshalls Triangular
co-ordinate system.
Field capacity
Field capacity of disturbed soil samples was measured at tension of 0.33 bar
as described by Richards (1965).
Soil pH
Soil pH was measured (field condition) electrochemically by using Griffin
(Model 40) glass electrode pH meter. The ratio of soil to water was 1:2.5.
Electrical Conductivity (EC)
The EC (Soil : Water =1:5) value was determined by EC meter (USSLS,
1954).
Soil organic matter
Soil organic carbon was determined by Walkley and Blacks wet oxidation
method as outlined by Jackson (1973). Soil organic matter was calculated by
multiplying the percent value of organic carbon by the conversion factor 1.724.
Total nitrogen

Total nitrogen was determined by micro Kjeldahls method as described by

Jackson (1973).
Nitric-perchloric acid digestible nutrients
Soil samples were digested with HNO3-HClO4 (2:1) mixture as described by
Jackson (1973) for the determination of total P, K and S. Total soil P was
determined by vanadomolybdate yellow colour method (Jackson, 1973). Total soil
K was measured by Flame analyzer (Gallenkamp). Total soil S was measured
turbidimetrically (Hunt, 1980).

Table 3.2. Important physical and chemical properties of the soils.

Soil Series
Properties

Dhamrai

Ghatail

Silmandi

Sonatala

Badarkhali

Benarpota
soil

Sand (%)

1.46

3.67

17.59

27.38

4.69

5.90

Silt (%)

44.21

42.16

45.18

51.25

53.33

48.00

Clay (%)

54.33

54.17

37.23

21.37

41.98

46.10

Textural

Silty clay

Silty clay

Silty
loam

Silty clay

Silty clay

Water
content at
0.33 bar (%
by dry mass)

40.33

33.40

35.42

27.02

37.34

38.29

pH

6.28

6.56

5.77

6.08

4.40

8.32

0.86

4.32

Class

clay Silt loam

EC (mS cm-1)
OC (%)

1.09

1.42

0.99

0.82

1.29

1.25

OM (%)

1.88

2.45

1.71

1.41

2.22

2.16

Total N (%)

0.19

0.17

0.15

0.14

0.13

0.15

Total P (%)

0.07

0.04

0.05

0.06

0.05

0.05

Total K (%)

0.235.

0.21

0.18

0.15

0.35

0.95

Total S (%)

0.018

0.022

0.034

0.021

0.075

0.028

3.6.

Methods for Plant and Cowdung Analysis

Plants and cowdung were digested with H2SO4-HClO4 mixture (5 ml HClO4

in 95 ml concentrated H2SO4) as described by Cresser and Parsons (1989) to

determine total N and P for plant and only P for cowdung. Total N was determined
by micro-Kjeldahls method as described by Jackson (1973). Total P was determined
by ascorbic acid blue colour method (Murphy and Riley, 1962).
3.7.

Methods for Fractionation of Inorganic Phosphorus

Inorganic phosphorus fractions were determined using the methods outlined

originally by Chang and Jackson (1957). Modifications as reported by Kuo (1996)

were adopted in the present investigation.
Chang and Jackson (1957) suggested six inorganic-P fractions of soil in their
original fractionation scheme. Modifications suggested by Peterson and Cory (1966)
and Williams et al (1967) were adopted in two stages of fractionation procedure
(Fig.3.1) of Chang and Jackson (1957). The procedure follows the extraction of the
soil with 1N NH4Cl, 0.5N NH4F, 0.1N NaOH, 0.5N H2SO4, 0.3N sodium citrate
(with solid sodium dithionite) and finally with 0.1N NaOH for the extraction of
easily soluble-P, Al-phosphate, Fe-phosphate, Ca-phosphate, reductant soluble
phosphate, and occluded phosphate respectively.

Soil
0.5 gm soil sample in 50 ml centrifuge tubes, add 25 ml 1M NH4CI, shake 30
min, centrifuge, collect supernatant
Soluble and loosely
bound P
Add 25 ml 0.5M NH4F (pH 8.2) to the residue, shake 1 h, centrifuge, collect
supernatant, wash twice with 12.5 ml saturated NaCI and combine the
washings to the extract.
AlPhosphate
Add 25 ml of 0.1M NaOH to the soil residue and shake for 17 h. Centrifuge
and decant the supernatant. Wash the soil twice with 12.5 ml NaCI and
combine with extract
Fe-Phosphate

Add 20 ml of 0.3 M sodium citrate and 2.5 ml of 1M NaHCO3 to the residue

and heat in a water bath at 850C. Add 1 g of Na2S2O4 and stir rapidly.
Continue to heat for 15 min and centrifuge. Decant the Supernatant. Wash
the soil twice with 12.5 ml saturated NaCI and centrifuge. Combine the
washings with the extract. Expose the extract to air to oxidize Na2S2O4
Reductant-soluble P

Add 25 ml of 0.25 M H2SO4 to the soil residue and shake for 1 h. Centrifuge
the suspension for 10 min and decant the supernatant. Wash the soil twice
with 12.5 ml saturated NaCI, and centrifuge. Combine the washings with the
extract
Ca-Phosphate

Fig. 3.1. Flow chart of inorganic P fractionation procedure for modified

Chang and Jackson (1957) method, as reported by Kuo (1996).
A brief description of the modifications as reported by Kuo (1996) is given
below:

Soil samples from incubation experiment were extracted with 1M

ammonium chloride, 0.5M ammonium fluoride, 0.1M sodium hydroxide, 0.3M
sodium citrate (with 1M sodium bicarbonate and solid sodium dithionite) and finally
with 0.25M sulphuric acid. Nomenclature used for different fractions are shown in
Table 3.3.
Table 3.3. Nomenclature of the inorganic P fraction.
Serial
1.

Extractants

Name of fraction

Extraction with 1M NH4CI

Soluble

and

loosely

bound P

2.

Extraction with 0.5M NH4F

Al-phosphate

3.

Extraction with 0.1M NaOH

Fe-phosphate

4.

Extraction with citrate-bicarbonate dithionite

Reductant soluble-P

5.

Extraction with 0.25M H2SO4

Ca-phosphate

3.7.1. Extraction of Soluble and Loosely Bound Phosphate (ES-P)

Soil sample (0.5 g, oven dry basis) was placed in 50 ml centrifuge tube. 25ml
of 1M NH4CI was added to each tube, and then the tubes were stoppered and
shaken for 30 min. The samples were than centrifuged at about 2000 rpm for 10
min. The supernatant solution was then collected into a 25 ml volumetric flask and
the volume was made up to the mark with deionized water. The extract was used
to determine phosphorus.
3.7.2. Extraction of Aluminium Phosphate (Al-P)
After extraction with NH4CI, 25 ml of 0.5M NH4F (pH 8.2) was added to the
residue. The tubes were stoppered and shaken by hand to ensure that the residue
was loosened from the bottom of the tube, and then placed on shaker and shaken
for 1 h. The tubes were then centrifuged for 10 min at about 2000 rpm. The
supernatant was decanted into a 50 ml volumetric flask. The soil sample was
washed twice with 12.5 ml saturated NaCI and centrifuged at 2000 rpm for 10 min.
The washings were combined with the extract and brought to volume. The
supernatant liquid was then collected for P determination.

3.7.3. Extraction of Iron Phosphate (Fe-P)

Iron phosphate was extracted by adding 25 ml of 0.1M NaOH the soil
residues. The tubes were stoppered and shaken by hand, and then placed on a
mechanical shaker for 17 h. The samples were centrifuged at 2000 rpm for 15 min.
After centrifugation, the supernatant solution was collected into a 50 ml volumetric
flask. The soil was washed twice with 12.5 ml saturated NaCI and centrifuged. The
washings were combined with extract and brought to volume. Phosphorus present
in the extract solution was then determined.
3.7.4. Extraction of Reductant Soluble Phosphate (RS-P)
To the soil residues remained after extraction of Fe-P, ml of 0.3 M sodium
citrate and 2.5 ml of 1M NaHCO3 were added and the suspension was heated in a
water bath at 850C and then 1.0 g of sodium dithionite (Na2S2O4) was added. The
suspension was stirred rapidly to extract the reductant-soluble P and heated for 15
min. The suspension was then centrifuged at about 2000 rpm for 15 min. The
supernatant solution was collected into a 50 ml volumetric flask. The soil was
washed twice with 12.5 ml saturated NaCI each time and centrifuged. The washings
were combined with the extract and diluted to the volume. The extract was
exposed to air to oxidize sodium dithionite. Then the supernatant solution was
preserved for determination.
3.7.5. Extraction of Calcium Phosphate (Ca-P)
To the residue, remaining in the centrifuge tube, 25 ml of 0.25M H2SO4 was
added and then the tubes were stoppered and shaken for 1 h. The suspension was
then centrifuged at 2000 rpm for 10 min. The supernatant was decanted into a 50
ml volumetric flask. The soil was washed twice with 12.5 ml saturated NaCI each
time, and centrifuged. The washings were combined with the extract and then
diluted to the volume. The supernatant solution was then collected and phosphorus
was determined.

3.8.

Method of Phosphorous Determination from the Extract

Inorganic phosphorus was determined by ascorbic acid blue colour method

of Murphy and Riley (1962). Sodium hydroxide extract was acidified with 2 ml of
2N sulphuric acid to precipitate extracted humic substance/organic matter before
colour development. Four ml of 0.8 M H3BO3 was added in ammonium fluoride
extract just before colour development.
Reductant soluble phosphate was determined after oxidation of dithionite by
allowing the flask to stand exposed to the atmosphere (Williams et al., 1967) before
colour development. Difficultly, however, was arisen during determination of
phosphorus from the extract. To oxidize the dithionite, the samples needed to be
heated with H2O2 as suggested for the determination of silicon by Nakai and
Yoshinaga (1976) from dithionite-citrate-bicarbonate extract.
3.9.

Statistical Analysis
Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was calculated by using PROC GLM (SAS

Institute, 1987) to determine the effects of P and P+OM treatments, day and day
P treatment interaction. An example of SAS program and output file is presented in
Appendix 1. Correlation coefficients between different parameters were calculated
by using MS Excel Computer Package, Version 7.0.

Results and Discussion

4.1.

Fractions of Inorganic Phosphorus in Soils

The modified fractionation scheme of soil inorganic phosphorus of Chang

and Jackson (1957) as reported by Kuo (1996) was used to quantify the fractions of
soil P as affected by P fertilizer alone or in combination with manure. In this
experiment, soil water was maintained at field capacity.
The values of different discrete forms of inorganic P at various time intervals
are presented in Fig. 4.1 through 4.30 and Appendix II through VI. The results are
discussed below under different headings.
4.1.1. Soluble and Loosely Bound Phosphate (ES-P)
Soluble and loosely bound phosphate contents of the soils as affected by
application of P alone or in combination with organic matter (OM) with time of
incubation are presented in Fig. 4.1 through 4.6 and Appendix II. Statistical analysis
(Appendix II) showed that soluble P was significantly varied in most cases with P
treatments, day of incubation, day P-treatment interaction.
The data presented in Fig. 4.1 through 4.6 and appendix II indicated that in all
soil series, the soluble phosphate (ES-P) content showed variation in the changes at
different days of incubation.
Soluble and loosely bound P contents of Dhamrai, Silmandi and Sonatala
series (Fig. 4.1, 4.3 and 4.4 and Appendix II) of Brahmaputra alluvium showed more
or less same trend in the changes with days of incubation. The trend of changes of
ES-P content varied with days of incubation. Phosphorus treatments and days Ptreatment interaction created significant influence on this fraction of phosphorus.
In Dhamrai series (Fig. 4.1 and Appendix II) located at Brahmaputra alluvium,
the ES-P content increased slightly up to 3 days with all the treatments and then
increased sharply up to 7 days only with P25+OM treatment and reached the highest
value (23.75 g g-1) and then decreased sharply up to 14 days and increased again up
to 28 days and remained the same up to the end of the incubation experiment. The
changing patterns of ES-P content with P0 and P25 treatments were different from

P25+OM treatment. The values obtained at the end of 42 days were higher than the
initial values with P treatments alone or in combination with organic matter but
lower than the initial value with P0. The ES-P content with P25+OM treatment was
about double of P25 treatment at the end of the experiment.
In Silmandi (Fig. 4.3) series, the ES-P content slightly increased up to 3 days
only with P0 treatment and then showed a sharp increase at 7 days of incubation
only with P25+ OM treatment. The ES-P content of the soils showed the highest
value (20.83 g g-1) at 7 days with P25+ OM treatment. The values of this fraction of
P markedly decreased at 14 days of measurement especially with P25+ OM
treatments. The values obtained at the end of 42 days were lower than the initial
values with P treatments alone or in combination with organic matter but higher
than the initial value with P25+OM.
In Sonatala series (Fig. 4.4) the ES-P content increased markedly at 3 days of
measurement with all the treatments and continued to increase sharply up to 7
days of incubation only with P25+OM treatment but decreased with P0 and P25
treatments. The highest ES-P content (17.17 g g-1) was obtained with P25+OM
treatment at 7 days of incubation and the lowest value (1.50 g g-1) was obtained
with P0 treatment. The ES-P content decreased up to 14 days of incubation then
increased again at 28 days of incubation with all the treatments and remained the
same at the end of the incubation experiment with P25 and P25+OM treatments but
decreased with P0 treatment.

In Ghatail soil the ES-P content sharply decreased at the initial stage of
incubation days and then showed the similar trend of changes as Dhamrai, Silmandi
and Sonatala soils. At the end of 14 days of incubation, the P content again
increased with both treated and untreated soils and continued to increase up to the
end of the experiment with P25+ OM treatment but decreased slightly with P25 and
P0 treatment.
The values of P in Badarkhali soil (acid-sulphate soil) decreased up to 3 days
of incubation with all the treatments then increased up to 7 days and showed
irregular trend in the changes with time. At the end of 42 days of incubation P
levels showed decreasing trend with P0 and P25+ OM treatments but increasing
trend was observed with P25 treatment. The values obtained at the end of 42 days
were lower than the initial values with all the treatments. Phosphorus treatments,
day x P-treatment interactions significantly affected the values of ES-P in the soil.
Soluble and loosely bound P contents of Benarpota soil (saline soil) varied
with days of incubation (Fig. 4.6), P treatments, day P-treatment interaction. The
ES-P content with P25+ OM treatment increased slightly up to 7 days and then the
content remained the same up to 42 days. But the ES-P content with P0 and P25
treatments decreased gradually up to 14 days then slightly increased at 28 days of
measurement and finally P content remained the same with P25 treatment up to 42
days, but with P0 treatment the ES-P content decreased sharply at the end of 42
days of incubation.
It is evident from the data that although phosphorus was added in soluble
form, little amount of P remained in solution even at the initial the initial stage of
incubation. Soils treated with P yielded higher values than untreated soils. Almost
similar results were reported by Islam and Khan (1966), Ahmed and Islam (1975),
Sahi et al. (1979), Kothandaraman and Krishnamoorthy (1979), Tomar et al. (1984),
Batra and Chaudhury (1988) and Khaled (1993). Cowdung addition together with
phosphorus fertilizer yielded higher values of this fraction. This might be due to
release of phosphorus through mineralization.

Kothandaraman and Krishnamoorthy (1979) stated that soluble and loosely

bound P ranges from 0 to 79 g g-1. Alluvial soils were high followed by red soils
(11 g g-1) while black and laterite soils were very low in this fraction. The values
obtained in the present study revealed that soils showed variation in their ES-P
contents and values of the alluvial agricultural soils (Dhamrai, Ghatail, Silmandi and
Sonatala series) ranged from 2.92 to 10.59 g g-1 soil at the beginning of the
experiment. At the end of 42 days of incubation the values ranged from 1.50 to
2.48 g g-1 soil with control treatment; from 2.53 to 6.12 g g-1 soil only with P
treatment; and from 6.50 to 11.12g g-1 soil with P in combination with organic
matter treatment. It is evident from the data that ES-P contents of the agricultural
soils were favourably affected due to organic matter addition in the soils. In some
soils the values of ES-P were even higher than the values obtained at the initial
stages of measurement of P. The values of ES-P in acid sulphate soil (Badarkhali
series) revealed that this fraction of decreased from the initial values throughout
the incubation period with a few exceptions with P0 and P25+OM treatments at 28
days of incubation. The ES-P content of saline soil showed higher values with P
treatment in combination with organic matter compared to the other treatments.
Values of ES-P content were in general favourably affected by organic matter
addition.
Presence of very small amounts of P in the form of soluble and loosely
bound P in this study was also in conformity with Batra and Chaudhury (1988).
Tomar et al. (1984) reported that ES-P increased rapidly at the end of 7 days then
decreased slowly but the values were positive compared to initial value. They also
reported that ES-P increased after 4 days of incubation and decreased at 60 days
but the values remained positive. In the present study, the ES-P content increased
after 7 days of incubation and then decreased sharply in Dhamrai, Silmandi and
Sonatala series. But Badarkhali, Benarpota and Ghatail series showed different
behaviour. The ES-P content decreased sharply up to 3 days in Badarkhali and
Ghatail series. In all soils, P25+OM treatment yielded the higher content of ES-P
compared to other treatments.

4.1.2. Aluminium Phosphate

The aluminium phosphate (Al-P) contents of the soils at different incubation
periods as affected by P treatments alone or in combination with organic matter are
presented in Fig. 4.7 through 4.12 and Appendix III. Statistical analysis (Appendix III)
showed that Al-P was significantly varied with days of incubation, P-treatments and
day P-treatment interaction in all soils.
In Dhamrai series (Fig. 4.7 and Appendix III) the trends of changes in Al-P
content were similar with both P25 and P25+OM treatments. The Al-P contents first
decreased up to 3 days, then increased up to 7 days in treated soils, whereas the
Al-P content increased up to 3 days and then decreased with all the treatments (P0,
P25 and P25+OM) up to 14 days and reached the minimum value. The values were
then increased up to 28 days and finally again decreased at the end of 42 days and
were lower than the initial values.
In Ghatail series (Fig. 4.8 and Appendix III), there were some differences in
the changing trend of Al-P between treated and untreated soils. The Al-P content
increased slightly up to 3 days with P25+OM and P0 treatments, then decreased
slightly up to 7 days with P25+OM treatment and after 7 days sharp decrease was
observed up to 14 days. The decreasing trend with P0 treatment was different from
other treatments. After 3 days, the Al-P content decreased sharply up to 14 days.
Values measured at the 28 days of incubation showed slight increase compared to
the values obtained with all the treatments at the 14 days of incubation. The Al-P
contents showed increasing trend after 14 days and it continued to increase up to
end of the experiment with P25+OM treatment, but P0 and P25 treated soils showed
different behaviors and a decrease was noticed in this fraction after 28 days of
incubation.

Silmandi and Sonatala soils located at the same catena showed more or less
similar trend of changes of Al-P with all the treatments. Statistical analysis
(Appendix III) showed that Al-P was significantly varied with days of incubation, Ptreatments and day P-treatment interaction. In Silmandi series (Fig. 4.9), the Al-P
content first increased slightly up to 3 days, then the content increased only with
P25+OM treatment up to 7 days and the Al-P content with P0 and P25 treatments
decreased and the decreasing trend continued up to 14 days of incubation. The Al-P
contents then increased up to 28 days of incubation and finally decreased which
were lower than the initial value.
Badarkhali and Benarpota soils showed more or less similar trend of changes
with some exceptions. Statistical analysis (Appendix III) showed that Al-P was
significantly varied with days of incubation, P-treatments and day x P-treatment
interaction. In Badarkhali series (Fig. 4.11 and Appendix III), Al-P decreased up to
14 days and at the end of the experiment the content remained unchanged. In
Benarpota soil (Fig. 4.12 and Appendix III), the Al-P content decreased slightly up to
3 days with P0 and P25 treatments, but increased slightly with P25+OM treatment,
then decreased with all the treatments up to 7 days of incubation. After 14 days the
Al-P content with P25+OM treatment reached at the maximum value. The Al-P
content with P0 and P25 treatments increased up to the end of the experiment. The
values of Al-P obtained from all the soils treated with phosphorus were always
higher than the values obtained with soils not treated with phosphorus.
The values of Al-P fraction of the six soils varied between 5 and 87.5 g g-1
soil. Kothandaraman and Krishnamoorthy (1979) reported that a wide variation in
the Al-P fraction and the values ranged from 2 to 213 g g-1 with a mean value of 42
g g-1. The range of this fraction of phosphorus, found in Bangladesh soils was 16 to
174 g g-1 (Islam and Khan, 1966; Ahmed and Islam, 1975; Mandal and Islam, 1978).
In the present study it was observed that Al-P content increased with the
application of P along with organic matter. Islam and Khan (1966), Raju and Rao
(1979), Batra and Chaudhury (1988), and Rokima and Prasad (1991) also reported
similar transformation.

Islam and Khan (1966) found that Al-P increased with time up to 2 weeks
incase of the acid soils at field capacity moisture condition. Kumaraswamy and
Sreeramulu (1992) while studying with Enteric Chromustert (clay, pH 6.2), Typic
Rhodustalf (clay loam, pH 6.4) and Typic Haplustalf (sandy clay loam, pH 7.4) found
that the Al-P content gradually decreased up to 150 days. The decrease in Al-P
fraction with the period of incubation was reflected on the gains in Fe-P fraction
with the passage of time. The results obtained from the present study were in
conformity with the results obtained by Kumaraswamy and Sreeramulu (1992), and
Bahl and Shing (1997).
4.1.3. Iron Phosphate
Iron Phosphate (Fe-P) contents of the soils at different time intervals as
affected by application of P alone or in combination with organic matter are
presented in Fig. 4.13 through 4.18 and Appendix IV. Statistical analysis (Appendix
IV) showed that the Fe-P contents of all the soils varied significantly with days of
incubation, P treatments and day x P-treatment interaction.
In Dhamrai series, the Fe-P contents increased very slightly up to 3 days,
then decreased slowly and reached in the minimum value at 14 days of incubation
and after that period the Fe-P content showed increasing trends of changes with all
the treatments. At the end of 42 days of incubation, the Fe-P contents were lower
than the initial contents. The changing patterns of Fe-P contents with P0, P25 and
P25+OM treatments were similar.

In Ghatail series, the Fe-P content increased up to 3 days with P25+OM

treatment then decreased up to 7 days of incubation and reached the minimum
value and again this fraction of P started to increase and continued up to the end of
the experiment. The Fe-P content with P0, and P25 treatments showed similar trend
of changes throughout the experiment. There were no significant changes up to 7
days in Fe-P content but after that Fe-P content decreased up to 14 days and finally
showed increasing trend, which continued up to the end of incubation period. The
lowest Fe-P content (27.50 g g-1) was observed in the Ghatail series at the end of
14 days with P0 treatment. The highest value (80.63 g g-1) was obtained with
P25+OM treatment in this series at the end of 42 days of incubation.
The trends of changes of Fe-P content with Silmandi ((Fig. 4.15) and Sonatala
(Fig. 4.16) series were more or less similar. Very slight decreasing trends were
observed up to 7 days for both the series with all the treatments. The Fe-P
contents reached the minimum value at 14 days of incubation and then increased
gradually up to the end of the experiment. At the end of the experiment the Fe-P
contents were lower than the initial values in both the soils.
Badarkhali (Fig. 4.17) and Benarpota (Fig. 4.18) soils showed more or less
similar trends of changes in Fe-P contents, but showed different behaviors from
other soils. There were no significant changes in Fe-P contents with Badarkhali
series with all the treatments up to 28 days, but after that the Fe-P contents
showed the increasing trend up to the end of the experiment. Benarpota soil didn't
show marked difference in Fe-P contents with P0 treatment throughout the
experiment, but with P25 and P25+OM treatments there were marked differences in
the change of Fe-P content. Phosphorus along with organic matter resulted higher
values compared to other treatments throughout the experiment.
The values obtained from soils treated with P were always higher than the
values obtained from untreated soil. Iron phosphate content of the soils varied
between 27.5 and 181 g g-1 in untreated soils, between 35 and 198.75 g g-1 in
soils with P treatment alone, and between 60 and 190 g g-1 P25+OM treatment.

It is evident from the results that Fe-P was the dominant fraction in Silmandi
(pH 5.77) and Badarkhali (pH 4.40) soil due to their acidic condition but in
Benarpota (pH 8.32) soil this fraction was found to be very low. This is in
conformity with the reports of Islam and Khan (1966), Patiram et al. (1990), and
Rokima and Prasad (1991).
For Bangladesh soils Islam and Khan (1966), Islam and Ahmed (1975), Mandal
and Islam (1978) observed the values of this fraction varied from 10 to 170 g g-1.
Working with 34 surface soils representing major soil groups of Tamil Nadu (India),
Kothandaraman and Krishnamoorthy (1979) reported that the content of Fe-P
varied widely, ranging from 1 to 420 g g-1 with a mean value 41g g-1.
Kumaraswamy and Sreeramulu (1992) observed that the Fe-P content
increased at the expense of Al-P up to 150 days. Batra and Chaudhury (1988) found
that the Fe-P was not markedly affected with the passage of time. In the present
investigation the Fe-P contents of the Dhamrai, Badarkhali and Benarpota soils
showed similar trend to that obtained by Batra and Chaudhury (1988).
The Fe-P contents increased progressively with P application in all the soils
under investigation. This trend of change was in conformity with the report of
Kumaraswamy and Sreeramulu (1992). This might be due to high content of total as
well as free iron oxides in the soils, which might have played a major role in the
fixation of P as Fe-P. Sahi et al. (1979) also reported that after 60 days of incubation
at field moisture capacity Fe-P fractions either slightly decreased or remained
almost constant. De Datta et al. (1989) reported that phosphorus in all forms exists
in all soils, but Al-P and Fe-P are more abundant in acid soils, while Ca-P dominates
in neutral-alkaline soils.
4.1.4. Reductant Soluble Phosphate
The changes in citrate-bicarbonate-dithionate extractable P, which is known
as reductant soluble phosphate (RS-P), as affected by P treatments alone or in
combination with organic matter are presented in Fig. 4.19 through 4.24 and
Appendix V. Statistical analysis (Appendix V) showed that the RS-P contents of all

the soils varied significantly with days of incubation, P treatments and day Ptreatment interaction except in Badarkhali and Benarpota soils. Changes in RS-P
content with time of incubation showed different behavior in different soils. Soils
treated with P in combination with organic matter yielded higher values of RS-P
than the untreated soils and the soils treated with P alone in all the soils.
In Dhamrai series (Fig. 4.19 and Appendix V), the RS-P content varied
significantly with days of incubation, P treatments and day

x P-treatment

interaction. The values obtained at the end of the incubation experiment was higher
than the native RS-P content with P25 and P25+OM treatments but was lower than
the initial value with P0 treatment. The highest and the lowest values of 48.25 g g-1
and 35.25 g g-1, were obtained with P25+OM and P0 treatments at 42 days and 28
days of incubation, respectively, in this series.
In Ghatail series (Fig. 4.20 and Appendix V), there was an increase in the RSP contents from the initial values with all the treatments at the end o the 42 days of
incubation. But the changing patterns were different with different treatments. The
RS-P content increased slightly up to 3 days, then decreased slightly up to 7 days
with all the treatments and continued to decrease with P0 and P25 treatments but
increased with P25+OM treatment and continued to increase up to the end of the
experiment. The RS-P contents with P0 and P25 treatments increased again after 14
days and slightly up to 28 days and continued to increase markedly up to the end of
the incubation experiment.

The highest RS-P content (40.12g g-1) after 42 days of incubation was found in P
treatment in combination with organic matter in this series.
The RS-P content of Silmandi series (Fig. 4.21 and Appendix V) increased
slightly up to 3 days of incubation, then decreased with P0 treatment up to 7 days,
continued to decrease up to 14 days and then increased up to the end of the
experiment. The RS-P content with P25+OM showed different trend of change; the
content increased up to 7 days, then decreased up to 14 days and then again
increased up to 42 days of incubation. The RS-P content with P25 treatment didn't
show any marked change up to 14 days of incubation but increased at the later
stages of incubation. The highest RS-P content (38.15g g-1) was found with P0+OM
treatment at the end of 42 days of incubation.
In Sonatala series (Fig. 4.22 and Appendix V) the RS-P contents increased up
to 3 days of incubation and then decreased at 7days of measurement and then
continued to decrease slightly up to 14 days with P0 and P25+OM treatments. The
RS-P content then rapidly increased up to 28 days with P25+OM treatment, reached
the maximum value and then decreased very slightly, whereas the RS-P content
with P0 treatment after 14 days increased very slightly up to the end of the
incubation experiment. The RS-P content with P25 treatment didn't show any
marked change up to 3 days, and then decreased sharply up to 7 days and the
content again increased up to 28 days of incubation and finally decreased. The
differences among the values at the end of 42 days and the native RS-P were very
low. However, the higher values were obtained with P25+OM treatment.
In Badarkhali series (Fig. 4.23 and Appendix V) the RS-P contents were not
affected appreciably either by P treatments or periods of incubation. Statistical
analysis (Appendix V) showed that the RS-P contents didn't vary significantly with
days of incubation, day P-treatment interaction in this series but varied
significantly with P treatments. The highest RS-P content (47.58 g g-1) was obtained
with P25+OM treatment at the end of 42 days of incubation. At the end of 42 days
of incubation, except P25+OM treatment the other treatments yielded lower values
compared to the initial values of RS-P.

In Benarpota soil (Fig. 4.24 and Appendix V) the RS-P content decreased
slightly up to 3 days and then gradually increased up to the end of 42 days of
incubation with P0 and P25+OM treatments. The RS-P content with P25 treatment
decreased slightly up to 3 days, markedly decreased up to 7 days and then increased
gradually up to the end of the experiment. The highest value (48.45 g g-1) was
obtained with P25+OM treatment. Statistical analysis (Appendix V) showed that the
RS-P contents didn't vary significantly with days of incubation, but varied significantly
with P treatments and day P-treatment interaction.
Application of P did not cause any effect on the changes in RS-P content,
which was reported by Anjaneyulu and Omanwar (1979). The RS-P contents as
expected were higher in acid soil (Badarkhali series) compared to alkaline soil
(Benarpota soil). These results were in conformity with the observations made by
Islam and Khan (1966), Raju and Rao (1979). Raju and Rao (1979) also expressed
that occluded P was not greatly affected by fertilizer application. But in the present
investigation the RS-P content differed from their findings. The RS-P content
increased more or less in all cases but the increase was more pronounced with
P25+OM treatment probably because of acid production through decomposition of
organic matter. Similar observations were also reported by Kothandaraman and
Krishnamoorthy (1979); Khaled (1993); Sabreen (1999). The problem soils showed
different behavior in changing the RS-P contents compared to the normal
agricultural soils.
4.1.5. Calcium Phosphate
Changes in Ca-P contents with time due to application of P and P+OM in
Dhamrai, Ghatail, Silmandi, Sonatala, Badarkhali and Benarpota soils are shown in
Fig. 4.25 through 4.30 and Appendix VI. Different behaviors of the soils were found
with the changes in Ca-P contents with time of incubation. Statistical analysis
(Appendix) showed that the Ca-P content varied significantly in most cases with P
treatments, days of incubation, day x P-treatment interaction in the soils under
study.

In Dhamrai series, changes in Ca-P contents as affected by P application

alone or in combination with organic matter with time of incubation are presented
in Fig. 4.25 and Appendix VI. Statistical analysis (Appendix VI) showed that the Ca-P
varied significantly with P treatments, days of incubation and day P-treatment
interaction. The Ca-P contents decreased up to 7 days of incubation with all the
treatments but with P25 treatment a very slight decrease was observed. The Ca-P
content increased with P25+OM treatment up to 14 days and remained the same up
to 28 days and finally increased slightly. The Ca-P content with P25 treatment
increased again after 7 days very slightly and this trend continued up to the end of
the experiment. After 7 days the Ca-P content with P0 treatment continued to
decrease up to 14 days and then increased sharply up to 28 days and then slightly at
the end of the experiment.
Changes in Ca-P contents in Ghatail series as affected by P and P+OM
applications and period of incubation are presented in Fig. 4.26 and Appendix VI.
Statistical analysis (Appendix VI) showed that Ca-P, in most cases, varied
significantly with P treatments, days of incubation and day x P-treatment interaction.
The Ca-P contents decreased with all the treatments. The lowest value (50 g g-1)
was obtained with soils, not treated with P at of 14 days of incubation and with soils
treated with P0, the lowest value (67.5 g g-1) was found at 3 days of incubation.
The highest values were obtained with all the treatments at 7 days of incubation.

Silmandi (Fig. 4.27) and Sonatala (Fig. 4.28) series soils showed more or less
similar trend of changes throughout the experiment. Statistical analysis (Appendix
VI) showed that Ca-P, in most cases, significantly varied with P treatments, days of
incubation and day P-treatment interaction for the soils. In Silmandi series, the
Ca-P content decreased markedly up to 3 days with all the treatments, and
continued to decrease up to 14 days only with P25+OM treatment but with P0 and
P25 treatments the Ca-P content increased slightly up to 7 days and then decreased
again at 14 days of incubation with all the treatments. After that the Ca-P content
increased up to 28 days of incubation with all the treatments, and continued to
increase up to the end of the experiment with P0 and P25 treatments but decreased
with P25+OM treatment. The values obtained with all stages of incubation were
lower than the initial values with all the treatments.
In Sonatala series, the changing patterns of Ca-P contents showed more or
less similar trend with all the treatments throughout the incubation period. The CaP content of the untreated soil was in general lower than the values obtained with
the treated soils. After 14 days of incubation P25 treatment yielded higher values
compared to other treatments. There was no significant difference in the values
obtained with P0, P25 and P25+OM treatments after 7 days of incubation. The highest
Ca-P content (280 g g-1) was obtained with P25+OM at 3 days and with P25 at 28
days, which were also higher than the initial value of 277.50 g g-1.
In Badarkhali series (Fig. 4.29 and Appendix VI), the Ca-P content decreased
markedly with P0 and P25 treatments and slightly with P25+OM treatment up to 3
days of incubation and then the increasing trends were observed with all the
treatments up to the end of the experiment except P25 treatment. After 3 days it
increased slightly up to 14 days, but rapidly up to 28 days, reached the maximum
value and then finally decreased at the end of the experiment. The highest value
(162.50 g g-1) was obtained with P0 treatment at the end of 42 day of incubation.
In Benarpota soil (Fig. 4.30 and Appendix VI), the Ca-P contents didn't show
any significant variation with time up to 14 days of incubation and after 14 days the

Ca-P contents increased up to 28 days with all the treatments and continued to
increase with P0 and P25 treatments but decreased with P25+OM treatment.
Raju and Rao (1979) reported that in acid soils Ca-P is comparatively less
than that of Fe-P ranging between 18 to 199 g g-1 in different treatments. Since Fe
and Al ions are dominant in acid soils, the activity of Ca is low and hence, the
amount of Ca-P is comparatively low. Similar finding was also obtained with
Badarkhali soil (pH 4.40) of the present investigation. The value of this fraction
ranged between 50 and 350 g g-1 for soils of Bangladesh (Islam and Khan 1966).
Kumaraswamy and Sreeramulu (1992) observed that the Ca-P increased very
slightly with P application and the transformation of P into Ca-P was negligible. The
Ca-P was the major fraction after a period of 80 days particularly in soils having
higher calcium content as reported by Goswamy and Sahrawat (1982). In the
present investigation the Ca-P content increased gradually with the period of
incubation in Dhamrai series and Benarpota soils but decreased in Ghatail, Silmandi,
Sonatala and Badarkhali series. Sahi et al. (1979) also reported that Ca-P showed
considerable increase after 60 days of incubation at field capacity condition. A major
portion of P was bound with Ca in Benarpota (pH 8.32) soil because of calcareous
nature of the soils. Similar results were reported by Tomar et al. (1984); Khaled
(1993) and Sabreen (1999). Chang and Chu (1961) observed that Ca-P formation
was relatively higher in soils of higher pH values.
Since the phosphate concentration increased in organic matter incorporated
soils, a possibility exists for coprecipitation of Ca2+ and phosphate ions leading to an
increase in the Ca-P formation. The decrease in Ca-P might be attributed to the
conversion of Ca-P into other fractions (Sah and Mikkelsen, 1986).

In Dhamrai series, the dominant P fraction was Ca-P (309 g g-1) followed by
Fe-P (181.25 g g-1), Al-P (65.5 g g-1), RS-P (42.25 g g-1) and ES-P (4.17 g g-1).
The ES-P content changed with all the treatments. Phosphorus application alone or
in combination with organic matter (cowdung) resulted higher ES-P values

compared to control. However, the transformation of this fraction was more

pronounced with organic matter incorporated soil. Marked variations were
observed in Al-P and Fe-P fractions throughout the experiment. Compared to these
two fractions other fractions such as Ca-P and RS-P showed little variation in
changing pattern in course of the incubation experiment. Interconversion was
observed in between Fe-P and Al-P in this series. At the end of the experiment Fe-P
increased at the expense of Al-P. The RS-P content slightly increased with P
treatment alone or in combination with organic matter. Organic matter
incorporation didn't show any marked change in Ca-P. The Ca-P content increased
slightly with P treatment alone. So the incorporation of organic matter with P
fertilization improved overall P status and decreased the formation of less soluble
inorganic P, which might result in the increase in ES-P. The Al-P content decreased
with all the treatments, which might attribute to the increase of other fractions.
Though all forms of P in the soils are known to supply the nutrient to the
soil solution, their relative contribution to the labile pool from which plants absorb
the nutrient depends mainly on the solubility of several phosphatic compounds as
influenced by P fertilization with organic matter incorporation (Ravindra and
Ananthananayana, 1999). In Dhamrai soil, the added P was recovered mostly as ESP and RS-P at the expense of Fe-P and Al-P. Transformation of P fertilizer is
characterized by transition from Al to Fe and eventually Ca-phosphates.
Phosphorus fertilizer combined with organic matter (cowdung) increased ES-P, RS-P
at the expense of Fe-P and Al-P.
In Ghatail series, the dominant fraction was Ca-P (100 g g-1) followed by FeP, Al-P, RS-P and ES-P. In this soil, ES-P content decreased irrespective of P
treatments and period of incubation, but the percent decrease from the initial value
was lower with organic matter incorporated soil. The RS-P content increased with
period of incubation and percent increase was higher with phosphorus plus organic
matter treatment. The Ca-P content decreased at the end of the experiment with P
fertilization alone or in combination with organic matter. The initial value and the
final value were about equal to control. The lower Ca-P contents with P treatments

indicated that solubilization of this relatively insoluble fraction of P by

microorganisms supported by organic matter incorporation.
Silmandi series, a poorly drained soil with silty clay loam texture is located at
medium lowland of old Brahmaputra Alluvium. In this soil, the dominant fraction
was Fe-P (176.25 g g-1) followed by Ca-P (170 g g-1), Al-P (59 g g-1), RS-P (27 g
g-1), and ES-P (4.17 g g-1) in this series. Phosphorus fertilization along with organic
matter increased the ES-P, Fe-P and Ca-P fractions from the initial values at the end
of the experiment. This might be due to the solubilization of relatively insoluble CaP fraction was transformed to other forms of P.
There was an increase in the Al-P fraction at the 7 days of incubation (Fig.
4.9) followed by a decrease at the end of the experiment. The increase in Al-P at 7
days occurred at the expense of other inorganic P fractions (Fig. 4.15, 4.27).
Changes in Fe-P contents revealed that this fraction of P decreased at the end of
the incubation experiment. The decrease was rapid during the 14 days of incubation
(Fig. 4.15). After 28 days of incubation this fraction increased again but the value
was lower from the initial value.
During the incubation period the RS-P fraction increased with P fertilization.
This might be occurred due to mobilization of crystalline Fe in to soil solution that
subsequently might occlude P during the process of precipitation. Mahapatra and
Patrick (1969) incubated soils with added organic matter to bring about intense soil
reduction which increased RS-P fraction. The Ca-P content decreased at the end of
the experiment irrespective of P treatments.
In Sonatala series, the dominant fraction was Ca-P (277 g g-1) followed by
Fe-P, Al-P, RS-P and ES-P. Phosphorus fertilization increased the ES-P content with
P treatments through solubilization of other inorganic fractions. The Al-P content
(Fig. 4.10) showed an initial increase followed by decrease in this fraction at the end
of the incubation experiment. The percent decrease was lower with organic matter
incorporated soil. The Fe-P content decreased from the initial values at the end of
the experiment. The RS-P content increased slightly which was probably

responsible for decrease of other inorganic fractions. The Ca-P content decreased
from the initial values with all the treatments.
In Badarkhali series, the dominant fraction was Fe-P (105 g g-1) followed by
Ca-P (100 g g-1), Al-P (70 g g-1), RS-P (44.05 g g-1), and ES-P (5.34 g g-1). The
ES-P content decreased irrespective of P treatments, days of incubation and organic
matter incorporation. Aluminium-P contents also decreased at the end of the
incubation experiment with all the treatments. The Fe-P contents increased
markedly with P treatments, days of incubation and with organic matter
incorporation. The percent increase was highest with P25 treatment. The RS-P
content increased only at organic matter incorporated soil, but decreased with P0
and P25 treatments. The Ca-P content initially decreased and then showed an
increase at the end of the incubation experiment with all the treatments. On ageing
Fe-P increased consistently, whereas Al-P decreased markedly up to 7 days of
incubation and increased thereafter. The lability of the formed phosphates with
organic matter incorporated soil was more than that of the respective species of
native phosphates. Debnath and Mandal (1982) found similar results working with
acid soils.
In Benarpota soil, the inorganic P fraction was in the order of Ca-P > FeP>Al-P>RS-P>ES-P. The ES-P content decreased irrespective of P treatments and
days of incubation, but P fertilization along with organic matter incorporation raised
the ES-P content from 7 days up to the end of the incubation experiment. The Al-P
content decreased with all the treatments but the percent decrease was lower with
organic matter incorporated soil. The Fe-P content increased only with organic
matter incorporation but decreased with other treatments. The RS-P content
increased irrespective of treatments and period of incubation. The increase was
higher comparatively with organic matter incorporated soil. Over time, a portion of
the Al-P was transformed into Fe-P in soils originally predominant in this fraction
and into Ca-P in the soil originally predominant in Ca-P. The Ca-P content
increased markedly irrespectively of P treatments and period of incubation. The
percent increase was higher with organic matter incorporation.

4.2.

Plant Parameters

4.2.1. Yield of Straw as Affected by Plant Population and Fertilizer

Application
The dry weights of vegetative portions of wheat plants are presented in
Table 4.1. The data indicated that seed rate and P fertilization significantly affected
the dry matter yield of wheat. Statistical analysis showed that fertilizer, seed rate
and seed rate fertilizer interaction significantly affected the dry matter yield of
wheat plant. The highest dry matter production was obtained with double seed rate
and P fertilization. The lowest dry matter production was found in pots where no P
fertilizer was applied.
Table 4.1. Dry matter yield, P and N uptake as affected by plant population and
fertilizer application
Treatme
nt

Dry matter yield

(g plant-1)

Phosphorus
uptake

N uptake
(mg plant-1)

(g plant-1)

0.63

270.54

7.16

0.51

254.36

6.53

0.88

347.95

20.95

0.60

280.45

7.92

A-Without Fertilizer, Normal Seed Rate

B- Without Fertilizer, Double Seed Rate

C- With Fertilizer, Normal Seed Rate
D- With Fertilizer, Double Seed Rate
4.2.2. Nutrient Uptake by Wheat
The uptake of P and N, calculated as g plant-1 and mg plant-1 respectively,
from dry weight of wheat straw are presented in Table 4.1. The values were
statistically significant at 1% level of significance. As expected the highest uptake was
obtained with P fertilization and normal seed rate. Correlation coefficient between
P and N uptake was positive and highly significant.

4.2.3. Interrelations between Different P Fractions

Inorganic P fractions of 21 and 42 days after germination were correlated
with each other and the relationships are presented in Table 4.2 and 4.3. The ES-P
significantly correlated with Fe-P, RS-P and Ca-P at 21 days but at 42 days this
fraction was significantly correlated with Al-P, Fe-P and RS-P. Data presented in
Table 4.2 and 4.3 revealed that Al-P showed significant correlations with Fe-P and
Ca-P at 21 days but not at 42 days. Iron-P showed positive and significant
relationship with RS-P at 21 days.

Table 4.2. Correlation coefficients for relationship between forms of P after 21

days after seed germination

ES-P

Al-P

Fe-P

RS-P

Ca-P

-0.653

0.958

0.942

-0.314

-0.855

-0.733

0.914

0.997

-0.427

Al-P
Fe-P

-0.394

RS-P

Table 4.3. Correlation coefficient for relationships between P uptake by wheat and
forms of P after 42 days after seed germination
Dry Matter
P
uptake
wheat
ES-P
Al-P
Fe-P
RS-P

by

ES-P

Al-P

Fe-P

RS-P

Ca-P

0.753

0.331

0.248

-0.855

0.357

0.863

-0.874

-0.091

0.594

0.889

0.856

-0.885

0.909

0.536

-0.5306

-0.487

-0.559

-0.338

-0.038
0.175

Working with soils of India, Rokima and Prasad (1991) observed high degree
of relationship between different P fractions. They also stated, " the significant
interrelations of different P fractions suggested that each of these forms influenced

directly or indirectly one another and might be equally important for availability and
P nutrition of crops". Zhang (1991) reported that there was no fraction that had no
relation to other P fractions in soils and they always affect one another.
4.2.4. Relationships between Different Fractions of Inorganic P and Their
Uptake by Wheat.
The correlation coefficients between P uptake and various fractions of the
soil P, extracted at field moisture capacity at 42 days after germination are
presented in Table 4.3. At 42 days ES-P and Ca-P significantly correlated with P
uptake by wheat. Correlation study suggested that the contribution of P fractions
to the uptake was more pronounced with ES-P and Ca-P at 42 days.
Significant correlations of P uptake with different fractions suggested that
those were the main fractions meeting the P requirement of wheat crop. Khaled
(1999) found that ES-P, Al-P and Fe-P significantly correlated with P uptake by
wheat at 60 days after germination. Cox et al., (1997) found that phosphorus uptake
and dry matter of wheat crop were positively related to loosely bound-P. Working
with alkaline soils of India, Rokima and Prasad (1991) reported the Ca-P, Al-P, ES-P
significantly correlated with P uptake by wheat. Jain and Sarkar (1979) also observed
that in calcareous soils ES-P and Al-P had positive correlation with P uptake by
wheat. Singh et al., (1979) found that the P uptake by wheat at field moisture
capacity was significantly correlated with ES-P and Ca-P in calcareous soils. Yang
and Jacobsen (1990) reported that the more soluble fractions can be correlated
significantly with P uptake but poor correlation was observed between P uptake and
RS-P. From the above results it might be said that contribution of different fractions
to the uptake of P by wheat varied with duration of crop growth and plant
population may also have effects on the utilization of P from different fractions of
soil P. Under higher plant population Ca-P and RS-P were changed appreciably
4.2.5. Effect of Plant Population and Fertilizer Application on the
Transformation of P into Different Forms.

The inorganic P fractions as affected by plant of 21 and 42 days old are

presented in Table 4.4 and 4.5.The fractions were in the order of Ca-P> Al-P> FeP>RS-P>ES-P at 21 days without plant effect. When wheat plants are grown at
normal seed rate the fractions transformed significantly into another forms. Easily
soluble-P, Al-P and Ca-P decreased significantly and Fe-P and RS-P increased
significantly. The decrease of the fractions might be due to the crop utilization of
the ES-P and replenishment of that fraction by other fractions. The RS-P content
increased during this period.
Significant transformations were observed with ES-P, RS-P and Ca-P with
double seed rate at 21 days of plant growth without fertilizer. At 42 days of growth
ES-P, RS-P and Ca-P were transformed significantly with normal seed rate. All the
fractions were transformed significantly with double seed rate where no fertilizer
was added.
Table 4.4. Inorganic P fractions as affected by plant of 21 days
Treatment
Fertilizer

Without fertilizer

With fertilizer

ES-P

Al-P

Fe-P

RS-P

Ca-P

g g-1

Seed Rate
Zero

7.92 a

140 a

132.92 b

31.62 b

243.75 b

Normal

4.61 b

111 b

157.5 a

36.66 a

162.75 c

Double

1.14 c

116.25 b

135.63 b

26.57 c

123.75 d

Zero

4.34 b

131.25 a

137.5 b

35.12 a

309.5 a

Normal

1.71 c

138.75 a

137.5 b

28.04 c

307.83 a

Double

0.83 d

140 a

123.75 c

20.47 d

262.5 b

[Means having the same letter (s) in a column are statistically similar by DMRT at 5% level of
significance.]

Table 4.5. Inorganic P fractions as affected by plant of 42 days

Treatment
Fertilizer

Without fertilizer
With fertilizer

ES-P

Al-P

Fe-P

RS-P

Ca-P

g g-1

Seed Rate
Zero

4.38 b

76.67 b

165.63 a

35.77 c

251.25 b

Normal

1.67 c

76.25 b

155.63 a

47.21 b

142.5 c

Double

1.15 c

88.13 a

142.5 b

27.43 d

133.75 c

Zero

5.42 a

66.33 c

166.25 a

55.12 a

320 a

Normal

2.08 b

72.17 b

147.5 b

51.06 a

338.75 a

Double

1.25 c

75.63 b

164.17 a

19.48 c

252.5 b

[Means having the same letter (s) in a column are statistically similar by DMRT at 5% level of
significance.]

The fractions of P at 42 days with zero seed rate were in the order of CaP>Fe-P>Al-P>RS-P>ES-P. The ES-P and RS-P content changed significantly with
normal seed rate. But at double seed rate rapid transformations in ES-P, Fe-P, RS-P
and Ca-P were observed at 21 days.
At 42 days of growth rapid transformations were observed with ES-P, Al-P,
Fe-P and RS-P with normal seed rate where fertilizer was added, compared to
control pots. With double seed rate, RS-P and Ca-P decreased rapidly which might
be due to the crop uptake of other relatively easily soluble fractions.

Summary and Conclusion

Laboratory incubation experiment was conducted up to 42 days with six
soils namely, Dhamrai, Ghatail, Silmandi, Sonatala, Badarkhali (acid sulphate soil)
series and Benarpota (saline soil, series unidentified) soil of Bangladesh to study the
fate of added phosphorus alone or in combination with organic matter. Soil water
was maintained at field capacity. Phosphorus treatments were 0 and 25 kg P/ha and
25 kg P/ha plus organic matter. Soluble and loosely bound phosphate (ES-P),
aluminium phosphate (Al-P), iron phosphate (Fe-P), reductant soluble phosphate
(RS-P) and calcium phosphate (Ca-P) in the soil samples were determined at
different days of incubation. Wheat crop was grown in Dhamrai soil to study
transformation of native and applied phosphates as affected by plant population and
the ultimate uptake of P by wheat plant. The findings of the experiments are
summarized below: Distribution of inorganic phosphates in different fractions follows the
following sequences:
In normal agricultural soils
Ca-P>Fe-P>Al-P>RS-P>ES-P in Dhamrai series (pH 6.28)
Ca-P>Fe-P>Al-P>RS-P>ES-P in Ghatail series (pH 6.56)
Fe-P>Ca-P>Al-P>RS-P>ES-P in Silmandi series (pH 5.77)
Ca-P>Fe-P>Al-P>RS-P>ES-P in Sonatala series (pH 6.08)
In problem soils
Fe-P>Ca-P>Al-P>RS-P>ES-P in Badarkhali series (pH 4.40)
Ca-P>Fe-P>Al-P>RS-P>ES-P in Benarpota series (pH 8.32)
Phosphorus fertilization alone or in combination with cowdung resulted
rapid transformations of some inorganic P fractions whereas some fractions were
not affected appreciably compared to native phosphorus. In course of time the
scenario of those transformations shifted and showed different trend from that of
the early stages of measurements. In agricultural soils (pH range 5.77-6.56) and the

problem soils (acid sulphate soil and saline soil), native ES-P, Al-P and Fe-P
decreased at the end of the incubation experiment. The addition of fertilizer in
combination with organic matter resulted in increase of ES-P in soils except in
Ghatail and Badarkhali soils compared to native phosphorus and P fertilized soils.
Aluminium-P showed decreasing trend in the soils though increased from the native
P at the middle stage of incubation experiment. Organic matter incorporation in
addition to P application resulted higher values of Fe-P in Ghatail and Benarpota
soils compared to native phosphorus and P fertilized soils whereas Fe-P content
increased only in Badarkhali soil (pH 4.40) irrespective of P application alone or in
combination with organic matter, but Fe-P content decreased from native Fe-P in
Dhamrai, Silmandi and Sonatala soils. P fertilization along with organic matter
addition resulted slight increase in RS-P content of the soils. Calcium-P content was
not affected by the P fertilization along with cowdung incorporation in Dhamrai soil,
but in Ghatail, Silmandi and Sonatala series soils Ca-P decreased appreciably. In
problem soils, the changing patterns of P fractions were found different from those
of the normal agricultural soils. Calcium-P contents increased both in Badarkhali
(acid sulphate soil, pH 4.4) and Benarpota (saline soil, pH 8.3) soils irrespective of
treatments. The percent increase was lower with organic matter incorporated soil
in Badarkhali soil but higher with Benarpota soil.
-Transformation of different forms of inorganic P was probably
related to their increase or decrease in concentrations with time.
-Iron-P is the dominant fraction in Silmandi (pH 5.77) and Badarkhali
soil (pH 4.4) and Ca-P is the major fraction in Dhamrai (pH 6.28), Ghatail
(pH 6.56), Sonatala (6.08) and Benarpota (pH 8.32) soils.
-Most of the fractions decreased at the earlier period (7-14 days)
which might be due to immobilization and interconversion of the fractions
at this period and mineralization as well as interconversion beyond then
increased their concentrations.
-Easily soluble P ranged between 4.58 and 23.75, 4.17 and 6.67, 5.00
and 20.83, 7.00 and 17.57, 4.17 and 3.33, 3.33 and 6.67 g g-1, respectively, in

Dhamrai, Ghatail Silmandi, Sonatala, Badarkhali and Benarpota soil at the end
of 7 days of incubation.
-Initial immobilization was noticed in Dhamrai, Ghatail, Silmandi and
Sonatala soils, followed by mineralization. But in Badarkhali and Benarpota
soils, mineralization following an increasing trend was noticed with time of
incubation.
-From the percent distribution of P as affected by P in addition with
organic matter it was concluded that applied P was converted to labile form
in Ghatail, Silmandi and Badarkhali soils and in non-labile form in Dhamrai
and Benarpota soils.
-With time these fractions rearranged between themselves depending
on the nature of the soils.

Growth of wheat plants was significantly affected by application of P. The

addition of P significantly increased the uptake of the element by wheat plants.
- Easily soluble-P and Ca-P contributed to the uptake of P by wheat at
42 days after seed germination.
-Easily soluble-P, Al-P and Ca-P significantly correlated with

the

uptake of P by wheat crop.

-Significant interrelationships exist among different fractions as
affected by fertilization and plant population. Some of the important
interrelationships are: Easily soluble-P significantly correlated with Al-P, Fe-P,
RS-P and Ca-P, Al-P with Fe-P and Ca-P, and Fe-P with RS-P.
-Increased plant population had significant influence on the
transformation of relatively nonlabile forms of P (RS-P and Ca-P) and their
uptake by plants.
It may be concluded from the results of the incubation experiment that added
phosphorus was converted mainly to ES-P and Fe-P and organic matter application

enhanced these conversions. Organic matter also considerably increased the reductant
soluble-P. Pot experiment revealed that increased plant population had significant influence
on the transformation of relatively nonlabile forms of P (RS-P and Ca-P).

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Appendices
Appendix I. An Example of SAS Program and Output file.
Program
data Dha;
input
Day Trt Rep ESP;
cards;
1 1 1 4.17
1 1 2 4.16
1 1 3 4.17
1 2 1 4.17
1 2 2 4.18
1 2 3 4.17
1 3 1 4.17
1 3 2 4.17
1 3 3 4.16
2 1 1 5.42
2 1 2 5.43
2 1 3 5.42
2 2 1 6.25
2 2 2 6.25
2 2 3 6.35
2 3 1 8.35
2 3 2 8.31
2 3 3 8.33
3 1 1 4.58
3 1 2 4.59
3 1 3 4.57
3 2 1 9.37
3 2 2 9.58
3 2 3 9.39
3 3 1 23.75
3 3 2 23.75
3 3 3 4.45
4 1 1 3.96
4 1 2 3.95
4 1 3 3.92
4 2 1 4.18
4 2 2 4.16
4 2 3 4.17
4 3 1 5.05
4 3 2 5.03
4 3 3 5.01
5 1 1 4.80
5 1 2 4.78
5 1 3 4.79
5 2 1 6.05
5 2 2 6.03
5 2 3 6.04
5 3 1 10.83
5 3 2 10.83
5 3 3 10.75

6 1 1 2.56
6 1 2 2.48
6 1 3 2.48
6 2 1 6.13
6 2 2 6.23
6 2 3 6.09
6 3 1 11.12
6 3 2 11.22
6 3 3 11.12
proc print;
run;
proc glm data=Dha;
class Day Trt Rep;
model ESP=Day Trt Rep Day*Trt;
run;

Output File
OBS
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35

DAY
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4

1
1
1
2
2
2
3
3
3
1
1
1
2
2
2
3
3
3
1
1
1
2
2
2
3
3
3
1
1
1
2
2
2
3
3

TRT

REP

1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2

4.17
4.16
4.17
4.17
4.18
4.17
4.17
4.17
4.16
5.42
5.43
5.42
6.25
6.25
6.35
8.35
8.31
8.33
4.58
4.59
4.57
9.37
9.58
9.39
23.75
23.75
4.45
3.96
3.95
3.92
4.18
4.16
4.17
5.05
5.03

ESP

36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54

4
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6

3
1
1
1
2
2
2
3
3
3
1
1
1
2
2
2
3
3
3

3
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3

5.01
4.80
4.78
4.79
6.05
6.03
6.04
10.83
10.83
10.75
2.56
2.48
2.48
6.13
6.23
6.09
11.12
11.22
11.12

General Linear Models Procedure

Class Level Information
Class

Levels

Values

DAY 6
123456
TRT
3
123
REP
3
123
Number of observations in data set = 54
Dependent Variable: ES-P
Source

DF

Model
Error
Corrected
Total

33
20
53

R-Square
0.995132

C.V.
7.739085

Sum of
Squares
1140.130106
5.577326
1145.707431

Mean Square

F Value

Pr > F

34.549397
0.278866

123.89

0.0001

Root MSE
0.528078

ESP Mean
6.823519

F Value
266.28
639.67
8.23
144.38

Pr > F
0.0001
0.0002
0.0025
0.0001

General Linear Models Procedure

Dependent Variable: ES-P
Source
DAY
TRT
REP
DAY*TRT

DF
5
2
2
10

Type I SS
371.2800537
356.7620481
4.5884704
402.6168630

Mean Square
74.2560107
178.3810241
2.2942352
40.2616863

Appendix II. Changes in ES-P content of soils under different treatments

Soil series

Treatment
0 day

Results expressed in g g-1 (oven dry basis)

3rd day
7th day
14th day 28th day

42nd day

Dhamrai

P0
P25
P25+OM

4.17
4.17
4.17

5.42
6.25
8.33

4.58
9.38
23.75

3.96
4.17
5.00

4.79
6.04
10.83

2.48
6.12
11.12

Ghatail

P0
P25
P25+OM

10.59
10.59
10.59

3.75
2.92
2.08

4.17
4.58
6.67

2.08
1.67
2.71

5.21
4.17
6.67

2.23
3.12
7.02

Silmandi

P0
P25
P25+OM

4.17
4.17
4.17

7.08
4.17
4.17

5.00
5.00
20.83

2.92
4.17
5.00

4.17
5.00
6.46

1.56
2.53
6.50

Sonatala

P0
P25
P25+OM

2.92
2.92
2.92

9.17
7.51
7.71

7.50
6.25
17.17

2.08
4.17
5.00

2.92
4.58
6.67

1.50
4.58
6.67

Badarkhali

P0
P25
P25+OM

5.34
5.34
5.34

2.08
2.50
3.30

4.17
3.33
4.17

2.08
2.50
4.17

5.42
2.50
5.42

0.83
4.17
2.50

Benarpota

P0
P25
P25+OM

5.00
5.00
5.00

4.17
5.00
5.42

3.33
4.17
6.67

2.08
3.33
6.67

2.50
5.00
6.67

0.83
5.00
6.67

ANOVA: PR>F
Soil Series
Dhamrai

Day
0.0001

Source of Variation
P treatments
0.0002

DayP treatments
0.0001

Ghatail

0.0001

0.0001

0.0001

Silmandi

0.0001

0.0001

0.0001

Sonatala

0.0001

0.0001

0.0001

Badarkhali

0.0001

0.0001

0.0001

Benarpota

0.0001

0.0001

0.0001

Appendix III.
treatments

Soil series

Changes in Al-P content of soils under different

Treatment
0 day

Results expressed in g g-1 (oven dry basis)

3 day
7th day
14th day 28th day 42nd day
rd

Dhamrai

P0
P25
P25+OM

65.5
65.5
65.5

85.00
52.50
52.50

58.75
61.25
76.25

31.25
25.00
45.00

59.38
67.50
77.50

22.50
35.00
57.50

Ghatail

P0
P25
P25+OM

44.38
44.38
44.38

49.38
28.13
48.75

21.25
20.13
45.88

5.00
17.00
20.00

12.50
22.50
27.50

7.50
20.00
35.00

Silmandi

P0
P25
P25+OM

59.75
59.75
59.75

59.75
62.50
65.00

68.75
56.88
93.75

27.50
50.00
52.50

55.00
65.00
77.50

22.50
40.00
21.25

Sonatala

P0
P25
P25+OM

68.75
68.75
68.75

80.00
86.00
86.88

47.50
56.25
63.75

30.00
15.00
63.75

38.75
55.00
87.50

33.75
50.00
62.50

Badarkhali

P0
P25
P25+OM

70.00
70.00
70.00

48.75
32.50
63.75

22.50
20.00
17.50

22.50
32.50
32.50

25.00
30.00
32.50

25.00
25.00
27.50

Benarpota

P0
P25
P25+OM

65.00
65.00
65.00

66.25
45.00
75.00

20.00
32.50
45.00

30.00
35.00
80.00

40.00
40.00
48.75

51.25
53.75
61.25

ANOVA: PR>F
Soil Series
Dhamrai

Day
0.0001

Source of Variation
P treatments
0.0001

DayP treatments
0.0001

Ghatail

0.0001

0.0001

0.0001

Silmandi

0.0001

0.0001

0.0001

Sonatala

0.0001

0.0001

0.0001

Badarkhali

0.0001

0.0001

0.0001

Benarpota

0.0001

0.0001

0.0001

Appendix IV.
treatments

Soil series

Changes in Fe-P content of soils under different

Treatmen
t

Results expressed in g g-1 (oven dry basis)

0 day

3rd day

7th day

14th day

28th day

42nd day

Dhamrai

P0
P25
P25+OM

181.25
181.25
181.25

172.50
180.00
192.5

160.00
157.50
155.00

110.00
115.00
130.00

117.50
120.00
135.00

144.37
145.00
170.00

Ghatail

P0
P25
P25+OM

55.00
55.00
55.00

55.00
50.00
76.25

56.25
50.00
60.00

27.50
35.00
60.00

27.50
37.50
65.00

45.63
50.00
80.63

Silmandi

P0
P25
P25+OM

176.25
176.25
176.25

162.50
171.25
185.00

150.00
157.50
173.75

88.75
111.25
106.25

92.50
125.00
115.00

132.50
155.00
170.25

Sonatala

P0
P25
P25+OM

165.25
165.25
166.25

150.00
161.25
168.75

137.50
152.50
157.5

82.50
90.00
112.50

102.00
120.00
120.00

156.25
132.50
145.00

Badarkhali

P0
P25
P25+OM

105.00
105.00
105.00

119.50
128.00
162.5

125.00
137.50
151.25

132.50
138.75
141.25

142.50
152.50
138.75

162.50
198.75
190.00

Benarpota

P0
P25
P25+OM

66.25
66.25
66.25

60.50
72.50
77.50

57.50
62.50
70.00

60.00
67.50
78.75

55.00
55.00
65.00

60.00
65.00
77.50

ANOVA: PR>F
Soil Series
Dhamrai
Ghatail
Silmandi
Sonatala
Badarkhali
Benarpota

Day
0.0001
0.0001
0.0001
0.0001
0.0001
0.0001

Source of Variation
P treatments
0.0001
0.0001
0.0001
0.0001
0.0001
0.0001

DayP treatments
0.0001
0.0001
0.0001
0.0001
0.0001
0.0001

Appendix V. Changes in RS-P content of soils under different treatments

Soil series

Treatment
0 day

Results expressed in g g-1 (oven dry basis)

3rd day
7th day
14th day 28th day 42nd day

Dhamrai

P0
P25
P25+OM

42.25
42.25
42.25

39.75
41.25
42.75

43.25
41.00
43.75

36.16
44.19
45.26

35.25
45.16
47.19

39.25
46.18
48.25

Ghatail

P0
P25
P25+OM

29.00
29.00
29.00

33.20
32.25
35.15

25.17
27.25
30.60

21.14
24.05
34.19

23.60
25.23
38.45

32.20
35.47
40.12

Silmandi

P0
P25
P25+OM

27.50
27.50
27.50

28.14
30.16
30.28

26.03
30.29
32.26

21.52
29.15
27.18

25.12
33.16
36.02

26.03
35.60
38.15

Sonatala

P0
P25
P25+OM

19.54
19.54
19.54

23.14
19.10
24.32

18.25
14.23
18.08

17.14
15.25
17.16

18.85
19.13
24.25

19.26
18.25
24.01

Badarkhali

P0
P25
P25+OM

44.05
44.05
44.05

42.19
43.06
40.23

40.39
43.12
40.18

38.25
40.11
38.28

40.60
41.00
40.15

34.25
41.06
47.58

Benarpota

P0
P25
P25+OM

35.41
35.41
35.41

30.25
35.10
32.56

32.03
32.14
35.28

35.15
36.12
38.10

38.12
39.64
41.15

40.25
45.13
48.45

ANOVA: PR>F
Soil Series
Dhamrai

Day
0.0001

Source of Variation
P treatments
0.0001

DayP treatments
0.0001

Ghatail

0.0001

0.0001

0.0001

Silmandi

0.0001

0.0001

0.0001

Sonatala

0.0001

0.0001

0.0001

Badarkhali

0.1986

0.0001

0.4821

Benarpota

0.2201

0.0001

0.0001

Appendix VI. Changes in Ca-P content of soils under different

treatments

Soil series

Treatment
0 day

Results expressed in g g-1 (oven dry basis)

3rd day
7th day
14th day 28th day

42nd day

Dhamrai

P0
P25
P25+OM

309
309
310

275.00
300.00
280.00

256.00
291.25
255.00

235.00
296.00
300.00

290.00
310.00
300.00

300.00
319.00
310.00

Ghatail

P0
P25
P25+OM

100
100
100

92.50
67.50
100.00

112.50
120.00
132.50

50.00
85.00
65.00

105.00
80.00
105.00

102.50
82.50
75.00

Silmandi

P0
P25
P25+OM

170.50
170.50
170.50

137.50
127.50
157.50

145.00
135.00
140.00

100.00
85.00
90.00

135.00
130.00
145.00

148.75
147.50
125.00

Sonatala

P0
P25
P25+OM

277.50
277.50
277.50

210.00
230.00
280.00

252.50
257.50
257.50

205.00
235.00
230.00

275.00
280.00
270.00

235.00
252.50
237.50

Badarkhali

P0
P25
P25+OM

100.00
100.00
100.00

77.50
86.50
97.50

81.25
90.50
104.00

93.00
95.50
111.50

117.50
140.00
127.50

162.50
135.00
147.50

Benarpota

P0
P25
P25+OM

300.00
300.00
300.50

292.50
300.00
285.00

300.00
310.00
310.00

265.00
265.00
280.00

306.25
343.75
375.00

335.00
345.00
370.00

ANOVA: PR>F

Soil Series
Dhamrai

Day
0.0001

Source of Variation
P treatments
0.0001

DayP treatments
0.0001

Ghatail

0.0001

0.0001

0.0001

Silmandi

0.0001

0.0001

0.0001

Sonatala

0.0001

0.0001

0.0001

Badarkhali

0.0001

0.0001

0.0001

Benarpota

0.0001

0.0001

0.0001

Plant sample dry weight

Pot
no.

Dry
weight (g)

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.

1.88
1.91
1.90
3.05
3.02
3.03
2.64
2.63
2.63
3.60
3.61
3.59

Average
weight (g)

1.90

3.03

2.63

3.6

Nitrogen
(%)
1.16
1.10
1.13
1.43
2.33
0.84
1.47
2.58
2.20
1.26
1.01
1.70

Phosphoru
s
(g g-1)
394.26
398.23
395.56
50915
502.23
505.29
428.29
427.18
425.11
460.81
468.45
474.32

Average
P (g g-1)

Phosphoru
s uptake
(g plant-1)
-

396.33

270.54

503

260.36
-

427

311.78

467

280.45

Appendix. Different inorganic P fractions

21 Days
Pot no.

Plant
Status

Without
fertilizer
1
2
3

No Plant

4
5
6

Normal
crop
density

7
8
9
With
fertilizer
10
11
12

Double
crop
density

No Plant

13
14
15

Normal
crop
density

16
17
18

Double
crop
density

ES-P

Al-P

Fe-P

RS-P

Ca-P

7.50
8.33
3.33

127.5
137.5
142.5

117.50
133.75
147.50

31.10
35.26
32.14

247.5
210.0
240.0

4.58
4.95
3.16

112.0
120.0
110.0

128.75
156.25
158.75

36.29
37.02
46.54

105.0
120.0
127.5

1.13
1.15
1.26

120.0
130.0
112.5

155.00
132.50
138.75

26.56
28.85
24.30

265.0
240.0
267.5

4.16
4.51
5.28

92.50
125.0
137.5

142.50
132.50
161.25

39.56
34.78
35.46

309.0
325.0
310.0

1.67
1.85
1.65

100.0
140.0
137.5

135.00
140.00
103.75

25.05
28.93
27.14

327.5
294.0
302.0

0.83
0.89
0.78

127.5
152.5
68.75

132.50
150.00
115.00

14.70
19.25
21.69

260.0
265.0
240.0

Table 4.1.

Treatmen
t

Dry
matter
yield
(g pot-1)

Dry
matter
yield
(g plant-1)

Nitrogen
(%)

1.90

0.63

1.13

270.54

7.16

3.03

0.51

1.53

254.36

6.53

2.63

0.88

2.39

347.95

20.95

3.60

0.60

1.32

280.45

7.92

A-Without Fertilizer, Normal Seed Rate

B- Without Fertilizer, Double Seed Rate
C- With Fertilizer, Normal Seed Rate

Phosphoru
s uptake

N uptake
(mg plant-1)

(g plant-1)

D- With Fertilizer, Double Seed Rate

Table 4.2. Inorganic P fractions as affected by plant of 21 days

Treatment
Fertilizer
Without
fertilizer

With
fertilizer

ES-P

Al-P

Fe-P

Seed Rate

RS-P

Ca-P

g g-1

Zero

7.92

140

132.92

31.62

243.75

Normal

4.61

111

157.5

36.66

162.75

Double

1.14

116.25

135.63

26.57

123.75

Zero

4.34

131.25

137.5

35.12

309.5

Normal

1.71

138.75

137.5

28.04

307.83

Double

0.83

140

123.75

20.47

262.5

Table 4.3. Inorganic P fractions as affected by plant of 42 days

Treatment
Fertilizer
Without
fertilizer

With
fertilizer

ES-P

Al-P

Fe-P

RS-P

Ca-P

g g-1

Seed Rate
Zero

4.38

76.67

165.63

35.77

251.25

Normal

1.67

76.25

155.63

47.21

142.5

Double

1.15

88.13

142.5

27.43

133.75

Zero

5.42

66.33

166.25

55.12

320

Normal

2.08

72.17

147.5

51.06

338.75

Double

1.25

75.63

164.17

19.48

252.5

Table 4.2. Correlation coefficient for relationships between P uptake by wheat and
forms of P after 21 days after seed germination
ES-P

Al-P

Fe-P

RS-P

Ca-P

Dry Matter

0.261

0.630

-0.979

-0.989

0.262

P uptake
by wheat

-0.118

0.874

-0.107

-0.052

0.871

-0.653

0.958

0.942

-0.314

-0.855

-0.733

0.914

0.997

-0.427

ES-P
Al-P
Fe-P
RS-P

-0.394

Table 4.2. Correlation coefficient for relationships between P uptake by

wheat and forms of P after 42 days after seed germination
ES-P

Al-P

Fe-P

RS-P

Ca-P

Dry Matter

0.753

0.331

0.248

-0.855

0.357

P uptake
by wheat

0.863

-0.747

-0.091

0.594

0.889

0.856

-0.885

0.909

0.536

-0.5306

-0.487

-0.559

-0.338

-0.038

ES-P
Al-P
Fe-P

0.175

RS-P

Table -4.1: Correlation coefficient for relationships between P uptake by wheat

and forms of P after 21 days after seed sowing

ES-P

Al-P

Fe-P

RS-P

Ca-P

Dry Matter

-0.98967

0.698

-0.98855

-0.98037

0.846993

P uptake
by wheat

-0.17448

0.572946

-0.17362

0.323394

0.520443

-0.69489

0.952276

0.745119

-0.90166

-0.83419

-0.57373

0.670645

0.853289

-0.7925

ES-P

Al-P

Fe-P

RS-P

-0.39306

Table -4.2: Correlation coefficient for relationships between P

uptake by wheat and forms of P after 42 days after seed sowing

P uptake
by wheat
ES-P

Al-P

Fe-P

RS-P

ES-P

Al-P

Fe-P

RS-P

Ca-P

-0.40555

-0.79474

0.020978

0.523235

0.573465

0.856317

-0.88525

0.10616

0.355155

-0.5306

-0.487

0.0034

-0.33845

-0.46147

0.05396

50 Days
Pot no.

Plant
Status

Without
fertilizer
1
2
3
4
5
6

Normal
crop
density

7
8
9
With
fertilizer
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18

No Plant

Double
crop
density

No Plant
Normal
crop
density
Double
crop
density

ES-P

Al-P

Fe-P

RS-P

Ca-P

4.17
4.58
5.41

87.5
75.0
67.5

180.0
166.25
165.0

39.15
36.25
35.28

247.5
240.0
260.0

1.67
1.67
1.25

75.0
77.5
81.25

153.75
157.5
167.5

49.19
45.23
60.45

145.0
140.0
197.5

4.00
3.75
3.75

82.5
93.75
111.25

157.5
142.5
142.5

26.41
28.36
27.52

295.0
280.0
287.5

7.5
5.42
5.42

80.0
65.16
67.5

125.0
175.0
177.5

51.47
54.13
56.10

320.0
355.0
320.0

2.08
2.08
2.15

72.5
71.0
73.0

187.5
150.0
145.0

50.20
48.23
51.91

337.5
300.0
340.0

1.25
1.28
1.25

76.25
82.5
75

167.5
175.0
150.0

19.10
21.56
19.85

240.0
255.0
250.0

Dependent Variable: ESP 21 DAY

Source

DF

Model
Error
Corrected Total

ESP

9
2
11

R-Square
0.999136

Sum of Squares

Mean Square F Value

26.72190833
0.02311667
26.74502500

2.96910093
0.01155833

C.V.
5.162530

Source

DF

SEED

Root MSE
0.10750969

Pr > F

256.88

DM Mean
2.08250000

Anova SS

Mean Square F Value

Pr > F

13.88900833

13.88900833 1201.64

0.0008

0.0039

FERT
0.0015
REP
0.7766
SEED*FERT
0.0023

7.92187500

7.92187500

685.38

0.00665000

0.00332500

0.29

4.90240833

4.90240833

424.14

Dependent Variable: Al-P

Source

DF

Sum of Squares

Model
Error
Corrected Total

5
6

2057.33333333
57.33333333
2114.66666667

11

R-Square
0.972888
Source

DF

SEED
FERT
REP
SEED*FERT

1
1
2

Mean Square F Value

C.V.
2.421310
Anova SS
27.00000000
1976.33333333
48.66666667
5.33333333

411.46666667
9.55555556

Root MSE
3.09120617
Mean Square

Pr > F

43.06

0.0001

DM Mean
127.66666667
F Value

27.00000000
2.83
1976.33333333 206.83
24.33333333
2.55
5.33333333
0.56

Pr > F
0.1438
0.0001
0.1582
0.4832

Dependent Variable: FE-P

Source
DF
Model
5
Error
6
Corrected Total
11
Fe-P
R-Square
0.995939
Source

DF

SEED
FERT
REP
SEED*FERT

1
1
2
1

Sum of Squares
2258.18229167
9.20833333
2267.39062500
C.V.
0.901384
Anova SS
1265.88020833
923.13020833
58.62500000
10.54687500

Mean Square F Value

451.63645833 294.28
1.53472222
Root MSE
1.23883906

Pr > F
0.0001

DM Mean
137.43750000

Mean Square F Value

Pr > F

1265.88020833 824.83
923.13020833 601.50
29.31250000 19.10
10.54687500
6.87

RS-P 21d
Dependent Variable: RS-P
Source

DF

Sum of Squares

Model

410.29842500

82.05968500

Error

16.67586667

2.77931111

Corrected Total 11

426.97429167

Mean Square F Value

29.53

Pr > F
0.0004

0.0001
0.0001
0.0025
0.0395

R-Square
0.960944

C.V.
6.025940

Root MSE
1.66712660

Anova SS

DM Mean
27.66583333

Source

DF

SEED
FERT
REP
SEED*FERT

1
1
2

209.91967500
186.99307500
4.49326667
8.89240833

Source

DF

Sum of Squares

Mean Square F Value

Model
Error
Corrected Total

5
6
11

57620.96354167
34.96875000
57655.93229167

11524.19270833 1977.34
5.82812500

Mean Square F Value

Pr > F

209.91967500 75.53 0.0001

186.99307500 67.28 0.0002
2.24663333
0.81 0.4888
8.89240833
3.20 0.1239

Ca-P 21d

Source

R-Square
0.999393
DF

SEED
FERT
REP
SEED*FERT

(DM)

C.V.
1.008962
Anova SS

1
1
2

7487.50520833
24008.38020833
15.07291667
26110.00520833

R-Square
0.999754

Root MSE
2.41415099
Mean Square

Pr > F
0.0001

DM Mean
239.27083333
F Value Pr > F

7487.50520833 1284.72
0.0001
24008.38020833 4119.40 0.0001
7.53645833
1.29
0.3412
26110.00520833 4480.00 0.0001

C.V.
0.492458

Root MSE
0.01374369

DM Mean
2.79083333

Source

DF

Anova SS

Mean Square

F Value

SEED
FERT
REP
SEED*FERT

1
1
2
1

3.31800833
1.27400833
0.00006667
0.02167500

3.31800833
1.27400833
0.00003333
0.02167500

17565.93
6744.75
0.18
114.75

C.V.
5.162530

Root MSE
0.10750969

DF
1
1
2
1

Anova SS
13.88900833
7.92187500
0.00665000
4.90240833

R-Square
0.995939

C.V.
0.901384

ES-P 21d
R-Square
0.999136
Source
SEED
FERT
REP
SEED*FERT
Fe-P 21d
Source
SEED

DF
1

Anova SS
1265.88020833

Pr > F
0.0001
0.0001
0.8424
0.0001

DM Mean
2.08250000
Mean Square
13.88900833
7.92187500
0.00332500
4.90240833
Root MSE
1.23883906

F Value
1201.64
685.38
0.29
424.14

Pr > F
0.0008
0.0015
0.7766
0.0023

DM Mean
137.43750000

Mean Square F Value Pr > F

1265.88020833 824.83
0.0001

FERT
REP
SEED*FERT

1
2

923.13020833
58.62500000
10.54687500

923.13020833 601.50
29.31250000 19.10
10.54687500
6.87

0.0001
0.0025
0.0395

RS-P 21d
R-Square
0.960944
Source
SEED
FERT
REP
SEED*FERT
Ca-P 21d
Source
SEED
FERT
REP
SEED*FERT

C.V.
6.025940

DF
1
1
2

Root MSE
1.66712660

Anova SS
209.91967500
186.99307500
4.49326667
8.89240833

DM Mean
27.66583333

Mean Square F Value Pr > F

209.91967500 75.53 0.0001
186.99307500 67.28 0.0002
2.24663333
0.81 0.4888
8.89240833
3.20 0.1239

R-Square
C.V.
Root MSE
DM Mean
0.999393
1.008962
2.41415099
239.27083333
DF
Anova SS
Mean Square
F Value Pr > F
1
7487.50520833
7487.50520833 1284.72
0.0001
1
24008.38020833
24008.38020833 4119.40 0.0001
2
15.07291667
7.53645833
1.29
0.3412
1
26110.00520833
26110.00520833 4480.00 0.0001

New 24 April
The SAS System

Class
SEED
FERT
REP
DM

OBS

SEED

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12

1
1
1
1
1
1
2
2
2
2
2
2

FERT
1
1
1
2
2
2
1
1
1
2
2
2

1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3

10:43 Monday, April 21, 1997 1

REP

DM

1.88
1.91
1.90
2.64
2.63
2.63
3.05
3.02
3.03
3.60
3.61
3.59

Levels Values
2 12
2 12
3 123
11 1.9 3.6 1.88 1.91 2.63 2.64 3.02 3.03 3.05 3.59 3.61
Number of observations in data set = 12

Dependent Variable: DM
Source
DF
Model
Error
Corrected Total

Sum of Squares

5
6
11

Mean Square F Value

4.61375833
0.00113333
4.61489167

R-Square
0.999754

C.V.
0.492458

0.92275167
0.00018889
Root MSE
0.01374369

Pr > F

4885.16

0.0001

DM Mean
2.79083333

Source

DF

Anova SS

Mean Square

F Value

Pr > F

SEED
FERT
REP
SEED*FERT

1
1
2
1

3.31800833
1.27400833
0.00006667
0.02167500

3.31800833
1.27400833
0.00003333
0.02167500

17565.93
6744.75
0.18
114.75

0.0001
0.0001
0.8424
0.0001

Table 4.1.

Treatmen
t

Dry
matter
yield
(g pot-1)

Dry
matter
yield
(g plant-1)

Nitrogen
(%)

1.90

0.63

1.13

270.54

7.16

3.03

0.51

1.53

254.36

6.53

2.63

0.88

2.39

347.95

20.95

3.60

0.60

1.32

280.45

7.92

Phosphoru
s uptake

N uptake
(mg plant-1)

(g plant-1)

A-Without Fertilizer, Normal Seed Rate

B- Without Fertilizer, Double Seed Rate
C- With Fertilizer, Normal Seed Rate
D- With Fertilizer, Double Seed Rate
Source

DF

Anova SS

Mean Square

F Value

SEED
FERT
REP
SEED*FERT

1
1
2
1

3.31800833
1.27400833
0.00006667
0.02167500

3.31800833
1.27400833
0.00003333
0.02167500

17565.93
6744.75
0.18
114.75

Pr > F

0.0001
0.0001
0.8424
0.0001

Table 4.1.

Treatmen
t

Dry
matter
yield
(g plant-1)

0.63

270.54

7.16

0.51

254.36

6.53

0.88

347.95

20.95

0.60

280.45

7.92

Phosphoru
s uptake

N uptake
(mg plant-1)

(g plant-1)

A-Without Fertilizer, Normal Seed Rate

B- Without Fertilizer, Double Seed Rate

C- With Fertilizer, Normal Seed Rate

D- With Fertilizer, Double Seed Rate
Source

DF

Anova SS

Mean Square

F Value

SEED
FERT
REP
SEED*FERT

1
1
2
1

3.31800833
1.27400833
0.00006667
0.02167500

3.31800833
1.27400833
0.00003333
0.02167500

17565.93
6744.75
0.18
114.75

Pr > F
0.0001
0.0001
0.8424
0.0001

Table 4.2. Correlation coefficient for relationships between P uptake by wheat and forms
of P after 21 days after seed germination

ES-P

Al-P

Fe-P

RS-P

Ca-P

Dry Matter

0.261

0.630

-0.979

-0.989

0.262

P uptake
by wheat

-0.118

0.874

-0.107

-0.052

0.871

-0.653

0.958

0.942

-0.314

-0.855

-0.733

0.914

0.997

-0.427

ES-P
Al-P
Fe-P
RS-P

-0.394

Table 4.3. Correlation coefficient for relationships between P uptake by

wheat and forms of P after 42 days after seed germination
ES-P

Al-P

Fe-P

RS-P

Ca-P

Dry Matter

0.753

0.331

0.248

-0.855

0.357

P uptake
by wheat

0.863

-0.747

-0.091

0.594

0.889

0.856

-0.885

0.909

0.536

-0.5306

-0.487

-0.559

-0.338

-0.038

ES-P
Al-P
Fe-P

0.175

RS-P

Table 4.4. Inorganic P fractions as affected by plant of 21 days

Treatment
Fertilizer
Without
fertilizer

With
fertilizer

ES-P

Al-P

Fe-P

RS-P

Ca-P

g g-1

Seed Rate
Zero

7.92 a

140 a

132.92 b

31.62 b

243.75 b

Normal

4.61 b

111 b

157.5 a

36.66 a

162.75 c

Double

1.14 c

116.25 b

135.63 b

26.57 c

123.75 d

Zero

4.34 b

131.25 a

137.5 b

35.12 a

309.5 a

Normal

1.71 c

138.75 a

137.5 b

28.04 c

307.83 a

Double

0.83 d

140 a

123.75 c

20.47 d

262.5 b

[Means having the same letter (s) in a column are statistically similar by DMRT at 5% level
of significance.]

Table 4.5. Inorganic P fractions as affected by plant of 42 days

Treatment
Fertilizer
Without
fertilizer

With
fertilizer

ES-P

Al-P

Seed Rate

Fe-P

RS-P

Ca-P

g g-1

Zero

4.38 b

76.67 b

165.63 a

35.77 c

251.25 b

Normal

1.67 c

76.25 b

155.63 a

47.21 b

142.5 c

Double

1.15 c

88.13 a

142.5 b

27.43 d

133.75 c

Zero

5.42 a

66.33 c

166.25 a

55.12 a

320 a

Normal

2.08 b

72.17 b

147.5 b

51.06 a

338.75 a

Double

1.25 c

75.63 b

164.17 a

19.48 c

252.5 b

[Means having the same letter (s) in a column are statistically similar by DMRT at 5% level
of significance.]