Abstract
The trial was carried out to determine the status of various forms of P in soils formed on 3 types of parent materials in Southern Nigeria. Soil samples were obtained from3 ha area in each of the locations at 0-15 cm and 15-30 cm depth and then subjected to routine physical and chemical analysis. Results revealed that the sand component of the soils which ranged from 771 gkg-1 to 892 gkg-1 decreased with increased soil depth. The highest sand content was obtained at 0-15 cm topsoil of the coastal plain sand parent material. The clay and silt fractions ranged from 75 gkg-1 to 155 gkg-1 and 33gkg-1 to 74 gkg-1 respectively. Both the clay and silt increased with increased soil depth in all the parent materials. The soil pH, organic carbon and organic matter also decreased with increased soil depth ranging from 5.50 to 6.60, 2.10 gkg-1 to 3.15gkg-1 and 5.52gkg-1 to 9.40 gkg-1 respectively. The available P by Bray P-2 extractant was higher in the soils of the 3 parent materials compared to that of Bray P-1 extractant. The various P forms also decreased with increased soil depth. The Al-P, Fe-P, Sal-P and Red-P were higher in 0-15 cm topsoil of alluvium parent material while the Res-P, Ca-P, Occ-P, Org-P and Total P were higher in the 0-15 cm topsoil of basement complex soil. Of all the various forms of P, Org-P occupied a higher percentage in the total P component of the soil. The soil pH positively significantly correlated with Occ-P, Res-P and Org-P while organic carbon positively significantly correlated with Occ-P and Res-P. The organic matter positively significantly correlated Occ-P, Res-P, Org-P and Total P. The clay and silt fractions positively significantly correlated with Al-P whereas the sand component of the soil positively significantly correlated with the Ca-P.
Keywords:
alluvium
basement complex
distribution
parent materials
phosphorus
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