Pathways of Phosphorus Transformations in Soils of Differing Pedogenesis

Abstract

Nine different organic and inorganic soil phosphorus fractions were obtained by a sequential extraction of samples from 168 USDA‐SCS benchmark soils, representing eight soil orders of the Soil Taxonomy. The distribution of P across the different fractions (resin, bicarbonate, hydroxide, sonification‐2nd hydroxide, acid, and acid‐peroxide digest fractions with separate organic and inorganic P determinations) and their relationships to other soil chemical properties were used to evaluate the effects of different soil development on phosphorus composition. Correlation and regression analyses of P distribution and chemical analyses confirmed the partial dependence of organic matter accumulation on available forms of P. Weathering indicators such as base saturation were related to the formation of secondary P forms. The relative proportions of available and stable as well as organic and inorganic P forms were dependent upon soil chemical properties and related to soil taxonomy. Path analysis of relationships between labile and stable P forms showed that in Mollisols much of the labile resin extractable P was derived from inorganic bicarbonate and hydroxide extractable P forms. In more weathered Ultisols, 80% of the variability in labile P was accounted for by organic P forms, suggesting that mineralization of organic P may be a major determinant of P fertility in these soils.