HUMIC ACID ASSOCIATED PHOSPHORUS IN SOME SOILS OF ALBERTA

Abstract

The association of phosphorus with the humic acid fraction of the organic matter of surface horizons of soils representing six soil zones of Alberta was investigated with the aid of paper-electrophoresis. In order to locate the humic acid phosphates following separation, several techniques were combined and modified.The application of the electrophoresis technique proved to be useful in the study of soil organic phosphorus. It seems that the humic acid phosphates from the various soils can be arranged into three groups of increasing complexity and electrophoretic mobility. The humic acid associated phosphorus from members of the Brown and Dark Brown Great Soil Groups showed low electrophoretic mobility and seemed rather uncomplicated, while the greatest variation was found in the humic acid fraction of the member from the Grey Wooded Great Soil Group.