ABSTRACT The performance of colorimetric methods for P quantification has been overlooked by researchers for decades. We investigated the performance of two blue colorimetric methods for P quantification, Braga and Defelipo (B&D) and Murphy and Riley (M&R), using two commonly soil P extractants, Mehlich-1 (M1) and Mehlich-3 (M3). Specifically, we evaluated the color development time and its stability in different soil extractant solution proportions (1:1 or 1:4 v/v), the optimum wavelength, limits of detection, and element quantification. Our results indicate […]

The availability of P is influenced by the application location of this element to the soil, affecting the adsorption, precipitation and fixation due to the reduction of contact with the soil. This study, carried out in a greenhouse, aimed to calibrate P soil concentrations for Eucalyptus pellita growth as affected by fertilizer placement. Samples of two Oxisols were used. The treatment consisted of 14 combinations of seven P rates, which were placed in holes in the upper mid part of […]

Understanding the soil organic P (Po) cycle is important to improve the P fertilization management in low-input tropical agricultural systems. The aim of this study was to evaluate Po content and labile P fractions, and microbial biomass P in soils under different cocoa agroecosystems. Mean total Po was 193 mg kg-1 and accounted for 7.8 to 36.3 % of the total extracted P. Mean labile Po was 15 mg kg-1 and accounted for 33.1 to 81.9 % of the total labile P. In cocoa agrosystems, the […]

In highly weathered tropical soils phosphorus (P) bioavailability to plants is closely associated with soil organic P forms, which in turn are influenced by the vegetation cover. The aim of this study was to evaluate total organic P (Po), labile P fractions and microbial biomass P in soils under Acacia auriculiformis and Mimosa caesalpiniifolia stands, secondary forest and pasture. The clay-adjusted average content of total Po and labile Po were 375 mg kg-1 P and 40.2 mg kg-1, respectively. The […]

Highly weathered tropical soils have low P plant availability and very high inorganic phosphorus (Pi) adsorption capacity. Therefore, maintenance of organic sources able to supply P by mineralization is essential for P availability under highly weathered conditions. Organic matter cycling and tolerance to low P soil concentration of the plant community may guarantee sustainability in natural ecosystems. The aim of this study was to evaluate organic phosphorus (Po) content and labile P fractions in the soils of three sites. The […]

Localized application of P in the soil has great influence on its availability because it reduces de adsorption reactions, precipitation and fixation, due to the lowered soil contact surface area. This study, carried out in a greenhouse, aimed to calibrate P soil concentrations for corn growth as affected by fertilizer placement. Samples of two Oxisols (LVAd and LVAm) were used. The treatment consisted of 14 combinations of 7 P rates, which were placed in holes in the upper mid part of […]

Phosphorus dynamics and availability to plants in waterlogged soils involve complex processes which differ substantially from those verified in well drained soils. In order to study P availability to rice growing in waterlogged soils, a greenhouse pot trial was performed with nine lowland rice soil samples from Minas Gerais, Brazil. Six phosphorus rates combined with two liming rates were tested. The plants were grown for 60 days and the above ground dry weight and P concentration were determined after harvesting. […]