Phosphorus fractions in Oxisols

Abstract

The objective of this work was to verify if the historical use, phosphorus fertilization, mycorrhizal inoculation and cultivation with brachiaria and soybeans in greenhouse alter P fractions in three Oxisols. P linked to Al (P-Al), Fe (P-Fe), and Ca (P-Ca) were determined. The P fractions were separated with resin, NaHCO₃, NaOH, HCl, and digestion with H₂SO₄ and H₂O₂. The organic and inorganic fractions were separated by autoclaving. In the cohesive Yellow Latosol (LAx) and acric Red Latosol (LVw), the P-Al, P-Fe, and P-Ca were higher in the cultivated soils, and in the dystroferric Red Latosol (LVdf), the P-Al and P-Fe were higher in the non-cultivated soils, trends non-altered by the cultivation with brachiaria and soybeans. P addition elevated mainly the labile inorganic (Pi-resin and Pi-NaHCO₃) and the moderately labile (Pi-NaOH) fractions. Soils formerly cultivated presents less P in the organic fractions than the non-cultivated ones. In soils with brachiaria, less P in the less labile fractions and more P in the more labile ones were verified. The effect of mycorrhizae was smaller and less consistent than the cultivation and P application.