International Journal of Plant & Soil Science

The objectives were to determine inorganic P fractions in selected parent material soils and to develop a relationship of various P fractions with P uptake by Zea mays. Experimental study was conducted at Soil Chemistry Laboratory, Department of Soil Science and Soil and Water Conservation, Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi, Pakistan, during February, 2013 to January, 2014. Triplicate soils were selected at three different level of development in each of loess, alluvium, shale residuum, and sandstone residuum, and surface and subsurface samples were taken. Samples were analyzed for pH, soil test P, total P, CaCO₃, dissolved and total organic carbon, dithionite extractable and amorphous iron. Soil P was fractioned into Ca₂-P, Ca₈-P, P adsorbed by Fe and Al, P occluded in iron oxides bodies, and apatite-P. Apatite-P was 33-71 %, and secondary phosphates i.e. occluded P, iron oxides surface adsorbed P and aluminum oxides surfaces adsorbed P ranged between 0.80 – 4.0 %, 2.65 – 14 % and 1.20 – 5.0 % of total P, respectively. Phosphorus uptake also differed significantly with soil parent material. The bioavailability of soil P fractions follow the order Ca₂-P > Org-P > Al-P > Fe-P > Ca₈-P > Occluded P > apatite-P. Dicalcium phosphates, iron adsorbed P, aluminum oxides adsorbed P and organic P control P bioavailability in Zea mays. Olsen P and occluded P gave better prediction for P uptake rather than Olsen P alone. This study will help to improve P fertilizer management and ultimately result in increase crop production.