The Determination of Available Phosphorus in Soil
The Determination of Available Phosphorus in Soil
The Determination of Available Phosphorus in Soil
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Abstract
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I. S. A. Koralage et al
Introduction
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The determination of available phosphorus in soil: A quick and simple method
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I. S. A. Koralage et al
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The determination of available phosphorus in soil: A quick and simple method
There are several rapid soil testing kits are used all over the world.
Most of the field soil kits available based on test strips, visual
comparator and photometer kits. These kits are very expensive and
the minimum cost will be around 10000 rupees. This will be
expensive for Sri Lankan farmers. Therefore, this study intend to
develop a simple and rapid soil phosphate testing kit to be provided
for the farmers free of charge or at an affordable price. Then the
farmers can determine the P concentration in soils in order to decide
the P manuring.
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I. S. A. Koralage et al
method widely accepted over the years for such mild acidic to basic
soils.
i. Morgan’s method.
0.72 N Sodium acetate + 0.52 N Acetic acid solution was used
as the extractant in this method.
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The determination of available phosphorus in soil: A quick and simple method
(a) (b)
Figure 1. (a) The mixed soil solution in simplify acetic acid method.
(b) The soil solution after 3 hours with the supernatant
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The r2 value of Morgan’s method used in this study was 0.734 and it
was closed to the r2 value (0.74) reported by Foy et al. (1997). Foy et
al., have compared Olsen and Morgan soil phosphorus tests using
199 soil samples using electrical shaker to mix the soil suspensions
and in our study soil suspensions were mixed by hand. The r 2
difference between Foy’s study and the present study was 0.006. It
shows there has no significant difference between hand mixing
method and electric shaking for mixing soil suspension. In this
study hand mixing method was used for all the modified extraction
methods as the particular extraction method should be simple and
easy to do at field level.
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The determination of available phosphorus in soil: A quick and simple method
a b
c d
Acetic acid method consists only of 2.5% Acetic acid solution and no
sodium acetate as in Morgan’s method. However the r2 value of
Acetic acid method was 0.853, which was the highest correlation
with Olsen’s method.
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I. S. A. Koralage et al
The Acetic acid method was further simplified to fine tune the
results. The supernatant of the soil suspension was used to measure
the extracted phosphorus without using the filtrate. It saves the cost
of filter papers too in the simplified method. Figure 3 shows the
Regression analysis of simplify acetic acid methods with Olsen’s
method.
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The determination of available phosphorus in soil: A quick and simple method
Available P (ppm)
High 22.5 - 30
Medium 15 - 22.5
Low <15
To get the blue color intensity of 2.5 ppm, 6.6 ppm and 10.7 ppm P
solution, sample series was prepared using 5 ppm phosphorus
solution, color developing regent and distilled water. The
phosphorus contents of prepared samples were measured using the
spectrophotometer at the wave length of 880 nm. Samples were
selected the which had 2.5 ppm, 6.6 ppm and 10.7 ppm phosphorus
(Figure 4) and their blue color intensities were used to prepare color
chart. The color chart consists of 3 different intensity of blue color
(Figure 5).
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I. S. A. Koralage et al
Available P (ppm)
Low <2.5
c b a
Figure 4. 2.5 ppm (a), 6.6 ppm (b) and 10.7 ppm (c)
phosphorus samples
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The determination of available phosphorus in soil: A quick and simple method
a b c
Colour P content
This tool kit was developed based on the findings of this study. The
new soil available phosphorus test can be applied in the field with
this tool kit. The tool kit includes distilled water, 2.5% acetic acid
solution, mixed regent, ascorbic acid, a clean glass bottles, the soil P
color chart and also the note of the procedure of new phosphorus
testing method. Figure 6 shows a model of a simple tool kit
developed in this study. This tool kit is very easy to transport and
handle and not cost more than Rs 200. However, these kits could be
given to farmers free of charge or at an affordable price. The soils P
can be measured according to the procedure introduced by this
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study by using this tool kit by the farmers themselves and decide the
phosphate fertilizer application.
Mixed regent
Glass bottle
Ascorbic acid
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The determination of available phosphorus in soil: A quick and simple method
2. Remove the large soil particles and foreign materials from the
sample.
6. Keep the solution for about three hours until the supernatant
separates.
10. Mix the solution well and keep it for about 15 for minutes to
develop the blue color.
11. Measure the blue color intensity using the color chart.
Thereby identify the phosphorus level in the soil.
Conclusion
The simplify acetic acid method which has the best significant
correlation with the Olsen’s method can be introduced for the
determination of available phosphorus. The method developed in
this study by reducing the tools and equipments, reducing the
extraction time, introducing manual shaking for 2 minutes which is
suitable for extract soil phosphorus in the field level test. Not specific
equipments need to apply this method. The soil testing kit developed
in this study use the commonly available low cost materials which
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can be given for farmers as a tool kit free of charge. The total cost for
this developed tool kit is less than Rs 200.
References
Foy, R. H., Tunney, H., Carroll M. J., Byrne E., Gately T., Bailey J.
S., & Lennox, S. D. (1997). A comparison of Olsen and
Morgan soil phosphorus test results from the cross-border
region of Ireland. Irish Journal of Agricultural and Food
Research 36: 185-183.
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The determination of available phosphorus in soil: A quick and simple method
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