Distribution of Phosphorus Fractions in Orchard Soils in Relation to Soil Properties and Foliar P Contents

Sumera Bibi, Muhammad Irshad, Muhammad Mohiuddin, Sadaf Sher, Muhammad Atiq Ur Rehman Tariq and Anne Wai Man Ng
Additional contact information
Sumera Bibi: Department of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS University Islamabad (CUI), Abbottabad Campus Pakistan, Abbottabad 22044, Pakistan
Muhammad Irshad: Department of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS University Islamabad (CUI), Abbottabad Campus Pakistan, Abbottabad 22044, Pakistan
Muhammad Mohiuddin: Department of Environmental Sciences, Kohsar University Murree, Punjab 47150, Pakistan
Sadaf Sher: Department of Civil Engineering, Swedish College of Engineering and Technology, Rahim Yar Khan 64200, Pakistan
Muhammad Atiq Ur Rehman Tariq: College of Engineering and Science, Victoria University, Melbourne 8001, Australia
Anne Wai Man Ng: College of Engineering, IT & Environment, Charles Darwin University, Darwin 0810, Australia

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 7, 1-17

Abstract: Phosphorus (P) fractionation is the validation of the nature, solubility and relative bioavailability of P. A sequential P extraction was used to determine the distribution of plant-available P fractions in soils. The relationships of these P fractions to soil properties and foliar P contents were also determined. Results of this study showed substantial differences in soil properties among orchards. Higher amounts of soil organic matter (SOM), cation exchange capacity (CEC) and major plant nutrients were found under orchard soils when compared with control soil. Most of the soil variables varied among orchard species as loquat > citrus > guava. The orchard soil exhibited a slightly higher soil pH. Overall, the P fractions were higher in all types of orchard soils and lowered in the control soils. Among tree species, P fractions in soils were achieved as loquat > citrus > guava. The extracting agents differed for P in the order residual P > HCl-P > NaOH-P > NaHCO 3 -P > H 2 O-P. Mostly higher amounts of the P fractions were achieved in the topsoil. The average amount of extractable P was found significantly higher in those soils of fruit orchards where the total amount of P was actually higher. The higher r 2 values between P fractions versus SOM, clay and CEC of soils predicted a strong interrelationship among these soil variables. Leaf N contents of loquat and guava trees were consistently higher, and leaf P contents varied as loquat > citrus > guava. Potassium and Ca contents were higher in citrus than in the other two species. Micronutrients were found as Fe > Zn > Mn > Cu in the leaves. Regression models indicated a sufficient relationship between Hedley P fractions and the foliar P contents in tree species. This study indicates that the above soil properties can be used to ascertain soil P fractions, and that can influence the bioavailability of P from orchard soils.

Keywords: P fractionation; foliar P content; tree species; soil variables; arid region (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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