HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Bowman, R. A. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Bowman, R. A. Agricola Articles by Bowman, R. A.

A Rapid Method to Determine Total Phosphorus in Soils

USDA-ARS, Crops Research Lab., Colorado State Univ., Fort Collins, CO 80526

*Corresponding author.

ABSTRACT

Present methods for extracting total phosphorus (P) from soil samples are tedious and time consuming. A rapid and precise extraction procedure was developed in which sequential additions of concentrated H₂SO₃, H₂O₂, and HF were made to soil samples. This was followed by 10 min of heating ( 423 K) to eliminate excess peroxide. The entire procedure required about 30 min. The proposed method was compared to standard Na₂CO₃-fusion and HClO₄-extraction methods. Almost equal amounts of P were extracted by the proposed and Na₂CO₃-fusion methods. About 7% less P was found in HClO₄ extracts. In the proposed method, treatment with H₂O₂ was used to oxidize P associated with the organic carbon. Treatment with HF was necessary to solubilize P associated with the aluminosilicate minerals found in sandy soils that are low in organic C. The proposed method is not only more rapid than those previously used, but is easily performed at minimal cost with simple laboratory equipment. It is especially useful for analyzing small numbers of soil samples, and should be useful to evaluate P dynamics in sediment transport (erosion) studies, and in soil formation and degradation studies.

Contributions from the USDA-ARS in cooperation with the Colorado State Univ. Exp. Stn.

Received for publication July 27, 1987.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				R. Uusitalo, E. Turtola, M. Puustinen, M. Paasonen-Kivekas, and J. Uusi-Kamppa Contribution of Particulate Phosphorus to Runoff Phosphorus Bioavailability J. Environ. Qual., November 1, 2003; 32(6): 2007 - 2016. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Buehler, A. Oberson, I. M. Rao, D. K. Friesen, and E. Frossard Sequential Phosphorus Extraction of a 33P-Labeled Oxisol under Contrasting Agricultural Systems Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J., May 1, 2002; 66(3): 868 - 877. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				Y. Sui and M. L. Thompson Phosphorus Sorption, Desorption, and Buffering Capacity in a Biosolids-Amended Mollisol Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J., January 1, 2000; 64(1): 164 - 169. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				Y. Sui, M. L. Thompson, and C. Shang Fractionation of Phosphorus in a Mollisol Amended with Biosolids Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J., September 1, 1999; 63(5): 1174 - 1180. [Abstract] [Full Text]