Evaluation of soil phosphate buffering indices

Abstract

Seven phosphate buffering indices were evaluated by determining the additional variance accounted for when each index was added to a regression of plant phosphorus uptake on labile soil phosphate. The study was done on two groups of soils: one relatively homogeneous group of 24 soils all formed on the same parent material, and a heterogeneous group of 30 soils formed on a variety of parent materials. A separate pot experiment was done on each group, ryegrass being grown on the homogeneous soils and white clover on the heterogeneous soils. Only two indices did not account for a large and significant increase in variance in phosphate uptake. The extra variance accounted for was much greater in the heterogeneous group than in the homogeneous group, although the total variance accounted for by both variables was greater in the homogeneous group. The much smaller volume of soil used in the ryegrass experiment may explain the smaller buffering effect in the homogeneous soils. The three most effective and consistent indices were a simple index of the maximum buffer capacity, determined from the Langmuir isotherm over a standard range of equilibrium solution concentrations, the slope of the isotherm at the natural solution concentration, and the amount of adsorption at a standard equilibrium concentration of 0.3 pg phosphorus/ml.