Ultrasonic treatment for quantification of bioavailable phosphorus in soils and suspended sediments

Abstract

Several bioassays and chemical extraction methods have been proposed to quantify bioavailable phosphorus (BAP), but procedural and theoretical limitations have hindered their use. In this paper, we developed a method for P extraction from agricultural soil and suspended sediment by combining ultrasonic treatment with extraction by 0.1 molL−1 NaOH solution. The extraction process is less time-consuming and technically simpler than alternative conventional chemical methods. The high correlation (r = 0.97) between P extraction with the ultrasonic treatment and the conventional extraction methods suggests the new technique is a promising method for quantifying BAP in agricultural soils and suspended sediments. The method should be tested in soils and sediments that possess different characteristics to confirm the range of its applicability.