Abstract
Purpose: To expand research on soil phosphorus. Little is known about the concentrations of phosphorus fractions in the phosphorus-deficient area of the Yamuna River bank in Prayagraj. To overcome this gap, we suggest the exploitation of soil phosphorus fractions from soil samples in the study area.
Methods: We analysed 24 soil samples from four different depths at six different sites in agricultural fields around the Yamuna River. Samples were analysed, and different phosphorus fractions were sequentially extracted, followed by UV Spectrometry analysis of individual P fractions.
Results: We found that P-deficient soils were neutral in pH and low in salinity. Among the P fractions, calcium-P was the most predominant, followed by Fe-P, S-P, Occl-P, Red-P, and Al-P. The Overall results showed that available P, organic P, and Total-P decreased with increasing depth, whereas calcium P was significantly positively correlated with organic carbon ( r = 0.55*) and available nitrogen ( r = 0.55*), and significantly negatively correlated with clay (r = -0.32*), pH ( r = -0.22*), and EC ( r = -0.23*). Howe ever Occulated-P is a major contributing factor to the availability of P in soils.
Conclusion: Our regression equations showed that soil pH was the main soil property influencing the different P fractions. Applying organic P fertilizers can improve the quantity of P in these soils, and if enhanced analytical techniques are applied to soil samples, it is possible to gain more detailed insights into the dynamics of phosphorus fractions.