THE INFLUENCE OF TOPOGRAPHY ON THE DISTRIBUTION OF ORGANIC AND INORGANIC SOIL PHOSPHORUS ACROSS A NARROW ENVIRONMENTAL GRADIENT

Abstract

A sequential extraction procedure was used to determine phosphorus fractions (resin, bicarbonate, hydroxide, sonicated hydroxide, acid and acid-peroxide digest with separate organic and inorganic P determinations) in surface and subsurface horizons taken from the upper, mid- and lower slope positions of four catenas (representing Brown, Dark Brown and Black Chernozemic soils, and a Luvisolic soil) which encompass a narrow environmental gradient of climate (annual precipitation: 300–475 mm) and vegetation. Trends in the local distribution of organic and inorganic soil P between upper and lower slope positions in any one catena were similar to the regional distribution patterns across all soil zones. Concentration of organic P, in both the surface and subsurface horizons, increased from the upper to the lower slope positions and from the Brown to the Black soils, while inorganic P decreased. The largest single organic fraction (hydroxide extractable) accounted for up to 22 and 17% of the total P (surface and subsurface horizons, respectively). Acid extractable P dominated the inorganic fractions, accounting for 40–63% of the total P (surface and subsurface horizons, respectively). The distribution of organic P along the catenas and among the soil zones was related to the transformations of inorganic P caused by differences in weathering intensity between slope positions and across the Province. Key words: Catena, climo-toposequence, sequential P extraction