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Research article - Peer-reviewed, 2013

Phosphorus in Agricultural soils around the Baltic Sea

Eriksson, Ann Kristin; Ulen, Barbro; Berzina, Laime; Iitals, Arvo; Janssons, Viestur; Sileika, Anatanas; Toomsoo, Avo

Abstract

In this study, we investigated the phosphorus (P) content of Baltic soils. In the first set of analyses, 99 soil samples from the Baltic states and Sweden (soil set 1, representing seven different catchments or experimental plots) were analysed for soil P using four extraction methods: ammonium lactate (P-AL) P double lactate (P DL) Mehlich 3 (PM3) and carbonate (P Olsen) (r=0.85-0.97) In abolute values,results from PM3, PDL and P Olsen gave means of 71, 61 and 20%, respectively, of the values from the PAL extraction method. Significantly different relationships were found between P soil concentrations and  pH of the extract. In addition, soil pH and organic matter content were found to be of importance. Secondly, we tested 110 soil samples (soil set 2) from five different Swedish monitoring fields with clay soils where PAL clearly correlated with soil P extracted in calcium chloride (PCaCl2) (R= 0.95). Values of a single-point phosphorus sorption index (PSI) correlated with the aluminium concentration (AlAL) tests with different extraction agents - calcium chloride (PCaCL2w) water (Pw), POlsen or PAL - correlated with the mean annual flow-weighted concentration (1999–2010) of dissolved reactive P (DRP) in drainage water. Neither was there any clear relationship between DRP concentration in drainage water and these tests combined with PSI or with other sorption indices including extracted Al and iron (Fe). However, DRP was related to the clay content of the topsoil (r = 0.91, P < 0.05).

Published in

Soil Use and Management
2013, volume: 29, number: Suppl. 1, pages: 5-14

Authors' information

Eriksson, Ann Kristin
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Soil and Environment
Ulen, Barbro
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Soil and Environment
Berzina, Laime
Latvia University of Agriculture
Iitals, Arvo
Tallinn University of Technology
Janssons, Viestur
Latvia University of Agriculture
Sileika, Anatanas
Lithuanian University of Agriculture
Toomsoo, Avo
Estonian University of Life Sciences

UKÄ Subject classification

Environmental Sciences related to Agriculture and Land-use

Publication Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1475-2743.2012.00402.x

URI (permanent link to this page)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/39230