Phosphorus fractions of soils under Lotus corniculatus as affected by different phosphorus fertilizers

The objective of this work was to assess the changes of soil P fractions by Lotus corniculatus and to determine contribution of each fraction to plant P nutrition. Phosphorus was added at a rate of 240 mg/pot as triple superphosphate (20% P), phosphate rock (13% P), or poultry litter (2% P) to a Vertisol or an Inceptisol; a control treatment (without P fertilizer) was also included. Then, L. corniculatus was sowed and harvested eight times; both yields and P content of plant were determined at each harvest. Soil P fractions were determined by Hedley’s modified method. The content of labile and moderately labile P [anionic exchange membrane-Pi (AEM-Pi), NaHCO3-Pi, and NaOH-Pi] fractions were markedly reduced and were probably due to P uptake by plants. The content of the HCl-Pi fraction of the phosphate-rock-treated soil decreased whereas that of the residual P fraction was not modified. The content of organic forms increased in all treatments. The content of both labile organic P and moderately labile organic P were positively and significantly correlated with the P concentration of roots and with roots biomass, suggesting that the increase in these two organic fractions was related to root production. AEM-Pi accounted for 95% and 84% of absorbed P in Vertisol and Inceptisol, respectively.