Effect of Liming Acid Soils on Inorganic Transformation of Native and Added Phosphorus

Effect of timing three acid soils on the distribution of native and added P in different inorganic phosphate fractions and their lability was studied. Liming did not bring about any significant change in the relative abundance of the native inorganic phosphate fractions, but it decreased surface P and specific surface activity of native Al-P and Fe-P; effect on Ca-P was not consistent. While the retention of applied P in saloid bound form was favoured, its transformation to Al-P, Fe-P and reductant soluble forms was suppressed in limed soils; transformation to Ca-P remained unaffected in the two soils of alluvial origin and was slightly increased in the laterite one. Liming increased the surface P and specific surface activity of Al-P and Fe-P formed in the former two soils and decreased in the latter.