Sorption capacity of phosphate in mineral soils: I Estimation of sorption capacity by means of sorption isotherms

The sorption capacity of phosphate in seven soil samples (clay content 1—70 %, organic carbon content 0.8—10.7 %, soil pH 4.2—5.3, oxalate-extractable Al 11—222 and Fe 11—202 mmol/kg soil) was studied by means of sorption isotherms. The soils were equilibrated, for two to seven days at +5 and +20°C, with solutions containing phosphate 0—10 mmol/l (0—200 mmol/kg soil) at a constant ionic strength of 0.01 . Prolongation of the reaction time increased the sorption of phosphate only partially. The rise in temperature, from +5 to +20°C, increased the sorption from higher phosphate concentrations. At +20°C, the sorption curves of three soils showed a sorption maximum of 4, 19 and 34 mmol/kg soil. The sorption data of six soils was in accordance with the Langmuir equation; the sorption maximum ranged from 15 to 119 mmol/kg soil, and were of the same magnitude as the maximums determined experimentally.