The effect of some organic acids on phosphorus solubility in soils

Abstract

The study on the solubility of phosphorus in three soil types of California (ranging frm ac id to calcareous soils) by three organic ligands (fumarate, oxalate and citrate) showed that important quantities are solubilized by these acids. Oxalic acid prove d to be more effective in solubilizing P than citric and f'umar ic acids for Hugo and Calera soils. However, for Linne soil citrate proved superior over the other two ligands. For all the soils, an increase in the concentration of organic ligand resulted in an increase in solubilized Phosphorus. Such an increase was more pronounc ed for calcareous soil (Linne) than was the case for the other non-calcareous soils.