Characterization of soil phosphate status, sorption and saturation in paddy wetlands in usangu basin-Tanzania

Abstract: 
Phosphorus (P) is a vital plant macronutrient required for plant growth which usually available in limited amount. P availability for plant uptake in highly weathered soil is controlled by soil erosion and high fixation. The availability of P applied from fertilizers depend on the soil pH, soil sorption capacity (PSC) and P saturation status (PSD), which determines P storage, losses, fixation, and additional P to be added with minimal loss to the environment. PSC and PSD are agro-environmental indicators used to estimate P availability and P loss to the environment. However, PSC and PSD of agricultural soils had been never studied in Tanzanian soils. This study was conducted to assess and estimate P availability, PSC and PSD and the risks of P losses in tropical soils from Usangu basin popular for paddy farming. In total, 198 soil samples from 10 paddy irrigation schemes were collected (NovembereDecember 2019) and analyzed for inherent P (PM3), metal oxides of Aluminium (AlM3), iron (FeM3), and calcium (CaM3) as main PSC and PSD determinant. The determined concentrations were in range of; PM3 01 4.9e974.69 mg/kg, AlM3 234.56e3789.36 mg/kg, FeM3 456.78e2980.23 mg/kg, and CaM3 234.67e973.34 mg/kg. Estimated PSCM3 ranged 5.62e34.85 mmol/kg with a mean value of 14.14 mmol/kg corresponding to high status, ensuring high P holding capacity for plant uptake. However, some soils had very low PSCM3 creating a risk of P loss to environment. Among soils, the estimated PSDM3 ranged from 0.01 to 17.57% and was below (<24%), indicating low P loss risks to surface and groundwater, however, some soils were observed to have PSDM3 above 15% which correspond to a critical degree of phosphate saturation of 25% in a watershed using oxalate extraction method. Therefore some sites were associated with high P loss to the environment, immediate and precautionary actions for sustainable P management to increase productivity, environ- mental safety and sustainability are needed to be in place.
Language: 
English
Date of publication: 
2021
Country: 
Region Focus: 
East Africa
Collection: 
Other Papers, Posters and Presentations
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Form: 
Web resource
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Extent: 
9