Influence of temperature dynamics on phosphorus availability in humid tropical Soils of southeastern Nigeria

Ubuoh, E. A.; Ufot, U. O.; Ezenwa, L.

doi:10.21608/jbes.2016.369622

Influence of temperature dynamics on phosphorus availability in humid tropical Soils of southeastern Nigeria

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Department of Environmental Management and Toxicology (EMT), Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria

² Department of Soil Science, Akwa Ibom State University, Uyo, Akwa Ibom, Nigeria.

10.21608/jbes.2016.369622

Abstract

This paper focused on the availability of the organic phosphorus in the humid tropical soil as influenced by the temperature
dynamic in Imo State using forest and grassland at different soil depths. The result indicated that , the mean soil temperature
dynamic in forested and grassland soils varied between 23.6-28.4oC during dry season and , wet season varied between 17-
21.2oC with grassland recorded the highest mean values for the two seasons impinging upon the presence and activities of
microorganisms in the soil. The phosphorus fraction recorded higher in the tropical forest topsoil during dry and wet
season compared with the grass covered soil both having the mean values of (P) ranging between 1.7 -2.13 (mg.kg-1
) and
1.04-6.00 (mg.kg-1
) respectively. Also, tropical forested soil released Ca2
+
, Mg2+, and K+
from the litter layer because of a
light to moderate temperature that retained on negative charges of the intact humus of the underlying soil. It was also
observed that, both forest and grassland soils were highly acidic ranging between mean pH5.3-5.8 during dry and wet
seasons respectively, but did not affect the formation of phosphorus in forest soil understudied. These therefore called for
better farm practice (BFP).

Keywords