Chemistry of phosphorus in soils

Abstract

Much modern soil chemistry and soil management addresses the balance between sustainable agricultural practices and protection of the environment. Achieving production and environmental goals for soil phosphorus (P) management begins with an understanding of how these goals are related to the soil P cycle, the chemical and biochemical processes that control the forms, biological availability, and mobility of soil P. The importance of advancing one’s understanding of mineral dissolution and precipitation to P bioavailability and mobility in soils can be easily illustrated. Based on one’s understanding of soil P chemistry and the processes by which P is transported from soil to water, it is relatively straightforward to outline strategies for reducing P losses from the landscape. Sharpley et al. demonstrated the relationship between soil cover, soil erosion, and, consequently, total P losses from natural runoff events in Texas and Oklahoma.