The effects of incubation on phosphorus desorption properties, phosphorus availability, and salinity of biosolids-amended soils

Abstract

Phosphorus (P) desorption characteristics may be altered due to the biosolids decomposition during the incubation period. In our previous work we studied the phosphorus release kinetics in biosolids-amended calcareous soils with no prior incubation. The objectives of this work were (1) to assess the phosphorus desorption behavior in soils as influenced by biosolids after 5 months of incubation and (2) to evaluate the influences of six levels of the biosolids on phosphorus availability and salinity of soil. The results showed that the biosolids addition significantly increased the soil available P and salinity. The P availability and salinity of the soils increased as level of the biosolids application increased. However, there was no significant difference between some application rates for some soils. The results indicated that the incubation can affect the factors controlling the P release rate. Also, the results showed that the soil organic matter negatively affected the P desorption rate in the biosolids-treated soils. © 2012 Springer-Verlag.