South Africa - Inkaba.org
South Africa - Inkaba.org
South Africa - Inkaba.org
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Correlation between agronomic and environmental<br />
phosphorus analyses of selected soils<br />
M.M. Nthejane 1 , C.C. du Preez 2 , C W van Huyssteen 3<br />
1. Department of Soil, Crop and Climate Sciences, University of the Free State, P O Box 339, Bloemfontein<br />
9300, Republic of <strong>South</strong> <strong>Africa</strong>, mabatho@rocketmail.com<br />
2. Department of Soil, Crop and Climate Sciences, University of the Free State, P O Box 339, Bloemfontein<br />
9300, Republic of <strong>South</strong> <strong>Africa</strong>, dpreezcc@ufs.ac.za<br />
3. Department of Soil, Crop and Climate Sciences, University of the Free State, P O Box 339, Bloemfontein<br />
9300, Republic of <strong>South</strong> <strong>Africa</strong>, vhuystc@ufs.ac.za<br />
ABSTRACT<br />
Phosphorus from cropped soils is regarded as a major contributor to the eutrophication of water. The challenge is<br />
therefore to manage soil phosphorus so that crop productivity is maintained and if possible increased without<br />
severe pollution of water. Many reliable soil phosphorus tests have been developed from a crop nutritional<br />
viewpoint. This is not the case from a water protection angle, mainly due to a lack of suitable soil phosphorus tests<br />
for this purpose. This study thus aimed to establish whether alignment between the many agronomic and few<br />
environmental soil phosphorus tests are possible. Bulk soil samples from orthic A horizons were collected in three<br />
distinct cropping areas in the Free State Province of <strong>South</strong> <strong>Africa</strong>. The areas are Jacobsdal (MAP ~ 250 mm and<br />
soil pH >7), Bloemfontein (MAP ~ 500 mm and soil pH ± 6), and Ficksburg (MAP ~ 750 mm and soil pH
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