A comparative study of phosphate sorption in lowland soils under oxic and anoxic conditions

Lisa Heiberg, Thomas Vils Pedersen, Henning S. Jensen, Charlotte Kjærgaard, Hans Chr. Bruun Hansen

    32 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Phosphate (Pi) release due to FeIII oxide dissolution is well documented for soils undergoing reduction. The Pi sorption properties of soils in anoxic conditions are, however, still under consideration. In this investigation, Pi sorption to strictly anoxic soils was compared with oxic conditions to assess the potential of lowland soils to function as traps for Pi when flooded with drainage water. Batch sorption experiments were performed on seven minerogenic soils. Sorption to the anoxic soils was conducted after anoxic incubation, resulting in reduction of 36 to 93% of the dithionite-extractable FeIII (FeBD). Langmuir fitted Pi sorption isotherms showed a Pi release of up to 1.1 mmol kg-1 in six soils when Pi concentrations in the matrix (Psol) were lower than 10 μM. Phosphate desorption was attributed to dissolution of amorphous iron oxides, and higher pH under anoxic conditions. The point of zero net sorption (EPC0) increased 2- to 10-fold on reduction. Five soils showed higher Pi sorption capacities in the anoxic than in the oxic state at higher Psol concentrations. Solubility calculations indicated that precipitation of vivianite or similar FeII phosphates may have caused the higher sorption capacities. Use of maximum sorption capacity (Smax) is therefore misleading as a measure of Pi sorption at low Psol concentrations. The results demonstrate that none of the strongly anoxic soils, irrespective of the initial FeIII oxide content, the P saturation, and the degree of Fe III oxide reduction, could retain Pi at natural P sol concentrations in agricultural drainage water.

    Original languageEnglish
    JournalJournal of Environmental Quality
    Volume39
    Issue number2
    Pages (from-to)734-743
    Number of pages10
    ISSN0047-2425
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - Mar 2010

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