Phosphorus Forms and Distribution in Soils: A Comparative Study of Different Land Use Types

Year 2025, Volume: 39 Issue: 3, 649 - 657, 27.12.2025

İsaiah Ufuoma Efenudu , Olakunle Emmanuel Jayeola , Olufemi Dayo-olagbende

https://doi.org/10.15316/selcukjafsci.1613142

Abstract

Phosphorus (P) is a critical macronutrient for plant and microorganism development, playing a vital role in energy transmission, cell structure, biomass accumulation, and primary productivity. However, its low availability in tropical and subtropical soils often limits agricultural output. This study investigated phosphorus forms and distribution in soils: a comparative study of different land use types in Anyigba, Kogi State University area. Twenty-four soil samples were collected from four land uses (forest, cultivated, fallow, and built-up areas) at two depths (0-15 cm and 15-30 cm). The study employed a 4 × 3 × 2 factorial experiment in a Randomized Complete Block Design. Soil analyses revealed low levels of available P, with the highest concentration found in forest land (10.92 mg/kg) and the lowest in cultivated land (8.97 mg/kg). Phosphorus forms declined with depth, and iron-bound phosphorus (Fe-P) was the dominant inorganic phosphorus fraction. The results suggest that continuous crop cultivation leads to lower organic matter content and phosphorus concentrations in cultivated soils. This study highlights the importance of phosphorus fraction investigations in cultivated soils to inform fertilizer recommendations and boost productivity.

Keywords

Land use types , soil depths , phosphorus fractions , forest ecosystems , cultivated ecosystems.

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