Phosphate Sorption characteristic of Soils in a Tea Growing Area in KenYa

Abstract

The relationship between P.sorption capacity and thepmpcrtiesofsoihfromfieldswhichhgvebeenundcrdiffer nutrition of tea cropping h Krgrq t-ari biri"i.rrr' Kiambg K.tyt-*""u studies in the laborator-v of the DeparEnent of Soil Science' {JnivetsityofNairobiKenya- This is useful for the determination of the phosphorus fertilizerrequirementandalsnforthe estiblishmeut of phosphorus fcrtilizers practics. 'fhe soil from the field wilh the highest daration under tea cmpping had the highest acllity and P-sorptio, op"ity. The correlation ccefEcbnt betwen P'sorption capacity (P-sorpti'on maximum) and the property of the soibier.e found to be sigrrificant (Ps0.05) (posilively) only with oxaLrte (annrphous) rnd dithi'onite (hee oxide) extractable iron (Fe). Sigrilicant ir=o.os) positive correlatiou coe(Iicients was with the snm of dithi'onite er.tractablc Fe and aluminium (At). It was concluded thri the sum of dithionite extractable Fe and Al b the best indir;ators of P-sorption capacity of soib nuder tes for dinlerent durations' It b more impofiant thar any othcr soil prop€rty'