A SIMPLIFIED METHOD FOR LABORATORY SOIL ANALYSIS

Abstract

The research goal was to develop a simplified method for estimating the available phosphorus for
routine analysis. This study compared the measured Soil-P using the ICP-NaHCO3 with the simplified extraction
method (SM-P). The correlation (r=0.99) and the regression(using XLSTAT-Pro) were employed for comparing
the data of available phosphorus content in soil samples for a variety of Moroccan soil types, with contrasted
physicochemical characteristics: Ali Moumen, Oued Qibane, Ouled Said, Dower Hbata, Dower Lhfaya, and Had
Ghoualem (are located using ArcGIS 10.1 and fertiMap). SM-P is most suited for soils with pH >= 7 and CaCO3
content above 5%. In this experiment, several parameters are modified, particle size, the type and degree of
mechanical agitation ,the color development solution ([(NH4)6Mo7O24.4H2O]&[ K(SbO),
C4H4O6,5H2O],1 %(w/v) (C6H8O6) ), and the adaptation of the reading at 860 nm, are improving the accuracy of
P analysis, the high correlation of this method with ICP-NaHCO3 content can be an indication for it. The results
of this experiment showed that SM-P can be the best method for predicting the available phosphorus, simple, quick,
and easy to execute.