Competitive and noncompetitive adsorption of silicate and phosphate by two acid Si-deficient soils and their effects on P and Si extractability

ABSTRACT

The effects of pH on the adsorption of silicate and phosphate, either singly or in competition, by two acid soils were investigated. Both soils adsorbed two to three times more P than Si and adsorption isotherms at pH 5.0, 5.5, 6.0 and 6.5 showed that increasing pH greatly increased Si adsorption but decreased that of P. Silicate adsorption was very low below pH 5.0, increased rapidly up to pH 9–10 before decreasing again. Adsorption of P was at a maximum at pH 2.0, decreased slowly up to pH 7.0 and then more rapidly above pH 7.0. When Si and P were added at equimolar concentrations, the presence of P decreased Si adsorption between pH 6.0 and 8.0 while the presence of Si decreased P adsorption in the pH region 6.0 and 11. Addition of calcium silicate at rates equivalent to 300, 600 and 1200 kg Si ha⁻¹ resulted in a progressive increase in soil pH. Separate samples of soil were treated with Ca(OH)₂ to give the same pH values so that the effect of Si could be identified. The highest rate of Si (1200 kg ha⁻¹ which gave a pH of 6.5) caused a significant decrease in P adsorption (as determined by adsorption isotherms) and an increase in resin-extractable P but the lower rates had little effect. Addition of P to the soil as calcium phosphate at rates equivalent to 30, 60 and 100 kg P ha⁻¹ all caused a decrease in Si adsorption capacity and an increase in CaCl₂-extractable Si. It was concluded that the strategy of adding Si to lower P requirements in acid soils is not likely to be effective while addition of fertilizer P may well lower Si adsorption and promote Si desorption and its increased mobility.

KEY WORDS:

• Silicon
• silicate adsorption
• phosphate adsorption
• pH
• silicate availability
• phosphate availability

Acknowledgments

We thank Dr. G. Kingston and other members of BSES Limited for excavating and supplying the soil samples.