Phosphorus Fixation in Nilgiri Soils
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Author:Κ. Κ. ΜΑΤHAN and D. JOHN DURAIRAJ
p-ISSN:0024-9602, e-ISSN:2582-5321, Vol:54, Issue:feb-feb
DOI: https://doi.org/10.29321/MAJ.10.A03720
Abstract
Rorty (1946) as quoted by McKelvy et al (1953) declared
rightly that phosphorus is the bottleneck of world's hunger. Acid soils as
those found in the Nilgiris pose an economic problem, due to the undesirable
nature of the transformation, phosphorus undergoes in acid soils. The
applied phosphorus is rapidly fixed as insoluble and unavailable compounds.
The native reserve of phosphorus also remains unavailable due to the
acid conditions which prevent the sesquioxidio phosphates from being released
as phosphorus in available forms, as is possible in a limed soil. The magni-
tude of this problem of phosphorus unavailability can be seen from the
abnormal rate of 214 lb of P₂O, in the Nanjanad mixture used extensively
on the Nilgiris, though a normal potato crop removes on an average 40 lb
P₂O, per acre. Detailed information regarding the phosphorus fixation
problem in the Nilgiris is not available. Therefore, a detailed study of the
tract is indispensable to supply information on this aspect.
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