FRACTIONAL RECOVERY OF APPLIED PHOSPHORUS IN SOILS OF KOGI STATE, NORTH CENTRAL NIGERIA

Ten composite surface soil samples representing the distinct geological formation of Kogi state north central Nigeria were treated with various concentration levels of phosphorus and the amount of phosphorus measured at intervals of 1, 28 and 42 days. The phosphorus fixing capacities of the soils increased with increasing levels of P addition and equilibration time. At 1 day, phosphorus fixation capacities estimated by fractional recovery ranged from 2 to 49% and at 42 days observation it varied from 27 to 63%, respectively. The amount of phosphorus required to raised the value of Bray P-1 by 1mgL^-1 (Fertilizer factor) at 42 days varied from 1.25 to 5/25 1mgL^-1 with a corresponding mean of 2.371mgL^-1  The fertilizer faction seemed to provide a useful guideline of obtaining the phosphorus fertilizer needs of the soil.