THE USE OF 8-HYDROXY QUINOLINE (OXINE) IN THE EXTRACTION OF SOIL ORGANIC PHOSPHORUS

A mild laboratory procedure, employing oxine in a water-benzene system, for the release of organic phosphorus from two unimproved pasture soils differing widely in total phosphorus, ratio of organic to inorganic phosphorus, pH, calcium content and clay content, is described.Data are presented showing the influence of the following factors on the amount of phosphorus released: soil to water ratio, the pH of the extraction medium, and the soil pretreatments. Under the more favourable conditions the two soils released 75 and 86 per cent of their total organic phosphorus respectively.