Effects of Rice Husk Ash and Bagasse Ash on Phosphorus Adsorption and Desorption in an Alkaline Soil under Wheat–Rice System

Rice husk ash (RHA) and bagasse ash (BA) are available in large quantities in South Asian countries growing rice and sugarcane. Land application of RHA and BA is likely to influence chemistry of soil phosphorus (P) and thereby P adsorption and desorption. Laboratory studies were carried out to investigate the short-term and long-term effects of RHA and BA application on P adsorption and desorption in an alkaline soil under a wheat–rice system. Addition of RHA or BA (10 Mg ha ⁻¹) resulted in a significant decrease in P adsorption compared to the control. The decrease in P adsorption was lower when RHA and BA were applied to either rice or wheat as compared with when applied to both the crops. The BA was more effective in reducing P adsorption than RHA because of its greater P concentration. Fresh addition of RHA and BA at 1% (dry-weight basis) showed a small effect on P adsorption as compared to their long-term application. The Frendulich isotherm equation gave better fit with the experimental data than the Langmuir equation and is reliable to describe the P quantity/intensity relationships of this soil as affected by the additions of RHA and BA. The P-adsorption capacities (revealed from the Langmuir isotherms) of the unamended control, RHA, and BA (applied to both wheat and rice) were 256, 313, and 385 mg kg ⁻¹, respectively; the corresponding bonding energies for the three treatments are 0.0085, 0.0041, and 0.0026 L kg ⁻¹, respectively. Desorption of P was minimum in the control plots and maximum with BA followed by RHA, especially when applied to both the crops.