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Studies on phosphate sorption and availability in some north-east Nigerian soils showed that phosphate adsorption and inorganic-P concentrations increased considerably after the soil was heated either in a furnace or during the field-burning of straw. The increase in phosphate adsorption after heating was thought to be caused by an increase in free Fe and A1 oxides, whereas the high contents of exchangeable Ca and possibly carbonates and hydroxyl ions in the ash were probably responsible for the increase in phosphate sorption after field-burning of straw.Investigations into the availability of P to maize over a 7-d period of growth showed that there was no significant nutritional benefit from the P released after soil heating. The effect of heating was to increase P sorption and so reduce P i n solution and P availability.

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