Do Aqua Regia and EPA 3051A methods underestimate the pseudo-total P content in clay soil fraction?

Abstract

It is common the use of 3051A and aqua regia methods to assess the pseudo-total and total P contents in soil and in its fractions. However, previous study has shown the formation of large amounts of short-range order materials (SRO) in the residues of these extractions. The objective of this work was to evaluate whether phosphate resorb in the SRO formed in the residue of 3051A and aqua regia extractions in clay soil fraction. Residues obtained from the 3051A and aqua regia were recovered from filter papers. To characterize the SRO in these residues, sequential extractions were performed with 0.2 mol L-1 ammonium oxalate and 0.5 mol L-1 NaOH. The maximum pseudo-total P content extracted by aqua regia was 6800 mg kg-1. If SRO formed during this acid extraction was not extracted , 698 mg kg-1 P would have been not accounted (underestimation of 10.3%). This high level of P resorption in the 3051A and aqua regia extraction lead to misinterpretations of P reserve in clay fraction. Phosphate resorption was mainly in SRO extracted by ammonium oxalate for both 3051A and aqua regia residues. The chemical environment of the 3051A and aqua regia extractions facilitated the inner sphere adsorption of H2PO4 - in ferrol and aluminol groups of the SRO- ammonium oxalate. There was larger resorption of H2PO4 - in the 3051A-NaOH in relation to NaOH- aqua regia.