Alterations in the redox potential (Eh) of soils, as observed in hydromorphic soils, cause significant alterations in the chemical and mineralogical soil characteristics and have a strong influence on the behavior of P, altering the ratio of the labile and non-labile forms. The purpose of this study was to verify the effect of conditions of low Eh on the dissolution/reversibility of non-labile P forms and solubilization/behavior of Fe and Al oxyhydroxides. Samples of 11 soils were incubated with 300 mg kg-1 P for 30 days. Then the labile P was exhausted by successive extractions with anion exchange resin (AER). In a next step, the samples were treated by microbial reduction with 0.1 mol L-1 sucrose for 60 days, with solution exchanges every 15 days. The results were compared with others where the same P dose was applied after microbial reduction, followed by successive AER extractions of labile P. In both conditions the Eh and pH values, Fe, Al and P contents were measured in the sucrose solution in equilibrium with the soils, at the end of each period of 15 days when the solution was changed. The original untreated soil samples were also subjected to complexation/reduction with ammonium oxalate (Ox) or with sodium citrate-dithionite-bicarbonate (CDB). Four successive extractions with Ox and two with CDB were performed and values of Eh and pH and Fe, Al and P concentrations were determined after each extraction for both methods. Thereafter, 300 mg kg-1 P was applied to the residual soil samples of the Ox and CDB treatments. The decrease of Eh values due to sucrose addition or extractions with Ox and CDB did not favor the reversibility of non-labile P forms. P addition to the soil apparently resulted in a greater stability of goethite, which restricted the interference with Eh value, and also stabilized gibbsite, which ceased to influence the soil pH. Results led to the hypothesis that the applied P has a restrictive effect on the behavior of oxyhydroxides.
redox potential; oxalate; CDB; iron and aluminum oxyhydroxides; flooding
