Despite relatively high levels of total P, most deeply-weathered tropical soils have very low levels of available P due to the low solubility of most P forms found in these soils. In this research we studied P adsorption of soils, some of which were rich in apatite, developed from basic to ultrabasic volcanic rocks in the Upper Paranaíba region of Minas Gerais State, in relation to the specific surface and clay mineralogy. Samples of eleven B horizons from representative Latosols (Oxisols) and Cambisols (Inceptisols) were used. Standard chemical, physical, and mineralogical characterizations were realized, as well as the determination of maximum P adsorption capacity (PMAC), specific surface (SS) by the BET-N2 and indirect methods, and the quantification of individual clay minerals by allocation. The sum of the SS values obtained by the indirect method for each mineral overestimated the results, compared with the SS values obtained by the BET-N2 method for the total clay fraction. Among the studied Latosols, exhibiting varying textures and basic-alkaline to ultrabasic parent materials, the proportion and surface area of gibbsite and goethite appeared closely related to P adsorption. The range of PMAC values for the fine earth (< 2 mm) fraction was also consistent with values reported in literature, although the Red-Yellow Latosol derived from ultrabasic rock (fine earth PMAC = 2.98 mg g-1 and PMACclay = 4.38 mg g-1) was similar to values of alophanic subtropical soils derived from volcanic ash. The PMACclay values were greater in the Cambisols derived from ultrabasic volcanics (4.32 and 5.52) than in those derived from tuffites (3.16 mg g-1). Al-isomorphic substitution in goethites was found to be higher than in hematites. In contrast to the Latosols, the Cambisols presented larger variations in chemical and mineralogical attributes, as well as in PMAC values; this is attributed to their varied parent materials and lower weathering degree of the Cambisols.
P sorption; Fe-oxides; Oxisols; Inceptisols; Al-oxides
