Distribution of Different Inorganic forms of Phosphorus in Rice Soils of West Bengal

The distribution of different forms of soil phosphorus in rice soils of West Bengal was studied in nineteen surface soils collected from lowland rice fields in different districts of West Bengal. The total phosphorus ranged from 177.1 to 543.7 ppm with a mean value of 311.6 ppm. The organic phosphorus constituted about 34.7 per cent of the total amount. Both total and organic phosphorus were found to be significantly correlated with organic matter. Al-P, Fe-P, Ca-P, reductant soluble Fe-P and occluded Al-P fractions constituted about 7.2, 27.8, 46.6, 16.2 and 2.2 per cent respectively of the total inorganically bound phosphorus. All these P-fractions were found to be significantly correlated with total Fe content. Truog's and Bray's available P were significantly correlated with Al-P and Ca-P.