Phosphorus availability indices in relation to phosphorus fractions in some acid soils of Jharkhand

Five extractants were tried viz. Olsen, Bray(1), Bray(2). Truog and Das(2) to assess the available P status of some entisols, inceptisols and alfisols of Jharkhand. The extracting power of different extractants was, in the order: Das2 > Truog > Bray(2) > Olsen > Bray(1). Various P fractions did not follow any definite pattern with deptt. The Ca-P was the dominant inorganic mineral fraction of P (20.6% of the total P) in the soil studied. The extracted amounts of P by various extractants were correlated with P fraction as well as soil properties. Red-sol-P is the most important fraction governing the available P in soils followed by Ca-P. Olsen and Bray(2) extractants were consistent in extracting P from specific P fraction than the other three extractants.