Chemical form of inorganic phosphate in sheep faeces

Abstract

A sample of sheep faeces was shaken with solutions which differed in initial concentration, of acid, of phosphate or of calcium. Measurements of calcium and of phosphate concentration and of pH were then made and used to construct a solubility diagram. This indicated that the phosphate was present as dicalcium phosphate and that calcium carbonate was also present. This appears to be consistent with published observations on the availability of faecal phosphate to plants.