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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 45(5)

Chemical fractionation of fluorine in soils with a long-term phosphate fertiliser history

P. Loganathan A C , Q. Liu A , M. J. Hedley A and C. W. Gray B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Fertilizer and Lime Research Centre, Institute of Natural Resources, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand.

B Marlborough District Council, 15-21 Seymour Street, Blenheim, New Zealand.

C Corresponding author. Email: p.loganathan@massey.ac.nz

Australian Journal of Soil Research 45(5) 390-396 https://doi.org/10.1071/SR07030
Submitted: 27 February 2007  Accepted: 16 July 2007   Published: 16 August 2007

Abstract

Elevated concentrations of fluorine (F) in pasture topsoils resulting from phosphorus (P) fertiliser (1–4% F) use are potentially toxic to grazing livestock if F absorption from ingested soil is high. Fluorine absorption by animals and the potential F toxicity is expected to vary depending on the chemical nature of the F in the ingested soil. In this paper we assess the solubility of F in 6 acidic topsoils (0–75 mm depth) under grazed pastures in New Zealand with widely different chemical characteristics, using a sequential soil P fractionation technique involving a cation/anion exchange resin, 0.1 m NaOH, 0.5 m H2SO4, and a residual fraction (17 m NaOH fusion). The results showed that F accumulates mainly in the NaOH-Fi fraction (inorganic F (Fi) adsorbed to Fe and Al oxides) and residual fractions (occluded F and recalcitrant organic F). In contrast, P accumulates mainly in the NaOH-Po (labile organic P fraction) and H2SO4-P (calcium phosphate compounds) fractions, with minor amounts in the NaOH-Pi fraction. The NaOH-Fo (labile organic F) fraction was not determined but the total F concentration calculated by summing all the extracted F fractions, except NaOH-Fo, was approximately equal to the total F concentration determined by NaOH fusion, indicating negligible F was in the NaOH-Fo fraction. Therefore, we suggest that the mechanisms of release of P and F in soils are different. Some of the F found in the residual fraction may have been derived from the previously extracted H2SO4-F fraction which was precipitated by the Al dissolved during H2SO4 extraction. It may therefore have been an artefact of the fractionation method.

Additional keywords: livestock, fluorosis, soil phosphorus fractions, soil fluorine fractions, labile soil fluorine.


Acknowledgments

We thank Glenys Wallace of Institute of Natural Resources, Massey University for help in some of the F analysis and Massey University Research Committee for funding part of the study.


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