Dynamics of soil phosphorus measured by ammonium lactate extraction as a function of the soil phosphorus balance and soil properties

Summary

This paper evaluates ammonium lactate extraction—a standard soil phosphorus testing method in European laboratories—by examining its response to cumulative soil phosphorus balance and variation across soil properties. The authors present evidence on how reliably this extraction method reflects phosphorus availability under different soil conditions, with implications for interpreting soil test results in agricultural management. The findings help clarify the utility and limitations of this routine analytical method for assessing plant-available phosphorus.

UK applicability

The findings are directly applicable to UK agricultural practice, as ammonium lactate extraction is widely used by UK soil testing laboratories. The results inform interpretation of routine soil phosphorus tests and phosphorus fertiliser recommendations under British soil conditions.

Key measures

Ammonium lactate extractable phosphorus; soil phosphorus balance (cumulative inputs and outputs); soil properties (pH, texture, organic matter, iron and aluminium content)

Outcomes reported

The study measured how ammonium lactate extraction responds to cumulative soil phosphorus balance (inputs minus outputs) across diverse soil types. It quantified the relationship between extracted phosphorus and soil properties to assess the utility of this widely-used European soil testing method.

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