Phosphorus Adsorption and Its Correlation with Physicochemical Properties of Volcanic-Influenced Soils of Meupi-Awing in Northwest Cameroon

This study evaluated the physicochemical properties and phosphorus adsorption characteristics of surface soils (0–30 cm) of Meupi on the flank of Mount Lefo-Awing. In volcanic-influenced soils, usually characterized by high acidity, phosphorus is often not readily available to plants, and this deficit tends to limit plant growth. Soil physicochemical properties and phosphorus adsorption studies were carried out using standard techniques. Results of soil physicochemical studies showed that the soils were strongly acidic (pH ranged from 4.7 to 5.1), with low available phosphorus (5.47 to 6.97 mg/kg). The apparent equilibrium time for phosphorus to be adsorbed in the analyzed soils was 24 hours. Phosphorus sorption studies revealed that the rate of phosphorus adsorption increased with an increase in the concentration of added phosphorus but decreased at a certain level at higher concentrations because the soil had no more capacity to adsorb phosphorus. The degree of fitness (R2) of the phosphorus adsorption data for the different adsorption models was in the order Langmuir