Studies on the accumulation and composition of organic matter in grassland soils, with particular reference to organic phosphorus, carbon, nitrogen and sulphur : A thesis submitted for the Degree of Master of Agricultural Science with Honours in Soil Science

Abstract

An attempt was made to study the effect of the time factor on the accumulation of organic carbon, nitrogen, sulphur and organic phosphorus, and the relationship between carbon and nitrogen, carbon and sulphur, carbon and organic phosphorus, total phosphorus and organic phosphorus, and carbon and cation exchange capacity. A study was also made on the amount of organic phosphorus in the surface layer of different soils in Canterbury and a positive correlation between carbon and organic phosphorus, and total phosphorus and organic phosphorus was obtained. It is suggested that because high levels of organic phosphorus are associated with level of phosphorus in the parent material the phosphorus situation of the whole profile is worthy of further study.