The main phosphorus transport mechanism in the soil is diffusion, which is influenced by several soil factors, such as volumetric water content, phosphorus-colloid interaction, distance between source and roots, content and temperature. The effects of the soil water content and phosphorus doses on the diffusion flow into soil were assessed in samples from the superficial layers of five soils. The treatments were arranged in a 5 x 8 x 5 factorial design corresponding, respectively, to five soils, eight moisture levels and five phosphorus doses. A completely randomized block design with four replications was used. The experimental unit was a PVC ring with a volume of 360 cm³, which acted as a diffusion chamber. Anionic exchange resin slides (IONICS 204UZRA) were utilized to assess the phosphorus diffusion flow. Results indicated that the diffusion flow was influenced by phosphorus doses and moisture content.
water; nutrient mobility; nutrient diffusion
