Freundlich and Langmuir Isotherm Studies of Phosphorus Sorption unto Soils Derived from Basement Complex Rock, Alluvium, Coastal Plain Sand and Shale Parent Materials

To provide information on best model to predict Phosphorus (P) Sorption unto Soils derived from Basement Complex Rock, Alluvium, Coastal Plain Sand and Imo Shale Parent Materials in 3 states of Nigeria. Completely randomized design was used to collect surface soil samples in 3 replications from 4 locations in Nigeria.

Samples were collected from Idanre, Koko, NIFOR and Uhonmora in Ondo, Delta and Edo states Nigeria, laboratory analysis was carried out in the Central analytical laboratory of Nigerian Institute for Oil-Palm Research (NIFOR) Benin City, Nigeria between march 2016 and September 2017.

Soil samples were equilibrated in 25 ml of 0.01 M CaCl2 containing various concentration of P as KH2PO4 to give 0, 50, 100, 150, 200 and 250 mg/L P for 24 hours (h) at room temperature 25 ± 2oC. 3 drops of CHCl3 was added to inhibit P mineralization. The suspension was shaken for 24 h on a reciprocating mechanical shaker, centrifuged at 7000 rpm After equilibration, decanted and P determined using spectrophotometer. The sorption data were fitted to linear Freundlich and Langmuir sorption isotherm.

Considering the Freundlich model, P adsorption capacity (a) and P sorption energy (n) was highest in soils B (1400 mg kg-1) and (2.806 L kg-1) respectively. The Freundlich model fitted better to the data obtained with average root mean square error (RMSE) and R2 value of 0.69 and 0.951 respectively, as against average RMSE and R2 value of 1.60 and 0.883 respectively obtained from Langmuir model.

The sorption data fitted well to Freundlich and Langmuir isotherms of which Freundlich Adsorption model was found to be better based on lowest RMSE (0.69) and highest regression (R2 = 0.951) value. Freundlich model should be adopted to determine P sorption characteristics of the soils studied. These predictors, however, need further works to validate reliability.