Organic phosphorus in soils with special interest in soils of the tropics

This review includes many references which are concerned primarily with organic phosphorus as present in soils of temperate regions. This is included to serve as a starting point for investigations in tropical areas. The three major topics covered are: identification and determination of specific forms of organic phosphorus; mineralization of organic phosphorous; and determination of total organic phosphorus. Less attention is given to microbiological aspects of the problem. Specifically, the author discusses and reviews the following topics: inositol phosphates; phospholipids; nucleic acids; correlation with organic nitrogen and carbon; effects of cultivation and presence of plants; effects of soil organic phosphorus-clay mineral interactions; extraction methods; ignition methods and comparative studies of extraction versus ignition methods.