Factors affecting the estimation of phosphate esters in soil

Methods available for the determination of organic phosphate in soils are critically reviewed. Differences between the behaviour of an acid and a calcareous soil are shown. The procedure of Mehta et al.2 is modified by use of a mild alkaline extraction before the acid extraction to obviate the hydrolysis of inositol hexaphosphate, glycerophosphate, glucose‐1‐phosphate and nucleic acids.