Phosphorus plays a central role in energy cycling, is largely unavailable in soil and, unlike carbon and nitrogen, has low atmospheric inputs making the phosphorus capital of ecosystems largely dependent on the parent geologic material. Nitrogen accumulation requires an adequate supply of available phosphorus and both are associated in fairly definite proportions in soil organic matter. This study explores the extent that phosphorus in parent material is related to the accumulation of carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus in soil organic matter in natural soils in the Athabasca Oil Sands Region of northeastern Alberta. Forms, amounts and distribution of phosphorus in natural and reclaimed soils are compared statistically. Methods for determining available phosphorus are explored.

Nutrient accumulations in soil organic matter of natural soils are weakly related to amounts of phosphorus to 1 m and nutrient ratios indicate that the systems are not currently stressed for phosphorus. Tailings sand used in reclamation have a diminished capacity for providing available phosphorus.