Weathering Intensity and Presence of Vegetation Are Key Controls on Soil Phosphorus Concentrations: Implications for Past and Future Terrestrial Ecosystems

Phosphorus (P) is an essential limiting nutrient in marine and terrestrial ecosystems. Understanding the natural and anthropogenic influence on P concentration in soils is critical for predicting how its distribution in soils may shift as climate changes. While it is known that P is sourced from bedrock weathering, relationships between weathering, P, and other soil-forming factors have not been quantified at continental scales, limiting our ability to predict large-scale changes in P concentrations. Additionally, while we know that Fe oxide-associated P is an important P phase in terrestrial environments, the range in and controls on soil Fe concentrations and species (e.g., Fe in oxides, labile Fe) are poorly constrained. Here, we explore the relationships between soil P and Fe concentrations, soil order, climate, and vegetation in over 5000 soils, and Fe speciation in ca. 400 soils. Weathering intensity has a nuanced control on P concentrations in soils, with P concentrations peaking at intermediate weathering intensities (Chemical Index of Alteration, CIA~60). The presence of vegetation (but not plant functional types) affected soils’ ability to accumulate P. Contrary to expectations, P was not more strongly associated with Fe in oxides than other Fe phases. These results are useful both for predicting changes in potential P fluxes from soils to rivers under climate change and for reconstructing changes in terrestrial nutrient limitations in Earth’s past. In particular, soils’ tendency to accumulate more P with the presence of vegetation suggests that biogeochemical models invoking the evolution and spread of land plants as a driver for increased P fluxes in the geological record may need to be revisited.

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The effect of point application of fertilizerson the soil environment of spread line windrows in the Krušné hory Mts

Journal of Forest Science ◽

10.17221/66/2009-jfs ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 56 (No. 5) ◽

pp. 195-208 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

D. Vavříček ◽

J. Pecháček ◽

P. Jonák ◽

P. Samec

Keyword(s):

Large Scale ◽

Cultural Practices ◽

Soil Phosphorus ◽

The Other ◽

Soil Environment ◽

Growth Environment ◽

Soil P ◽

Humus Substances ◽

Top Soil ◽

Low Phosphorus

The plateau of the Kru&scaron;né hory Mts. belongs to areas that suffered the greatest damage caused by air-pollution stresses in Europe. A part of cultural practices aimed at the reconstruction of local mountain forests was the inconsiderate use of bulldozer technologies for the preparation of sites for forest stand restoration. In the course of large-scale scarification the top-soil horizons were moved into line windrows, which caused marked degradation of the soil environment. The present revitalization of the soil environment is based on the principle of spreading these man-made windrows. Experimental plots were established in localities affected by scarification; the organomineral material from windrows was superimposed on them and subsequently they were reforested with Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.). In 2005 the point application of fertilizer tablets of Silvamix type in three treatments and calcic dolomite was performed into the rhizosphere of plants. Before fertilization and after three years of the experiment soil samples were taken from the organomineral zone of the root balls of plants, and the condition of the soil environment on spread windrows and changes in pedochemical properties as a result of applied fertilization were evaluated. Three years after the windrow spreading the content of the majority of soil macrobiogenic elements (N, K, Ca, Mg) is at the level of medium-high to high reserves, and only the low phosphorus reserves pose a certain hazard. The organomineral substrate of spread windrows is a suitable growth environment for the root systems of target tree species. The proportion of humus substances is the most important factor in spread windrows from which the characteristics of the other parameters of soil are derived. Along with the higher proportion of humus substances in &Scaron;pičák locality significantly higher reserves of major macrobiogenic elements (N, P, K, Ca, Mg) were determined. The applied fertilizers of Silvamix type significantly increased the reserves of soil P, K, Ca, Mg and are a suitable means for the stimulation of spruce plantations in the restored environment of the Kru&scaron;né hory Mts. Silvamix Forte fertilizer tablets are the most complex fertilizer with the most balanced effects that significantly increases the reserves of soil P, Mg and K. This fertilizer has a high effect on an increase in the reserves of soil phosphorus that may be deficient in conditions of spread windrows. Silvamix R is the most efficient fertilizer to increase potassium reserves. A positive effect of calcic dolomite on an increase in Ca and Mg content was observed while no such effect on the other elements was recorded.  

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Reviews and syntheses: Ironing out wrinkles in the soil phosphorus cycling paradigm

Biogeosciences ◽

10.5194/bg-17-5309-2020 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (21) ◽

pp. 5309-5333

Author(s):

Curt A. McConnell ◽

Jason P. Kaye ◽

Armen R. Kemanian

Keyword(s):

Soil Phosphorus ◽

Phosphorus Cycling ◽

Organic P ◽

New Techniques ◽

Inorganic P ◽

Soil P ◽

Plant System ◽

P Sorption ◽

Biogeochemical Models ◽

Critical Challenge

Abstract. Soil phosphorus (P) management remains a critical challenge for agriculture worldwide, and yet we are still unable to predict soil P dynamics as confidently as that of carbon (C) or nitrogen (N). This is due to both the complexity of inorganic P (Pi) and organic P (Po) cycling and the methodological constraints that have limited our ability to trace P dynamics in the soil–plant system. In this review, we describe the challenges for building parsimonious, accurate, and useful biogeochemical models that represent P dynamics and explore the potential of new techniques to usher P biogeochemistry research and modeling forward. We conclude that research efforts should focus on the following: (1) updating the McGill and Cole (1981) model of Po mineralization by clarifying the role and prevalence of biochemical and biological Po mineralization, which we suggest are not mutually exclusive and may co-occur along a continuum of Po substrate stoichiometry; (2) further understanding the dynamics of phytate, a six C compound that can regulate the poorly understood stoichiometry of soil P; (3) exploring the effects of C and Po saturation on P sorption and Po mineralization; and (4) resolving discrepancies between hypotheses about P cycling and the methods used to test these hypotheses.

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Patterns of nitrogen and phosphorus pools in terrestrial ecosystems in China

Earth System Science Data ◽

10.5194/essd-13-5337-2021 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (11) ◽

pp. 5337-5351

Author(s):

Yi-Wei Zhang ◽

Yanpei Guo ◽

Zhiyao Tang ◽

Yuhao Feng ◽

Xinrong Zhu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Large Scale ◽

Terrestrial Ecosystems ◽

Nutrient Concentrations ◽

Changbai Mountains ◽

Ecosystem Productivity ◽

Digital Repository ◽

Nitrogen And Phosphorus ◽

Soil P ◽

Grassland Ecosystems ◽

Phosphorus Pools

Abstract. Recent increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) and temperature relieve their limitations on terrestrial ecosystem productivity, while nutrient availability constrains the increasing plant photosynthesis more intensively. Nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) are critical for plant physiological activities and consequently regulate ecosystem productivity. Here, for the first time, we mapped N and P densities and concentrations of leaves, woody stems, roots, litter, and soil in forest, shrubland, and grassland ecosystems across China based on an intensive investigation at 4868 sites, covering species composition, biomass, and nutrient concentrations of different tissues of living plants, litter, and soil. Forest, shrubland, and grassland ecosystems in China stored 6803.6 Tg N, with 6635.2 Tg N (97.5 %) fixed in soil (to a depth of 1 m) and 27.7 (0.4 %), 57.8 (0.8 %), 71.2 (1 %), and 11.7 Tg N (0.2 %) in leaves, stems, roots, and litter, respectively. The forest, shrubland, and grassland ecosystems in China stored 2806.0 Tg P, with 2786.1 Tg P (99.3 %) fixed in soil (to a depth of 1 m) and 2.7 (0.1 %), 9.4 (0.3 %), 6.7 (0.2 %), and 1.0 Tg P (< 0.1 %) in leaves, stems, roots, and litter, respectively. Our estimation showed that N pools were low in northern China, except in the Changbai Mountains, Mount Tianshan, and Mount Alta, while relatively higher values existed in the eastern Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau and Yunnan. P densities in vegetation were higher towards the southern and north-eastern part of China, while soil P density was higher towards the northern and western part of China. The estimated N and P density and concentration datasets, “Patterns of nitrogen and phosphorus pools in terrestrial ecosystems in China” (https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.6hdr7sqzx), are available from the Dryad digital repository (Zhang et al., 2021). These patterns of N and P densities could potentially improve existing earth system models and large-scale research on ecosystem nutrients.

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Patterns of nitrogen and phosphorus pools in terrestrial ecosystems in China

10.5194/essd-2020-398 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Yi-Wei Zhang ◽

Yanpei Guo ◽

Zhiyao Tang ◽

Yuhao Feng ◽

Xinrong Zhu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Large Scale ◽

Terrestrial Ecosystems ◽

Nutrient Concentrations ◽

Changbai Mountains ◽

Ecosystem Productivity ◽

Digital Repository ◽

Nitrogen And Phosphorus ◽

Soil P ◽

Grassland Ecosystems ◽

Phosphorus Pools

Abstract. Recent increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) and temperature relieve the limitation of these two on terrestrial ecosystem productivity, while nutrient availability constrains the increasing plant photosynthesis more intensively. Nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) are critical for plant physiological activities and consequently regulates ecosystem productivity. Here, for the first time, we mapped N and P densities of leaves, woody stems, roots, litter and soil in forest, shrubland and grassland ecosystems across China, based on an intensive investigation in 4175 sites, covering species composition, biomass, and nutrient concentrations of different tissues of living plants, litter and soil. Forest, shrubland and grassland ecosystems in China stored 7665.62 × 106 Mg N, with 7434.53 × 106 Mg (96.99 %) fixed in soil (to a depth of one metre), and 32.39 × 106 Mg (0.42 %), 59.57 × 106 Mg (0.78 %), 124.21 × 106 Mg (1.62 %) and 14.92 × 106 Mg (0.19 %) in leaves, stems, roots and litter, respectively. The forest, shrubland and grassland ecosystems in China stored 3852.66 × 106 Mg P, with 3821.64 × 106 Mg (99.19 %) fixed in soil (to a depth of one metre), and 3.36 × 106 Mg (0.09 %), 14.06 × 106 Mg (0.36 %), 11.47 × 106 Mg (0.30 %) and 2.14 × 106 Mg (0.06 %) in leaves, stems, roots and litter, respectively. Our estimation showed that N pools were low in northern China except Changbai Mountains, Mount Tianshan and Mount Alta, while relatively higher values existed in eastern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau and Yunnan. P densities in plant organs were higher towards the south and east part of China, while soil P density was higher towards the north and west part of China. The estimated N and P density datasets, Patterns of nitrogen and phosphorus pools in terrestrial ecosystems in China (the pre-publication sharing link: https://datadryad.org/stash/share/78EBjhBqNoam2jOSoO1AXvbZtgIpCTi9eT-eGE7wyOk, are available from the Dryad Digital Repository (Zhang et al., 2020). These patterns of N and P densities could potentially improve existing earth system models and large-scale researches on ecosystem nutrients.

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Improved Plant Diversity as a Strategy to Increase Available Soil Phosphorus

10.24047/bc103143 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 103 (1) ◽

pp. 43-45 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Carlos Crusciol ◽

João Rigon ◽

Juliano Calonego ◽

Rogério Soratto

Keyword(s):

Crop Yields ◽

Soil Phosphorus ◽

Cropping System ◽

P Availability ◽

P Fractions ◽

Crop Species ◽

Soil P ◽

Residue Decomposition ◽

Available Soil Phosphorus ◽

Crop Residue Decomposition

Some crop species could be used inside a cropping system as part of a strategy to increase soil P availability due to their capacity to recycle P and shift the equilibrium between soil P fractions to benefit the main crop. The release of P by crop residue decomposition, and mobilization and uptake of otherwise recalcitrant P are important mechanisms capable of increasing P availability and crop yields.

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Roles of Phosphate Solubilizing Microorganisms from Managing Soil Phosphorus Deficiency to Mediating Biogeochemical P Cycle

Biology ◽

10.3390/biology10020158 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (2) ◽

pp. 158

Author(s):

Jiang Tian ◽

Fei Ge ◽

Dayi Zhang ◽

Songqiang Deng ◽

Xingwang Liu

Keyword(s):

Phosphorus Deficiency ◽

Soil Phosphorus ◽

Biological Molecules ◽

P Deficiency ◽

Soil P ◽

Soil Systems ◽

Intensively Managed ◽

Phosphate Solubilizing ◽

P Fertilizers ◽

P Cycle

Phosphorus (P) is a vital element in biological molecules, and one of the main limiting elements for biomass production as plant-available P represents only a small fraction of total soil P. Increasing global food demand and modern agricultural consumption of P fertilizers could lead to excessive inputs of inorganic P in intensively managed croplands, consequently rising P losses and ongoing eutrophication of surface waters. Despite phosphate solubilizing microorganisms (PSMs) are widely accepted as eco-friendly P fertilizers for increasing agricultural productivity, a comprehensive and deeper understanding of the role of PSMs in P geochemical processes for managing P deficiency has received inadequate attention. In this review, we summarize the basic P forms and their geochemical and biological cycles in soil systems, how PSMs mediate soil P biogeochemical cycles, and the metabolic and enzymatic mechanisms behind these processes. We also highlight the important roles of PSMs in the biogeochemical P cycle and provide perspectives on several environmental issues to prioritize in future PSM applications.

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Investigating Fast- and Slow-settling Phosphorus Fractions in Lakes using Steady-state Modeling

10.5194/egusphere-egu21-13910 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Hamed Khorasani ◽

Zhenduo Zhu

Keyword(s):

Steady State ◽

Mass Balance ◽

Large Scale ◽

Hydraulic Residence Time ◽

Simple Method ◽

Retention Models ◽

Mass Balance Models ◽

Limiting Nutrient ◽

Fast Settling ◽

P Retention

<p>Phosphorus (P) is the key and limiting nutrient in the eutrophication of freshwater resources. Modeling P retention in lakes using steady-state mass balance models (i.e. Vollenweider-type models) provides insights into the lake P management and a simple method for large-scale assessments of P in lakes. One of the basic problems in the mass balance modeling of P in lakes is the removal of P from the lake water column by settling. A fraction of the incoming P into the lake from the watershed is associated with fast-settling particles (e.g. sediment particles) that result in the removal of that fraction of P quickly at the lake entrance. However, existing models considering a constant fraction of fast-settling TP for all lakes are shown to result in overestimation of the retention of P in lakes with short hydraulic residence time. In this study, we combine a hypothesis of the fast- and slow-settling P fractions into the steady-state mass balance models of P retention in lakes. We use a large database of lakes to calibrate the model and evaluate the hypothesis. The results of this work can be used for the improvement of the prediction power of P retention models in lakes and help to better understand the processes of P cycling in lakes.</p>

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Automatic controller to water plants

Scientia Agricola ◽

10.1590/s0103-90162010000600016 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 67 (6) ◽

pp. 727-730 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Leonardo Oliveira Medici ◽

Hermes Soares da Rocha ◽

Daniel Fonseca de Carvalho ◽

Carlos Pimentel ◽

Ricardo Antunes Azevedo

Keyword(s):

Water Column ◽

Large Scale ◽

Low Cost ◽

Organic Substrate ◽

Domestic Water ◽

Plastic Tube ◽

Soil P ◽

Set Up ◽

Water Plants ◽

Water Tension

Despite the massive demand of water for plant irrigation, there are few devices being used in the automation of this process in agriculture. This work evaluates a simple controller to water plants automatically that can be set up with low cost commercial materials, which are large-scale produced. This controller is composed by a ceramic capsule used in common domestic water filters; a plastic tube around 1.5 m long, and a pressostate used in domestic washing machines. The capsule and the pressostate are connected through the tube so that all parts are filled with water. The ceramic capsule is the sensor of the controller and has to be placed into the plant substrate. The pressostate has to be placed below the sensor and the lower it is, the higher is the water tension to start the irrigation, since the lower is the pressostate the higher is the water column above it and, therefore, the higher is the tension inside the ceramic cup to pull up the water column. The controller was evaluated in the control of drip irrigation for small containers filled with commercial organic substrate or soil. Linear regressions explained the relationship between the position of pressostate and the maximum water tension in the commercial substrate (p < 0.0054) and soil (p < 0.0001). Among the positions of the pressostate from 0.30 to 0.90 m below the sensor, the water tension changed from 1 to 8 kPa for commercial substrate and 4 to 13 kPa for the soil. This simple controller can be useful to grow plants, applying water automatically in function of the water tension of the plant substrate.

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Soil phosphorus availability and soybean response to phosphorus starter fertilizer

Revista Brasileira de Ciência do Solo ◽

10.1590/s0100-06832014000500014 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 38 (5) ◽

pp. 1487-1495 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Ciro Antonio Rosolem ◽

Alexandre Merlin

Keyword(s):

Soil Phosphorus ◽

Soil Surface ◽

Tropical Soils ◽

P Fertilization ◽

Soil P ◽

Brachiaria Ruziziensis ◽

Soluble P ◽

Surface Spread ◽

P Sources

Phosphorus fixation in tropical soils may decrease under no-till. In this case, P fertilizer could be surface-spread, which would improve farm operations by decreasing the time spend in reloading the planter with fertilizers. In the long term, less soluble P sources could be viable. In this experiment, the effect of surface-broadcast P fertilization with both soluble and reactive phosphates on soil P forms and availability to soybean was studied with or without fertilization with soluble P in the planting furrow in a long-term experiment in which soybean was grown in rotation with Ruzigrass (Brachiaria ruziziensis). No P or 80 kg ha-1 of P2O5 in the form of triple superphosphate or Arad reactive rock phosphate was applied on the surface of a soil with variable P fertilization history. Soil samples were taken to a depth of 60 cm and soil P was fractionated. Soybean was grown with 0, 30, and 60 kg ha-1 of P2O5 in the form of triple phosphate applied in the seed furrow. Both fertilizers applied increased available P in the uppermost soil layers and the moderately labile organic and inorganic forms of P in the soil profile, probably as result of root decay. Soybean responded to phosphates applied on the soil surface or in the seed furrow; however, application of soluble P in the seed furrow should not be discarded. In tropical soils with a history of P fertilization, soluble P sources may be substituted for natural reactive phosphates broadcast on the surface. The planting operation may be facilitated through reduction in the rate of P applied in the planting furrow in relation to the rates currently applied.

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Spatiotemporal dynamics of soil phosphorus and crop uptake in global cropland during the 20th century

Biogeosciences ◽

10.5194/bg-14-2055-2017 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 14 (8) ◽

pp. 2055-2068 ◽

Cited By ~ 19

Author(s):

Jie Zhang ◽

Arthur H. W. Beusen ◽

Dirk F. Van Apeldoorn ◽

José M. Mogollón ◽

Chaoqing Yu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Crop Production ◽

Soil Phosphorus ◽

Fertilizer Application ◽

P Uptake ◽

Vital Role ◽

Spatially Explicit ◽

Explicit Model ◽

Spatially Explicit Model ◽

Soil P ◽

Crop Uptake

Abstract. Phosphorus (P) plays a vital role in global crop production and food security. In this study, we investigate the changes in soil P pool inventories calibrated from historical countrywide crop P uptake, using a 0.5-by-0.5° spatially explicit model for the period 1900–2010. Globally, the total P pool per hectare increased rapidly between 1900 and 2010 in soils of Europe (+31 %), South America (+2 %), North America (+15 %), Asia (+17 %), and Oceania (+17 %), while it has been stable in Africa. Simulated crop P uptake is influenced by both soil properties (available P and the P retention potential) and crop characteristics (maximum uptake). Until 1950, P fertilizer application had a negligible influence on crop uptake, but recently it has become a driving factor for food production in industrialized countries and a number of transition countries like Brazil, Korea, and China. This comprehensive and spatially explicit model can be used to assess how long surplus P fertilization is needed or how long depletions of built-up surplus P can continue without affecting crop yield.

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