Dissolved Organic Carbon Loading Stimulates Sediment Phosphorus Mobilization and Release: Preliminary Evidence From Xiangshan Port, East China Sea

Increasing concentrations of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) have been observed in coastal ecosystems worldwide over the past decade, and tight coupling of the carbon (C) and phosphorus (P) biogeochemical cycle has been recognized in aquatic ecosystems. However, there is still no consensus regarding the potential effects of DOC loading on sediment P release. In a 2-month mesocosm experiment, we tested the effects of DOC enrichment on sediment P release in six glass aquariums. Two treatments were set: Control (without sodium acetate (Na(CH3COO)) addition) and Na(CH3COO) addition (equivalent to 5 mg C L−1). The results showed the following: 1) DOC loading stimulated sediment P mobilization and release, as indicated by increases in the labile P recorded for 7-cm-deep sediment using diffusive gradients in thin films, the flux of P across the sediment–water interface, and the total P concentrations in the overlying water; and 2) stimulated alkaline phosphatase activity, increased P-solubilizing bacteria proportion, and decreased dissolved oxygen concentration were likely the primary mechanisms behind the DOC-stimulated sediment P mobilization and release. These results provide insight into the promotion of sediment P release induced by C addition. Further studies investigating the quantitative relationships between DOC loadings and P release are needed to fully elucidate the coupled roles of C and P, especially those based on large-scale field investigations with broader C forms and loadings.

Dual Inoculation With Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi and Phosphorus Solubilizing Fungi Synergistically Enhances the Mobilization and Plant Uptake of Phosphorus From Meat and Bone Meal

Phosphorus (P) is the second most important mineral nutrient for plant growth and plays a vital role in maintaining global food security. The natural phosphorus reserves [phosphate rock (PR)] are declining at an unprecedented rate, which will threaten the sustainable food supply in near future. Rendered animal byproducts such as meat and bone meal (MBM), could serve as a sustainable alternative to meet crop phosphorus demand. Even though nitrogen (N) from MBM is readily mineralized within a few days, >75% of the P in MBM is present as calcium phosphate that is sparingly available to plants. Thus, application of MBM with the aim of meeting crop N demand could result in buildup of P reserves in soil, which necessitates the need to improve the P mobilization from MBM to achieve higher plant P use efficiency. Here, we tested the potential of two microbial inoculum-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and P solubilizing fungi (Penicillium bilaiae), in improving the mobilization of P from MBM and the subsequent P uptake by maize (Zea mays). Compared to the non-inoculated MBM control, the application of P. bilaiae increased the P mobilization from MBM by more than two-fold and decreased the content of calcium bound P in the soil by 26%. However, despite this mobilization, P. bilaiae did not increase the tissue content of P in maize. On the other hand, AMF inoculation with MBM increased the plant root, shoot biomass, and plant P uptake as compared to non-inoculated control, but did not decrease the calcium bound P fraction of the soil, indicating there was limited P mobilization. The simultaneous application of both AMF and P. bilaiae in association with MBM resulted in the highest tissue P uptake of maize with a concomitant decrease in the calcium bound P in the soil, indicating the complementary functional traits of AMF and P. bilaiae in plant P nutrition from MBM. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi inoculation with MBM also increased the plant photosynthesis rate (27%) and root phosphomonoesterase activity (40%), which signifies the AMF associated regulation of plant physiology. Collectively, our results demonstrate that P mobilization and uptake efficiency from MBM could be improved with the combined use of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and P. bilaiae.

Impact of the Legume Catch Crop Serradella on Subsequent Growth and P Mobilization under Barley in Different Fertilization Treatments

Legume catch crops can enhance soil fertility and promote the N and P supply of the subsequent main crop, especially with low mineral fertilizer use. However, the specific impact of catch crops on arbuscular mycorrhiza formation of the following main crop is unknown. Therefore, the impact of serradella (Ornithopus sativus) vs. bare fallow was tested on mycorrhiza formation, potential soil enzyme activities and plant-available P under subsequently grown barley (Hordeum vulgare) and different fertilization treatments (P-unfertilized—P0; triple superphosphate—TSP; compost—COM; combined—COM + TSP) in a long-term field experiment in northeastern Germany. Catch cropping significantly increased mycorrhiza formation of barley up to 14% compared to bare fallow. The impact of serradella on mycorrhiza formation exceeded that of the fertilization treatment. Serradella led to increased phosphodiesterase activities and decreased ß-glucosidase activities in soil. Plant availability of P was not significantly affected by serradella. These findings provide initial evidence that even serradella as a non-host crop of mycorrhizal fungi can promote the mycorrhiza formation of the subsequent crop and P mobilization in soil. We conclude that the prolonged vegetation cover of arable soils by the use of catch crops can promote P mobilization and transfer from P pools to the following main crops.

Evaluation of Potato Varieties Grown in Hydroponics for Phosphorus Use Efficiency

Global phosphate mineral resources are nonrenewable and are inevitably depleting. Exploiting elite varieties has become imperative for the efficient use of phosphorus (P) for sustainable crop production. Three potato varieties were hydroponically evaluated for P mobilization, uptake, and utilization efficiencies at different P levels and sources during 28 d seedling growth. ‘Harley Blackwell’, ‘La Chipper’, and ‘Red LaSoda’ were selected from a previous study and grown in modified Hoagland solution, with different P concentrations of soluble high P as NaH2PO4 (10 mg L−1 P), soluble low P (1 mg L−1 P), and 286 mg L−1 sparingly soluble P as tri-calcium phosphate [TCP, Ca3(PO4)2] with 2286 mg L−1 CaSO4. ‘Harley Blackwell’ and ‘La Chipper’ had significantly greater biomass than ‘Red LaSoda’ in the low P or TCP treatments. In low-P stress, P utilization efficiency was significantly greater for ‘Harley Blackwell’ than that of the other two varieties. ‘Red LaSoda’ was more efficient in P mobilization from TCP as compared to the other two cultivars. The holistic score analysis indicated that ‘Harley Blackwell’ was the most P-efficient while ‘Red LaSoda’ was the least P-efficient. The results of this study show that the TCP solution was successful for screening P-efficient potato varieties.

Mixed Growth with Weeds Promotes Mycorrhizal Colonization and Increases the Plant-Availability of Phosphorus under Maize (Zea mays L.)

(1) Background: Weed control decreases the competition for nutrients, but also the potential of increased phosphorus (P) mobilization in soils caused by higher plant diversity. (2) Methods: Impacts of weed species under maize on mycorrhizal colonization and plant-availability of P were investigated in two pot experiments. Plant traits and P mobilization were tested in weed-free maize and in mixed growth with six annual weed species. (3) Results: Growth of maize decreased in treatments with weeds, while P concentrations in its shoots increased in mixed growth with C. album, E. crus-galli and P. convolvulus. Mycorrhizal colonization of maize without weeds was low (<20% of root length), but increased in mixed growth with C. album, E. crus-galli and V. arvensis up to 40%. The activities of Pmobilizing hydrolytic enzymes (phosphatases, ß-glucosidase) and plant-availability of P were occasionally higher under mixed growth with weeds. The dimension of weed impacts on P cycling under maize differed significantly between both experiments. (4) Conclusions: Weeds potentially promote P mobilization and mycorrhizal colonization under maize, but this impact is not guaranteed. The weed-based improved P supply of maize should be defined under field conditions to allow a controlled weed tolerance in maize cropping systems.

The Cumulative Amount of Exuded Citrate Controls Its Efficiency to Mobilize Soil Phosphorus

Root exudation of citrate is discussed as mechanism to mobilize P from the soils' solid phase. Microbial processes can mitigate the mobilization efficiency of citrate. Due to higher microbial activity in topsoils compared to subsoils, we hypothesized a lower mobilization efficiency of exuded citrate in topsoils than in the subsoils. As a model system we used microdialysis (MD) probes and we followed diffusive fluxes of citrate from the perfusate into the soil and of phosphate from the soil into the dialysate in three soil horizons (Oa, Ah, Bw) of a Fagus sylvatica L. stand Cambisol. Three different MD perfusates with a KCl background concentration have been used: control, 1, and 3 mmol L−1 citric acid. Fluxes have been measured after 24, 48, and 144 h. The high-citrate perfusate increased the cumulative 144 h P-influx by a factor of 8, 13, and 113 in the Oa, Ah, and Bw horizon, respectively. With the high-citrate treatment, P mobilization efficiency decreased over time, whereas for the low citrate, P mobilization efficiency had a maximum at day 2. Minimum P mobilization efficiency of citrate was 1:25,000 mol phosphate per mol citrate in the Oa horizon between days 2 and 6, and maximum was 1:286 in the Bw-horizon during day 2. An increasing citrate efflux over time indicated an increasing sink term for citrate in the soil due to microbial decay or immobilization processes. Cumulative phosphate influx could be fitted to cumulative citrate efflux and soil horizon in a logarithmic model explaining 87% of the variability. For the first time, we could follow the localized P-uptake with citrate exudation over several days. Cumulative citrate efflux as the main control of P-mobilization has been barely discussed yet, however, it could explain some gaps in the role of carboxylates in the rhizosphere. Batch experiments are not capable to elucidate microscale dynamic competition for phosphate and carboxylates. MD is a promising tool for spatially explicit investigation of phosphate–citrate exchange, since such detailed insights in are not possible with batch experiments. In combination with the analysis of microbial properties, this technique has a huge potential to identify mobilization processes in soils as induced by citrate.

Phosphorus Source and Availability Modulate the Rhizosphere Bacterial Community Assembly in Common Bean

Background Phosphorus (P) availability is the main nutritional factor that limits crops yields in tropical soils due to edaphic processes that lead to P immobilization after mineral fertilization. Considering the potential of the rhizosphere microbiome to transform insoluble P into forms readily available for plant uptake, in this study is proposed that plants with contrasting P uptake efficiency, growing under depleted amounts of P are able to shape distinct bacterial communities in the rhizosphere enriching taxa specialized in P mobilization. Methods We selected two common bean genotypes contrasting in P efficiency uptake and grew them in a soil with a gradient of two different sources of P, triple superphosphate (TSP) or rock phosphate Bayovar (RPB). The rhizosphere bacterial community was assessed by 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing. Data analyses focused in describing the structure of the bacterial communities, identification of OTUs differentially enriched in different treatments, functional metagenomic prediction and cooccurrence network. Results P sources and levels resulted in different rhizosphere bacterial community structure. A high number of differentially enriched OTUs were observed under P depleted conditions in the P-inefficient genotype, mainly belonging to Actinobacteria phylum. The P-inefficient genotype did not show significant differences in the rhizosphere bacterial community assembly growing in different P sources. Predicted metagenome profiles showed the enrichment of bacterial functions involved in P mobilization, in the rhizosphere of the P inefficient genotype cultivated in P depleted conditions. The network analysis revealed that in the rhizosphere of the P-inefficient genotype under P depleted conditions the bacterial community has a higher number of nodes and edges, higher average degree and clustering coeficient when compared to the treatment with optimal P level. Conclusion Our data showed that the uptake of exogenous input resulted in the assembly of a P-competent microbiome in the P-inefficient genotype compared to the efficient one, supporting the hypothesis that the selective pressure for the P uptake engages P-inefficient genotypes in symbiotic relationships with the soil microbiome. These results will pave the way for future experimentation aiming at explore the contribution of this P-competent microbiome to plant growth and development in a range of soil type.

Responses of Microbiological Soil Properties to Intercropping at Different Planting Densities in an Acidic Andisol

Intercropping could increase the capacity of crops to use soil resources. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of lupin/wheat intercropping on soil properties, grain yield and nutrient uptake at different plant densities. Lupin and wheat were grown under field conditions as monocrops and intercrops. Soil nutrient availability and relative abundance of functional genes (acdS, phoD, phoC and nifH) were evaluated. The results obtained indicate that the cropping system had a significant effect (p < 0.001) on N and P availability. Lupin monocrop led to significantly higher N availability compared to intercrop. Intercropping resulted in significantly lower Olsen-P and K in soil concentrations compared to monocropping. No significant differences were observed in enzyme activity, except for phosphatase, which was 152% greater in the treatments at high plant density. Foliar nutrients were significantly higher in intercropping compared to monocropping. Acid phosphatase gene phoC was more abundant than the alkaline phosphatase gene phoD, which plays a more relevant role in acidic Andisols. The results confirm that N and P mobilization can improve nutrient absorption on wheat. When intercropped, lupin had positive effects on wheat due to its P mobilization capacity, while no effects were observed on lupin.