Comparison of ammonium lactate, sodium bicarbonate and double calcium lactate methods for extraction of phosphorus from wetland peat soils

Procedures for routine analysis of soil phosphorus (P) have been used for assessment of P status, distribution and P losses from cultivated mineral soils. No similar studies have been carried out on wetland peat soils. The objective was to compare extraction efficiency of ammonium lactate (PAL), sodium bicarbonate (P-Olsen), and double calcium lactate (P-DCaL) and P distribution in the soil profile of wetland peat soils. For this purpose, 34 samples of the 0-30, 30-60 and 60-90 cm layers were collected from peat soils in Germany, Israel, Poland, Slovenia, Sweden and the United Kingdom and analysed for P. Mean soil pH (CaCl2, 0.01 M) was 5.84, 5.51 and 5.47 in the 0-30, 30-60 and 60-90 cm layers, respectively. The P-DCaL was consistently about half the magnitude of either P-AL or P-Olsen. The efficiency of P extraction increased in the order P-DCaL < P-AL &LE; P-Olsen, with corresponding means (mg kg(-1)) for all soils (34 samples) of 15.32, 33.49 and 34.27 in 0-30 cm; 8.87, 17.30 and 21.46 in 30-60 cm; and 5.69, 14.00 and 21.40 in 60-90 cm. The means decreased with depth. When examining soils for each country separately, P-Olsen was relatively evenly distributed in the German, UK and Slovenian soils. P-Olsen was linearly correlated (r = 0.594, P = 0.0002) with pH, whereas the three P tests (except P-Olsen vs P-DCaL) significantly correlated with each other (P = 0.017850.0001). The strongest correlation (r = 0.617, P = 0.0001) was recorded for P-AL vs P-DCaL) and the two methods were inter-convertible using a regression equation: P-AL = -22.593 + 5.353 pH + 1.423 P-DCaL, R-2 = 0.550.

Sucrose transport in the phloem: integrating root responses to phosphorus starvation

Sugars in plants, derived from photosynthesis, act as substrates for energy metabolism and the biosynthesis of complex carbohydrates, providing sink tissues with the necessary resources to grow and to develop. In addition, sugars can act as secondary messengers, with the ability to regulate plant growth and development in response to biotic and abiotic stresses. Sugar-signalling networks have the ability to regulate directly the expression of genes and to interact with other signalling pathways. Photosynthate is primarily transported to sink tissues as sucrose via the phloem. Under phosphorus (P) starvation, plants accumulate sugars and starch in their leaves. Increased loading of sucrose to the phloem under P starvation not only functions to relocate carbon resources to the roots, which increases their size relative to the shoot, but also has the potential to initiate sugar-signalling cascades that alter the expression of genes involved in optimizing root biochemistry to acquire soil phosphorus through increased expression and activity of inorganic phosphate transporters, the secretion of acid phosphatases and organic acids to release P from the soil, and the optimization of internal P use. This review looks at the evidence for the involvement of phloem sucrose in co-ordinating plant responses to P starvation at both the transcriptional and physiological levels.

Sugar signaling in root responses to low phosphorus availability

Over the last decade, major advances have been made in our understanding of how plants sense, signal, and respond to soil phosphorus (P) availability (Amtmann et al., 2006; White and Hammond, 2008; Nilsson et al., 2010; Yang and Finnegan, 2010; Vance, 2010; George et al., 2011). Previously, we have reviewed the potential for shoot-derived carbohydrate signals to initiate acclimatory responses in roots to low P availability. In this context, these carbohydrates act as systemic plant growth regulators (Hammond and White, 2008). Photosynthate is transported primarily to sink tissues as Suc via the phloem. Under P starvation, plants accumulate sugars and starch in their leaves. Increased loading of Suc to the phloem under P starvation primarily functions to relocate carbon resources to the roots, which increases their size relative to the shoot (Hermans et al., 2006). The translocation of sugars via the phloem also has the potential to initiate sugar signaling cascades that alter the expression of genes involved plant responses to low P availability. These include optimizing root biochemistry to acquire soil P, through increased expression and activity of inorganic phosphate (Pi) transporters, the secretion of acid phosphatases and organic acids to release P from the soil, and the optimization of internal P use (Hammond and White, 2008). Here, we provide an Update to the field of plant signaling responses to low P availability and the interactions with sugar signaling components. Advances in the P signaling pathways and the roles of hormones in signaling plant responses to low P availability are also reviewed, and where possible their interactions with potential sugar signaling pathways.

Phosphate fertilization and phosphorus forms in an Oxisol under no-till

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Extraction methods and availability of phosphorus for soybean in soils from Parana State, Brazil

In studies on the evaluation of methodologies for the analysis of soil, phosphorus (P) has been the single most studied aspect, due to the complexity of this dynamic element in soil. However, these studies have been limited regarding soil conditions in Paranaa. The present study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of the Mehlich-1, Mehlich-3 and ion exchange resin methods in the evaluation of available P for soybean (Glycine max) in the soils of Paranaa State. Twelve soil samples collected from the upper 0-20 cm were planted with soybean for a period of 42 days in the greenhouse. The ability to extract soil P followed the order of decreasing average amount of extracted P: Mehlich-3 > resin > Mehlich-1. The correlation coefficients between the content of P extracted by Mehlich-1, Mehlich-3 and resin and the amount of P accumulated in the plants were 0.86, 0.90 and 0.93, respectively. Mehlich-1, Mehlich-3 and resin showed similar efficiency in the evaluation of P availability to plants and, under conditions of natural fertility and in soils that had received no application of poorly natural reactive phosphates, can be used to quantify the concentrations of P in the soils of Parana State.

The significance of root growth on cotton nutrition in an acidic low-P soil

Toxic levels of Al and low availability of Ca have been shown to decrease root growth, which can also be affected by P availability. In the current experiment, initial plant growth and nutrition of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum var. Latifolia) were studied as related to its root growth in response to phosphorus and lime application. The experiment was conducted in Botucatu, Sao Paulo, Brazil, in pots containing a Dark Red Latosol (Acrortox, 20% clay, 72% sand). Lime was applied at 0.56, 1.12 and 1.68 g kg -1 and phosphorus was applied at 50, 100 and 150 mg kg -1. Two cotton (cv. IAC 22) plants were grown per pot for up to 42 days after plant emergence. There was no effect of liming on shoot dry weight, root dry matter yield, root surface and length, but root diameter was decreased with the increase in soil Ca. Shoot dry weight, as well as root length, surface and dry weight were increased with soil P levels up to 83 mg kg -1. Phosphorus concentration in the shoots was increased from 1.6 to 3.0 g kg -1 when soil P was increased from 14 to 34 mg kg -1. No further increases in P concentration were observed with higher P rates. The shoot/root ratio was also increased with P application as well as the amount of nutrients absorbed per unit of root surface. In low soil P soils the transport of the nutrient to the cotton root surface limits P uptake. In this case an increase in root growth rate due to P fertilisation does not compensate for the low P diffusion in the soil.

Sequential extraction of phosphorus in an Oxisol amended with biosolids in a long-term field experiment in Brazil

The continued growth of large cities is producing increasing volumes of urban sewage sludge. Disposing of this waste without damaging the environment requires careful management. The application of large quantities of biosolids (treated sewage sludge) to agricultural lands for many years may result in the excessive accumulation of nutrients like phosphorus (P) and thereby raise risks of eutrophication in nearby water bodies. We evaluated the fractionation of P in samples of an Oxisol collected as part of a field experiment in which biosolids were added at three rates to a maize (Zea mays L) plantation over four consecutive years. The biosolids treatments were equivalent to one, two and four times the recommended N rate for maize crops. In a fourth treatment, mineral fertilizer was applied at the rate recommended for maize. Inorganic P forms were extracted with ammonium chloride to remove soluble and loosely bound P; P bound to aluminum oxide (P-Al) was extracted with ammonium fluoride; P bound to iron oxide (P-Fe) was extracted with sodium hydroxide; and P bound to calcium (P-Ca) was extracted with sulfuric acid. Organic P was calculated as the difference between total P and inorganic P. The predominant fraction of P was P-Fe, followed by P-Al and P-Ca. P fractions were positively correlated to the amounts of P applied, except for P-Ca. The low values of P-Ca were due to the advanced weathering processes to which the Oxisol have been subjected, under which forms of P-Ca are converted to P-Fe and P-Al. The fertilization with P via biosolids increased P availability for maize plants even when a large portion of P was converted to more stable forms. Phosphorus content in maize leaves and grains was positively correlated with P fractions in soils. From these results it can be concluded that the application of biosolids in highly weathered tropical clayey soils for many years, even above the recommended rate based on N requirements for maize, tend to be less potentially hazardous to the environment than in less weathered sandy soils because the non-readily P fractions are predominant after the addition of biosolids. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Does organic grassland farming benefit plant and arthropod diversity at the expense of yield and soil fertility?

Organic management is one of the most popular strategies to reduce negative environmental impacts of intensive agriculture. However, little is known about benefits for biodiversity and potential worsening of yield under organic grasslands management across different grassland types, i.e. meadow, pasture and mown pasture. Therefore, we studied the diversity of vascular plants and foliage-living arthropods (Coleoptera, Araneae, Heteroptera, Auchenorrhyncha), yield, fodder quality, soil phosphorus concentrations and land-use intensity of organic and conventional grasslands across three study regions in Germany. Furthermore, all variables were related to the time since conversion to organic management in order to assess temporal developments reaching up to 18 years. Arthropod diversity was significantly higher under organic than conventional management, although this was not the case for Araneae, Heteroptera and Auchenorrhyncha when analyzed separately. On the contrary, arthropod abundance, vascular plant diversity and also yield and fodder quality did not considerably differ between organic and conventional grasslands. Analyses did not reveal differences in the effect of organic management among grassland types. None of the recorded abiotic and biotic parameters showed a significant trend with time since transition to organic management, except soil organic phosphorus concentrations which decreased with time. This implies that permanent grasslands respond slower and probably weaker to organic management than crop fields do. However, as land-use intensity and inorganic soil phosphorus concentrations were significantly lower in organic grasslands, overcoming seed and dispersal limitation by re-introducing plant species might be needed to exploit the full ecological potential of organic grassland management. We conclude that although organic management did not automatically increase the diversity of all studied taxa, it is a reasonable and useful way to support agro-biodiversity.

Patterns of phosphorus, nitrogen and δ15N along a peat development gradient in a coastal mire, Panama

Differentiation of limiting nutrients within small spatial scales has been observed in coastal mangrove forests, but research on other tropical peatlands suggests it is a more widespread phenomenon. In the Changuinola mire of coastal Panama, oligotrophy was hypothesized to increase along a gradient of peat development (peat doming). Nutrient and carbon concentration of leaf tissue, soil, and soil porewater were characterised over a successive sequence of plant communities along the gradient. Soil phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) concentrations decreased from 1200 μg P g−1 and 27 mg N g−1 to 377 μg P g−1 and 22 mg N g−1 within 2.7 km into the mire interior. These changes coincided with an increase in soil and average leaf N:P molar ratios from 52–128 and 24–41, respectively. Soil P was strongly related to leaf P and soil N:P to foliar N:P. There was a wide range in δ15N values for canopy (4.0 to −9.4‰), Campnosperma panamense (4.0 to −7.8‰) and understorey (4.8 to −3.1‰) species. Foliar δ15N values of canopy species were strongly related to soil N:P, soil P and leaf P. The depleted foliar δ15N values appeared to be an effect of both the N atmospheric source and P limitation. Here, P limitation is likely associated with ombrotrophic conditions that developed as hydrologic inputs became dominated by precipitation.

Effect of Water Management on Interannual Variation in Bulk Soil Properties from the Eastern Coastal Everglades

We examined interannual variation in soil properties from wetlands occurring in adjacent drainage basins from the southeastern Everglades. Triplicate 10-cm soil cores were collected, homogenized, and analyzed during the wet season 2006–2010 from five freshwater sawgrass wetland marshes and three estuarine mangrove forests. Soil bulk density from the Taylor Slough basin ranged from 0.15 gm-cm−3 to 0.5 gm-cm−3, was higher than from the Panhandle basin every year, and generally increased throughout the study period. Organic matter as a percent loss on ignition ranged from 7 % to 12 % from freshwater marshes and from 13 % to 56 % from estuarine mangroves. Extractable iron in soils was similar among drainage basins and wetland types, typically ranging from 0.6 to 2.0 g Fe kg−1. In contrast, inorganic sulfur was on average over four times higher from estuarine soils relative to freshwater, and was positively correlated with soil organic matter. Finally total soil phosphorus (P) was lower in freshwater soils relative to estuarine soils (84 ± 5 versus 326 ± 32 mg P kg−1). Total P from the freshwater marshes in the Panhandle basin rose throughout the study period from 54.7 ± 8.4 to 107 ± 17 mg P kg−1, a possible outcome of differences in water management between drainage basins.

Evidence of Recent Phosphorus Enrichment in Surface Soils of Taylor Slough and Northeast Everglades National Park

Everglades National Park (ENP) is the last hydrologic unit in the series of impounded marsh units that make up the present-day Everglades. The ENP receives water from upstream Water Conservation Areas via canals and water control structures that are highly regulated for flood control, water supply, wildlife management, concerns about poor water quality and the potential for downstream ecosystem degradation. Recent surveys of surface soils in ENP, designed for random sampling for spatial analysis of soil nutrients, did not sample proximate to inflow structures and thus did not detect increased soil phosphorus associated with these water conveyances. This study specifically addressed these areas in a focused sampling effort at three key inflow points in northeast ENP which revealed elevated soil TP proximate to inflows. Two transects extending down Shark River Slough and one down Taylor Slough (a natural watershed of particular ecological value) were found to have soil TP levels in excess of 500 mg kg−1—a threshold above which P enrichment is indicated. These findings suggest the negative impact of elevated water (P) from surface flows and support the assertion that significant soil TP enrichment is occurring in Taylor Slough and other areas of northeastern ENP.

Buckwheat as a Cover Crop in Florida: Mycorrhizal Status, Soil Analysis, and Economic Assessment

This thesis analyses buckwheat as a cover crop in Florida. The study was designed to demonstrate: soil enrichment with nutrients, mycorrhizal arbuscular fungi interactions, growth in different soil types, temperature limitations in Florida, and economic benefits for farmers. Buckwheat was planted at the FIU organic garden (Miami, FL) in early November and harvested in middle December. After incorporation of buckwheat residues, soil analyses indicated the ability of buckwheat to enrich soil with major nutrients, in particular, phosphorus. Symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi increased inorganic phosphorus uptake and plant growth. Regression analysis on aboveground buckwheat biomass weight and soil characteristics showed that high soil pH was the major limiting factor that affected buckwheat growth. Spatial analysis illustrated that buckwheat could be planted in South Florida throughout the year but might not be planted in North and Central Florida in winter. An economic assessment proved buckwheat to be a profitable cover crop.

黄土高原石灰性土壤不同形态磷组分分布特征

以黄土高原自北向南采集的12个0～20 cm耕层土壤为供试土样,采用Tiessen和Moir修正的Hedley土壤有机无机磷分级方法研究了黄土高原石灰性土壤中不同形态磷组分的分布特征。结果表明:供试土壤各形态P总体分布特征为:HCl-P>Residual-P>NaHCO3-Po>NaHCO3-Pi>NaOH-Po>NaOH-Pi>H2O-P,以HCl-P和Residual-P为主,分别占土壤全磷的54.00%～88.96%和0～39.11%。黄土高原土壤磷含量总体分布表现为南高北低。在各土壤类型间,NaOH-Po、Residual-P和全磷平均含量表现为干润砂质新成土<黄土正常新成土<简育干润均腐土<土垫旱耕人为土,自北向南依次增加;H2O-P和HCl-P表现为简育干润均腐土<黄土正常新成土<干润砂质新成土<土垫旱耕人为土,自北向南先降后升,且上升幅度较大。黄土高原土壤全氮与全磷及各形态磷含量相关性均达显著水平,其中与NaOH-Pi、NaOH-Po、HCl-P及全磷含量达到极显著水平。C/N、pH及砂粒与全磷及各形态磷含量呈负相关关系,其中pH与NaHCO3-Po呈显著负相关,与H2O-P、NaHCO3-Pi...

科尔沁沙地东南部固沙林土壤磷素研究

土壤养分的持续供应是生态系统可持续性发展的基础，尤其在土壤贫瘠地区。土壤磷素被认为是干旱区生态系统的潜在限制性养分因子，但目前半干旱区土壤磷素的深入研究很少。针对半干旱区生态系统恢复方式、人工防护林可持续性经营等关键问题，本论文旨在弄清处于半干旱区的科尔沁沙地东南部沙地人工林土壤磷素转化的主导过程及影响因素，并从土壤磷素可持续供应的角度来评价研究区生态系统的可持续发展。 以处于无人为干扰下、立地条件基本一致的科尔沁沙地东南部的有代表性的生态系统为研究对象，包括原生植被榆树（Ulmus macrocarpa）疏林草地，退化草地，油松（Pinus tubulaeformis Carr.）人工林、樟子松（Pinus svlvestris var. mongolica）人工林和小叶杨（Populus simonii）人工林。系统全面的研究了土壤磷素状况及其季节变化，并深入探讨了樟子松人工林土壤磷素转化及其影响因素（林龄、密度、土壤冻融）。主要结论如下： （1）研究区风沙土表层0~20 cm全磷（<0.2 g kg-1）和活性无机磷含量（<3 mg kg-1）都极低，有机磷占全磷的50%以上，是土壤磷的主要组分。凋落物分解、有机磷矿化和微生物周转是有效磷的主要来源，与这些过程有关的土壤的生物过程控制着土壤磷素转化。Ca-P（钙结合的磷酸盐）的溶解也是速效磷的次要来源，而Al-P（铝结合的磷酸盐）和Fe-P（铁结合的磷酸盐）是活性无机磷库。凋落物分解对有效磷供应起首要作用（尤其在人工林中），凋落物分解的年磷归还量是10 cm层矿质土壤有效磷供应量的1.7~3.4倍。 （2）土壤含水量是影响土壤磷素供应的关键环境因子，而冻融作用对土壤微生物磷和活性无机磷含量无显著影响。 （3）与各人工林相比，榆树疏林草地具有高效的养分循环和较强的土壤磷素保持能力，其退化大幅度降低了土壤持水能力和肥力。而在退化草地上营造以针叶树种为主的人工纯林及针阔混交林进一步降低了土壤全磷含量。从土壤磷素可持续供应的角度来看，在干旱贫瘠地区不宜营造高密度的人工林。研究区的植被恢复，应该选取磷素利用效率高，而养分周转较快的植被类型。这样，不需要集中的人为管理，就能使生态系统达到一种自我维持的良性循环状态。 （4）樟子松的生长受到土壤磷素供应的限制，当年生叶片无机磷浓度比全磷浓度能更准确、直接地反映土壤供磷水平的变化。为满足林分的需求，樟子松的根系活动能够增强根际微生物和磷酸酶活性以促进有机磷的矿化，同时能降低根际土壤pH值以促进Ca-P的溶解。随着林分的发展，活性无机磷含量无显著变化，但土壤磷库（主要是总有机磷）逐渐耗竭，有机磷的矿化潜力也逐渐降低。这表明，随着林分发展，磷素对樟子松人工林的限制性逐渐增强。 （5）为保证已有人工林的可持续发展，必须通过间伐、保护地被物、施肥来调节养分需求与归还之间的平衡，维持地力，保证土壤养分的持续供应。其中保护林下凋落物尤为重要。为防止地力衰退，该地区樟子松林的最大密度（以每公顷胸高断面积为密度指标）应保持在24.1~26.6 m2 ha-1。