Soil Properties Affecting Phosphorus Forms and Phosphatase Activities in Japanese Forest Soils

Abstract

To explore a possible phosphorus limitation of soil microbial processes, we fractionated phosphorus in Japanese forest soils (10 Inceptisols, three allophanic Andisols, seven nonallophanic Andisols, and one Spodosol) by sequential extraction into inorganic P (Pi) and organic P (Po) in H 2 O, 0.5 M NaHCO 3 , 0.1 M NaOH, 1 M HCl and conc. HCl fractions, and total P in residual fractions. NaOH-Pi and NaOH-Po fractions were the largest P components in all soil types. Apart from H 2 O-Pi, NaOH-Pi, and NaOH-Po, P concentration in each fraction did not differ significantly among soil types. Concentrations of P in fractions H 2 O-Pi, H 2 O-Po, 0.1 M NaOH-Pi, 0.1 M NaOH-Po, and residual P were correlated with active Al, but not with active Fe, indicating a more significant contribution of Al in controlling P forms in the soils. The proportion of available P (H 2 O + NaHCO 3 j P) to total P was negatively affected by active Al and Fe contents and by pH in the soils. High phosphomonoesterase and phosphodiesterase are known to be indicators of low soil P availability, and both activities were higher in soils with low available P in this study, suggesting that microorganisms of these forest soils may be P limited.

Changes in phosphorus fractions caused by increased microbial activity in forest soil in a short-term incubation study

“…In the present study, acid phosphatase activity was not affected by C addition, but was significantly suppressed by P addition. These findings are consistent with those of previous studies showing that microbial phosphatase synthesis is primarily controlled by the need for P [12,[21][22][23].…”

Assessment of the use of sepiolite amendment to restore heavy metal polluted mine soil

“…Increases of 37 and 38% were shown by the former and of 95 and 111% by the latter at sepiolite application rates of 2 and 5%, respectively. On one hand, sepiolite has been found to sorb phosphate (Uǧurlu, 2008;Yin et al, 2011), and on the other, it is known that phosphate inhibits the acid and alkaline phosphatase activity in soils (Juma and Tabatabai, 1978;Kunito et al, 2012). The increase of the phosphomonoesterase activity in control soil after the application of sepiolite as amendment may be explained by the occurrence of these two concomitant processes.…”

Temporal variations in phosphorus fractions and phosphatase activities in rhizosphere and bulk soil during the development of Larix olgensis plantations

“…2d). Since available P was significantly ( P < 0.05; P < 0.01) correlated with Al‐P, Fe‐P, and O‐P in the 34‐ and 49‐y‐old stands (Table 4), these Pi fractions might be the main sources of available P in the rhizosphere soil during these two periods ( Kunito et al, 2012).…”

“…Soil pH has significant influences on the transformation of Pi fractions and the availability of P in the soil ( Chen , 2005; Kunito et al, 2012; Song et al, 2014). Phosphate anions extracted by chemicals are adsorbed and/or precipitated with Fe‐/Al‐OH and are not likely water‐soluble, depending on soil pH ( Oburger et al, 2011).…”

“…To date, soil P fractions and P‐ase activities have been well‐studied ( Chen , 2003b; Kunito et al, 2012; Huang et al, 2013), but few data have been obtained on P dynamics throughout nearly entire age classes. Some studies were limited to one or several of age classes ( Chen , 2003b; Zhao et al., 2010; Cao et al, 2014).…”