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Title: Phosphorus Fractionation Responds to Dynamic Redox Conditions in a Humid Tropical Forest Soil

Journal Article · · Journal of Geophysical Research. Biogeosciences
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/2018JG004420· OSTI ID:1512601
ORCiD logo [1]; ORCiD logo [2]; ORCiD logo [3];  [4]; ORCiD logo [3]; ORCiD logo [1]
  1. Univ. of California, Berkeley, CA (United States). Dept. of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management
  2. Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States). Physical and Life Sciences Directorate; Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States). Earth and Environmental Sciences Area
  3. Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States). Physical and Life Sciences Directorate
  4. Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States). Earth and Environmental Sciences Area

Abstract Phosphorus (P) is a key limiting nutrient in highly weathered soils of humid tropical forests. A large proportion of P in these soils is bound to redox‐sensitive iron (Fe) minerals; however, little is known about how Fe redox interactions affect soil P cycling. In an incubation experiment, we changed bulk soil redox regimes by varying headspace conditions (air versus N 2 gas) and examined the responses of soil P and Fe species to two fluctuating treatments (4‐ or 8‐day oxic followed by 4‐day anoxic) and two static redox treatments (oxic and anoxic). A static anoxic headspace increased NaOH‐extractable inorganic P and ammonium oxalate‐extractable total P (AO‐P t ) by 10% and 38%, respectively, relative to a static oxic headspace. Persistent anoxia also increased NaHCO 3 ‐extractable total P (NaHCO 3 ‐P t ) toward the end of the experiment. Effects of redox fluctuation were more complex and dependent on temporal scales. Ammonium oxalate‐extractable Fe and P t concentrations responded to redox fluctuation early in the experiment, but not thereafter, suggesting a depletion of reductant over time. Immediately following a switch from an oxic to anoxic headspace, concentrations of AO‐P t , AO‐Fe, and HCl‐extractable Fe(II) increased (within 30 min) but fell back to initial levels by 180 min. Surprisingly, the labile P pool (NaHCO 3 ‐P t ) decreased immediately after reduction events, potentially due to resorption and microbial uptake. Overall, our data demonstrate that P fractions can respond rapidly to changes in soil redox conditions, and in environments where redox oscillation is common, roots and microbes may benefit from these rapid P dynamics.

Research Organization:
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC52-07NA27344; DE‐AC52‐07NA27344; SCW1478
OSTI ID:
1512601
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1472184
Report Number(s):
LLNL-JRNL-738828; 892107
Journal Information:
Journal of Geophysical Research. Biogeosciences, Vol. 123, Issue 9; ISSN 2169-8953
Publisher:
American Geophysical UnionCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 23 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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Cited By (3)

The role of soil redox conditions in microbial phosphorus cycling in humid tropical forests journal September 2019
Soil Oxygen Limits Microbial Phosphorus Utilization in Humid Tropical Forest Soils journal November 2018
Characterization of Phosphorus in Subtropical Coastal Sand Dune Forest Soils journal November 2018

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