Untersuchungen zur Charakterisierung des pflanzenverfügbaren Phosphats in Thüringer Carbonatböden

Investigations on the characterization of plant available phosphate in Thuringian calcareous soils Phosphate availability in Thuringian calcareous soils and its characterization by CAL‒, NaHCO₃-, H₂O- and CaCl₂-soil tests was investigated in laboratory and pot experiments. Soil CaCO₃ contents > 10% increase the pH value of CAL solution and thus decrease phosphate extractability. The increase of pH also causes an inadequate assessment of plant available phosphate by H₂O- and CaCl₂-soil tests. The CAL soluble P content of the soil corrected by the pH value of the extraction solution was most suitable for the forecast of P uptake of corn in a pot trial. From both parameters P availability indices for calcareous soils can be calculated which are comparable with those in soils containing < 5% CaCO₃. The equation, which still has to be verified in field experiments, reads as CAL-P_corrected = CAL-P_measured · (1 + 0.83·〈pH-value_{CAL solution} — 4.1〉).     

Nutrient‐enriched soils and native N‐fixing plants in New Zealand

Approximately 40% of New Zealand's land mass is fertilized grassland with entirely non‐native plants, but currently there is substantially increased interest in restoration of native plants into contemporary agricultural matrices. Native vegetation is adapted to more acid and less fertile soils and their establishment and growth may be constrained by nutrient spillover from agricultural land. We investigated plant–soil interactions of native N‐fixing and early successional non N‐fixing plants in soils with variable fertility. The effects of soil amendments of urea (100 and 300 kg N ha^?1), lime (6000 kg CaCO₃ ha^?1), and superphosphate (470 kg ha^?1) and combinations of these treatments were evaluated in a glasshouse pot trial. Plant growth, soil pH, soil mineral N, Olsen P and nodule nitrogenase activity in N‐fixing plants were measured. Urea amendments to soil were not inhibitory to the growth of native N‐fixing plants at lower N application rates; two species responded positively to combinations of N, P and lime. Phosphate enrichment enhanced nodulation in N‐fixers, but nitrogen inhibited nodulation, reduced soil pH and provided higher nitrate concentrations in soil. The contribution of mineral N to soil from the 1‐year old N‐fixing plants was small, in amounts extrapolated to be 10–14 kg ha^?1 y^?1. Urea, applied both alone and in conjunction with other amendments, enhanced the growth of the non N‐fixing species, which exploited mineral N more efficiently; without N, application of lime and P had little effect or was detrimental. The results showed native N‐fixing plants can be embedded in agroecology systems without significant risk of further increasing soil fertility or enhancing nitrate leaching.     

Relationship between Olsen P and Ammonium Lactate–Extractable P in Portuguese Acid Soils

The soil phosphorus (P) test in Portugal is based on extraction with ammonium lactate (AL) at acidic pH. Because this test is rarely used in other countries, it is desirable to see whether the AL-P values correlate with the more commonly used P tests. In this work, we compared AL-P with bicarbonate-extractable P (Olsen's method) for a group of 48 samples from Portuguese acidic soils differing widely in P status. Despite their contrasting composition, both reagents extracted phosphate from the same sources, albeit in different proportions. Both Olsen P and AL-P were strongly correlated with resin-extractable and dilute electrolyte-desorbable P, which are respectively related to the soil contents in phytoavailable P and P that can be released to runoff or drainage water. Olsen P and AL-P were strongly correlated (R² = 0.870), the correlation became stronger when three overfertilized soils were excluded (Olsen P = 2.35 + 0.45 AL-P; R² = 0.908; P ≤ 0.001, n = 45). No correlation was observed for a group of soils recently fertilized with Gafsa phosphate probably because the acidic AL reagent dissolved residual calcium phosphate, thus overestimating the soil content in desorbable P. On the basis of the present results and the AL-P-based fertility classes used for fertilizer recommendation purposes, Olsen P–based fertility classes were tentatively proposed for Portuguese acidic soils.     

Comparison of Two Soil Phosphorus Analytical Methods in Croatia

Abstract

The purpose of this article was to compare soil phosphorus (P) extraction by sodium bicarbonate solution (Olsen P) and by ammonium lactate (AL P) and to create a model for prediction of Olsen P using ordinary soil‐fertility control data. The soils data used in this study included Olsen P, pH_KCl, pH_H2O, organic matter, AL P, and AL K. Soil pH_KCl ranged from 3.5 to 8, organic matter up to 5%, AL K up to 400 mg kg^?1, and AL P up to 200 mg kg^?1. Olsen P and AL P were significantly correlated, and the difference between them was influenced by soil pH. Regression models included all soil data grouped by soil pH range, which significantly decreased the difference between predicted and measured Olsen P. The validation of the model was conducted on new data sets from field fertilization trials. The results show that Olsen P can be related to AL P and used for fertilizer recommendations instead of AL P.     

Portable soil test laboratory results compared to standard soil test values

Abstract

Results from a commercially available portable soil test laboratory were compared to standard soil test procedures used by a public soil testing laboratory. Standard soil tests examined were water extracted NO₃‐N, pH, Acid‐P, NaHCO₃‐P, and ammonium acetate extracted K. Approximately 35 to 55 different soils were used to compare methods for each soil test. Linear regression equations between the portable laboratory soil test values and those from the standard procedures were developed. The r² values for NO₃‐N, pH, Acid‐P, NaHCO₃‐P, and K were 0.970, 0.891, 0.734, 0.742, and 0.887, respectively. The coefficient of variability values for NO₃‐N, pH, Acid‐P, NaHCO₃‐P, and K were 10, 1, 13, 15, and 6%, respectively for the portable laboratory, and 9, 2, 8, 9, and 5%, respectively for the public soil testing laboratory. Multiple regression was used to relate soil properties to soil test results. The R2 values for NO3‐N, pH, Acid‐P, NaHCO₃‐P, and K were 0.970, 0.911, 0.860, 0.940, and 0.936, respectively.     

Modified Soil‐Test Methods for Extractable Phosphorus in Acidic,Neutral, and Alkaline Soils

Abstract

Although numerous soil‐test methods for estimating extractable phosphorus (P) have been developed around the world, their results are difficult to compare because of the very different scale levels used. In the present study, the Bray–Kurtz method (Bray‐P) is used as a reference value. Two other methods [lactate‐P and sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO₃)‐P] were modified to facilitate the comparison of extractable‐P determinations, mainly by adjusting the shaking time. These three methods were applied to 101 soil samples from an extensive region of Argentina with soil pH values ranging from 5.5 to 8.5. The results confirm that the Bray‐P and the two modified methods (lactate‐P and NaHCO₃‐P) determine similar contents of extractable P but are not applicable to all types of soils and conditions. Equations that minimize the statistical error were selected for soil properties such as organic carbon (OC) content, pH, soluble salts, and calcium carbonate content. Correlation coefficients between Bray‐P and NaHCO₃‐P increased to 0.91 and 0.95 in soils with high and low OC levels, respectively. It was also demonstrated that the lactate‐P test is not suitable for soils rich in calcium carbonate or soluble salts. These two modified methods are expected to be useful for testing P values that impact agricultural production.     

Kinetics of phosphorus release from calcareous soils under different land use in Iran

The rate of phosporus (P) release from soils can significantly influence P fertility of soils. The objectives of this study were to investigate the effects of land‐use types on the kinetics of P release under different management practices and the relationship between kinetic parameters and soil physical and chemical properties from calcareous soils. The kinetics of P release in 0.01 M CaCl₂ was studied in surface samples of 30 calcareous soils planted to garlic, garden, pasture, potato, vegetables, and wheat. Trend in P‐release kinetics was similar between land‐use types. Significantly different quantities of P were released under different land use. The maximum amount (average of five soils) (46.4 mg kg^–1) of P was released in soil under potato and the minimum amount (10.4 mg kg^–1) under pasture. The kinetics of P release from soils can be described as an initial rapid rate followed by a slower rate. Different models were used to describe P release. In general, parabolic diffusion and power equation were found to be appropriate for modeling P release. The P‐release rate for the soils was estimated by parabolic equation for the studied land‐use types. The constant b was lower for pasture and wheat than for garlic and potato. The relationship between the rate of P release with Olsen‐P was linear, while it was curved with respect to the CaCl₂‐P, indicating that release of P was diffusion‐controlled. When the kinetic parameters of models were regressed on soil properties, CaCl₂‐P and CaCO₃ appeared to be the most important soil properties influencing P‐release rates in these soils.     

An evaluation of Colwell‐P as a measure of plant‐available phosphorus in soils of volcanic and non‐volcanic origins in the highlands of Papua New Guinea

Various soil test methods including Olsen, Colwell, Bray and Truog have been used to assess the levels of plant‐available P (PAP) in soils situated in the highlands of Papua New Guinea (PNG). Up until now, though, there has been no guarantee that these tests provide valid assessments of PAP in these somewhat atypical organic matter‐rich tropical soils. Furthermore, the critical soil‐P concentrations associated with the tests have been based on studies conducted elsewhere in sub‐tropical and temperate latitudes and as such may or may not be valid for soils or cropping situations in PNG. Soil (Colwell)‐P and leaf‐P data collected during a recent survey of sweet potato gardens in the highlands of PNG were therefore used to determine if useful relationships existed between these variables for different groups of soils, and if they do, to use these relationships to evaluate critical soil Colwell‐P concentrations corresponding to a known critical concentration of P in sweet potato index leaf tissue. Separate, highly significant linear relationships were obtained between leaf‐P and Colwell‐P for soils of volcanic and non‐volcanic origins. Based on these relationships, the critical Colwell‐P concentration for volcanic soils was found to be four times greater than that for non‐volcanic soils, presumably because much of the P extracted from the former soils with alkaline sodium bicarbonate had been chemically ‘fixed’ via sorption and precipitation reactions with sesquioxides and rendered unavailable to plants at ambient soil pH. These critical Colwell‐P concentrations if adopted as benchmark values for the soil groups in question should ensure that the results of future soil fertility surveys involving Colwell‐P assessments are correctly interpreted.     

Spatial distribution of soil‐available phosphorus and single‐point phosphorus buffering index in the Khoy region,Iran

Knowledge of the amount of nutrients in soil is required to achieve sustainable management. The objective of this study was to assess the variability of soil‐available and single‐point buffering index of phosphorus (P) in the farmlands of the Khoy region, Iran. Composite soil samples (0–30 cm) were collected at 114 locations on regular grid of 1000 m. Some soil physico‐chemical characteristics such as soil texture, soil organic matter (OM) content, soil pH, electrical conductivity (EC), calcium carbonate equivalent (CCE), available P (P_ava) and single‐point P sorption index (PSI) were measured. Results showed that all variables in this study have spatial distribution in the effective range of 1500–4800 m. Moreover, experimental semivariograms of all studied variables were best‐fit by spherical and exponential models. Most importantly, kriged maps revealed that a major part of the study area contains high P_ava, which is seemingly due to the frequent application of phosphate fertilizers along with poultry manure. Some soils in the western part showed low PSI index; they therefore need more P fertilizer application. In addition, due to the lower PSI value in the eastern half of the study region, applying less fertilizer at more frequent intervals seems to be more beneficial than larger single applications. Eventually, to reduce environmental risks and prevent the loss of natural resources, the method of applying P fertilizer needs to be mainly based on the created PSI distribution map.     

Evaluation of Agro Services International Soil Test Method for Phosphorus and Potassium

Soil testing is widely adopted as an essential diagnostic tool for identifying soil nutrient factors that limit sustained crop production. A systematic approach for rapid soil testing and fertilizer recommendation has been introduced and widely used in China by Agro Services International (ASI), USA. To verify the usefulness and reliability of the ASI method in soil testing and fertilizer recommendation in comparison with other commonly used traditional soil testing methods, 294 soil samples from major agricultural regions and soil types in China with a wide range of soil pH, from 5.1 to 8.9, were taken and analyzed for available phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) by the ASI multielement extraction solution and selected traditional methods, Olsen extractant for P, ammonium acetate (NH₄OAc) extractant for K, and multielement extractant Mehlich 3 for P and K. Also, 46 soils were selected from northern China regions for a greenhouse trial with sorghum seedlings to determine if the soil testing values correlate well with plant response. Results indicated that the amount of soil P extracted by the ASI method (ASI P) was correlated to both soil extractable P tested by the Olsen extractant (Olsen P) and Mehlich 3 extractant (Mehlich 3 P). The correlation coefficient of ASI P with Mehlich 3 P (R² = 0.86) was greater than that of ASI P with Olsen P (R² = 0.74) across all selected soils. A good correlation was also found between the exchangeable K from the ASI method with the traditional ammonium acetate method (R² = 0.81) and the Mehlich 3 method (R² = 0.85). The results from the greenhouse trial showed that the extractable P and exchangeable K by the ASI multielement extraction solution could be used to represent the fertility status of soil P and K for the selected soils. Regression analysis indicated that the relative dry-matter yield of the sorghum plants can be predicted with either ASI P and ASI K values with the correlation coefficients (R²) values of 0.78 and 0.72 respectively and could be a good measure for soil testing and fertilizer recommendation in the selected soils and regions in China.     

Assessing alternative approaches to predicting soil phosphorus sorption

Twenty‐five pasture soils were sampled from high‐rainfall zones of southeastern Australia to examine relationships between soil properties, and between soil properties and P buffering capacity (PBC) measures. Correlations between PBC values and soil properties were generally poor, with the exception of oxalate‐extractable Al (Al_ox) (r ≥ 0.97). Predictions of PBC were further improved when clay, as well as Al_ox, was included in a linear regression model (r² ≥ 0.98). When Al_ox and oxalate‐extractable Fe were excluded from the modelling exercise, a more complex three‐term linear regression model, including pH_H2O, exchangeable H and cation exchange capacity, adequately fitted both PBC values of the 25 soils examined in this study (r² ≥ 0.76). However, the Al_ox, Al_ox plus clay and the three‐term models gave poor predictions of the PBC values when the models were validated using 28 independent soils. These results emphasize the importance of model validation, because predictive models based on soil properties were not robust when tested across a broader range of soil types. In comparison, direct measures of PBC, such as single‐point P sorption measures, are more practical and robust methods of estimating PBC for Australian soils.     

Development of an express method for measuring soil nitrate,phosphate, potassium,and pH for future in-field application

Background

In practical farming, there is often a need for short-term availability of information on the soil nutrient status.

Aims

To develop a new express method for the extraction of major plant-available nutrients and measurement of soil nutrients. In future, this method shall serve for in-field measurements of soil samples with an ion-sensitive field-effect transistor (ISFET).

Methods

Various extraction conditions such as type of extractant, soil-to-solution ratio, time, and intensity were investigated on a broad selection of dried soil samples in the laboratory. Based on 83 field-moist soil samples with varying clay contents, these conditions were compared to standard laboratory methods.

Results

With increasing extraction time, the nutrient concentrations increased. When the soil-to-solution ratio was reduced, a greater share of nutrients was extracted, independent of soil type. H₂O and 0.01 M CaCl₂ and standard calcium-acetate-lactate (CAL) solution proved to be too weak in the short period to reach the ISFET sensor measurement range. Higher concentrated CAL solutions performed much better. Finally, a 5-min CaCl₂ extraction followed by the removal of an aliquot for the determination of soil pH and NO₃⁻ was found to be effective. The remaining solution was then mixed with 0.20 M CAL solution for the analysis of H₂PO₄⁻ and K⁺ at 10 min of extra extraction time. This extraction method showed very good correlations with the values based on the German laboratory reference methods for pH (R² = 0.91) and for nitrate (R² = 0.95). For phosphorus and potassium, we obtained an R² of 0.70 and 0.81, respectively, for all soils. When soils were grouped according to clay content higher correlations were found.

Conclusions

A new express method based on a wet-chemical approach with a soil preparation procedure was successfully developed and validated. This seems to be a valuable basis for future in-field measurements via ISFET.     

Assessing extractable soil phosphorus methods in estimating phosphorus concentrations in surface run‐off from Calcic Hapludolls

Understanding soil test phosphorus (STP) and surface run‐off phosphorus (P) relationships for soils is necessary for P management. The objective of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of various soil test indices to predict P losses in surface run‐off. Selected sites were subjected to in situ rainfall simulations according to the protocol of the National Phosphorus Research Project ( NPRP, 2001 ). P from a composite of twenty‐four 2.0‐cm‐diameter core soil samples (0–5 cm) was extracted using the Olsen, Bray–Kurtz, Mehlich III, distilled water and 0.01 m calcium chloride procedures. All of these P extraction methods explained a significant amount of variability in surface run‐off total dissolved P [TP (<0.45)] (r² ≥ 0.67; P ≤ 0.01), where 0.45 is the filter pore diameter in microns. Multiple regression models showed extractable P to be the best soil predictor of surface run‐off TP (<0.45) among the studied soils. Despite extraction method or soil type, extractable P was the best soil predictor of surface run‐off TP (<0.45). Either agronomic (0.92 ≤ r² ≤ 0.96) or environmental (0.94 ≤ r² ≤ 0.96) soil tests were effective in estimating surface run‐off TP (<0.45) in select Mollisols.     

Simplified Soil Analysis Procedure for Use in Small‐Scale Agriculture

Abstract

Soil analysis for small‐scale farms in developing countries is often inconvenient and prohibitively expensive using currently available procedures, yet the information gained from these soil tests could result in economical and environmental benefits. The pressurized hot water (PHW) extraction coupled with colorimetric or turbidimetric analysis shows promise as a viable alternative based on tests done on a limited range of soils. Before this extraction and analysis can be used in developing countries, testing is needed across the range of soils found in these countries. At Brigham Young University (BYU), 228 soils from different areas of Guatemala and Morocco were analyzed for NO₃‐N, phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) using standard methods (water–CTA, Olsen–molybdic acid, and ammonium acetate–atomic absorption, respectively). Results were correlated to values obtained from the PHW extraction coupled with colorimetric or turbidimetric analytical procedures. The relationships between the values for these tests were good (r² of 0.96, 0.71, and 0.52 for NO₃‐N, P, and K, respectively). Soils from each country were concurrently analyzed for NO₃‐N and P in laboratories in Guatemala and Morocco, and these results were correlated with those from BYU. Positive correlations between BYU values and those from other laboratories were obtained, with the data from the Guatemalan laboratory showing overall closer correlation than the Moroccan laboratory. In an additional study comparing several P extraction methods for Guatemalan soils, relationships between PHW‐extracted P and Olsen‐, Bray I‐, and Mehlich I‐extracted P and measured at BYU (r² of 0.75, 0.67, and 0.46, respectively) indicate that PHW is a promising alternative P extraction for use even with the highly variable soils of Guatemala. Overall, the data support PHW extraction and accompanying analyses as a less expensive alternative to current soil nutrient extraction and analysis procedures for the soils of Morocco and Guatemala.     

兰州地区农田土壤速效磷与速效钾含量的变化特征

以兰州地区3县5区不同利用方式农田为研究对象,从作物种类、土地利用强度和耕作方式3个角度采集80个样点表层土壤样品(0—20cm),对其pH值、电导率、速效磷和速效钾进行了分析。结果表明:(1)兰州地区农田土壤pH值为8.59,蔬菜地pH值低于其它作物农田,但差异不显著。重度利用农田土壤pH值低于轻度和中度农田,日光温室农田pH值低于大田和砂田,但差异不显著。(2)土壤电导率具有较大的变异,变异系数高达107.31%,不同作物种类、利用强度及耕作方式下土壤电导率不具有显著差异性。(3)研究区土壤速效钾含量具有一致性,平均含量为362.65mg/kg,变异系数为48.81%,不同作物种类、不同土地利用强度和耕作方式土壤速效钾不具有显著差异性。(4)速效磷平均含量为14.07mg/kg,不同种类作物农田土壤中,蔬菜地速效磷高于其它种类作物;不同利用强度下,重度利用农田土壤速效磷高于中度和轻度农田;从耕作措施分析,日光温室农田土壤速效磷显著大于砂田和大田。研究表明,基于作物种类差异的不同土地利用方式及耕作措施对土壤酸碱性及速效磷含量具有不同程度的影响,集约型农业管理措施是导致速效磷含量增加的主要原因之一,且重度农田土壤有酸化的趋势。     

Abiotic and biotic drivers of struvite solubilization in contrasting soils

Phosphorus (P) limitation in the coming decades calls for the utilization of alternative fertilizers in agriculture. Struvite is a promising P source, but its potential role as a fertilizer is dependent on different physical, chemical, and biological properties, which are very heterogeneous in soil, complicating the prediction of the best soil conditions for its application. Here, we evaluated the solubility of struvite in soil, its redistribution into P fractions, and its potential abiotic and biotic drivers in 62 globally distributed soils with contrasting properties through an incubation assay. We found that after 40 d, about 35% of struvite P was redistributed into soil fractions more accessible to plants and microbes. Phosphorus redistribution from struvite was driven by a complex suite of soil physical, chemical, and microbial properties as well as environmental factors that varied across soils. Soil texture played a critical role in determining the redistribution of P in struvite-amended soils in soluble (H₂O extraction), labile (NaHCO₃ extraction), and moderately labile (NaOH extraction) fractions. In addition, the soil solution cation concentration was one of the most important drivers of available struvite-derived P fractions. The great importance of texture and cations in determining struvite-derived P fractions in soil was contrasted with the relatively minor role of pH. At the microbial level, the number of bacterial operational taxonomic units (OTUs) from the unfertilized soils that correlated with struvite-derived P fractions was higher than that of fungi. The number of OTUs that correlated with the struvite-derived soluble P fraction was dominated by fungi, whereas the number of OTUs that correlated with the struvite-derived labile P fraction was dominated by bacteria. Overall, this study provided a predictive framework for the potential use of struvite as a P fertilizer in contrasting soils.     

Shortcut Approach Alternative to the Step‐by‐Step Conventional Soil Phosphorus Fractionation Method

Abstract

In an attempt to characterize the phosphorus (P)–supplying capacity of a soil and to understand the dynamics of soil P, a procedure was followed whereby consecutive extraction procedures were carried out on a soil sample, first by dialysis membrane tubes filled with hydrous ferric oxide (DMT‐HFO), followed by subsequent P fractionation procedure. However, this combined method is lengthy and time‐consuming, and an approach to shorten these P desorption studies in soils was important. The major objective of this article, therefore, was to present a shortcut method as an alternative approach to the combined fractionation method. Comparison of the sum of DMT‐HFO‐P_i, sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO₃)‐P_i, sodium hydroxide (NaOH)‐P_i, D/hydrochloric acid (HCl)‐P_i, and C/HCl‐P_i extracted by a conventional step‐by‐step method with the sum of DMT‐HFO‐P_i and a single D/HCl‐P_i extraction as a shortcut approach for all extraction periods resulted in a very strong and significant correlations. Both these methods were correlated with maize grain yield, and it was found to be highly significant. This study revealed that this shortcut approach could be a simplified and economically viable option to study the P dynamics of soils especially for soils where the P pool acting as a source in replenishing the labile portion of P is already identified.     

Calibration model of microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen concentrations in soils using ultraviolet absorbance and soil organic matter

There is a need for a rapid, simple and reliable method of determining soil microbial biomass (SMB) for all soils because traditional methods are laborious. Earlier studies have reported that SMB‐C and ‐N concentrations in grassland and arable soils can be estimated by measurement of UV absorbance in soil extracts. However, these previous studies focused on soils with small soil organic matter (SOM) contents, and there was no consideration of SOM content as a covariate to improve the estimation. In this study, using tropical and temperate forest soils with a wide range of total C (5–204 mg C g^?1 soil) and N (1–12 mg N g^?1 soil) contents and pH values (4.1–5.9), it was found that increase in UV absorbance of soil extracts at 280 nm (UV₂₈₀) after fumigation could account for 92–96% of the variance in estimates of the SMB‐C and ‐N concentrations measured by chloroform fumigation and extraction (P < 0.001). The data were combined with those of earlier workers to calibrate UV‐based regression models for all the soils, by taking into account their varying SOM content. The validation analysis of the calibration models indicated that the SMB‐C and ‐N concentrations in the 0–5 cm forest soils simulated by using the increase in UV₂₈₀ and SOM could account for 86–93% of the variance in concentrations determined by chloroform fumigation and extraction (P < 0.001). The slope values of linear regression equations between measured and simulated values were 0.94 ± 0.03 and 0.94 ± 0.04, respectively, for the SMB‐C and ‐N. However, simulation using the regression equations obtained by using only the data for forest profile soils gave less good agreement with measured values. Hence, the calibration models obtained by using the increase in UV₂₈₀ and SOM can give a rapid, simple and reliable method of determining SMB for all soils.     

Exchangeability of phosphate extracted by four chemical methods

Isotopically exchangeable phosphate (P) is a major source of P for plants. In practice, however, plant‐available P is assessed by chemical extractions solubilizing a mixture of P forms the availability of which is ill defined. We undertook an isotopic approach to assess the exchangeability of P extracted by (1) CO₂‐saturated water (P‐CO₂), (2) ammonium acetate EDTA (P‐AAEDTA), and (3) sodium bicarbonate (P‐NaHCO₃) compared to the exchangeability of P extracted by water. Five topsoils with similar P‐fertilization histories but different soil properties were studied. Phosphorus was extracted from soils labeled with carrier‐free ³³P after 1 week of incubation, and the specific activity (SA = ³³P / ³¹P) of the extracts was compared with the SA of P extracted by water to calculate the amount of P isotopically exchangeable that had been solubilized during the extraction. P‐CO₂ extracted between 20 and 100 times less P than P‐AAEDTA and P‐NaHCO₃. The SA of P‐CO₂ was not different from the SA of water‐extractable P, showing that P‐CO₂ solubilized similar forms of P as water and that these forms can be considered as available. The SA of P extracted by the two other methods ranged between 25% and 63% for P‐AAEDTA and 66% and 92% for P‐NaHCO₃ of the SA of water‐extractable P. The fraction of exchangeable P extracted by AAEDTA decreased linearly with increasing soil pH, suggesting that this method dissolves slowly or non‐exchangeable P from calcium phosphates.     

Correlating phosphorus extracted by simple soil extraction methods with foliar phosphorus concentrations of Picea abies (L.) H. Karst. and Fagus sylvatica (L.)

Phosphorus (P) concentrations in needles and leaves of forest trees are declining in the last years in Europe. For a sustainable forest management the knowledge of site specific P nutrition/availability in forest soils is vital, but we are lacking verified simple methods for the estimation of plant available P. Within this study, four soil P extraction methods [water ( ), double‐lactate (P_lac), citric acid (P_cit), and sodium bicarbonate ( )], as well as total P content of the soil (P_tot) were tested to investigate which method is best correlated with foliar P concentrations of spruce [Picea abies (L.) H. Karst.] and beech [Fagus sylvatica (L.)]. Mineral soil samples from 5 depth levels of 48 forest sites of the Bavarian sample set of the second National Forest Soil Inventory (BZE II) were stratified according to tree species (spruce and beech) and soil pH (pH < 6.2 and > 6.2), covering the whole range of P nutrition. The extractable amount of P per mass unit of soil increased in the order << P_lac < < P_cit, decreased with soil depth, and was higher in soils with pH < 6.2. Citric acid extracted up to 10% of P_tot in acidic soils. Whereas P_cit delivers adequate regression models for P nutrition in the case of spruce (R² up to 0.53) and beech (R² up to 0.58) for acidic soils, shows good results for spruce growing on acidic soils (R² up to 0.66) and for beech on soils with pH > 6.2 (R² up to 0.57). P_lac produces adequate models only for beech on high pH soils (R² up to 0.64), while did not produce acceptable regression models. P_tot seems suitable to explain the P nutrition status of beech on acidic (R² up to 0.62) and alkaline soils (R² up to 0.61). Highest R²s are obtained mostly in soil depths down to 40 cm. As and P_cit showed good results for both investigated tree species, they should be considered preferentially in future studies.