Abstract: | Profile characteristics of accumulated P in 10 representative soils of vegetable fields in suburban districts of Beijing were investigated. Bioavailability of the accumulated P and its potential effect on the environment were studied in a greenhouse pot experiment and a soil column experiment. The results showed that the concentration of Olsen-P in the 0~20 cm soil samples of the vegetable fields ranged from 22.1 to 358.0 mg kg-1, which was 2 to 10 times higher than that of the crop fields in the suburbs of Beijing. Most of the excessive phosphorus was accumulated in the topsoils. The longer the soils cultivated with vegetables, the higher the soil total P, Olsen-P and organic matter concentration. Accumulated P in the soils from vegetable fields had higher bioavailability. Application of phosphorus fertilizer could not increase the dry weights of cucumbers, Chinese cabbage, and rape seedlings continuously planted. The soil column study showed high P concentration (> 0.6 mg L-1) in the leachates from the columns of the vegetable field soils with high accumulated P, which has a potential effect on the groundwater and natural water quality. |