Phosphorus speciation and colloidal phosphorus responses to short-term cessation of fertilization in a lime concretion black soil

Long-term excessive application of mineral fertilizer has led to soil acidification and phosphorus(P) accumulation, increasing the risk of P loss and environmental pollution, and cessation of fertilization is widely considered as a cost-effective management strategy to relieve this situation;however, how such cessation influences P speciation and concentrations in a bulk soil and colloidal fractions and whether decreasing P concentration might maintain soil fertility remain unclear. In this study, the effects of long-term fertilization(ca. 40 years) and short-term cessation of fertilization(ca. 16 months) on inorganic, organic,and colloidal P in lime concretion black soil were investigated using P sequential fractionation and31P nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. After long-term fertilization, available P, dicalcium phosphate, iron-bound P, orthophosphate monoesters, and orthophosphate diesters increased significantly, but soil p H decreased by ca. 2.8 units, indicating that long-term fertilization caused soil acidification and P accumulation and changed P speciation markedly. In contrast, short-term fertilization cessation increased soil p H by ca. 0.8 units and slightly reduced available and inorganic P. Available P after fertilization cessation was 22.9–29.8 mg kg-1, which was still sufficient to satisfy crop growth requirements. Additionally, fertilization cessation increased the proportions of fine colloids(100–450 nm, including nontronite and some amorphous iron oxides) and drove a significant release of iron/aluminum oxide nanoparticles(1–100 nm) and associated P with orthophosphate and pyrophosphate species. In summary, short-term fertilization cessation effectively alleviated soil acidification and inorganic P accumulation, while concomitantly maintaining soil P fertility and improving the potential mobilization of P associated with microparticles.

Comparison of analytical procedures for measuring phosphorus content of animal manures in China

The concentration and components of manure phosphorus(P)are key factors determining potential P bioavailability and runoff.The distribution of P forms in swine,poultry and cattle manures collected from intensive and extensive production systems in several areas of China was investigated with sequential fractionation and a simplified two-step(NaHCO3-NaOH/EDTA)procedures.The mean total P concentration,determined by the sequential fractionation procedure of intensive swine,poultry and cattle manure,expressed as g·kg–1,was 14.9,13.4 and 5.8 g·kg–1,respectively,and 4.4 g·kg–1 in extensive cattle manure.In intensive swine,poultry and cattle manure about 73%,74%and 79%of total P,respectively,was bioavailable(i.e.,P extracted by H2O and NaHCO3)and 78%in extensive cattle manure.The results indicated the relative environmental risk,from high to low,of swine,poultry and cattle manure.There is considerable regional variation in animal manure P across China,which needs to be considered when developing manure management strategies.