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Biogeochemistry

Phosphorus solubilization in rewetted soils

Nature volume 411, page 258 (2001)Cite this article

Abstract

Biogeochemical cycles are shaped by events that follow soil drying and rewetting. Here we show that the process of drying and rapidly rewetting soil increases the amount of water-soluble phosphorus present and that this is predominantly in organic form after having been released from the soil microbial biomass. This effect could not only significantly affect phosphorus pollution of waterbodies but might also corrupt results from analyses involving water extraction of dried soils.

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Figure 1: Increase in water-soluble organic phosphorus after soil drying as a function of soil microbial phosphorus.

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Author notes

  1. Benjamin L. Turner

    Present address: USDA–ARS Northwest Irrigation and Soils Research Laboratory, Kimberly, Idaho, 83341, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Soil Science Group, Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research, North Wyke, Okehampton, EX20 2SB, Devon, UK

    Benjamin L. Turner & Philip M. Haygarth

Authors
  1. Benjamin L. Turner
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  2. Philip M. Haygarth
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Correspondence to Philip M. Haygarth.

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Turner, B., Haygarth, P. Phosphorus solubilization in rewetted soils. Nature 411, 258 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1038/35077146

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