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Strong phosphorus (P)-zinc (Zn) interactions in a calcareous soil-alfalfa system suggest that rational P fertilization should be considered for Zn biofortification on Zn-deficient soils and phytoremediation of Zn-contaminated soils

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A Correction to this article was published on 21 April 2021

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Abstract

Aims

Zinc (Zn) and phosphorus (P) often interact negatively with each other in soil-plant systems. We investigated the effects of P-Zn interaction on Zn and P accumulation and partitioning in alfalfa.

Methods

Plants were grown in a calcareous soil supplied with different rates of Zn (0, 200, and 800 mg kg−1) and P (0, 20, and 80 mg kg−1). Plant dry mass, Zn and P concentrations in shoots and roots, bulk soil and rhizosheath pH, rhizosheath carboxylates, and DTPA-extractable Zn concentration in the bulk soil were determined.

Results

Phosphorus-Zn interaction significantly affected DTPA-extractable Zn concentration, plant dry mass, accumulation of Zn and P, and partitioning of Zn in alfalfa, but did not affect rhizosheath pH or the amounts of rhizosheath carboxylates. Increasing P rate promoted plant growth at all soil Zn rates and might enhance the plants’ capacity to cope with excessive Zn; it resulted in a lower rhizosheath pH, which likely contributed to greater Zn and P uptake. Zinc deficiency enhanced exudation of citrate, malonate and malate, while the release of tartrate was related with P deficiency.

Conclusions

There are strong P-Zn interactions in calcareous soil-plant system, such interactions significantly affect Zn bioavailability, plant growth, accumulation of Zn and P, and partitioning of Zn in alfalfa. Rational P fertilization should be considered for efficient Zn biofortification on Zn-deficient soils and phytoremediation of Zn-contaminated soils.

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Acknowledgments

This work was financially supported by The National Key Research and Development Plan of China (2017YFC0504504), The Natural Science Basic Research Program of Shaanxi Province (2019JM-411), and The National Natural Science Foundation of China (41301570). Rhizosheath carboxylates were analyzed using The Biology Teaching and Research Core Facility at College of Life Sciences, Northwest A&F University. We thank Xiyan Chen for helping the analysis of rhizosheath carboxylates using HPLC.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dryland Farming on the Loess Plateau, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, Shaanxi, China

    Honghua He & Zhigang Dong

  2. College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, Shaanxi, China

    Honghua He, Miaomiao Wu, Rui Su, Zekun Zhang & Chao Chang

  3. Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Ministry of Water Resources, Yangling, 712100, Shaanxi, China

    Honghua He, Qi Peng & Zhigang Dong

  4. School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, 6001, Australia

    Honghua He & Hans Lambers

  5. University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China

    Qi Peng

  6. UWA School of Agriculture and Environment, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, 6001, Australia

    Jiayin Pang

  7. The UWA Institute of Agriculture, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, 6001, Australia

    Jiayin Pang & Hans Lambers

  8. Department of Plant Nutrition, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China

    Hans Lambers

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  1. Honghua He
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Correspondence to Honghua He.

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He, H., Wu, M., Su, R. et al. Strong phosphorus (P)-zinc (Zn) interactions in a calcareous soil-alfalfa system suggest that rational P fertilization should be considered for Zn biofortification on Zn-deficient soils and phytoremediation of Zn-contaminated soils. Plant Soil 461, 119–134 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-020-04793-w

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