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Phosphorus speciation and micro-scale spatial distribution in North-American temperate agricultural soils from micro X-ray fluorescence and X-ray absorption near-edge spectroscopy

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Abstract

Background and Aims

Phosphorus (P) is an essential nutrient for plants but its low availability often necessitates amendments for agronomical issues. Objectives were to determine P spatial distribution and speciation that remain poorly understood in cultivated soils.

Methods

Aquic Argiudoll soil samples developed on a calcareous loam glacial till were collected from experimental plots submitted to contrasting crop rotations and amendments. Micro-X-ray fluorescence (μ-XRF) maps were collected on undisturbed samples. X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) spectra were collected on bulk samples and on fractions thereof, and on points of interests selected from μ-XRF maps. Results were compared with chemical analyses and extraction techniques results.

Results

Chemical analyses show variations in total and exchangeable P contents depending on the samples but no significant difference is observed in terms of P distribution and speciation. P distribution is dominated by a low-concentration diffuse background with a minor contribution from minute hot spots. P speciation is dominated by phosphate groups bound to clay-humic complexes. No modification of P distribution and speciation is observed close to roots.

Conclusions

This study evidenced minor effect of cropping and fertilizing practices on P speciation in cultivated soils. Despite analytical challenges, the combined use of μ-XRF and XANES provides relevant information on P speciation in heterogeneous soil media.

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Notes

  1. http://www.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=ilx

Abbreviations

CBD:

citrate-bicarbonate-dithionite

CC:

continuous corn crops

C-O-H:

corn, oats, and hay rotation

DOM:

dissolved organic matter

ICP-OES:

inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy

M-NPK:

NPK amended plot since 1955 (manure amended between 1904 and 1955)

MPS:

manure amended plot since 1904

NOM:

natural organic matter

NMR:

nuclear magnetic resonance

NPK:

nitrogen phosphorus potassium amended plot

POI:

point of interest

SNR:

signal-to-noise ratio

U:

unamended plot

U-NPK:

NPK amended plot since 1955 (unamended between 1904 and 1955)

XANES:

X-ray absorption near-edge structure

XRD:

X-ray diffraction

XRF:

X-ray fluorescence

μ-XANES:

micro-X-ray absorption near-edge structure

μ-XRF:

micro-X-ray fluorescence

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Acknowledgments

The kind help of Michelle M. Wander (Dpt. Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences, Univ. of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign campus) during field-sampling and archive search is gratefully acknowledged. Martine Lanson (ISTerre, Grenoble, France) is thanked for analyses of total P, organic matter extraction and fractionation, and technical assistance for sorption experiments. Bernard Martin (EPOC, Bordeaux, France) is thanked for the preparation of the petrographic micro-polished thin sections. ICP-OES analyses were performed at the Service d’Analyse des Roches et des Minéraux (SARM-CNRS, Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy, France) for major elements and at the Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement (CIRAD, Montpellier, France) for extractible P (Bray test). Synchrotron analyses were conducted on the ID21 beamline at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (Grenoble, France) on in-house research beamtime. This work has been supported by a grant from Labex OSUG@2020 (Investissements d'avenir – ANR10 LABX56).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF), F-38000, Grenoble, France

    Camille Rivard & Marine Cotte

  2. Université Grenoble Alpes, ISTerre, F-38041, Grenoble, France

    Bruno Lanson

  3. CNRS, ISTerre, F-38041, Grenoble, France

    Bruno Lanson

  4. CNRS, LAMS, F-75005, Paris, France

    Marine Cotte

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  1. Camille Rivard
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  2. Bruno Lanson
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  3. Marine Cotte
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Correspondence to Camille Rivard.

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Responsible Editor: Benjamin L. Turner .

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Rivard, C., Lanson, B. & Cotte, M. Phosphorus speciation and micro-scale spatial distribution in North-American temperate agricultural soils from micro X-ray fluorescence and X-ray absorption near-edge spectroscopy. Plant Soil 401, 7–22 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-015-2494-5

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