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An investigation of the distribution of phosphorus between free and mineral associated soil organic matter, using density fractionation

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Abstract

Aims

We investigated whether density fractionation can be used to determine the distribution of organic phosphorus (OP) between free and mineral-associated soil organic matter (SOM).

Methods

We performed density fractionations using sodium polytungstate solution (specific gravity 1.6 g cm−3) on 20 soils from UK semi-natural and pasture ecosystems, to obtain a light fraction (LF) and a heavy fraction (HF) for each soil. The fractions were quantified by weight, and analysed for organic carbon (OC), total N (TN), total P (TP), inorganic P (IP), and OP (by difference).

Results

Good recoveries of soil mass (96%), OC and TN (both ~ 90%) were obtained, but recovery of OP only averaged 56%. The average P:C ratio of HF SOM exceeded that of LF SOM by a factor of six, greater than the factor of two obtained for TN:OC. For the soils studied, the elements of SOM were predominantly in the HF, with averages of 75% for C, 82% for N, and 90% for P.

Conclusions

The incomplete recovery of OP demands further work. Nonetheless, the results show that HF SOM is much richer in P than LF SOM.

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Acknowledgements

This work received National Capability funding from the UK Natural Environment Research Council (CEH project number NEC04841). We are grateful to Alan Lawlor, Patrick Keenan, Manisha Patel and Binoti Tanna for help with analysis, and to Aidan Keith (CEH) and two anonymous referees for their constructive comments.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster, LA1 4AP, UK

    Jessica L. Adams, Edward Tipping & Sarah A. Thacker

  2. Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster, LA1 4YQ, UK

    John N. Quinton

Authors
  1. Jessica L. Adams
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  2. Edward Tipping
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  3. Sarah A. Thacker
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  4. John N. Quinton
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Correspondence to Jessica L. Adams.

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Responsible Editor: Phil Haygarth.

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Adams, J.L., Tipping, E., Thacker, S.A. et al. An investigation of the distribution of phosphorus between free and mineral associated soil organic matter, using density fractionation. Plant Soil 427, 139–148 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-017-3478-4

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