Inorganic and organic soil phosphorus and sulfur pools in an Amazonian multistrata agroforestry system

Abstract

In the central Amazon basin, the effects of secondary vegetation and primary forest on inorganic and organic P and S pools were compared with those of different fruit and timber tree species in a multistrata agroforestry system. The soils (Xanthic Ferralsols) were low in readily available P and S. Fertilizer applications increased the less accessible nutrient pools more than the plant available pools. For example, dilute-acid extractable P increased substantially (from 2 to 76 mg P kg⁻¹), whereas Mehlich P (plant available) increased less (from 3 to 19 mg P kg⁻¹). In contrast, the recalcitrant soil P pools, such as the residual P, did not increase on the short term, but only after more than six years following application. The proportion of less available ester-sulfate S was significantly higher in fertilized sites than in unfertilized sites, in contrast to soluble inorganic sulfate S or carbon-bonded S. The marked increase of successively available soil P and S pools through fertilization was advantageous with respect to the long-term effect of nutrient applications. Soil nutrient availability was not only related to the amount of nutrients applied but was also influenced by tree species. Nutrient return by litterfall and litter quality played an important role in soil P and S dynamics. Incorporation of applied nutrients into successively available organic nutrient pools will decrease potential P fixation and S losses by leaching and increase long-term nutrient availability. Therefore, tree species with rapid above-ground nutrient cycling and high quality litter (such as annato [Bixa orellana] and peach palm [Bactris gasipaes]) should constitute the majority of crops in multistrata agroforestry systems on infertile soils to ensure adequate medium to long term availability of P and S.