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Per Persson. Photo.

Per Persson

Dean

Per Persson. Photo.

Changes in organic phosphorus composition in boreal forest humus soils: the role of iron and aluminium

Author

  • Andrea G. Vincent
  • Jurgen Schleucher
  • Gerhard Grobner
  • Johan Vestergren
  • Per Persson
  • Mats Jansson
  • Reiner Giesler

Summary, in English

Organic phosphorus (P) is an important component of boreal forest humus soils, and its concentration has been found to be closely related to the concentration of iron (Fe) and aluminium (Al). We used solution and solid state P-31 NMR spectroscopy on humus soils to characterize organic P along two groundwater recharge and discharge gradients in Fennoscandian boreal forest, which are also P sorption gradients due to differences in aluminium (Al) and iron (Fe) concentration in the humus. The composition of organic P changed sharply along the gradients. Phosphate diesters and their degradation products, as well as polyphosphates, were proportionally more abundant in low Al and Fe sites, whereas phosphate monoesters such as myo-, scyllo- and unknown inositol phosphates dominated in high Al and Fe soils. The concentration of inositol phosphates, but not that of diesters, was positively related to Al and Fe concentration in the humus soil. Overall, in high Al and Fe sites the composition of organic P seemed to be closely associated with stabilization processes, whereas in low Al and Fe sites it more closely reflected inputs of organic P, given the dominance of diesters which are generally assumed to constitute the bulk of organic P inputs to the soil. These gradients encompass the broad variation in soil properties detected in the wider Fennoscandian boreal forest landscape, as such our findings provide insight into the factors controlling P biogeochemistry in the region but should be of relevance to boreal forests elsewhere.

Publishing year

2012

Language

English

Pages

485-499

Publication/Series

Biogeochemistry

Volume

108

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

Springer

Topic

  • Earth and Related Environmental Sciences

Status

Published

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 1573-515X