Drought promotes soil phosphorus transformation and reduces phosphorus bioavailability in a temperate forest

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Drought can substantially alter ecosystem functions, especially biogeochemical cycles of key nutrients. As an essential but often limiting nutrient, P plays a central role in critical ecosystem processes (i.e. primary productivity). However, little is known about how drought can affect the soil phosphorus (P) cycle and its bioavailability in forest ecosystems. Here, we conducted a four-year field drought experiment using throughfall reduction approach to examine how drought can alter soil P dynamics and bioavailability in a warm temperate forest. We found that the P held in calcium phosphate was significantly decreased under drought, which was accompanied by the increases of inorganic and organic P bound with secondary minerals (Fe/Al oxides). These drought-induced P transformations can be well explained by the soil pH. The significant decline in soil pH under drought can drive the solubilization of P held in calcium phosphate. Our study further showed that drought directly decreased soil P bioavailability and altered the potential mechanisms of the replenishment of inorganic P into the soil solution. The potential of the inorganic P release driven by protons was reduced, while inorganic P release potentials driven by enzyme and organic acid were increased under drought. Therefore, our results strongly suggested that drought can significantly alter the soil P biogeochemical cycles and change the biological mechanisms underlying P bioavailability.