Fate and availability of dust-borne phosphorus in a sub-humid temperate forest

Abstract

Aeolian dust deposition is an important phosphorus (P) input to terrestrial ecosystems, but it lacks evidence of how dust inputs supply available P and affect P geochemistry and dynamics in soils of sub-humid ecosystems. We determined soil P speciation using P K-edge X-ray absorption near edge spectroscopy and P availability using modified Hedley sequential chemical extractions in a weakly acidic soil profile (2.5 m thick) in a sub-humid temperate forest ecosystem. The soil profile receives substantial dust inputs that account for 34.8% - 53.5% of the soil mass at depths based on a Sr isotope analysis. The acidic topsoils (5 < pH < 5.5) contain Ca-bound P (Ca-P) that accounts for 4%–18% of total soil P. Since Ca-P compounds are unstable and transform to other forms at pH < 5.5, continuous inputs of dust materials rich in Ca-P must occur to sustain the considerable Ca-P in the topsoils. Across all depths, soil Ca-P positively correlates with soil labile Pi (both resin and NaHCO3 extracted) in proportion, suggesting that dissolution of dust-borne Ca-P compounds replenishes the labile Pi pool. On the other hand, weathering of the Fe-rich dusts leads to formation of abundant iron oxides that in turn favors formation of occluded P (44–85%) and Fe (and Al)-bound P (57–83%), which may fix released P from the dust-borne Ca-P dissolution and reduce soil P availability in a long term. Interestingly, the saprolite layer has an unexpectedly high weathering degree with nearly depleted Ca-P, likely caused by dust inputs that increase soil moisture and microbial activities and accordingly weathering. Our study identifies that continuous deposition and subsequent dissolution of dust-borne Ca-P compounds in acidic soils sustain soil P availability. The study also highlights that aeolian dust inputs affect soil P availability and dynamics in a sub-humid forest ecosystem not only by acting as a bioavailable P source but also altering soil chemistry and weathering.