Influence of Soil Properties on P Pools and Its Effect on Forest Productivity in Mediterranean Calcareous Soils

Ruth C Martín-Sanz,Teresa Bueis,María-Belén Turrión,Valentín Pando

doi:10.3390/f12101398

Ruth C Martín-Sanz, Teresa Bueis + Show 2 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/f12101398

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Abstract

Although soil phosphorus is essential for vegetation growth it is not always found in labile forms, hampering its absorption by plants, and is limited in forest ecosystems. This study explores soil P state and availability in calcareous soils, determining which processes affect its different pools and which soil parameters influence forest productivity of a Mediterranean pine species. We used a sequential fractionation method to determine P fractions in the soil according to their lability and their organic or inorganic nature. Those fractions were related to different soil and climatic parameters and to the site index in 32 Pinus halepensis plots of the National Spanish Forest Inventory. Soil texture, carbonates content, water retention capacity and organic matter substantially affected P fractions in the calcareous soils studied. Membrane extractable P was mainly influenced by organic matter-related parameters while the predominant P fraction in these soils, the primary P, was linked to the carbonates content. The biological mineralization processes played a key role in the soil P cycle. Total P, carbonates content, soil texture and water availability drove forest productivity in the studied plots.

Highlights

IntroductionThere is abundant total P in the soil, it is not always found in available forms due to its low solubility, strongly dependent on the pH of the soil, its slow diffusion, and its high fixation in soils, hindering its absorption by plants
Our results showed that the organic fractions and the P available forms might be affected by organic matter and microbiological activity, while the P fractions linked to Ca seem to be influenced by the composition of the soil, mainly by its sand and carbonates content
We found a positive correlation between organic P, available P and highly labile inorganic P with soil organic C ([59,67], among others), since these soluble and labile forms of P come from the mineralization of organic matter [21]

Summary

Introduction

There is abundant total P in the soil, it is not always found in available forms due to its low solubility, strongly dependent on the pH of the soil, its slow diffusion, and its high fixation in soils, hindering its absorption by plants

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