Abstract
Different fractions of soil organic matter (SOM) may contribute to varying degrees to phosphorus (P) recycling and supply. This study investigated the potential for light fraction SOM to contribute to plant P nutrition using a bioassay with Eucalyptus globulus (Labill.) seedlings. Light fraction SOM, which has been subject to only limited decomposition, was isolated from bulk soil using a density floatation procedure. Seedlings were grown in sand with a P-free nutrient solution and either light fraction SOM from five different native eucalypt forest plots as a source of added P or in sand with no added light SOM (controls). Growth (dry matter accumulation) and P acquisition by seedlings of four of the treatments grown with light fraction organic matter was 2–3 times greater than that of control seedlings. Daily rates of P acquisition ranged from 0.13 μg P day−1 (control) to 0.29–0.50 μg P day−1 for seedlings grown with added organic matter. Whilst the study indicates that light fraction SOM can contribute to the P nutrition of eucalypt seedlings, accordingly, further research into the nutritional role of light fraction SOM is warranted.
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