Solubility of soil phosphorus in extended waterlogged conditions: An incubation study

Abstract

Understanding how extended excess soil moisture exacerbated by extreme weather events affects changes in iron (Fe) chemistry is crucial for assessing environmental risk associated with soil phosphorus (P) in high P soils. The objective of our study was to assess the effects of three soil moisture regimes (field capacity, water saturation, and waterlogging), two Fe3+ nitrate level (Fe3+ nitrate addition and no Fe3+ nitrate addition), and the duration of incubation (0, 3, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, 49, 63, 90, and 120 days) on the (i) reduction of ferric (Fe3+) to ferrous (Fe2+) iron, (ii) solubility of soil P, and (iii) soil microbial biomass and greenhouse gas emissions. Surface soils (0–20 cm) were collected from a maize silage field located in the Fraser Valley (British Columbia, Canada). Decreased redox potential (Eh) of 155 mV in waterlogged soils coincided with the reduction of Fe3+ to Fe2+ of about 1190 mg kg−1 and an increase in soil pH of 0.8 unit compared to field capacity regime at 120 days after pre-incubation (P < 0.001). The increase of pH is due to the microbially-mediated reduction of metal cations which consumes H+ cations. Water-extractable P (Pw) concentrations increased with increasing soil moisture regimes from 1.47 to 2.27, and 2.58 mg kg−1 under field capacity, water saturation, and waterlogged regime respectively. Mehlich-3 extractable P concentrations significantly decreased from 196 to 184 and 172 mg kg−1 under water saturation, field capacity, and waterlogged regime respectively. Concomitant to Pw concentrations, microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen as well as DOC, CO2 and N2O emissions increased with increasing soil moisture regimes. The Fe3+ nitrate addition had an inhibitory effect on Fe reduction, Pw concentration at the first 35 days, and DOC but a stimulating effect on N2O emission. A high N2O emission at the first 63 days, CO2 emission after 35 days, and a non-remarkable concentration of Fe2+ at the first 63 days with Fe3+ nitrate addition under waterlogged soil suggests that NO3− is more preferable than Fe3+ as an electron acceptor. Our results showed that soils maintained under extended anoxic conditions could increase the soluble and available P and subsequent risk of P transport to surface and drainage waters, whereas Fe3+ nitrate addition could minimize or delay this effect.