Journal Article

Changes in organic phosphorus composition in boreal forest humus soils: the role of iron and aluminium

Persson, Per, Jansson, Mats, Vincent, Andrea G., Giesler, Reiner, Vestergren, Johan, Schleucher, Jürgen, Gröbner, Gerhard

2012

Overview

Organic phosphorus (P) is an important component of boreal forest humus soils, and its concentration has been found to be closely related to the concentration of iron (Fe) and aluminium (Al). We used solution and solid state 31P NMR spectroscopy on humus soils to characterize organic P along two groundwater recharge and discharge gradients in Fennoscandian boreal forest, which are also P sorption gradients due to differences in aluminium (Al) and iron (Fe) concentration in the humus. The composition of organic P changed sharply along the gradients. Phosphate diesters and their degradation products, as well as polyphosphates, were proportionally more abundant in low Al and Fe sites, whereas phosphate monoesters such as myo-, scyllo- and unknown inositol phosphates dominated in high Al and Fe soils. The concentration of inositol phosphates, but not that of diesters, was positively related to Al and Fe concentration in the humus soil. Overall, in high Al and Fe sites the composition of organic P seemed to be closely associated with stabilization processes, whereas in low Al and Fe sites it more closely reflected inputs of organic P, given the dominance of diesters which are generally assumed to constitute the bulk of organic P inputs to the soil. These gradients encompass the broad variation in soil properties detected in the wider Fennoscandian boreal forest landscape, as such our findings provide insight into the factors controlling P biogeochemistry in the region but should be of relevance to boreal forests elsewhere.

• Publisher: Springer-Verlag,Springer,Springer Netherlands,Springer Nature B.V
• Subject: Acid soils / Aluminium / Aluminum / Betsele / Biogeochemistry / Biogeosciences / Boreal forests / Concentration gradient / Decomposing organic matter / Degradation products / Diesters / Earth and Environmental Science / Earth Sciences / Earth, ocean, space / Ecosystems / Environmental Chemistry / Exact sciences and technology / Forest soils / Forests / Geochemistry / Gradients / Groundwater / Groundwater discharge / Groundwater recharge / Guanine nucleotide dissociation inhibitors / Humus / Hydrogeology / Hydrology. Hydrogeology / Inositol / Inositol phosphates / Inositols / Iron / Life Sciences / Magnetic resonance spectroscopy / NMR spectroscopy / nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy / Organic phosphorus / Organic soils / Phosphates / Phosphorus / Polyphosphates / Scandinavia / Soil / Soil and rock geochemistry / Soil biochemistry / Soil composition / Soil properties / Soil water / Soils / Solid state 31P NMR / Solution 31P NMR spectroscopy / Sorption / Surficial geology / Taiga