Phosphorus speciation in the organic layer of two Swedish forest soils 13–24 years after wood ash and nitrogen application

Tuyishime, J.R. Marius; Adediran, Gbotemi A. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6657-3336; Olsson, Bengt A.; Zetterberg, Therese Sahlén; Högbom, Lars; Spohn, Marie; Lim, Hyungwoo; Klysubun, Wantana; Borca, Camelia N.; Huthwelker, Thomas; Gustafsson, Jon Petter. 2022 Phosphorus speciation in the organic layer of two Swedish forest soils 13–24 years after wood ash and nitrogen application. Forest Ecology and Management, 521, 120432. 13, pp. 10.1016/j.foreco.2022.120432

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Abstract/Summary

Application of wood ash to forests can restore pools of phosphorus (P) and other nutrients, which are removed following whole tree harvesting. Yet, the mechanisms that affect the fate of ash-P in the organic layer are less well known. Previous research into the extent to which ash application leads to increased P solubility in the soil is contradictory. We combined synchrotron P K-edge XANES spectroscopy, µ-XRF microscopy, and chemical extractions to examine the speciation and solubility of P. We studied organic horizons of two long-term field experiments, Riddarhyttan (central Sweden), which had received 3, 6, and 9 Mg ash ha−1, and Rödålund (northern Sweden), where 3 Mg ash ha−1 had been applied alone or combined with N every-three years since 2003. At the latter site, we also determined P in aboveground tree biomass. Overall, the ash application increased P in the organic layer by between 6 and 28 kg P ha−1, equivalent to 17–39 % of the initial P content in the applied ash. At Rödålund, there was 4.6 kg Ca-bound P ha−1 (9.5 %) in the ash treatment compared to 1.6 kg ha−1 in the ash + N treatment and < 0.4 kg ha−1 in the N treatment and the control. At Riddarhyttan, only the treatment with the highest ash dose had residual Ca-bound P (3.8 kg ha−1). In contrast, the ash application increased Al-bound P (p < 0.001) with up to 15.6 kg P ha−1. Moreover, the ash increased Olsen-P by up to two times. There was a strong relationship between the concentrations of Olsen-P and Al-bound P (R2 = 0.83, p < 0.001) as well as Fe-bound P (R2 = 0.74, p = 0.003), suggesting that the ash application resulted in an increased amount of relatively soluble P associated with hydroxy-Al and hydroxy-Fe compounds. Further, there was an 18 % increase in P uptake by trees in the ash treatment. By contrast, repeated N fertilization, with or without ash, reduced Olsen-P. The lower P extractability was concomitant with a 39 % increase in plant P uptake in the N treatment, which indicates elevated P uptake in response to higher N availability. Hence, the application of wood ash increased Al-bound P, easily available P, and P uptake. N fertilization, while also increasing tree P uptake, instead decreased easily available P and did not cause a shift in soil P speciation.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	10.1016/j.foreco.2022.120432
UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:	Pollution (Science Area 2017-)
ISSN:	0378-1127
Additional Information. Not used in RCUK Gateway to Research.:	Open Access paper - full text available via Official URL link
Additional Keywords:	P speciation, P solubility, forest fertilization, P K-edge XANES spectroscopy, µ-XRF imaging microscopy
NORA Subject Terms:	Agriculture and Soil Science
Date made live:	26 Aug 2022 09:29 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/533079

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