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The biological transformation of P in soil

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Biological Processes and Soil Fertility

Part of the book series: Developments in Plant and Soil Sciences ((DPSS,volume 11))

Summary

Organic forms of soil phosphorus (Po) are an important source of available P for plants following mineralisation. The rates and pathways of P through soil organic matter are, however, poorly understood when compared to physico-chemical aspects of the P cycle. The essential role of soil microorganisms as a labile reservoir of P, confirmed experimentally and in modelling studies, has recently led to the development of methods for measuring their P content. Incorporation in a new P fractionation scheme of these measurements with estimates of Pi and Po fractions that vary in the extent of their availability to plants has enabled the dynamics of short-term soil P transformations to be investigated in relation to long-term changes observed in the field.

Different types of soil P compounds that mineralise at different rates can now be measured directly in extracts by 31P-nuclear magnetic resonance. Orthophosphate diesters, including phospholipids and nucleic acids, are the most readily mineralised group of these compounds. However, mineralisation rates rather than the amounts of types of Po in soil ultimately control P availability to plants. These rates are influenced by a number of soil and site factors, as a sensitive new technique using [32P] RNA has recently shown.

These recent developments reflect a more holistic approach to investigation of the soil P cycle than in the past, which should lead to improved fertilizer management practices.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. N.Z. Soil Bureau, D.S.I.R., Lower Hutt, New Zealand

    K. R. Tate

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Soil Science, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, Scotland

    J. Tinsley  & J. F. Darbyshire  & 

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© 1984 Martinus Nijhoff/Dr W. Junk Publishers, The Hague

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Tate, K.R. (1984). The biological transformation of P in soil. In: Tinsley, J., Darbyshire, J.F. (eds) Biological Processes and Soil Fertility. Developments in Plant and Soil Sciences, vol 11. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-6101-2_22

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-6101-2_22

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-009-6103-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-009-6101-2

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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