Effects of phosphorus application and mycorrhizal inoculation on root characteristics of subterranean clover and ryegrass in relation to phosphorus uptake

The effects of phosphorus (P) application and mycorrhizal inoculation on the root characteristics of subterranean clover and ryegrass were examined. Phosphorus application increased total root length, root surface area and root volume of both plant species. In contrast, mycorrhizal infection only affected the root characteristics of subterranean clover. Ryegrass took up more P than non-mycorrhizal subterranean clover at all levels of application. However, mycorrhizal infection only increased P uptake by subterranean clover and there was no difference in P uptake between ryegrass and mycorrhizal subterranean clover at low levels of P application. When the P uptake was expressed on the basis of any of the root characteristics, subterranean clover were superior to ryegrass suggesting that the greater uptake of P by ryegrass is not due to a higher efficiency in absorption of P from soil solution, but rather to a large root system.     

Implications of the reorganizational behavior of condensed phosphates for mitochondrial phosphorylation.

The composition of phosphorus-32 labeled polyphosphoric acid (32PPA) prepared from, (i) H3(32)PO4 and (82 percent w/w) P2O5 and, (ii) by incorporation of radioactivity from H3(32)PO4 into unlabeled polyphosphoric acid (PPA) was examined and found to be the same. The identity of these condensed phosphorate mixtures, as established, argues strongly in favor of a rapid and complete equilibration and provides direct evidence in support of Van Wazer's reorganization theory of condensed phosphates. No evidence for metaphosphates or label exchange in an aqueous environment was found. 32PPA was found to exist in metastable equilibrium with 32PPA as a crystalline solid of different composition. Agreement of hydrolytic rate data from the mixtures of condensed phosphates with literature values for individual species suggests that the hydrolysis of the pyro- and tripoly-phosphate species proceeds independently in the presence of other homologs. The rate of hydrolysis of the condensed phosphates (at pH5.0 and 65 degrees C) was found to be proportional to chain length, increasing about four-fold between pyro- and hexapoly-phosphate. The same correlation is also manifest in the adenosine 5' polyphosphates. A slight enhancement in the rate of hydrolysis of adenosine diphosphate, increasingly more pronounced in the case of adenosine tri- and tetra-phosphate, was also noted. This effect is attributed to the presence of the adenosine moiety. The most interesting aspect of the rate data is to be found in the similarity of the rates of hydrolysis of the adenosine 5' polyphosphates, relative to their inorganic polyphosphate counterparts. The significance of these findings is discussed and the viewpoint is presented that the properties of condensed phosphates are compatible with the requisite characteristics that must be predicated of any in situ phosphoryl precursor in mitochondrial phosphorylation.     

Variation in root-associated phosphatase activities in wheat contributes to the utilization of organic P substrates in vitro,but does not explain differences in the P-nutrition of plants when grown in soils

To understand whether genotypic variation in root-associated phosphatase activities in wheat impacts on its ability to acquire phosphorus (P), various phosphatase activities of roots were measured in relation to the utilization of organic P substrates in agar, and the P-nutrition of plants was investigated in a range of soils. Root-associated phosphatase activities of plants grown in hydroponics were measured against different organic P substrates. Representative genotypes were then grown in both agar culture and in soils with differing organic P contents and plant biomass and P uptake were determined. Differences in the activities of both root-associated and exuded phosphodiesterase and phosphomonoesterase were observed, and were related to the P content of plants supplied with either ribonucleic acid or glucose 6-phosphate, respectively, as the sole form of P. When the cereal lines were grown in different soils, however, there was little relationship between any root-associated phosphatase activity and plant P uptake. This indicates that despite differences in phosphatase activities of cereal roots, such variability appears to play no significant role in the P-nutrition of the plant grown in soil, and that any benefit derived from the hydrolysis of soil organic P is common to all genotypes.     

Variation in root-associated phosphatase activities in wheat contributes to the utilization of organic P substrates in vitro,but does not explain differences in the P-nutrition of plants when grown in soils

To understand whether genotypic variation in root-associated phosphatase activities in wheat impacts on its ability to acquire phosphorus (P), various phosphatase activities of roots were measured in relation to the utilization of organic P substrates in agar, and the P-nutrition of plants was investigated in a range of soils. Root-associated phosphatase activities of plants grown in hydroponics were measured against different organic P substrates. Representative genotypes were then grown in both agar culture and in soils with differing organic P contents and plant biomass and P uptake were determined. Differences in the activities of both root-associated and exuded phosphodiesterase and phosphomonoesterase were observed, and were related to the P content of plants supplied with either ribonucleic acid or glucose 6-phosphate, respectively, as the sole form of P. When the cereal lines were grown in different soils, however, there was little relationship between any root-associated phosphatase activity and plant P uptake. This indicates that despite differences in phosphatase activities of cereal roots, such variability appears to play no significant role in the P-nutrition of the plant grown in soil, and that any benefit derived from the hydrolysis of soil organic P is common to all genotypes.     

Effect of reactive substrates used for the removal of phosphorus from wastewater on the fertility of acid soils

Reactive substrates used in filter systems can reduce phosphorus (P) pollution and, once saturated with P, may be recycled in agriculture. These substrates are usually calcium carbonate derivates with high pH values, which may be particularly beneficial for acid soils. Three reactive substrates (Filtra P, Polonite and wollastonite) saturated with P were used as amendments to an acid soil in a pot experiment. Substrate amendments tended to improve ryegrass yield and P uptake compared with control and potassium phosphate treatments. Polonite produced the highest yield/amendment ratio, while Polonite and Filtra P significantly increased the concentrations of P and Ca in the ryegrass. Addition of all three substrates increased the pH, AL-extractable P and cation exchange capacity of soils during the experiment. These substrates can therefore be applied to acid soils in order to recycle P and improve soil properties.     

Effect of growing ryegrass on the distribution of zinc in soil pools

The distribution of zinc between soil pools was measured over 48 weeks in grassed and bare soils using selective extractants. Although changes in the extractable fractions of zinc occurred in all soils, they tended to be less in the bare soils. From weeks 18 to 48 the rate of uptake of zinc by ryegrass ranged from 3.4 to 106 g Zn/week in the 5 soils studied. The CaCl₂-extractable Zn in the soil increased over the 48 weeks, while the amount of acetic acid-, EDTA-and oxalate-extractable Zn decreased. Superimposed on these changes was the effect of growing ryegrass. There was relatively more CaCl₂-Zn, but less acetic acid-Zn and oxalate-Zn, in the grassed soil compared to the bare soil. There was no significant change over time in the difference in the EDTA-Zn pool between grassed and ungrassed soils. Comparison of zinc taken up by the ryegrass and zinc lost to soil, measured by oxalate extraction, suggested that selective extraction was not a good measure of zinc uptake by grass.     

Short term effects of radiata pine and selected pasture species on soil organic phosphorus mineralisation

Silvopastoral systems comprise part of the continued expansion of conifer plantings on grassland in New Zealand. Greater understanding of the short term dynamics of soil organic P in such systems will further our knowledge about soil carbon and phosphorus relationships which will enable improved nutrient management in the field. A glasshouse experiment was carried out to examine the short-term effects (36 weeks) of combinations of radiata pine (Pinus radiata), lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) and perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) grown in the same soil type with a range of carbon (C) and phosphorus (P) levels on plant P uptake and the specific mineralisation rate (SMR). The SMR is defined as net mineralisation rate (i.e. gross mineralisation less microbial and geochemical uptake) and calculated from organic P decline as a percentage of organic P in the original soil before planting. This included an investigation of the effect of tree ectomycorrhizal (EM) hyphae on soil organic P. Plant P uptake was positively correlated with water soluble organic carbon (WSOC) and SMR, which in turn was closely related to soil C levels. The soils with high WSOC and C levels (which also contained high levels of labile inorganic and organic P) enabled high P uptake. Although P uptake was the greatest under radiata pine, the trees tended to deplete inorganic P to a lesser extent than the forages. When tree and forage species were combined, P uptake by forages was similar to when the forages were grown alone. The various soil and plant treatments significantly affected SMR. The two low C soils, showed the greatest organic P mineralisation while a high C soil, which contained significant levels of bicarbonate extracted inorganic P at planting and was under a long established undisturbed pasture, showed the least mineralisation. Trees grown alone showed the greatest SMR, EM hyphae and trees with lucerne were slightly lower than trees alone, while the forages showed the lowest SMR. The findings of this study showed that changes in organic P are strongly influenced by interactions between plant species (radiata pine, lucerne, ryegrass) and soil properties as determined by land use and management.     

有机酸对土壤无机态磷转化和速效磷的影响

土壤有效磷含量低是影响作物生产的重要限制因素之一.作物根分泌活化难溶性磷的有机酸对改善其磷素营养具有重要意义.采用张守敬和Jackson无机磷分级方法,以湖北省3种pH值土壤为材料,加入不同磷源和有机酸,经过室温培养后,测定速效磷含量和无机磷组分的变化.结果表明:施磷显著提高了土壤中速效磷含量,中性土、酸性土Fe-P和Al-P含量大幅上升, Fe-P占增加量的50%以上,而碱性土Ca-P含量显著增加.加施有机酸使中性土速效磷含量增多,除苹果酸处理的变幅较小外,草酸和柠檬酸的加入速效磷显著增加.由于有机酸的作用,中性土Al-P含量下降,Ca-P含量上升,变幅大小依次为草酸＞柠檬酸＞苹果酸;酸性土中Al-P含量呈下降趋势,碱性土中Ca-P含量有不同程度的减少,3种土壤中O-P含量均有所增加.说明有机酸活化的磷主要来源于中性土和酸性土Al-P、Fe-P及碱性土Ca-P中的磷,同时有机酸能够促进土壤中闭蓄态磷(O-P)的形成与积累.     

Plant availability of soil selenate additions and selenium distribution within wheat and ryegrass

Selenate fertilization is an effective way to secure selenium (Se) nutrition in Se-poor areas but the cycling of the added selenate in the soil-plant system requires further clarification. We examined the Se uptake efficiency of wheat and ryegrass and Se distribution within these plants in two pot experiments. The behaviour of added selenate in a sand soil under wheat was monitored by sequential extractions during a ten-week growing period. In addition, the relationship between Se uptake of ryegrass and the salt extractable and ligand exchangeable Se in a sand and silty clay soil were studied. The added selenate remained mainly salt soluble in the soil throughout the monitoring. Se uptake by wheat comprised 12% of the soluble Se pool in soil and extended over the whole period of growth. In wheat, over 50% of Se accumulated in grains. The Se uptake of ryegrass comprised, on average, 40% of the soil salt soluble Se. In ryegrass, over 80% of the Se accumulated in roots. The distribution pattern of Se in plants can clearly have a major influence on both the Se cycle in soil and the nutritional efficiency of Se fertilization. The simple salt extraction showed fertilization-induced changes in the soluble soil Se pool, whereas the ligand exchangeable Se fraction reflected the difference in the nonlabile Se status between the two soils.     

Mobilization of non-exchangeable K by ryegrass in five Moroccan soils with and without mica

Intensive cropping of Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiforum L.) in pots was used to assess the contribution of non-exchangeable K to plant uptake. The soils used were: two soils high in mica (illite) developed on recent alluvium plus two smectitic (beidellitic) soils and a soil of mixed mineralogy rich in mica. Four K treatments were used (0, 28.6, 143, and 286 mg kg^-1 soil) with 8 successive monthly cuttings. A response of plant K uptake to added K was observed in all soils. Both 1.0 M NH₄0Ac and 0.2 M CaCl₂ extractable K were depleted to a minimum level specific for each soil. The minima were lower in the old upland soils compared to the young alluvial soils. Uptake of K by Italian ryegrass induced K release from the non-exchangeable K to replenish the plant available pool of K ions. The release of mica interlayer K in the alluvial and in the high K smectitic soil supplied sufficient K to plants even under intensive cropping. The rate of mobilization of interlayer K was low in the smectitic soil with lower K. The lowest release rate was in the old high mica soil. Iron coatings may have inhibited mobilization of interlayer K. The rates of mobilization cannot be predicted from mineralogical and K-extraction data only. The rates of K uptake and the rates of K release by ryegrass under intensive cropping are potential values which can be used for modelling K availability to plants in the soils studied.     

Transformation of inorganic phosphorus in flooded soils under rice cropping

Summary The concentrations of water soluble and ammonium acetate extractable phosphorus in all the soils under investigation first increased and then decreased with time of submergence under rice cropping. The increase in soluble phosphorus in the three acid soils of Luisiana, Casiguran and Guadalupe was related to decrease in the concentration of iron, calcium and reductant soluble phosphates, while in slightly acidic Maahas clay, the increase was associated with decrease in iron and aluminium phosphates. But in the calcareous soil, the increase was due to decrease in the concentration of aluminium and reductant soluble phosphates. The decrease was due to the re-formation of insoluble aluminium, iron and calcium phosphates in Luisiana and Guadalupe clays, to the formation of aluminium and calcium phosphates in Maahas and to the formation of calcium phosphate only in Casiguran fine sand. The application of phosphorus at the rate of 100 pounds per acre produced better tillering, more penicles and higher straw and grain productions in Luisiana, Casiguran and Guadalupe only where the level of soluble phosphate was very low in pots where no phosphorus was applied. This study, thus, indicated the necessity of phosphorus fertilization in low land rice for soils which are low in phosphorus and high in active iron and aluminium.     

Soil fumigation and phosphorus supply affect the formation of Pisolithus-Eucalyptus urophylla ectomycorrhizas in two acid Philippine soils

To examine the effects of microbial populations and external phosphorus supply of two Philippine soils on mycorrhizal formation, Eucalyptus urophylla seedlings were inoculated with two Pisolithus isolates and grown in fumigated, reinfested and unfumigated soil fertilized with four rates of phosphorus. The Pisolithus isolates used were collected from under eucalypts in Australia and in the Philippines. Soils were infertile acid silty loams collected from field sites in Pangasinan, Luzon and Surigao, Mindanao.Significant interaction was observed between inoculation, soil fumigation and phosphorus supply on mycorrhizal formation by the Australian isolate in Surigao soil but not in Pangasinan soil. Soil fumigation enhanced mycorrhizal formation by the Australian isolate but did not affect root colonization by the Philippine isolate. Root colonization by the Australian isolate was highest in the reinfested soil while for the Philippine isolate it was highest in the unfumigated soil. The Australian isolate was more effective than the Philippine isolate in promoting growth and P uptake of E. urophylla seedlings in both soils. Total dry weight and P uptake of E. urophylla seedlings inoculated with the Australian isolate were maximum in fumigated and in the reinfested Pangasinan and Surigao soils supplied with 8 mg P kg^-1 soil. In the unfumigated soil, growth of seedlings inoculated with the Australian isolate was significantly reduced. Seedlings inoculated with the Philippine isolate had the largest dry weights and P contents in unfumigated Pangasinan and Surigao soils supplied with 8 mg P kg^-1 soil.These results indicate that the performance of the Australian Pisolithus isolate was markedly affected by biological factors in unfumigated soil. Thus, its potential use in the Philippines needs to be thoroughly tested in a variety of unfumigated soils before its widespread use in any inoculation programme.     

The dependence of isotopically exchangeable phosphate (L-value) on phosphate uptake

Summary L-values were determined using clover and ryegrass, grown either separately or together, in soil or soil/sand media. Where the two species were grown in the same pot, there was no interspecific effect on L-value. However, as the experiment progressed L-values increased and clover and ryegrass grown separately gave different values. The increases can be explained by P uptake, single regressions of L-value on phosphate uptake accounting for 86 and 88 per cent of the variations in L-value on the two soils used, with little improvement for treating the two crops separately. The most likely explanation for the observation is that the phosphate stress placed on the soil system caused mobilization of previously non-labile P by the dissolution of sparingly soluble phosphate compounds.     

The supply of soluble phosphorus to the wheat plant from inorganic soil phosphorus

Summary Pots containing a slightly acid, red-brown soil were maintained at three moisture levels, in half the pots wheat was grown and in the remainder there was no plant growth. Fractionation of the soil phosphorus showed the aluminium phosphates fraction to be the main source of plant-available phosphorus, but at the same time the growth of the plants reduced the significant increase in iron phosphates which occurred during the period in the no-wheat pots. The plant roots compete with the iron phosphates for the soluble phosphate released from the aluminium phosphates fraction.     

Preferential utilization of organic and inorganic sources of phosphorus by wheat plant

On soils of low P supply organic P (Po) makes up a similar or even larger part in soil solution than inorganic P (Pi). The ability of wheat (Triticum aestivum L., cv. Star) plants to hydrolyze and absorb this Po in comparison to similar concentrations of Pi was studied. Four concentration levels of Pi and Po were obtained by extracting two soils with deionized water in a ratio of 1:1 and concentrating the resulting filtrate by freeze drying to different degrees. The concentration of Pi varied between 5 and 36 μM and Po between 3 and 22 μM. Wheat seedlings were grown in these solutions for 12 and 24 h and acid and alkaline phosphatase activity determined. The reduction of Po concentration in solution expressed on a root length basis gave the rate of Po hydrolysis and the reduction in concentration of Pi and Po gave the P inflow into the roots. No alkaline phosphatase activity was detected. The activity of wheat root acid phosphatase increased with Po concentration in solution. Phosphorus uptake was 2 to 6 fold higher from Pi than from Po at similar concentrations of both. The rate of uptake from Pi, the inflow, as well as the rate of hydrolysis of Po increased linearly with concentration but at similar concentration the inflow was 2 to 4 times higher than the rate of Po hydrolysis. Results suggest that plants can utilize Po after hydrolysis by phosphatase, but Pi is more important and preferentially used by plants; Po may be essential for plant nutrition especially in high P-fixing soils.     

Experiments on effects of phosphorus on the manganese nutrition of plants

Summary Monocalcium phosphate (MCP), the salt of concentrated superphosphate, applied to a Buganda soil increased the amount of manganese taken up by ryegrass. To investigate the cause of this effect the derivatives of MCP hydrolysis, dicalcium phosphate (DCP) and triple-point solution (TPS) were separated and applied independently. Both derivatives, and a synthetic dicalcium phosphate dihydrate, increased the concentration of manganese in ryegrass showing that dissolution of soil manganese by TPS (pH 1.48) was not a unique cause.DCP derived by hydrolysis of MCP supplied little phosphorus to early crops of ryegrass but a larger proportion of its P was taken up by later crops; TPS supplied more of its P to earlier than to later crops. During 42 weeks the proportions of P taken up from DCP and TPS were similar to the proportions of phosphorus in these forms when MCP hydrolyzes.Phosphorus in DCP derived by hydrolysis of MCP was more available to ryegrass than phosphorus in a synthetic dicalcium phosphate dihydrate, showing that results may be misleading when synthetic materials are used to simulate the compounds that form from fertilizers in soil. re]19760401     

Deposition of condensed phosphate as an effect of varying sulfur deficiency in the cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. (Anacystis nidulans)

Uptake of orthophosphate and deposition of condensed phosphate were investigated in cells of Synechococcus sp. (Anacystis nidulans) deficient in phosphorus or sulfur. When phosphorus was restored to phosphorus-starved cells, uptake was rapid and immediate, with the greatest accumulation occurring within the first hour. Uptake was optimum in the pH 7.5–8.5 range. Long-term (6-day) studies of uptake and deposition with cells exposed to a wide range of sulfur deficiency showed that both processes were greatest when the level of exogenous sulfur was reduced to zero. The increase in cellular phosphorus as determined chemically was in agreement with the increased number and size of polyphosphate bodies at the ultrastructural level. Possible mechanisms for the control of phosphorus uptake and condensed phosphate formation by exogenous sulfur are discussed.     

Mobilization of different phosphate fractions in the rhizosphere

Availability of soil P fractions and mechanisms of acquisition by plants were studied. Plants mobilize soil P by desorption via depletion of P solution concentration around roots. In an oxisol, the process was enhanced by nitrate N nutrition of ryegrass, which increased soil pH, and by carboxylate release by white lupin. Ligand exchange and Fe/Al solubilization are assumed to be the mechanisms. Ammonium N nutrition of ryegrass decreased pH and allowed P mobilization in a luvisol but had no such effect in an oxisol, due to acid solubility of P in these soils. Organic P dissolved in soil solution contributed one third to the P uptake of field-grown barley on a luvisol. Laboratory experiments suggest that organic P is hydrolyzed by phosphatases at the root surface and replenished by micro-organisms.     

Novel Applications for Oxalate-Phosphate-Amine Metal-Organic-Frameworks (OPA-MOFs): Can an Iron-Based OPA-MOF Be Used as Slow-Release Fertilizer?

A porous iron-based oxalate-phosphate-amine metal-organic framework material (OPA-MOF) was investigated as a microbially-induced slow-release nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) fertilizer. Seedling growth, grain yields, nutrient uptake of wheat plants, and soil dynamics in incubated soil, were investigated using OPA-MOF vs standard P (triple-superphosphate) and N (urea) fertilizers in an acidic Ferralsol at two application rates (equivalent 120 and 40 kg N ha^-1). While urea hydrolysis in the OPA-MOF treatment was rapid, conversion of ammonium to nitrate was significantly inhibited compared to urea treatment. Reduced wheat growth in OPA-MOF treatments was not caused by N-deficiency, but by limited P-bioavailability. Two likely reasons were slow P-mobilisation from the OPA-MOF or rapid P-binding in the acid soil. P-uptake and yield in OPA-MOF treatments were significantly higher than in nil-P controls, but significantly lower than in conventionally-fertilised plants. OPA-MOF showed potential as enhanced efficiency N fertilizer. However, as P-bioavailability was insufficient to meet plant demands, further work should determine if P-availability may be enhanced in alkaline soils, or whether central ions other than Fe, forming the inorganic metal-P framework in the MOF, may act as a more effective P-source in acid soils.     

The residual value of fertilizer phosphate applied in two field experiments

Summary Of the phosphate applied to two soils in the field, 42 and 100 per cent respectively remained in the top six inches three years later. The loss from the organic soil is believed to have been due to leaching. In the soils from both sites, half the residual phosphate (measured by isotopic dilution) was still labile, and within each soil the uptake of phosphate by ryegrass was highly correlated with the L-value. However, the phosphate in the labile pools of the two soils differed: in the soil that had lost phosphate, a greater fraction of the pool was in the soil solution and a greater proportion was taken up by ryegrass grown in pots. It is suggested that such differences in the behaviour of the phosphate within the labile pool may yield information on the mechanism of phosphate retention.