LI Bao-zhen;Gunina, Anna;Zhran, Mostafa;Jones, Davey L.;Hill, Paul W.;HU Ya-jun;GE Ti-da;WU Jin-shui

Univ Kassel, Dept Environm Chem, Nordbahnhofstr 1a, D-37213 Witzenhausen, Germany;Dokuchaev Soil Sci Inst, Dept Soil Biol & Biochem, Moscow 119017, Russia;Bangor Univ, Sch Nat Sci, Bangor LL57 2UW, Gwynedd, Wales;Univ Chinese Acad Sci, Beijing 100049, Peoples R China;Chinese Acad Sci, Inst Subtrop Agr, Changsha Res Stn Agr & Environm Monitoring, Key Lab Agroecol Proc Subtrop Reg, Changsha 410125, Peoples R China;Atom Energy Author, Nucl Res Ctr, Soil & Water Res Dept, Abou Zaabl 13759, Egypt

rice paddy;phosphatase;phosphorus cycling;microbial community

Continuous application of organic fertilizers can cause accumulation of organic phosphorus (P) in soil, especially in the low molecular-weight organic phosphorus (LMWOP) forms. This organic P pool represents a potentially important source of P for both plants and microorganisms. To understand the effect of long-term fertilization (30 years) (P-rich soil) vs. fallowing (P-poor soil) on the bioavailability and fate of LMWOP in subtropical paddy soils, we determined the sorption and mineralization of C-14-labeled adenosine, adenosine monophosphate (AMP), adenosine diphosphate (ADP), and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) in each soil. The contents of carbon, nitrogen, and P in the P-rich soil were more than two times greater than those in the P-poor soil. The mineralization rates of the LMWOP compounds were faster in the P-rich soil compared to the P-poor soil, and followed the order AMP > ADP > ATP. Using sterilized soil, all forms of adenosine-P were strongly sorbed to the solid phase and reached saturation in a short time, with the adsorbance increasing with the number of phosphate groups. We concluded that the mineralization of LMWOP compounds was repressed slightly by sorption to the solid phase, but only in the short term. Thus, LMWOP compounds serve as readily available sources of C for microorganisms, making P available for themselves as well as for the plants. However, P accumulation and the progressive saturation of the P sorption sites in highly fertile soils may increase the potential risk of P runoff.