Characterizing phosphorus forms in cropland soils with solution 31P-NMR: past studies and future research needs
Citation
Cade-Menun, B.J. (2017). Characterizing phosphorus forms in cropland soils with solution 31P-NMR: past studies and future research needs, 4(1), http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s40538-017-0098-4
Plain language summary
Phosphorus (P) is an essential nutrient for plant growth. However, excess P from fertilizers can be lost in runoff, and can cause water quality problems. As such, understanding the forms and dynamics of soil phosphorus (P) is essential to maintain agricultural productivity while minimizing environmental risks. Although Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectroscopy (P-NMR) is recognized as the leading method to identify soil P forms, in agriculture it has been used more often for pasture soils than croplands, and in Europe and North America more than other regions. This paper reviews the use of this technique in studies of P cycling in croplands and provides recommendations on critical needs for further studies. Overall, the results show the need to use P-NMR in studies analyzing African soils, and soils associated with permanent crops such as orchards and vineyards. Furthermore, the paper recommends the need to link future P-NMR studies of cropping systems to agronomic parameters, and combine P-NMR with other techniques to fully capture P dynamics in cropping systems in order to gain a complete understanding of P use under various agricultural management practices.
Abstract
© 2017, Crown Copyright. Understanding the forms and dynamics of soil phosphorus (P) is essential to maintain agricultural productivity while minimizing environmental risks. Since it was first used on soil extracts in 1980, 31P-nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (P-NMR) has emerged as the leading technique to characterize extractable soil organic P forms. However, it is still underutilized in agriculture; of the more than 200 soil P-NMR papers published to date, only 44 have been conducted in non-pasture soils used for the production of annual or perennial crops, and only nine of those have linked identified P forms to agronomic parameters such as yield. This paper reviews these prior studies, suggesting gaps in research with respect to cropping systems and geographical regions. In particular, there have been few recent P-NMR studies that have fully identified P forms in African soils, and few studies of permanent crops such as orchards and vineyards. There is a need to link future P-NMR studies of cropping systems to agronomic parameters, and combine P-NMR with other techniques to fully capture P dynamics in cropping systems.[Figure not available: see fulltext.].