Soil phosphorus availability and fractionation in response to different phosphorus sources in alkaline and acid soils: a short-term incubation study

Abstract Using agricultural wastes as an alternative phosphorus (P) source has great prospects to improve soil P status. A 70-day incubation experiment was carried out to investigate the effects of superphosphate (SSP), poultry manure (PM), cattle manure (CM), maize straw (MS), and cattle bone meal (CB) with the same total P input on soil P availability and fractions in typical acidic (red soil) and alkaline (fluvo-aquic soil) soils. The results showed that in both fluvo-aquic and red soils, CM out-performed other P sources in improving soil P availability. Changes in soil Olsen-P (ΔOlsen-P) were greater in fluvo-aquic soils with SSP, PM and CM additions than in red soils. Among the different P sources used, only CM has increased the labile soil P fractions to levels similar to that with SSP. Compared with SSP, more monoester P and inositol hexakisphosphate were detected in soils amended with PM and CM. A structural equation model (SEM) analysis suggested that soil pH had a direct positive effect on the labile P fractions in the acidic red soil amended with different P sources. In summary, CM is a superior P source for increasing plant available soil P, with considerable practical implications for P recycling.