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Microbial biomass phosphorus contributions to phosphorus solubility in riparian vegetated buffer strip soils

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Abstract

This study tests the hypothesis that microbial biomass phosphorus (P) makes a significant contribution to P solubility in riparian buffer strip soils. In 36 soils collected from buffer strips within three UK soil associations, water-extractable inorganic P solubility was most strongly related to NaHCO3 extractable inorganic P. However, within individual soil associations where soil pedological properties and management were similar, water-extractable inorganic P was most strongly related to microbial biomass P. These results highlight the difficulty in predicting dissolved P leaching risk based on agronomic soil P tests alone and the dissolved P leaching risk presented by having soils high in organic matter and microbial biomass P in close proximity to surface waters.

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Acknowledgments

Thanks to NERC for funding the research (grant code NE/GO12571/1) and Rothamsted Research, Lancaster University and the James Hutton Institute for providing access to resources. Thanks also to Aranzazu Louro Lopez, Tegan Darch, David Chadwick, Jane Hawkins and Roland Bol for providing assistance and support. The work was undertaken in conjunction with Defra project WQ0208.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster, LA1 4YQ, UK

    William M. Roberts & Philip M. Haygarth

  2. The James Hutton Institute, Aberdeen, AB15 8QH, UK

    William M. Roberts & Marc I. Stutter

  3. Rothamsted Research, North Wyke, Okehampton, EX20 2SB, UK

    Rachel A. Matthews, Martin S. A. Blackwell & Sabine Peukert

  4. University of Exeter, Exeter, EX4 4RJ, UK

    Sabine Peukert

  5. ADAS, Pendeford House, Wolverhampton, WV9 5AP, UK

    Adrian L. Collins

  6. University of Southampton, Southampton, SO171BJ, UK

    Adrian L. Collins

Authors
  1. William M. Roberts
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  2. Rachel A. Matthews
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  3. Martin S. A. Blackwell
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  4. Sabine Peukert
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  5. Adrian L. Collins
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  6. Marc I. Stutter
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  7. Philip M. Haygarth
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Correspondence to William M. Roberts.

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Roberts, W.M., Matthews, R.A., Blackwell, M.S.A. et al. Microbial biomass phosphorus contributions to phosphorus solubility in riparian vegetated buffer strip soils. Biol Fertil Soils 49, 1237–1241 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00374-013-0802-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00374-013-0802-x

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