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Related Experiment Videos

Autoclaving soil samples affects algal-available phosphorus.

Brandon H Anderson1, Frederick R Magdoff

  • 1Department of Plant and Soil Science, University of Vermont, Burlington, 05405, USA.

Journal of Environmental Quality
|October 14, 2005
PubMed
Summary

Autoclaving soil significantly increases available phosphorus (P) for algal growth, enhancing biological assays. Despite this, algal growth in autoclaved soil strongly correlates with non-autoclaved soil P availability measurements.

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Area of Science:

  • Soil science
  • Environmental chemistry
  • Microbiology

Background:

  • Microbial interference in phosphorus (P) availability assays is typically mitigated by autoclaving soil samples.
  • Algal growth assays are sensitive indicators of bioavailable P in soils and sediments.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the impact of autoclaving on soil P availability for algal growth.
  • To compare P levels determined by various soil tests with algal growth response.
  • To assess the reliability of autoclaving as a sample preparation method for P availability studies.

Main Methods:

  • Twenty-three soils were used; some were autoclaved, others not, before incubation with P-starved algae.
  • Algal growth was quantified as a measure of bioavailable P.

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  • Soluble P fractions (orthophosphate monoesters, diesters, inorganic P) were analyzed in a subset of soils.
  • Correlations between algal growth and P extracted by Olsen, Fe-oxide strip, Mehlich 3, Morgan, and Bray-Kurtz tests were calculated.

    • Main Results:

    • Autoclaving increased bioavailable P by approximately 60%, as indicated by enhanced algal growth.
    • Autoclaved soils showed significantly higher concentrations of soluble P fractions.
    • Algal growth in autoclaved soil was highly correlated with that in non-autoclaved soil.
    • Excluding two high-zinc soils improved correlations, with Olsen P showing the strongest relationship (r = 0.95) with algal growth in autoclaved soil.

    Conclusions:

    • Autoclaving enhances P availability for algal assays but maintains a strong correlation with non-autoclaved soil P levels.
    • Standard soil P extraction methods, particularly Olsen P, show high reliability in predicting algal growth response, even after autoclaving.
    • High zinc concentrations in soils can interfere with P availability assays, necessitating careful sample selection or data adjustment.