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Bringing function to structure: Root-soil interactions shaping phosphatase activity throughout a soil profile in
Kristine Grace Cabugao1,2, Daniela Yaffar2,3, Nathan Stenson2
1Bredesen Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Graduate Education University of Tennessee Knoxville Knoxville TN USA.
Ecology and Evolution
|February 18, 2021
Summary
Tropical forests with low phosphorus (P) rely on phosphatase enzymes from roots and microbes to access soil nutrients. This study quantifies phosphatase activity and influencing factors to improve ecosystem models.
Area of Science:
- Tropical forest ecology
- Soil science
- Biogeochemistry
Background:
- Highly productive tropical forests often grow on phosphorus-deficient soils.
- Acid phosphatase enzymes from roots and microbes are crucial for mineralizing organic phosphorus, making it available for plant uptake.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the distribution and drivers of root and soil phosphatase activity in tropical forests.
- To provide data for refining ecosystem models that estimate phosphorus mineralization.
Main Methods:
- Measured soil and root phosphatase activity across soil depths (up to 1m for soil, 30cm for roots).
- Collected data on fine-root biomass, specific root length, soil phosphorus, bulk density, and soil texture.
- Analyzed relationships between phosphatase activity and soil/root factors.
Main Results:
- Soil phosphatase decreased with depth, while root phosphatase did not.
- Soil phosphatase per soil volume was 100 times higher than root phosphatase per soil volume.
- Soil phosphatase correlated positively with fine-root mass and organic phosphorus.
- Root phosphatase correlated positively with specific root length and negatively with available phosphorus.
Conclusions:
- Fine-root traits and soil phosphorus data are essential for understanding phosphatase activity in tropical forest soils.
- These findings are critical for parameterizing ecosystem models of phosphorus cycling.
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