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Published on: February 15, 2021
Phosphorus-arsenic interaction in the 'soil-plant-microbe' system and its influence on arsenic pollution
Jingwen Wu1, Jieliang Liang1, Lars Olof Björn2
1Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Biotechnology for Plant Development, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Subtropical Biodiversity and Biomonitor, School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, China.
Abstract:
Elevated arsenic (As) in soil is of public concern due to the carcinogenicity. Phosphorus (P) strongly influences the adsorption, absorption, transport, and transformation of As in the soil and in organisms due to the similarity of the chemical properties of P and As. In soil, P, particularly inorganic P, can release soil-retained As (mostly arsenate) by competing for adsorption sites. In plant and microbial systems, P usually reduces As (mainly arsenate) uptake and affects As biotransformation by competing for As transporters. The intensity and pattern of PAs interaction are highly dependent on the forms of As and P, and strongly influenced by various biotic and abiotic factors. An understanding of the PAs interaction in 'soil-plant-microbe' systems is of great value to prevent soil As from entering the human food chain. Here, we review PAs interactions and the main influential factors in soil, plant, and microbial subsystems and their effects on the As release, absorption, transformation, and transport in the 'soil-plant-microbe' system. We also analyze the application potential of P fertilization as a control for As pollution and suggest the research directions that need to be followed in the future.
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