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Updated: Jul 5, 2026
06:42
Measuring Phosphorus Release in Laboratory Microcosms for Water Quality Assessment
Published on: July 22, 2019
Fertilization-driven global and regional dynamics of phosphorus patterns under a representative fertilization
Chongchong Qi1, Pengxin Zhao2, Kechao Li2
1School of Resources and Safety Engineering, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, China; School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China.
Journal of Environmental Management
|July 3, 2026
Summary
Global soil phosphorus (P) imbalances pose risks to food security. Machine learning models predict fertilization impacts, showing a global decrease in inorganic P and an increase in organic P, with varied ecosystem responses.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Soil Science
- Biogeochemistry
Background:
- Phosphorus (P) is vital for plant life and agricultural productivity.
- Global soil P imbalances threaten food security and increase pollution risks.
- Understanding soil inorganic (Pi) and organic (Po) P dynamics under fertilization is crucial for sustainable management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a global predictive framework for soil Pi and Po concentrations using machine learning.
- To identify key drivers of soil P changes due to fertilization.
- To analyze the spatial distribution and ecosystem-specific responses of soil P.
Main Methods:
- Employed machine learning for a predictive and analytical framework.
- Analyzed macro-environmental factors and fertilization practices.
- Modeled global soil Pi and Po concentrations under an assumed fertilization scenario.
Main Results:
- Predicted a global decrease in soil Pi (-2.5 mg/kg) and an increase in Po (+5.5 mg/kg) with fertilization.
- Identified hotspots for Pi increase and accumulation, and a Po decline in the Great Lakes Basin.
- Observed heterogeneous ecosystem responses, with wetlands showing significant Pi decrease (15.6%) and Po increase (9.5%).
Conclusions:
- Machine learning provides a robust framework for understanding global soil P dynamics.
- Fertilization significantly alters soil Pi and Po pools, with distinct spatial and ecosystem patterns.
- Findings support precision fertilization, eutrophication risk mitigation, and sustainable P management strategies.
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