Spatial and Temporal changes of phosphorus in coastal wetland soils as affected by a tidal creek in the Yellow River Estuary, China

Publication date: Available online 15 August 2015 Source:Physics and Chemistry of the Earth, Parts A/B/C Author(s): Zhaoqin Gao, Junhong Bai, Jia Jia, Xiaojun Wen, Guangliang Zhang, Qingqing Zhao In order to investigate spatial and temporal changes of soil phosphorus and its availability in coastal wetlands in the Yellow River Estuary, soil samples from five sampling sites (Sites1-5) in four sampling periods were collected and the contents of soil phosphorus and other properties were detected. Our results showed that there were no significant differences in total phosphorus (TP) in surface and subsurface soils among the five sampling sites (p>0.05), whereas significant differences were observed between June and other months (p<0.05) following the order June > August > November > April. Generally, available phosphorus (AP) contents also showed a fluctuation in different sampling periods and there were significant differences between November and August and April at 10-20 cm soil layer (p<0.05). The soil P supply was generally lower with lower AP: TP ratios less than 2%. Spatial changes along the sampling belt in AP: TP ratios were similar in surface soils except for April, whereas they decreased in subsurface soils in June and November, and fluctuated slightly in August and April. Lower C: P ratios (<50) in coastal wetland soils contributed to soil P mineralization. Spatial changes in the C: P ratios were similar...
Source: Physics and Chemistry of the Earth, Parts ABC - Category: Science Source Type: research