Fate of Phosphorus Associated With Soil-Borne Nanoparticles.
Tuesday, November 5, 2013: 9:00 AM
Tampa Convention Center, Room 12, First Floor
Aaron Thompson, Crop & Soil Sciences, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, Russell Henderson, Clemson University, Clemson, SC and Nadine J. Kabengi, Departments of Geosciences and Chemistry, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA
Particle facilitated transport is a key mechanism of phosphorus (P) loss in agroecosystems. We assessed contributions of colloid and nanoparticle-bound P (nPP; 1 nm – 415 nm) to total P released from surface soils of grasslands receiving bi-annual poultry litter applications since 1995. In laboratory incubations, soils were equilibrated at pH 6 and 8 or subjected to 7 days of anoxic conditions and then size fractionated by differential centrifugation/ultrafiltration for analysis of P, Al, Fe, Si, Ti, and Ca. Selected samples were characterized by transmission electron microscopy energy dispersive spectroscopy (TEM-EDS) and field flow fractionation (FFF-ICP-MS). Across all treatments, particles released were present as nanoaggregates with a mean diameter of 200 – 250 nm, composed of ~50 nm aluminosilicate flakes studded with Fe and Ti-rich clusters (<10 nm) that contained most of the P detected by EDS. We found greater release of nPP and greater Fe2+(aq) production following anoxic incubation of seasonally saturated field soils, than from incubation of well-drained field soils. Non-reductive particle dispersion, stimulated by adding base, yielded no increased in nPP release. This suggests Fe acts as a cementing agent, binding to the bulk soil P-bearing colloids that can be released during reducing conditions. Furthermore, it suggests prior periodic exposure to anoxic conditions increases susceptibility to redox-induced P mobilization.