Comparison of agri-environmental phosphorus tests for boreal agricultural and natural Podzols

Over a dozen soil phosphorus (P) extraction procedures have been designed for agri-environmental purposes (P-tests). Sus-tainable expansion of agriculture into boreal regions dominated by Podzols requires further insights into P extractability. We extracted P from Podzol samples (n = 96) using nine P-tests followed by both colorimetric (PCol) and inductively coupled plasma (PICP) quantifications and assessed the relationships between P-tests. Samples were collected by depth or horizon from agricul-tural fields and reference sites in eastern, central, and western Newfoundland, Canada. The soil P was extracted with water, citric acid, ammonium bicarbonate diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (AB-DTPA), Morgan, Olsen, Bray-1, Bray-2, Mehlich-1, and Mehlich-3 solutions, thus targeting a wide range of extractable P pools in managed and natural Podzols. The soils had a pH of 3.4-6.9, organic matter of 0.5%-47.2%, and Al-M3 of 977-2561 mg kg-1. On average, water extracted the lowest PCol (1.0) and PICP (5.7) mg kg-1, while citric acid extracted the highest PCol (151) and PICP (290) mg kg-1. For the managed podzolic soils, the extractability of P followed the sequence water < Morgan < AB-DTPA < Mehlich-1 < Bray-1 < Mehlich-3 < Olsen < Bray-2 < citric acid; this varied slightly by quantification techniques and soil groups. The differences between PICP and PCol were most significant for the citric acid extracts. Most P-tests measurements were moderately to strongly correlated to P-M3ICP mea-surements (r2 > 0.50) but variable with quantification techniques and soil depths. Given the diversity in extractable P pools across management-induced soil conditions, it is evident that a fully informed P management for the Newfoundland Podzols will require calibration of P-tests against crop P uptake.

Automated summary

This study explores various methods of extracting soil phosphorus (P) in order to improve management of Podzol soils in Newfoundland.