Substantial dust loss of bioavailable phosphorus from agricultural soils

Abstract

Phosphorus (P) is an essential element in terrestrial ecosystems. Knowledge on the role of dust in the biogeochemical cycling of phosphorus is very limited with no quantitative information on aeolian (by wind) P fluxes from soils. The aim of this study is to focus on P cycling via dust emissions under common land-use practices in an arid environment by integration of sample analyses and aeolian experiments. The experiments indicate significant P fluxes by PM10 dust due to agricultural land use. Even in a single wind-dust event at moderate velocity (7.0 m s−1), P flux in conventional agricultural fields can reach 1.83 kg km−2, that accumulates to a considerable amount per year at a regional scale. The results highlight a negative yearly balance in P content (up to hundreds kg km−2) in all agricultural soils, and thus more P nutrition is required to maintain efficient yield production. In grazing areas where no P nutrition is applied, the soil degradation process can lead to desertification. Emission of P from soil dust sources has significant implications for soil nutrient resources and management strategies in agricultural regions as well as for loading to the atmosphere and global biogeochemical cycles.

Quantifying the effect of geomorphology on aeolian dust emission potential in northern China

“…Yin and Chen, 2007;Karydis et al, 2017), but also through participating in biogeochemical cycles within terrestrial (e.g. Bielders et al, 2002;Katra et al, 2016). Jickells et al, 2005;Mahowald et al, 2018) upon deposition.…”

“…At source, the loss of nutrients and fine particles due to dust emission may result in soil degradation (e.g. Bielders et al, 2002;Katra et al, 2016). Also, dust storms significantly affect regional air quality and human health (e.g.…”

Shifting Cyanobacterial Diversity in Response to Agricultural Soils Associated with Dust Emission

“…Significant differences were obtained also between conventional and organic agriculture, in which PM 10 emission was higher in Nirim (conventional crop field) compared with that in Migda (organic field). It was demonstrated that wind erosion and PM 10 emission from these soil lead to substantial loss of bioavailable phosphorus by dust, and possibly more essential nutrients, depending on land uses (Katra et al ., ). Following the results of wind‐erodible topsoil characteristics (Table ), differences in the potential of dust emission between the studied plots (Figure ) are expected.…”

“…Dust loading to the atmosphere from disturbed soils is particularly important because the chemical and biological compositions of which can be different from that of dust originating from natural desert sources (Hasselquist et al, 2011;Trujillo-González et al, 2016). Moreover, loss of microbial communities through wind erosion can reduce soil fertility and resistance to further erosion, introducing a notable feedback effect for rates of sediment loss (Acosta-Martinez et al, 2015;Borrelli et al, 2016;Colazo & Buschiazzo, 2015;Gao et al, 2016;Katra et al, 2016). Human exposure to dust particles can increase daily mortality, cardiovascular diseases and hospitalization rates (Perez et al, 2008;Yitshak-Sade et al, 2015;Vodonos et al, 2015).…”

Making Conventional Agriculture Environmentally Friendly: Moving beyond the Glorification of Organic Agriculture and the Demonization of Conventional Agriculture

“…In a series of recent experiments in semi-arid areas, following harvest and prior to cultivation, there seemed to be no statistically significant difference in soil loss between organic and conventional plots [95]. However, the research team also found that fields that had been cultivated using organic methods were often more susceptible to wind erosion than conventional plots, where no-till plowing or other practices left higher levels of vegetative cover [96].…”