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ARS Home » Midwest Area » West Lafayette, Indiana » National Soil Erosion Research Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #417940
Research Project: Improving Understanding of Soil Processes for Making More Informed Agricultural Management Decisions that Increase Agricultural Sustainability in the Central U.S.

Location: National Soil Erosion Research Laboratory

Title: Tracing phosphorus from soil through mycorrhizal fungi to plants: Reply to Spohn and Wanek

Author
item LEKBERG, YLVA - University Of Montana
item JANSA, JAN - Czech Academy Of Sciences
item JOHNSON, DAVID - University Of Manchester
item MILHAM, PAUL - Western Sydney University
item Penn, Chad
item COLMAN, BENJAMIN - University Of Montana

Submitted to: New Phytologist
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/4/2024
Publication Date: 12/19/2024
Citation: Lekberg, Y., Jansa, J., Johnson, D., Milham, P., Penn, C.J., Colman, B. 2024. Tracing phosphorus from soil through mycorrhizal fungi to plants: Reply to Spohn and Wanek. New Phytologist. https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.20217.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.20217

Interpretive Summary: A thorough understanding of phosphorus (P) cycling in the soil-plant system is necessary for maximizing our management of soils and fertilizers for optimum plant production. This paper is a commentary on a previously published paper that discussed potential pitfalls in interpreting P-isotope tracers in studying P cycling. However, there were several errors in that paper which needed to be addressed in order to avoid misleading future research. We provided a summary on the benefits of using P isotopes in studying P uptake by plants and through symbiotic organisms, and covered topics such as isotopic dilution. One of the biggest challenges in interpreting data from P-isotopes is comparing results between different soil types due to variation in P adsorption character; we provide some suggestions on how to overcome this. This commentary will help to guide future research on P cycling, which will ultimately improve fertilizer P management that reaps economic, environmental, and agronomic benefits.

Technical Abstract: Not applicable. Commentary Only.