Abstract
Phosphorus (P) is one of the essential elements for life on Earth. As a major nutrient it is needed for healthy growth both in plants and living organisms. Although the abundance of P in the Earth's upper continental crust is relatively high (655 mg/kg), many soil types are poor in available phosphorus. The main natural factors controlling the availability of P in soil are pH, mineralogy, and formation of insoluble complexes with Al and Fe under acidic, and with Ca and Mg under alkaline soil conditions. Superimposed weathering processes and climate contribute strongly to P mobility and availability. Additionally, a large fraction of total soil P is in organic forms, which are not directly available to plants. Phosphorus is a major component in fertilisers and thus a significant source of anthropogenic P in soil and water. In the agricultural soil samples that were collected during the Geochemical Mapping of Agricultural and grazing land Soil (GEMAS) project, the total P concentrations (XRF, median 786 m/kg) are only slightly higher than those extracted by hot aqua regia (AR, median 653 mg/kg), while the median concentration in the weak MMI® cold extraction is as low as 4.1 mg/kg. The AR results show very low P concentrations over the coarse-grained sandy sediments of the last glaciation in central and northern Europe and in calcareous soil. The southern limit of the last glaciation is visible as a concentration break on the geochemical maps. In general, north-eastern and north-western Europe are marked by high P values, probably related to cold and humid climate and enrichment in humus-rich coastal soil. The spatial distribution of P at the continental-scale is dominated by geogenic and climatic factors, and the anthropogenic influence is difficult to assess and quantify.
Original language | English |
---|---|
Article number | 172524 |
Pages (from-to) | 1-18 |
Number of pages | 18 |
Journal | Science of the Total Environment |
Volume | 930 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 20 Jun 2024 |
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In: Science of the Total Environment, Vol. 930, 172524, 20.06.2024, p. 1-18.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
TY - JOUR
T1 - GEMAS
T2 - Phosphorus in European agricultural soil - sources versus sinks at the continental-scale - the geological perspective
AU - The GEMAS Project Team
AU - Négrel, Philippe
AU - Ladenberger, Anna
AU - Reimann, Clemens
AU - Birke, Manfred
AU - Demetriades, Alecos
AU - Sadeghi, Martiya
AU - Albanese, S.
AU - Andersson, M.
AU - Baritz, R.
AU - Batista, M. J.
AU - Flem, B.
AU - Bel-Lan, A.
AU - Cicchella, D.
AU - De Vivo, B.
AU - De Vos, W.
AU - Dinelli, E.
AU - Ďuriš, M.
AU - Dusza-Dobek, A.
AU - Eggen, O. A.
AU - Eklund, M.
AU - Ernstsen, V.
AU - Fabian, K.
AU - Filzmoser, P.
AU - Flight, D. M.A.
AU - Forrester, S.
AU - Fuchs, M.
AU - Fügedi, U.
AU - Gilucis, A.
AU - Gosar, M.
AU - Gregorauskiene, V.
AU - De Groot, W.
AU - Gulan, A.
AU - Halamić, J.
AU - Haslinger, E.
AU - Hayoz, P.
AU - Hoffmann, R.
AU - Hoogewerff, J.
AU - Hrvatovic, H.
AU - Husnjak, S.
AU - Janik, L.
AU - Jordan, G.
AU - Kaminari, M.
AU - Kivisilla, J.
AU - Klos, V.
AU - Krone, F.
AU - Kwećko, P.
AU - Kuti, L.
AU - Lima, A.
AU - Locutura, J.
AU - Lucivjansky, D. P.
AU - Mann, A.
AU - Mackovych, D.
AU - Matschullat, J.
AU - McLaughlin, M.
AU - Malyuk, B. I.
AU - Maquil, R.
AU - Meuli, R. G.
AU - Mol, G.
AU - O’Connor, P.
AU - Oorts, R. K.
AU - Ottesen, R. T.
AU - Pasieczna, A.
AU - Petersell, W.
AU - Pfleiderer, S.
AU - Poňavič, M.
AU - Pramuka, S.
AU - Prazeres, C.
AU - Rauch, U.
AU - Radusinović, S.
AU - Salpeteur, I.
AU - Scanlon, R.
AU - Schedl, A.
AU - Scheib, A. J.
AU - Schoeters, I.
AU - Šefčik, P.
AU - Sellersjö, E.
AU - Skopljak, F.
AU - Slaninka, I.
AU - Šorša, A.
AU - Srvkota, R.
AU - Stafilov, T.
AU - Tarvainen, T.
AU - Trendavilov, V.
AU - Valera, P.
AU - Verougstraete, V.
AU - Vidojević, D.
AU - Zissimos, A.
AU - Zomeni, Z.
N1 - Funding Information: The GEMAS project is a cooperative project of the EuroGeoSurveys Geochemistry Expert Group with several outside organisations (e.g. Alterra, The Netherlands; Norwegian Forest and Landscape Institute; Research Group Swiss Soil Monitoring Network, Swiss Research Station Agroscope Reckenholz-T\u00E4nikon, several Ministries of the Environment and University Departments of Geosciences, Chemistry and Mathematics in some European countries and New Zealand; ARCHE Consulting in Belgium; CSIRO Land and Water in Adelaide, Australia). The analytical work was co-financed by the following industry organisations: Eurometaux, European Borates Association, European Copper Institute, European Precious Metals Federation, International Antimony Association, International Lead Association-Europe, International Manganese Institute, International Molybdenum Association, International Tin Research Institute, International Zinc Association, The Cobalt Development Institute, The Nickel Institute, The (REACH) Selenium and Tellurium Consortium and The (REACH) Vanadium Consortium. The Directors of the European Geological Surveys, and the additional participating organisations, are thanked for making sampling of almost all of Europe in a tight schedule possible. The Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR), the Geological Survey of Norway and SGS (Canada) are thanked for special analytical input to the project. Finally, the LUCAS 2009, 2015 and 2018 topsoil phosphorus data sets used in this work were made available by the European Commission through the European Soil Data Centre managed by the Joint Research Centre (JRC), http://esdac.jrc.ec.europa.eu/. Many helpful and critical comments made by two anonymous reviewers have greatly improved the clarity of the concept developed in the manuscript and its presentation. The involvement of Editor was much appreciated. This paper is dedicated to the memories of our colleagues Olle Selinus and Steven Banwar. Olle Selinus, applied geochemist and state geologist at the Geological Survey of Sweden (SGU), passed away on November 18, 2023, at the age of 80. Olle was Head of the Geochemistry Department at SGU and had promoted regional geochemical mapping in Sweden. He also dedicated a large part of his professional career to the establishment of Medical Geology. Steven Banwart, expert in soil and water resource protection for food security, passed away on December 30, 2023, at the age of 64. Steven was the current Dean for Global Development, Director of the Global Food and Environment Institute and Leadership Chair of Integrating Soil/Agriculture/Water Research at the University of Leeds (UK). Steven was a very active member of the International Association of GeoChemistry (IAGC), acting as a council member and chair of the IAGC thematic working group Geochemistry of the Earth's Surface (GES). Publisher Copyright: © 2024 Elsevier B.V.
PY - 2024/6/20
Y1 - 2024/6/20
N2 - Phosphorus (P) is one of the essential elements for life on Earth. As a major nutrient it is needed for healthy growth both in plants and living organisms. Although the abundance of P in the Earth's upper continental crust is relatively high (655 mg/kg), many soil types are poor in available phosphorus. The main natural factors controlling the availability of P in soil are pH, mineralogy, and formation of insoluble complexes with Al and Fe under acidic, and with Ca and Mg under alkaline soil conditions. Superimposed weathering processes and climate contribute strongly to P mobility and availability. Additionally, a large fraction of total soil P is in organic forms, which are not directly available to plants. Phosphorus is a major component in fertilisers and thus a significant source of anthropogenic P in soil and water. In the agricultural soil samples that were collected during the Geochemical Mapping of Agricultural and grazing land Soil (GEMAS) project, the total P concentrations (XRF, median 786 m/kg) are only slightly higher than those extracted by hot aqua regia (AR, median 653 mg/kg), while the median concentration in the weak MMI® cold extraction is as low as 4.1 mg/kg. The AR results show very low P concentrations over the coarse-grained sandy sediments of the last glaciation in central and northern Europe and in calcareous soil. The southern limit of the last glaciation is visible as a concentration break on the geochemical maps. In general, north-eastern and north-western Europe are marked by high P values, probably related to cold and humid climate and enrichment in humus-rich coastal soil. The spatial distribution of P at the continental-scale is dominated by geogenic and climatic factors, and the anthropogenic influence is difficult to assess and quantify.
AB - Phosphorus (P) is one of the essential elements for life on Earth. As a major nutrient it is needed for healthy growth both in plants and living organisms. Although the abundance of P in the Earth's upper continental crust is relatively high (655 mg/kg), many soil types are poor in available phosphorus. The main natural factors controlling the availability of P in soil are pH, mineralogy, and formation of insoluble complexes with Al and Fe under acidic, and with Ca and Mg under alkaline soil conditions. Superimposed weathering processes and climate contribute strongly to P mobility and availability. Additionally, a large fraction of total soil P is in organic forms, which are not directly available to plants. Phosphorus is a major component in fertilisers and thus a significant source of anthropogenic P in soil and water. In the agricultural soil samples that were collected during the Geochemical Mapping of Agricultural and grazing land Soil (GEMAS) project, the total P concentrations (XRF, median 786 m/kg) are only slightly higher than those extracted by hot aqua regia (AR, median 653 mg/kg), while the median concentration in the weak MMI® cold extraction is as low as 4.1 mg/kg. The AR results show very low P concentrations over the coarse-grained sandy sediments of the last glaciation in central and northern Europe and in calcareous soil. The southern limit of the last glaciation is visible as a concentration break on the geochemical maps. In general, north-eastern and north-western Europe are marked by high P values, probably related to cold and humid climate and enrichment in humus-rich coastal soil. The spatial distribution of P at the continental-scale is dominated by geogenic and climatic factors, and the anthropogenic influence is difficult to assess and quantify.
KW - Geochemistry
KW - Low sampling density
KW - Parent materials
KW - Phosphate fertilisers
KW - Weathering
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85191418251&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.172524
DO - 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.172524
M3 - Article
C2 - 38641093
AN - SCOPUS:85191418251
SN - 0048-9697
VL - 930
SP - 1
EP - 18
JO - Science of the Total Environment
JF - Science of the Total Environment
M1 - 172524
ER -