Organic acid concentration thresholds to mobilize phosphorus (P) in dryland soils.

ABSTRACT: Available phosphorus (P) concentrations are low in dryland soils due to high pH values linked to the presence of pedogenic carbonates. Thus, dissolution and mobilization of P compounds are important controls on P availability for plants, microbes, and biocrusts. One process that has been hypothesized as a way for dryland organisms to acquire P is the exudation of organic acids that can release bound P compounds. To explore this process, we assayed the critical thresholds of organic acid (citrate, malate, and oxalate) concentrations required to mobilize P in a range of dryland soils. Our results showed that: (1) Concentrations of oxalate or citrate, on the order of 1000 µmol/L are needed to effectively mobilize PO₄ ^3- in all landforms and microsites we examined. (2) Th

SUBMITTER: Kukreja K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12804238 | biostudies-literature | 2026

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature