Phosphorus transformation response to soil properties changes induced by manure application in a calcareous soil

Management of phosphorus (P) loss in soils with heavy manure application requires improved understanding of the transformation characteristics of soil P. Influences of manure application on the forms and sorption-desorption characteristics of P in surface (0–30 cm) and subsurface (30–60 cm) layer of a calcareous soil were investigated in a six-year field trial in comparison to chemical fertilizer application. Hedley fractionation and P K-edge X-ray absorption near-edge structure spectroscopy were used to determine the soil P forms. Manure (M) and chemical fertilizer (F) treatments resulted in P accumulation in two soil depths, but the total P accumulation in surface soil with M treatment was significantly lower than F treatment with similar P surplus. Compared to control, M and F treatments were significantly increased the proportion of labile P at both depths. In surface soil, M treatment significantly decreased stable Ca-associated P proportion and increased Fe-associated P and inositol hexakisphosphate proportions. The accumulation and transformation of P in M treatment distinctly decreased P sorption maximun, sorption coefficient and buffer capacity, and increased the degree of P saturation and P desorption relative to F treatment. The soil properties of pH, organic carbon (OC), total nitrogen (TN), Mehlich-3 extractable Ca and Fe, and phytase in surface soil and pH, OC, TN, Mehlich-3 extractable Ca and dehydrogenase in subsurface soil had significant effects on the compositions of soil P (P < 0.05), respectively. Lowered pH due to manure application mainly contributed to P transformation and release in the calcareous soil.