Effect of organic matter on phosphorus adsorption and desorption in a black soil from Northeast China

Phosphorus (P) adsorption–desorption in soil is an important internal cycle related to soil fertility problems, as well as for determining the environmental fate of P. Soil organic matter (SOM) has been identified as an important factor affecting the adsorption–desorption of soil P through different mechanisms. In this study, humic acids were added to change the SOM content in black soil. Following an incubation period of 30 days, the changes in soil P adsorption–desorption capacity were studied. The results indicated that increased SOM led to increases in the soil available P and the P activation coefficient. All soil treatments fitted well with both Langmuir and Freundlich equations. The P adsorption and desorption characteristics were analyzed using the Langmuir equation as a local isotherm. The maximum adsorption capacity of P increased with the increase in SOM, but the P bonding energy and maximum buffering capacity first decreased, and then increased, with the lowest values obtained with a SOM content of 75.3 mg kg−1. Both the maximum desorption capacity of P and the ratio of soil P desorption showed a fluctuating trend, which were the greatest when the SOM content reached 75.3 g kg−1 in black soil, showing an improved ability to release P. Thus, the addition of organic matter could efficiently enhance P availability by reducing the strength of P adsorption and the maximum phosphate buffering capacity and increasing the desorption of P to some extent, with the greatest P availability obtained at a SOM content of 75.3 g kg−1.