Phosphorus deficiency in soils with red color: Insights from the interactions between minerals and microorganisms

Abstract

Abstract Phosphorus (P) deficiency limits agricultural productivity in many tropical and subtropical soils. The aim of this study was to investigate the influences of typical mineral components and microorganisms on P availability in soil. Three representative soil minerals, i.e., montmorillonite (Mt), calcium carbonate (Cal) and goethite (Gt) were incubated with phosphate-solubilizing fungus (PSF, Aspergillus niger) and apatite (the dominant P source on Earth) in soil. In the control treatment, the fungus promoted phosphate dissolution and P release (from