New soil test could reveal how soil microbes help feed plants

Researchers have created a simpler and less expensive way to measure a biologically active form of phosphorus in soil, a development that could help scientists better understand how this essential nutrient moves through ecosystems and supports agriculture.

Phosphorus is critical for plant growth and food production, but the world's natural phosphorus reserves are limited. Learning how the nutrient is stored, transformed, and released in soil is therefore important for maintaining fertile farmland while reducing waste and environmental damage.

A Better Way To Measure DNA-Bound Phosphorus

In a study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Marine Sciences , an international team that included researchers from Sultan Qaboos University, James Hutton Institute, the Environment Authority of Oman and others refined a laboratory method used to measure DNA-bound phosphorus (DNA-P) in soils.