New soil test could reveal how soil microbes help feed plants
Researchers have developed a more efficient and cost-effective laboratory method to measure DNA-bound phosphorus in soil. By eliminating unnecessary enzyme treatments, the new process simplifies the analysis of nutrient cycles essential for agricultural productivity.
Why it matters
Improving soil nutrient measurement helps farmers optimize fertilizer use and maintain soil fertility, which is critical for global food security and environmental sustainability.
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.
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