Factors influencing the distribution of inorganic phosphorus fractions in different vegetation restoration areas in karst rocky desertification areas

Phosphorus is an essential element for plant growth. It is taken up from the soil where it is found in two main forms, organic phosphorus and inorganic phosphorus. This paper aims to analyze the characteristics of soil inorganic phosphorus in areas with different patterns of vegetation recovery in karst rocky areas, and evaluate the potential capacity of different fractions to provide phosphorus and the roles of organic carbon and calcium in the process of inorganic phosphorus transformation in karst areas, we studied the characteristics of inorganic phosphorus in these areas by applying the Jiangbofan method for fractionating inorganic phosphorus. Soil organic carbon of different active levels and different calcium fractions play important roles in the transformation of inorganic phosphorus, whereas pH, bulk density, clay content, water content, and other soil physical and chemical properties have a lesser impact. Soil pH, bulk density, clay content, water content showed no significant correlation with fractions of inorganic phosphorus.