Vertical distribution of both the concentration and composition of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in ten profiles in Beijing has been investigated. The results showed that PAH concentrations and compositions in topsoil from different sampling sites were different. PAH concentrations were much higher in topsoil of the investigated urban area, industrial region, and paddy field with wastewater irrigation than in other areas. Moreover, PAH concentrations in topsoil were much higher than those at greater depth, where the concentrations were relatively consistent in most soil profiles. The fingerprints of PAHs in the samples from topsoil (0–30 cm) in the same profiles were similar and were obviously different from those at greater depth, suggesting that PAH sources were consistent in topsoil samples and were discriminating between topsoil and deeper soils. PAHs in topsoil mainly arose from mixed sources of combustion of liquid fuel, coal, and/or wood, as well as wastewater irrigation, while those at greater depth were derived from soil genesis and the process of soil formation.
Short-chain polyphosphate fertilizers have been increasingly applied in agriculture, but little is known about the chemical behaviors of polyphosphate in soils. Herein, a cylinder experiment was carried out to investigate the influences of different P types (i.e., mono-ammonium phosphate (MAP), phosphoric acid (PA) and ammonium polyphosphate (poly-P)) and their application methods (single vs split) on the mobility and availability of P in soil through a column millimeter-scale slice cutting method; meanwhile a soil microcosm experiment (560-day) was conducted to investigate the effects of different P types on phosphorus dynamic transformation. Polyphosphate addition significantly increased P mobility. The average distance of P downward movement (81.5 mm) in soil profile in the poly-P application treatment increased by 33.6% and 81.1%, respectively, compared to the MAP and PA treatments. Different P application methods also markedly influenced phosphorus mobility. For instance, the average distance of P vertical movement in the split P application treatment was 21.2% higher than in the single application treatment, indicating that split P addition significantly increased P downward movement. Moreover, polyphosphate application decreased soil P fixation by blocking the transformation of the applied-P from labile to recalcitrant forms (HCl-P and residual-P). Overall, our findings provide meaningful information to current phosphorus fertilization practice in increasing soil P mobility and bioavailability. We suggest that polyphosphate could be regarded as an alternative P source used in agriculture, and split polyphosphate application is recommended as an effective P fertilization strategy.