The excretion of citric and malic acid by proteoid roots of Lupinus albus L.; effects on soil solution concentrations of phosphate, iron, and aluminum in the proteoid rhizosphere in samples of an oxisol and a luvisol

Organic acid concentration in the proteoid rhizosphere of White Lupin in different soil samples (Oxisol‐A p = Ox, Luvisol‐A p and Luvisol‐C = L A and L C ) was determined in order to study the influence of root‐released carboxylates on the mobilization of phosphate, aluminum, and iron in the rhizosphere. In the L C , organic acids were accumulated as Casalts extractable with water. In the proteoid rhizosphere of this soil sample 55 μmol citrate and 8 μmol malate per g soil were found. In the Ox, no water extractable organic acids were present. However, determination of citrate in the solid phase of this soil by Diffuse Reflectance Infrared Fourier Transform Spectroscopy gave concentrations of 88 and 68 μmol citrate per g soil without and with P application, respectively. Displaced soil solution from the proteoid root rhizosphere of the Ox and the L A increased in Fe and Al concentrations from <50 μmol/L (soil from reference pots without plants) to more than 600 μmol Fe+Al/L. The concentration of P was increased by a factor of 2 despite of P uptake by the proteoid roots. The mobilization of Al, Fe, and P is attributed to ligand exchange of phosphate against citrate and to the solubilization of Al and Fe as carboxylate complexes.