Articles | Volume 22, issue 11
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-22-2653-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-22-2653-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
12 Jun 2025
Research article |
| 12 Jun 2025
| 12 Jun 2025
Foliar nutrient uptake from dust sustains plant nutrition
The Department of Environment, Geoinformatics and Urban planning Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel
The Department of Civil Engineering, Ariel University, Ariel, Israel
Daniel Palchan
The Department of Civil Engineering, Ariel University, Ariel, Israel
Elnatan Golan
Institute of Soil, Water and Environmental Sciences, Gilat Research Center, Agricultural Research Organization, Gilat, Israel
Ran Erel
Institute of Soil, Water and Environmental Sciences, Gilat Research Center, Agricultural Research Organization, Gilat, Israel
Daniele Andronico
Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione di Catania – Osservatorio Etneo, Rome, Italy
Avner Gross
The Department of Environment, Geoinformatics and Urban planning Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel
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Ash particles from wildfires are rich in phosphorus (P), a crucial nutrient that constitutes a limiting factor in 43 % of the world's land ecosystems. We hypothesize that wildfire ash could directly contribute to plant nutrition. We find that fire ash application boosts the growth of plants, but the only way plants can uptake P from fire ash is through the foliar uptake pathway and not through the roots. The fertilization impact of fire ash was also maintained under elevated levels of CO2.
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Short summary
Our research explores how chickpea plants can absorb essential nutrients like phosphorus, iron, and nickel directly from dust deposited on their leaves in addition to uptake through their roots. This process is particularly effective under higher levels of atmospheric CO2, leading to increased plant growth. By using Nd isotopic tools, we traced the nutrients from dust and found that certain leaf traits enhance this uptake. This discovery may become increasingly important as CO2 levels rise.
Our research explores how chickpea plants can absorb essential nutrients like...
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