Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
Fig. 15.9
The soil P cycle (Pierzjinski et al.
2000
)
Fig. 15.10 Myo-inositol
hexaphosphate structure
(Sims and Pierzjinski
2005
)
are accompanied by additional phosphorus organic chemicals of anthropogenic
origin, disposed of on the land surface or spilled in surface waters. These residues
are decomposed by microorganisms, forming inositol phosphate metabolites that
generally are resistant to further, biologically induced, decomposition. The basic
inositol group is the six C ring structure, hexahydrobenzene. Inositol phosphates
are monoesters with the hexaphosphate ester and phytic acid, which are found
commonly in soils (Stevenson
1986
). An example of myo-inositol hexaphosphate
is shown in Fig.
15.10
. Mono-, di-, tri-, tetra-, and pentaphosphates, which are
degradation products of the hexaphosphate form of myo-inositol, may also be
found.
Phospholipids containing phosphatidyl, inositol, lecithin, serine, and ethanol-
amine (Stevenson
1986
) are the second most abundant identifiable form of organic
