Phosphorus transitions driven by cyclone biparjoy linked middle east North Africa (MENA) and Indian Thar Desert dust storm pathways in Asia’s largest grassland

Phosphorus (P) is an important nutrient for terrestrial ecosystems like grassland and plays a critical role in influencing primary productivity and hence ecosystem dynamics. The deposition of airborne dust, particularly from arid and semiarid regions, has been recognised as a significant source of phosphorus input in distant ecosystems. The study area, the Banni grassland, is a semiarid ecosystem with a unique geological history that has experienced degradation for various natural and anthropogenic reasons. It is located in the arid tract of western India. Soil samples were collected from 10 × 10 km grid locations in the grassland before, 48 h after, and 20 days after a cyclonic storm, Biparjoy, which hit the region in June 2023. Statistical analyses (Shapiro‒Wilk normality and Kruskal–Wallis H test) were performed on the data to assess the differences in phosphorus concentrations in terms of PAC (Phosphorus Activation Coefficient) among the phases. To examine the long-range transport of dust-borne phosphorus and its subsequent deposition in the target grassland, we employed an interdisciplinary approach that integrated satellite imagery and ground-based measurements. Spatial and temporal variations in dust emissions were assessed using satellite remote sensing data, while ground truthing was performed for phosphorus content analysis using standard protocols. The aerosol data from MERRA-2 for the past 40 years were used to examine the relationships between aerosol concentrations and wind direction and speed. Our findings revealed that the Middle East, North Africa, and Thar Desert significantly contributed to phosphorus deposition in the target grassland during specific seasons. The SW cyclone ‘Biparjoy’, which followed the same track of aerosol loading (MENA), made landfall in this zone (June 16, 2023) and affected the P depositional patterns. The pre-cyclone, post-cyclone and 20 DAC (days after cyclone) had AP values of 15.15, 22.54 and 24.06, respectively. However, the TP values were 45.81 ± SE = 1.73, 60.95 ± SE = 1.39 and 61.98 ± SE = 1.40, respectively. The highest TP values were in phase 3 (20 DAC phase) (61.89 ± SE = 1.40). Similarly, the transformation of locked forms of P to bioavailable forms was coincidental with higher PSM (Phosphate Solubilising Microorganisms) in soil samples. Dust storms and other atmospheric circulation patterns were found to play pivotal roles in facilitating the long-range transport of phosphorus-laden dust particles from these source regions to the target grassland. Ultimately, our research contributes to the broader understanding of global nutrient cycling and land‒air interactions, enabling informed decision-making for the conservation and sustainable management of terrestrial ecosystems.