Contrasting depth distribution of colloid-associated phosphorus in the active and abandoned sections of an alluvial fan in a hyper-arid region of the Atacama Desert

Abstract Colloids and their subset nanoparticles are key soil constituents for nutrient and organic carbon (OC) storage and transport, yet little is known about their specific role in overall transfer of elements under hyper-arid conditions. We analyzed the Water Dispersible Colloids (WDCs) of two adjacent soil profiles, located either on the active (named: Fan) or passive (named: Crust) sections of an alluvial fan. Colloidal particles (