Phosphorus is essential for life, yet is often the element most limiting for biological productivity. Although most organisms take up phosphorus in an inorganic form, organic forms frequently dominate in soils and aquatic systems. Up to this point, the role of organic phosphorus and mechanisms for its dynamics have been poorly understood. However, recent advances in research have shed new light on the subject and this book brings together these advances. It covers the transformation and characterization of organic phosphorus in both terrestrial and aquatic systems. It will attract a broad range of scientists from several disciplines.

A literature survey was made of organic phosphorus compounds listed in Beilstein, C HEMICAL Abstracts, and Centralblatt through part of 1948. The material is arranged in the following order: phosphates, thiophosphates, phosphites, phosphines, phosphine oxides, polyphosphates and polyphosphites, metaphosphates, hypophosphates and hypophosphites, phosphorus amides, phosphonites, phosphonates, phosphinites, and phosphinates. The report is concerned principally with aliphatic, rather than aromatic phosphorus derivatives. (Author).