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Phosphorus uptake and rhizosphere properties of intercropped and monocropped maize, faba bean, and white lupin in acidic soil

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Abstract

Little information is available on phosphorus (P) uptake and rhizosphere processes in maize (Zea mays L.), faba bean (Vicia faba L.), and white lupin (Lupinus albus L.) when intercropped or grown alone in acidic soil. We studied P uptake and soil pH, carboxylate concentration, and microbial community structure in the rhizosphere of maize, faba bean, and white lupin in an acidic soil with 0–250 mg P (kg−1 soil) as KH2PO4 (KP) or FePO4 (FeP) with species grown alone or intercropped. All plant species increased the pH compared to unplanted control, particularly faba bean. High KP supply (>100 mg P kg−1) significantly increased carboxylate concentration in the rhizosphere of maize. The carboxylate composition of the rhizosphere soil of maize and white lupin was significantly affected by P form (KP or FeP), whereas, this was not the case for faba bean. In maize, the carboxylate composition of the rhizosphere soil differed significantly between intercropping and monocropping. Yield and P uptake were similar in monocropping and intercropping. Monocropped faba bean had a greater concentration of phospholipid fatty acids in the rhizosphere than that in intercropping. Intercropping changed the microbial community structure in faba bean but not in the other corps. The results show that P supply and P form, as well as intercropping can affect carboxylate concentration and microbial community composition in the rhizosphere, but that the effect is plant species-specific. In contrast to previous studies in alkaline soils, intercropping of maize with legumes did not result in increased maize growth suggesting that the legumes did not increase P availability to maize in this acidic soil.

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Acknowledgments

This study was funded by an International Linkage grant from the Australian Research Council and by Major Program of National Natural Science Foundation of China (30890131 and 30890132).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Plant Nutrition, Key Laboratory of Plant Soil Interactions, Ministry of Education, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, People’s Republic of China

    Haigang Li, Jianbo Shen & Fusuo Zhang

  2. Soil and Land Systems, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Adelaide, DP 636, Adelaide, South Australia, 5005, Australia

    Petra Marschner

  3. School of Plant Biology, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia

    Greg Cawthray

  4. Soil Science and Plant Nutrition, School of Earth and Geographical Science, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia

    Zed Rengel

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  1. Haigang Li
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Correspondence to Petra Marschner.

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Li, H., Shen, J., Zhang, F. et al. Phosphorus uptake and rhizosphere properties of intercropped and monocropped maize, faba bean, and white lupin in acidic soil. Biol Fertil Soils 46, 79–91 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00374-009-0411-x

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