Abstract
In low input (e.g. organic) farming systems where soil phosphorus (P) fertilisers such as superphosphate are not used, maintaining sufficient available soil P for plant growth can be a major challenge. The use of P accumulating cover crops may increase P availability for subsequent crops. We hypothesised that P release from organic residues of legumes (faba bean (Vicia faba) and field peas (Pisum sativum)) could supply adequate P to meet the needs of a subsequent crop in a low P soil. A pot experiment was conducted to determine the contribution of P by legume green manure to subsequent corn using 33P labelled legume residues and 32P labelled inorganic fertiliser (KH2PO4). The treatments included two rates of P application, (a) 10 kg P ha−1 as legume root and shoot residues or as inorganic fertiliser with and without a C source, and (b) 38 kg P ha−1as a combination of legume shoot and root residues or a combination of root and inorganic fertiliser and inorganic fertiliser alone. An absolute control (zero P) was also used. Shoot dry matter, P uptake and P source (residues or fertilisers) of total P in corn were measured at harvest. Faba bean and field pea residues alone or in combination with fertilisers contributed up to 10% and 5% of the total P uptake by corn respectively, compared with up to 54% by inorganic fertilisers. Incorporation of field pea and faba bean residues with P concentrations higher than those observed under field conditions, may not always lead to adequate net P release to supply the early growth phase of subsequent crops.
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Acknowledgement
The authors gratefully acknowledge the help provided by Dr. Graeme Blair. Financial assistance was received from the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC), the University of New England and the Maurice Wyndham Memorial Trust. Peter English, Leanne Lisle and Michael Faint are thanked for their diligent technical assistance.
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Nachimuthu, G., Guppy, C., Kristiansen, P. et al. Isotopic tracing of phosphorus uptake in corn from 33P labelled legume residues and 32P labelled fertilisers applied to a sandy loam soil. Plant Soil 314, 303–310 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-008-9730-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-008-9730-1