White lupin utilizes soil phosphorus that is unavailable to soybean

White lupin (Lupinus albus L. var. Ultra) and soybean (Glycine max L. var. Elgin) were grown in an acidic soil low an available phosphorus (P) to investigate their different capacities to acquire soil phosphorus. Experiments done in the controlled environment of a biotron were supplemented with four separate greenhouse experiments. Lupin and soybean were grown in monoculture and intercropped on a soil with low available P that was labeled with carrier-free ³²P as phosphate. Lupin had significantly lower values of specific activity of ³²P and higher values of isotopically exchangeable P than soybean in all cases. The results show that lupin utilizes soil P from a normally non-labile pool of soil P that is not utilized by soybean.     

Effects of fertility management strategies on phosphorus bioavailability in four West African soils

Low phosphorus (P) in acid sandy soils of the West African Sudano-Sahelian zone is a major limitation to crop growth. To compare treatment effects on total dry matter (TDM) of crops and plant available P (P-Bray and isotopically exchangeable P), field experiments were carried out for 2 years at four sites where annual rainfall ranged from 560 to 850 mm and topsoil pH varied between 4.2 and 5.6. Main treatments were: (i) crop residue (CR) mulch at 500 and 2000 kg ha^–1, (ii) eight different rates and sources of P and (iii) cereal/legume rotations including millet (Pennisetum glaucum L.), sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench], cowpea (Vigna unguiculata Walp.) and groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.). For the two Sahelian sites with large CR-induced differences in TDM, mulching did not modify significantly the soils' buffering capacity for phosphate ions but led to large increases in the intensity factor (C_P) and quantity of directly available soil P (E _1min). In the wetter Sudanian zone lacking effects of CR mulching on TDM mirrored a decline of E _1min with CR. Broadcast application of soluble single superphosphate (SSP) at 13 kg P ha^–1 led to large increases in C _P and quantity of E _1min at all sites which translated in respective TDM increases. The high agronomic efficiency of SSP placement (4 kg P ha^–1) across sites could be explained by consistent increases in the quantity factor which confirms the power of the isotopic exchange method in explaining management effects on crop growth across the region.     

秸秆覆盖与施磷对四川丘陵旱地土壤磷形态及有效性的影响

为揭示秸秆覆盖配施磷肥下土壤无机磷形态变化规律及磷的有效性,本研究采用二因素裂区设计,主区为秸秆覆盖和不覆盖,副区为3个施磷量(0、75和120 kg·hm^-2),分析秸秆覆盖与施磷条件下四川丘陵旱地紫色土磷吸附-解吸特征、无机磷组分含量及其与有效磷的关系。结果表明: 2018—2020年两个试验年度秸秆覆盖处理比不覆盖处理土壤磷最大吸附量分别显著降低7.7%和7.4%,磷吸附饱和度分别显著增加35.4%和18.6%,土壤易解吸磷分别显著提高21.6%和35.2%,磷最大缓冲容量无显著差异;施磷与不施磷相比,磷最大吸附量和最大缓冲容量显著降低,吸附饱和度显著增加,易解吸磷则随施磷量的增加而增加。两个试验年度秸秆覆盖处理比不覆盖处理磷酸二钙(Ca₂-P)、磷酸八钙(Ca₈-P)和铁磷(Fe-P)含量显著增加,铝磷(Al-P)含量显著降低,闭蓄态磷(O-P)和磷灰石(Ca₁₀-P)含量有降低的趋势;与不施磷相比,施磷则提高了不同无机磷组分含量。与不覆盖处理相比,两个试验年度秸秆覆盖处理土壤有效磷含量分别显著增加23.2%和9.6%,磷活化系数分别显著提高21.3%和8.9%,且土壤有效磷含量和磷活化系数均随施磷量的增加而提高。回归分析表明,无机磷各组分对紫色土有效磷有效性的贡献为Ca₂-P>Fe-P>Al-P>Ca₈-P>Ca₁₀-P>O-P。因此,秸秆覆盖配施磷肥促进了土壤难溶性磷向中等活性或易于作物吸收的磷形态分解和转化,降低土壤对磷素的吸附,促进土壤磷素的解吸,最终提高土壤磷素有效性。综合考虑经济效益,推荐四川丘陵旱地秸秆覆盖配施75 kg·hm^-2磷肥更有利于提高土壤磷素有效性。     

Plant-available P for Maize and Cowpea in P-deficient Soils from the Nigerian Northern Guinea Savanna – Comparison of E- and L-values

There are several indications that legumes are capable of accessing sparingly soluble phosphorus (P) in the soil through root-induced processes. We hypothesize that this plant-induced mobilization of P can be demonstrated if the plant accessible P assessed by isotopic dilution (‘L-value’) exceeds the corresponding values assessed in soil extracts (‘E-values’). A greenhouse experiment was set up to assess if L/E ratios are affected by P supply and by crop type. The L- and E-values were determined in three P-deficient soils of the Nigerian Northern Guinea savanna (NGS), applied with various rates of TSP, for two cowpea varieties (Vigna unguiculata L., cv Dan-Ila and cv IT-82D-716) and maize (Zea mays L., cv oba super I) as a reference. Plants grown in control soils were severely P-deficient. Plant growth and shoot P uptake significantly increased with increasing P application in all three soils and for all crops, but relative yield and shoot-P responses to P application were similar between maize and cowpea. Both L- and E-values increased with increasing P application. Average L/E ratios for maize were 1.4±0.3 and were unaffected by the P application. For cowpea in contrast, L/E ratios were 3.1±0.2 (significantly larger than one) in one of the three control soils and significantly decreased to 1.3±0.1 at largest P supply. Elevated L/E ratios in cowpea were not associated with an increase in P uptake compared to the other two control soils in which no increase in L/E ratio was observed. It is concluded that cowpea is able to access non-labile P under P-deficient conditions. However, this process cannot overcome P deficiency in these soils, probably because P uptake is limited by the small P concentration in the soil solution (1–2 μg P L⁻¹) and this limitation is not overcome by an increase in the accessible soil P quantity (L-value).     

Root length dynamics in agroforestry with Gliricidia sepium as compared to sole cropping in the semi-deciduous rainforest zone of West Africa

Tree root systems may improve soil fertility through carbon inputs, uptake of leachable nutrients and maintenance of soil biomass, but can at the same time reduce crop yields by competition for water and nutrients. Quantitative information about the positive and negative effects of tree roots and their changes in space and time are necessary for the optimization of agroforestry associations. An alley cropping experiment was layed out as a randomized complete block design on a Plinthic Lixisol/Ferralic Cambisol with Gliricidia sepium hedgerows at 5 m distance, including a sole cropping control. The development of root systems was monitored by sequential soil coring (eight samplings) during one year, with maize and groundnut as crops. Additional information is presented from a single sampling for rice during the foregoing year. Pronounced fluctuations of live root length density indicated an important variability in the nutrient and water uptake capacity of the vegetation. At low total root length density, the hedgerows affected the root development in the agroforestry plots directly by the presence of their root systems. At high root length density, they affected root development mainly by improving crop root growth and influencing the composition of the spontaneous vegetation. The root length density of the hedgerows was too low to compete with the crops for soil resources. The hedgerows tended to increase root length densities in the subsoil when few roots were present, thus possibly reducing the risk of nutrient leaching. However, the length density of the perennial root systems decreased during the cropping season, presumably as an effect of repeated pruning, and attained minimum values almost at the same time as the crops. Trees with denser root systems which are less frequently pruned may be more efficient in achieving closer nutrient cycles, though at the cost of higher root competition with crops.     

Changes in soil organic matter and phosphorus fractions under planted fallows and a crop rotation system on a Colombian volcanic-ash soil

Acquisition of soil and fertiliser phosphorus (P) by crops depends on soil and plant properties. Soil processes determining P availability to plants are P solubility/sorption, P transport, root/soil contact and mineralisation/immobilisation. Plants have evolved properties contributing to a more efficient use of plant-available soil P and to mobilise P from less available soil P fractions. Agronomic measures may affect P availability to crops through the modification of soil properties or through direct quantitative and qualitative crop impact on soil P dynamics. Among the agronomic measures, the application of organic matter such as green manure and crop residues to maintain or increase soil organic matter content and to enhance soil biological activity, and the incorporation into the cropping system of P-mobilising plant species are particularly beneficial.Our experimental activities have concentrated on the characterisation of the P mobilising capacity of different leguminous grain and cover crops, and their effect on P availability to less P-efficient cereals grown in mixed culture and in rotation. Fractionation of P in the rhizosphere soil revealed the capacity of some legumes to better use P from sparingly soluble soil P fractions than maize. Field experiments conducted on 2 sites in the Northern Guinea Savannah of Nigeria and accompanying green-house pot experiments revealed a positive rotational effect of P-efficient cover crops on maize growth and grain yield with and without the return of crop residues. This could unequivocally be attributed to a better P supply to maize, especially on strongly P-fixing soil. However, the residual effect was small compared to the application of water-soluble P fertiliser. This clearly indicates the need for a maintenance application of fertiliser P in addition to the agronomic measures for sustainable crop production.     

Long-term integrated soil fertility management in South-western Nigeria: Crop performance and impact on the soil fertility status

Crop response, tree biomass production and changes in soil fertility characteristics were monitored in a long-term (1986–2002) alley-cropping trial in Ibadan, Nigeria. The systems included two alley cropping systems with Leucaena leucocephala and Senna siamea on the one hand and a control (no-trees) system on the other hand, all cropped annually with a maize–cowpea rotation. All systems had a plus and minus fertilizer treatment. Over the years, the annual biomass return through tree prunings declined steadily, but more drastically for Leucaena than for Senna. In 2002, the nitrogen contribution from Leucaena residues stabilized at about 200 kg N/ha/year, while the corresponding value for Senna was about 160 kg N/ha/year. On average, the four Leucaena prunings were more equal in biomass as well as in amounts of N, P and cations, while the first Sennapruning was always contributing up to 60% of the annual biomass or nutrient return. Maize crop yields declined steadily in all treatments, but the least so in the Senna + fertilizer treatment where in 2002 still 2.2 tonnes/ha of maize were obtained. Nitrogen fertilizer use efficiency was usually higher in the Senna treatment compared to the control or the Leucaena treatment. Added benefits due to the combined use of fertilizer N and organic matter additions were observed only for the Sennatreatment and only in the last 6 years. At all other times, they remained absent or were even negative in the Leucaenatreatments for the first 3 years. Most chemical soil fertility parameters decreased in all the treatments, but less so in the alley cropping systems. The presence of trees had a positive effect on remaining carbon stocks, while they were reduced compared to the 1986 data. Trees had a positive effect on the maintenance of exchangeable cations in the top soil. Exchangeable Ca, Mg and K – and hence ECEC – were only slightly reduced after 16 years of cropping in the tree-based systems, and even increased in the Senna treatments. In the control treatments, values for all these parameters reduced to 50% or less of the original values after 16 years. All the above points to the Senna-based alley system with fertilizers as the more resilient one. This is reflected in all soil fertility parameters, in added benefits due to the combined use of fertilizer nitrogen and organic residue application and in a more stable maize yield over the years, averaging 2.8 tonnes/ha with maximal deviations from the average not exceeding 21%.     

Soil phosphorus levels needed for equal P uptake from four soils with different water contents at the same water potential

Soil volumetric water contents, , at –33 kPa potential may vary with soil from 0.06 to 0.70. Because P diffusion depends on , most economic P fertilizer rates required for different soils may require adjusting according to their soil-water relationships. The objective of this study was, after experimentally verifying a mechanistic nutrient uptake model on a series of soils varying in at –33 kPa potential, to use the model to predict labile P levels needed for each of these soils to achieve equal P uptake by maize (Zae mays L.) and verify these predictions. Maize was grown in a pot experiment using four soils having of 0.13, 0.20, 0.26, and 0.40 at –33 kPa each at 0, 200, and 400 mg kg^-1 of added P. When root parameters obtained experimentally were used, predicted P uptake with the uptake model agreed with observed P uptake, y=0.99x+9.08 (r²=0.98). When P uptake was plotted vs. soil solution P, C_li, the relation varied with soil. The higher the the lower the C_li needed for equal P uptake. A similar relation was found between P uptake and diffusible soil P, C_si. Differences between the two plots occurred because of differences among soils in buffer power, C_si/C_li. The C_si vs. P added relation was used to calculate differences among soils in the C_si needed to obtain equal P uptake. The C_si values ranged from 1.3 to 4.0 mmol kg^–1. The calculated values were used in a second pot experiments to verify the predictions. No significant difference (=0.05) in P uptake occurred. The results of this research indicate that the mechanistic nutrient uptake model can be used to predict the degree of adjustments in C_si needed to obtain the most economic P fertilizer rates among soils varying in .Journal Paper No. 13072. Purdue Univ. Agric. Exp. Stn., West Lafayette, IN 47907.     

Soil phosphorus fractions and adsorption as affected by organic and inorganic sources

The effect of organic and inorganic sources of phosphorus (P) on soil P fractions and P adsorption was studied in a field without plant growth on a Kandiudalf in western Kenya. A high-quality organic source, Tithonia diversifolia (Hemsley) A. Gray leaves, and a low-quality source, maize (Zea mays L.) stover, were applied alone or in combination with triple superphosphate (TSP). The P rate was kept constant at 15 kg P ha^-1. Soil extractable P (resin, bicarbonate and sodium hydroxide), microbial biomass P and C and P adsorption isotherms were determined during 16 weeks after application of treatments. Application of tithonia either alone or with TSP increased resin P, bicarbonate P, microbial P, and sodium hydroxide inorganic P. Tithonia alone reduced P adsorption at 2–16 weeks. Maize stover had no effect on any of the P fractions or P adsorption. At 8 weeks, the application of tithonia reduced microbial C-to-P ratio (20) as compared to maize stover, TSP and the control (31–34). The reduction in P adsorption by tithonia was accompanied by increases in all measured P fractions, the sum of P in those fractions (resin, bicarbonate and sodium hydroxide) being larger than the P added. The reduction in P adsorption apparently resulted from competition for adsorption sites, probably by organic anions produced during decomposition of the high quality tithonia. Integration of inorganic P (TSP) with organic materials had little added benefit compared to sole application of TSP, except that combination of tithonia with TSP increased microbial biomass. The results indicate that a high quality organic input can be comparable to or more effective than inorganic P in increasing P availability in the soil.     

退耕还湖后湿地土壤对磷的吸附解吸特性

以安徽菜子湖区不同退耕年限(3、5、9和11年)湿地为研究对象,以相邻油菜地和原始湿地为对照(共6个样地),研究退耕还湖后湿地土壤对磷的吸附解吸特性变化.结果表明: 退耕湿地土壤对磷的等温吸附曲线与Langmuir和Freundlich吸附方程拟合程度均达极显著水平(P<0.01);6个样地土壤对磷的最大吸附量(X_m)、吸附常数(K)和最大缓冲容量(MBC)范围分别为478～1074 mg·kg^-1、0.14～0.61和68.6～661.5 mg·kg^-1,且退耕湿地的这些参数均随着退耕年限的延长而升高,但未达到原始湿地水平;6个样地土壤磷的平均解吸率为6.2%～14.6%,且退耕湿地土壤磷解吸率随着退耕年限的延长呈先增高后降低的趋势,但均显著高于原始湿地.表明随着退耕年限的增加,湿地土壤对外源磷的固持能力不断增强,而土壤有机质和粘粒含量是影响湿地土壤对外源磷固持能力的重要因子.     

小麦-玉米轮作长期肥料定位试验中土壤磷库的变化Ⅱ.土壤Olsen-P及各形态无机磷的动态变化

研究了冬小麦-夏玉米→春玉米轮作的长期肥料定位试验中,不同磷肥、有机肥用量下土壤Olsen-P及各形态无机磷的动态变化.结果表明,土壤Olsen-P及各形态无机磷含量增减决定于土壤磷素的积累与消耗量.长期不施磷肥,土壤Olsen-P含量逐渐下降并趋向于临界水平,磷肥用量与作物吸磷量基本持平时,可以维持土壤Olsen-P动态平衡.磷肥用量高于作物的吸磷量时,土壤Olsen-P及各形态无机磷均有不同程度的积累.土壤无机磷的积累以Ca₂-P,Ca₈-P为主,平均占无机磷积累总量的52.3%,其中Ca₈-P占二者积累磷总量的78.3%.其次为Al-P,Fe-P的积累,平均占无机磷积累磷总量的26.1%,O-P、Ca₁₀-P平均占20.4%.长期有机肥、化学磷肥配合施用明显地增加了磷肥的有效性.     

小麦-玉米轮作长期肥料定位试验中土壤磷库的变化Ⅰ.磷肥产量效应及土壤总磷库、无机磷库的变化

研究了冬小麦-夏玉米→春玉米轮作中,长期施用磷肥、有机肥对土壤总磷库、无机磷库的影响及磷肥的产量效应.结果表明,长期施用磷肥、有机肥土壤全磷、总无机磷均有不同程度的积累,土壤磷素的积累以无机磷为主.根据土壤磷素的收支平衡状况,计算出维持土壤磷素收支平衡磷肥的临界用量:冬小麦-夏玉米种植年份为P₂O₅94.7kg·hm^-2,春玉米种植年份为P₂O₅51.5kg·hm^-2.根据肥料效应函数计算出磷肥(P₂O₅)的经济最佳、最高产量用量分别为:冬小麦-夏玉米种植年份为135.8、149.8kg·hm^-2,春玉米种植年份为88.6、95.9kg·hm^-2.     

Nuclear magnetic resonance studies of the location and function of plant nutrients in vivo

The cytoplasmic and vacuolar pools of ammonium, inorganic phosphate and potassium can be studied non-invasively in plant tissues using high resolution nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The techniques that allow these pools to be discriminated in vivo are described and their application to plants is reviewed with reference to the phosphorus, nitrogen and potassium nutrition of root tissues.     

Changes in bacterial populations in the ileum of pigs fed low-phosphorus diets supplemented with different sources of fermentable carbohydrates

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of differently fermentable carbohydrates on changes in bacterial populations in the ileum of growing pigs fed low-phosphorus (P) diets. Eight barrows (mean surgery BW 36 ± 0.9 kg) were fitted with simple T-cannulae at the distal ileum and were assigned to one of four dietary treatments: maize-soybean meal based control diet (CD), or 0.75 of CD supplemented with 0.25 lignocellulose, maize starch and high-methylated apple-pectin, respectively. Total bacterial cell counts as well as cell counts of Lactobacillus spp., Lactobacillus reuteri, Lactobacillus amylovorus/Lactobacillus sobrius, Lactobacillus mucosae, Enterococcus spp., Enterococcus faecium, Enterococcus faecalis, bifidobacteria, Clostridium coccoides cluster, Clostridium leptum cluster, Bacteroides–Prevotella–Porphyrmonas group and Enterobacteriaceae were determined by quantitative realtime PCR in DNA extracts of ileal digesta. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) of DNA fragments, generated by PCR targeting total or Lactobacillus spp. 16S rDNA, was used to estimate the bacterial diversity in the ileum. Lignocellulose supplementation tended (P<0.1) to increase cell counts of total bacteria in faeces compared with the control. Ileal bacterial populations responded differently to carbohydrate addition. Maize starch supplementation strongly stimulated the growth of total lactobacilli and Lactobacillus species (P≤0.05). Lignocellulose, in turn, enhanced the numbers of bifidobacteria, but reduced those of L. amylovorus compared with the control (P<0.05). Finally, pectin tended to increase the cell numbers of L. amylovorus/L. sobrius and the Bacteroides–Prevotella–Porphyrmonas group compared with the control (P<0.1). DGGE analysis revealed increased band numbers for total bacteria in the ileum of animals fed the lignocellulose and maize starch supplemented diets, while pectin reduced total bacterial (P<0.1) and Lactobacillus spp. diversity (P<0.05) compared with the control, as determined with the Shannon's index. Ileal VFA concentrations were decreased by pectin, while lignocellulose decreased faecal VFA concentrations. In conclusion, ileal bacterial populations and diversity are susceptible to changes in the carbohydrate composition of the diet. However, these changes were not related to major differences in the number of total bacteria in ileal digesta and faeces, but rather to changes in the bacterial species composition and their metabolic activity.