Effects of cover crops on phosphatase activity in a clay arable soil in the UK

C1 - Edited contributions to conferences/learned societies

Reynolds, S. H., Ritz, K., Crotty, F. V., Stoate, C., West, H. and Neal, A. L. 2017. Effects of cover crops on phosphatase activity in a clay arable soil in the UK. Association of Applied Biologists (AAB).

AuthorsReynolds, S. H., Ritz, K., Crotty, F. V., Stoate, C., West, H. and Neal, A. L.
Abstract

The effect of five cover crop species (radish, buckwheat, vetch, phacelia and oat) alongside an un-cropped control, on the activity and persistence of soil acid and alkaline phosphatase activity was investigated. There was no effect on alkaline phosphatase activity at the time of cover crop incorporation (March), but by the point of maturation of the following oat cash crop (June) significant differences were detected, with the greatest activity following an oat cover crop. Acid phosphatase activity showed species-related significant differences at both sampling dates, with the magnitude increasing by June. Again, plots following an oat cover crop showed the greatest activity, followed by phacelia. This has shown that soil phosphatase enzymes are affected by the presence of a cover crop, that this effect is apparently species-dependent – and not dependent on the amount of biomass from the cover crop – and that cover crops could be a potential means to enhance soil phosphorus cycling.

Keywordsorganic phosphorus; phosphate monoester; catch crop; green manure
Year of Publication2017
Conference titleSustainable Intensification
Conference locationRothamsted Research
Event date28 Nov 2017
Open accessPublished as green open access
JournalAspects of Applied Biology
Journal citation136, pp. 215 - 220
PublisherAssociation of Applied Biologists (AAB)
Book titleSustainable Intensification
Book editorCarlton, R.
Jones, N.
Knight, S.
De Paula, A. S. A. T.
Preston, J.
Sherry, S.
Smith, K.
Web address (URL) of conference proceedingshttp://www.aab.org.uk/contentok.php?id=507;141
Funder project or codeNE/M009106/1
FunderBiotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
Natural Environment Research Council
Accepted author manuscript
Copyright license
CC BY-NC-ND
Publisher's version
Copyright license
CC BY
Output statusPublished
Publication dates
Print28 Nov 2017
Publication process dates
Accepted13 Nov 2017

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