Soil microbial biomass phosphorus can serve as an index to reflect soil phosphorus fertility

A - Papers appearing in refereed journals

Peng, Y., Duan, Y., Hu, W., Xu, M., Yang, X., Wang, X., Wang, B., Blackwell, M. S. A. and Feng, G. 2021. Soil microbial biomass phosphorus can serve as an index to reflect soil phosphorus fertility. Biology And Fertility Of Soils. 57, pp. 657-669. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00374-021-01559-z

AuthorsPeng, Y., Duan, Y., Hu, W., Xu, M., Yang, X., Wang, X., Wang, B., Blackwell, M. S. A. and Feng, G.
Abstract

The effect and relative contributions of C and P inputs on soil microbial biomass P (MBP) accumulation were studied in three long-term soil fertility experiments with various soil and climate characteristics at Qiyang, Yangling, and Wulumuqi. The maximum of soil MBP in all three sites was 47.8 mg P kg-1. The MBP accumulated per unit in soil (mg P kg-1 soil) was correlated with a 4.91 mg kg-1 increase in Olsen P. For each unit increase in P surplus (kg P ha-1), manure C (kg C ha-1), and stubble C (kg C ha-1), MBP accumulation increased by 330, 3.7, and 13 units (μg P kg-1 soil), respectively. The soil MBP was positively correlated with crop yield and P uptake, making the soil MBP a useful soil P fertility index. The critical levels of the soil MBP pool were 140 kg ha-1, 57–62 kg ha-1, and 33–35 kg ha-1 in acidic red soil, loessial soil, and grey desert soil, respectively. This is the first report to establish a quantitative index of soil fertility based on the soil MBP pool. Our findings demonstrate that C input is a good driver of soil MBP accumulation. Integration of the soil MBP as an index of soil P fertility into agricultural P management is useful to help manage mineral P fertilizers as part of sustainable agricultural practices.

KeywordsMicrobial biomass P; Fertility; Yield; Manure; Organic C
Year of Publication2021
JournalBiology And Fertility Of Soils
Journal citation57, pp. 657-669
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1007/s00374-021-01559-z
Open accessPublished as non-open access
FunderBiotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
Output statusPublished
Publication dates
Online10 Apr 2021
Publication process dates
Accepted01 Apr 2021
PublisherSpringer
ISSN0178-2762

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