Long-term effects of crop rotation, stubble management and tillage on soil phosphorus dynamics
E. K. Bünemann A D , D. P. Heenan B C , P. Marschner A and A. M. McNeill AA School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Adelaide, DP 636, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia.
B NSW Agriculture, Wagga Wagga Agricultural Institute, Private Mail Bag, Wagga Wagga, NSW 2650, Australia.
C Retired.
D Corresponding author. Email: else.bunemann@ipw.agrl.ethz.ch
Australian Journal of Soil Research 44(6) 611-618 https://doi.org/10.1071/SR05188
Submitted: 21 November 2005 Accepted: 2 June 2006 Published: 15 September 2006
Abstract
The effects of various management practices on soil phosphorus (P) dynamics were investigated in a field experiment in New South Wales, Australia, during 24 years of different crop rotation, stubble management, and tillage treatments. Topsoil samples collected at the beginning of the trial and after 6, 12, 18, and 24 years were analysed for resin-extractable P, inorganic and organic P, and total P. According to the calculated P input–output budget, 9–14 of the 20 kg P/ha added as superphosphate annually remained in the system, depending on the treatment. The measured increase in total P in 0–0.20 m did not differ between treatments, showing an accumulation rate of only 9 ± 2 kg P/ha.year. These results suggest a loss of 4 ± 2 kg P/ha.year, presumably into lower soil layers. Resin-extractable P at 0–0.10 m increased by 1.7 kg P/ha.year, irrespective of the treatment. The increase in total P after 24 years was almost completely accounted for by the increase in total extractable inorganic P. Changes in organic P paralleled changes in organic carbon, with a significant loss in treatments with stubble burning (wheat–lupin rotation and continuous wheat), and a significant accumulation in a wheat–subterranean clover rotation with stubble retention and direct drilling. We conclude that on the time scale of this experiment, the dynamics of carbon and organic P are closely linked.
Additional keywords: P fertilisation; soil organic matter; organic phosphorus; nutrient budget; Lupinus angustifolius; Trifolium subterraneum.
Acknowledgments
This work was carried out within the project ‘Biological cycling of P in agricultural soils in Southern Australia’ which is funded by the GRDC. We are very grateful to NSW Agriculture and everyone who has been involved in the field experiment in Wagga Wagga over its 24 years of duration, including partial sponsorship by the GRDC. Particularly Mark Conyers was extremely helpful by providing access to archived samples and yield data and by commenting on an earlier version of the manuscript. We also thank Rebecca McNamara for performing all soil P analyses meticulously.
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