ARS | Publication request: Enhancing Potato System Sustainability: Crop Rotation Impacts on Soil Phosphatase Activity

Submitted to: Northeast Potato Technology Forum Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: March 1, 2008
Publication Date: March 12, 2008
Citation: He, Z., Honeycutt, C.W., Griffin, T.S., Olanya, O.M., Larkin, R.P., Halloran, J.M. 2008. Enhancing Potato System Sustainability: Crop Rotation Impacts on Soil Phosphatase Activity. Northeast Potato Technology Forum Abstracts. p. 47-51.

Technical Abstract: Potato is a species with a low efficiency of acquiring soil P. Rotation crops may potentially influence P uptake by potato by increasing soil organic acids, phosphatase activity, and microbial biomass. However, this kind of information is very limited. We measured the activities of acid phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase, and phosphodiesterase in soils collected from various rotations. Compared to soils with continuous potato production, three–year rotation practices increased all three soil enzyme activities. The greatest increase was observed in soil with the three–year sequence of barley underseeded with timothy/timothy sod/potato with mulch after harvest and with compost added to each crop. This result is consistent with the soil improving strategy intended for this rotation. Acid monophosphatase activity was lower in all irrigated soils than in corresponding rainfed soils. However, alkaline monophosphatase and phosphodiesterase activities were impacted little or positively by irrigation. Our observations suggest that rotation practices may increase soil P availability for potato.