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ARS Home » Plains Area » Fort Collins, Colorado » Center for Agricultural Resources Research » Soil Management and Sugarbeet Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #404189

Research Project: Agricultural Management for Long-Term Sustainability and Soil Health

Location: Soil Management and Sugarbeet Research

Title: Inclusion of green manures enhances crop biomass, nutrient uptake, soil phosphorus dynamics and bioavailability

Author
item NGUYEN, PHUONG - Lincoln University - New Zealand
item MCDOWELL, RICHARD - Lincoln University - New Zealand
item Simpson, Zachary
item CONDRON, LEO - Lincoln University - New Zealand

Submitted to: Journal of Sustainable Agriculture and Environment (JSAE)
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/4/2024
Publication Date: 12/18/2024
Citation: Nguyen, P.V., Mcdowell, R.W., Simpson, Z.P., Condron, L.M. 2024. Inclusion of green manures enhances crop biomass, nutrient uptake, soil phosphorus dynamics and bioavailability. Journal of Sustainable Agriculture and Environment (JSAE). 3(4) Article e70035. https://doi.org/10.1002/sae2.70035.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/sae2.70035

Interpretive Summary: Phosphorus is necessary for food production but exacerbates water quality problems when lost to waters. In row crop systems, cover cropping is a well-known conservation management practice but -- less well-known -- can also improve phosphorus sustainability. When incorporated, cover crops serve as a 'green manure' which can provide phosphorus for subsequent crops and lower the potential for phosphorus loss in runoff. This study on a moderately fertile soil found that incorporating green manures, particularly legumes, improved soil phosphorus cycling and increased phosphorus uptake of wheat and barley crops.

Technical Abstract: Phosphorus is necessary for food production but exacerbates water quality problems when lost to waters. In row crop systems, cover cropping is a well-known conservation management practice but their effects on phosphorus mobility are poorly understood. When incorporated, cover crops serve as a 'green manure' which can provide phosphorus for subsequent crops. These green manures may be able to mobilise previously untapped soil phosphorus reserves, thus lowering the need for additional P fertiliser and simultaneously reducing the potential for phosphorus loss in runoff. This study on a moderately fertile soil found that incorporating green manures, particularly legumes, increased phosphorus uptake of wheat and barley crops relative to a control. Further, green manures promoted greater phosphatase enzyme activities and shifted the forms of phosphorus in soil towards those that are more plant-available.