Abstract
Cultivation of green manure crops is important strategy for improving soil fertility in South China. Therefore, it is important to obtain plant varieties that can better accumulate nutrients during the green manuring phase. The present study evaluated the phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) uptake efficiencies of various winter leguminous species at two different sites. Varieties tested included six Chinese milk vetch cultivars (i.e., Minzi No.6, Ningbodaqiao, Wanzi No.1, Xiangzi No.1, Yijiangzi, and Yujiangdaye), as well as hairy vetch and common vetch, while ryegrass was planted as a control. All leguminous species showed higher ability for P and K absorption in the two sites compared to the ryegrass. Hairy vetch and common vetch performed better than all six Chinese milk vetch cultivars, and the highest biomass and P and K uptake capacities were observed in hairy vetch. Green manuring had different effects on soil enzymes. Phosphatase (87.0%) and leucine-aminopeptidase (163.8%) were increased by hairy vetch. β-glucosidase (143.4%) and N-acetyl-glucosaminidase (283.3%) were increased by Yijiangzi and Yujiangdaye, respectively, in Guangxi compared to the control. Xiangzi No.1 increased N-acetyl-glucosaminidase (352.6%), leucine-aminopeptidase (477.5%), phosphatase (591%), and β-glucosidase (786.0%) in Hunan compared to the ryegrass. Enzyme activities increased nutrient availability at both experimental sites. P and K uptake efficiencies significantly related with soil enzymes in Guangxi. It is suggested that hairy vetch has the largest capability for P and K uptake and might be a potential choice for improving P and K management in sustainable agriculture.
Highlights
Phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) are the most significant macronutrients in the soil ecosystem after nitrogen (N) [1,2], which involves various processes, i.e., energy formation, nucleic acid synthesis, photosynthesis, glycolysis, respiration, enzymes activation and redox reactions [3,4].Nutrient management is important for sustainable crop production
"above-ground plant biomass" P and K uptakes in leguminous cultivars were higher than ryegrass in both experimental sites, and significant differences were observed for different legumes (Table 4)
Our results emphasize that hairy vetch has the highest P and K uptake capacities, and this was related to the highest biomass and most prominent root morphological mechanisms in both experimental sites
Summary
Phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) are the most significant macronutrients in the soil ecosystem after nitrogen (N) [1,2], which involves various processes, i.e., energy formation, nucleic acid synthesis, photosynthesis, glycolysis, respiration, enzymes activation and redox reactions [3,4].Nutrient management is important for sustainable crop production. Uptake efficiencies of nutrients such as P and K are related to the abilities of plants to produce high yields in low-nutrient conditions [6]. Low K content is highly dependent on soil composition, especially on its fixation to clay particles, leading to deficiency in plant uptake [8]. Immobilized P can be re-mobilized, and non-exchangeable K can become available in soil solution under biochemical processes [6]. They could be strongly dependent on soil chemistry [9] Exploitation of legumes is an essential approach for sustainable agriculture as it can increase nutrient cycling and promote
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