Changes in labile P status under different cropping systems in an arid environment

• Published in: Journal of arid environments 2005-04, Vol.61 (1), p.137-145
• Main Authors: Panwar, J., Saini, V.K., Tarafdar, J.C., Kumar, P., Kathju, S.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Arid environment; Arid environments; arid zones; beans; composting; crop residues; Crop rotation; Crops; Cyamopsis tetragonoloba; Desert trees; Deserts; Emblica officinalis; enzyme activity; field experimentation; forest trees; Forests; fruit crops; Fruit plants; fruits; Labile P; millet; millets; nutrient availability; Pennisetum glaucum; phosphorus; Phyllanthus emblica; Prosopis cineraria; Q1; Q2; Residue; Residues; Rhizosphere; Soil; soil depth; soil enzymes; soil nutrients; Tillage; Trees; Vigna aconitifolia; Vigna radiata
• ISSN: 0140-1963; 1095-922X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jaridenv.2004.08.005

Field experiments were conducted to investigate the changes in labile P status due to crop rotation, residue incorporation, and tillage in the rhizosphere of desert forest trees and fruit plants. Labile P status, which decreases gradually with the soil depth, was 15% higher in untilled plots than tilled ones after 3 years of cropping. Legume crops in rotation with pearl millet increased the labile P status by 9–25%. Application of composted residue at 4 t ha −1 increased the labile P status by 41%. The labile P status in the rhizosphere of desert forest trees and fruit plants was increased by 13–70% and 10–75%, respectively. No relationship was observed between the labile P status and dehydrogenase and alkaline phosphatase activity, but acid phosphatase activity in the rhizosphere may influence the labile P status ( r = 0.551 , n = 15 , p < 0.05 ). Prosopis cineraria among desert forest trees, Emblica officinalis among fruit plants and clusterbean under crop rotation had the ability to maximize the labile P status in the soil under arid environments.