Effects of cover crops on phosphatase activity in a clay arable soil in the UK

Reynolds, S.H.; Ritz, Karl; Crotty, F.V.; Stoate, C.; West, H.; Neal, Andrew L.

Abstract

The effect of five cover crop species (radish, buckwheat, vetch, phacelia and oat) alongside an un-cropped control, on the activity and persistence of soil acid and alkaline phosphatase activity was investigated. There was no effect on alkaline phosphatase activity at the time of cover crop incorporation (March), but by the point of maturation of the following oat cash crop (June) significant differences were detected, with the greatest activity following an oat cover crop. Acid phosphatase activity showed species-related significant differences at both sampling dates, with the magnitude increasing by June. Again, plots following an oat cover crop showed the greatest activity, followed by phacelia. This has shown that soil phosphatase enzymes are affected by the presence of a cover crop, that this effect is apparently species-dependent – and not dependent on the amount of biomass from the cover crop – and that cover crops could be a potential means to enhance soil phosphorus cycling.

Citation

Reynolds, S., Ritz, K., Crotty, F., Stoate, C., West, H., & Neal, A. L. (2017, November). Effects of cover crops on phosphatase activity in a clay arable soil in the UK. Presented at Sustainable Intensification, Harpenden, UK

• Presentation Conference Type: Conference Paper (published)
• Conference Name: Sustainable Intensification
• Start Date: Nov 28, 2017
• End Date: Nov 30, 2017
• Acceptance Date: Nov 28, 2017
• Publication Date: Nov 28, 2017
• Deposit Date: Dec 18, 2017
• Publicly Available Date: Dec 18, 2018
• Journal: Annals of Applied Biology
• Print ISSN: 0003-4746
• Electronic ISSN: 1744-7348
• Publisher: Association of Applied Biologists
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Pages: 215-220
• Series Title: Aspects of applied biology
• Series Number: 136
• Series ISSN: 0265-1491
• Book Title: Sustainable intensification at Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, Herts UK on 28-30 November 2017
• Keywords: Organic phosphorus; Phosphate monoester; Catch crop; Green manure
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/895907
• Publisher URL: https://custom.cvent.com/05F40F40EA964BBB968323D70A3E1C38/files/2a5270c843194e81842ea1b121ff0365.pdf
• Contract Date: Dec 18, 2017