Variation in Soil C and P Fractions Associated with Microbial Biomass

Khuram Shehzad Khan, Muhammad Naveed, Muhammad Farhan Qadir, Adeel Ahmad, Hafiz Hassan Javed, Allah Ditta

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

2 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The variations in soil carbon (C), phosphorus (P) fractions, microbial indices, and their mechanisms to drive P mobilization are still poorly understood in calcareous soils. An incubation study was set up to evaluate the changes in microbial biomass index (C and P), soil organic C, and Pi fractions. The incubation study with a two-factor completely randomized design including manure source, poultry manure (PM), cow manure (CM), goat manure (GM), and mixed manure (MM), no manure (CK), and inorganic P (Pi) rates (P0 = 0, P50 = 50, and P100 = 100 mg kg−1 P2O5) was conducted in the greenhouse. Combined application of PM and Pi (100 mg kg−1) significantly improved the soil physicochemical traits, i.e., total P (692.88 mg kg−1), Olsen P (32.39 mg kg−1), soil organic carbon (4.21 g kg−1), and particulate organic carbon (2.58 g kg−1). The same treatment significantly (p ≤ 0.05) increased microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and microbial biomass phosphorus (MBP) by 173.89 and 42.03 mg kg−1, respectively. The moderately labile Ca8-P pool was greater than the Ca2-P pool under PM with Pi at 100 mg kg−1, whereas the Ca8-P pool was improved by 49 mg kg−1 compared to CK. Moreover, the Ca8-P pool had a significant (p ≤ 0.05) relationship with MBC and MBP. Based on the results, it is concluded that the application of PM along with Pi 100 mg kg−1 builds up microbial biomass, which can immediately store a higher amount of readily soluble P and protect it from fixation, eventually improving soil P availability.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)6573-6583
Number of pages11
JournalJournal of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition
Volume23
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 18 Oct 2023

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