Journal of Soil and Water Conservation 16(2): 160-165, April-June 2017

ISSN: 022-457X (Print); 2455-7145 (Online); DOI: 10.5958/2455-7145.2017.00023.6

Dynamics of soil phosphorus under different management

practices for groundnut cultivation in calcareous Vertisols
R.S. YADAV1*, N.K. JAIN2, H.N. MEENA3, D. BHADURI3, P.K. BHALODIA4,
M. BHADARKA5 and D. DESAI5

Received: 2 November 2016; Accepted: 28 March 2017

ABSTRACT
Continuous P-deposition in the soils due to poor recovery of applied P-fertilizer is the major concern for
environmental as well as P-nutrition of plants. Soils having three different management practices namely
i) polythene drip (PD); cultivation of groundnut on raised beds using polythene mulch and drip irrigation,
ii) resource conservation (RC); groundnut followed by wheat in zero tillage with green manuring and
iii) conventional system (CS); cultivation on flat bed with conventional nutrient and water management
practices were used and characterized for different P-fractions. The availability of soil phosphorus was
highest under polythene drip (15 to 29 mg kg-1) followed by resource conservation (12 to 20 mg kg-1) and
least under conventional systems (9-13 mg kg-1) depending on inputs used. The soil P was increased by
6 to 15% for inorganic and by 3 to 7% for organic fractions under these management practices (i.e., PD
and RC) as compared to CS. The highest soil inorganic-P were recovered from PD>RC>CS in water
soluble and mineralizable pools, CS>PD>RC in labile pool and RC>CS>PD in stable pool. Similarly the
soil organic-P were recovered in the order of CS>RC>PD for soluble and labile pools and PD>RC>CS for
mineralizable and stable pools. More than 50% of the soil phosphorus in these soils was recovered
under bio-available pool which could be available for plant nutrition using appropriate management
strategies. Overall the polythene drip and resource conservation management practices were found
promising for creating congenial conditions to solubilize and mobilize the soil phosphorus in to different
conceptual pools in the soil.
Key words: Soil phosphorus fractions, polythene mulch, drip irrigation, resource conservation

INTRODUCTION processes. Adequate P levels promote root growth,

stimulate tillering, seed formation, N-fixation in
The low productivity of groundnut (approx
legumes and hasten maturity etc. are the major
1150 kgha -1) in India is attributed mainly to
attributes associated with phosphorus nutrition.
cultivation of this crop in rain fed conditions on
marginal lands with low inputs, calcareousness and Soil P dynamics is governed by
high soluble salts, multi-nutrient deficiency and physicochemical (sorption-desorption) and
poor soil fertility which are the major soil biological (immobilization-mineralization)
constraints for groundnut cultivation in India processes. The dynamics of phosphorus in
(Sahrawat et al., 2010). About 10-70% reduction in calcareous environments is largely controlled by
groundnut yield has been reported due to these two major mineral components that are iron oxides
factors. More than 2/3rd of the total groundnut and calcium carbonates (Matar et al., 1992). Calcium
cultivation area in India is confined to variable carbonates, which are largely dominated by calcite,
extent of calcareousness in the soils which is to be can immobilize substantial amounts of phosphate
the major cause for imbalanced and poor nutrition ions by both adsorption processes and precipitation
of groundnut plants in these soils. Phosphorus is of various types of calcium phosphates (Freeman
an important element for plant growth having and Rowell, 1981). Iron oxides like crystalline iron-
unique properties of very low mobility and oxy-hydroxides (e.g., goethite) can also contribute
availability (<3%) in most of the soils. However, a large proportion of the sorption of P in calcareous
these problems are further aggravated in calcareous soils (Matar et al., 1992). The P- fertilizer applied in
soils. The primary role of phosphorus in a plant is these soils gets converted in to the immobile pools
to store and transfer energy produced by through precipitation reaction with Ca 2+
photosynthesis for use in growth and reproductive (Gyaneshwar et al., 2002). Therefore, the availability
1
Senior Scientist, 2Principal Scientist, 3Scientist, 4ACTO, 5Research Scholar,
Directorate of Groundnut Research, Post Box 5, Ivnagar Road, Junagadh-362 001, Gujarat
*Corresponding author Email id: [email protected]
April-June 2017] DYNAMICS OF SOIL PHOSPHORUS 161

as well as the efficiency of applied P-fertilizer is Experimental and sampling details

very low in these soils. The soil samples were drawn from different
Soil microorganisms and plant rhizosphere are field experiments having three different
the major factors contributing significant role in soil management practices during summer 2014.
P dynamics and subsequent availability of Experimentation on three different management
phosphate to plants (Richardson, 2001). Inorganic components namely (i) Polythene drip (PD);
P fractions showed higher increase where fertilizers cultivation of groundnut using polythene mulch
were applied in combination with organic manures and drip irrigation (ii) Resource conservation (RC);
in wheat (Binjola et al., 2017). Microbial biomass groundnut followed by wheat in zero tillage with
enhance the P-availability to plants by mineralizing green manuring and (iii) Conventional system (CS);
organic P in soil (Yadav and Tarafdar, 2003) and by cultivation on flat bed with conventional nutrient
solubilizing precipitated phosphates (Chen et al., and water management practices were used to
2006). Plants have evolved various mechanisms that understand the dynamics of soil phosphorus under
influence the chemical conditions at the root-soil different management practices. The experiments
interface and enhance the solubilization of soil P in were continued on fixed site since last more than
the rhizosphere (e.g. Hinsinger, 1998). The release three years of experimentation using TG37A
of protons and excretion of organic anions by roots groundnut cultivar as test crop. The groudnut and
(Hinsinger, 1998) and their ligand exchange wheat crops were grown with recommended dose
reactions may also directly involved in the release of fertilizers (phosphorus @50kgP2O5 ha-1). The
of sorbed-P into soil solution (Gerke et al., 1994). Sesbania (Dhaincha) crop used as green manuring
Therefore, the poor soil-P availability, high fixation, was also raised with application of 40 kgP2O5 ha-1
inconsistent and variable response of applied P- and burried in soil at 40-50 days after sowing under
fertilizers with poor use efficiency (FAO, 2008) and resource conservation practice.
indefinite role of residual soil P are some of the Soil samples were collected from 0-30 cm soil
major issues regarding phosphorus nutrition in depth in the month of June, 2014. Twelve samples
plants. The present study aimed to understand the were collected from different plots replicated for
dynamics of soil phosphorus under different each management practices. These soil samples
management practices for better P- nutrition in were air-dried and ground to pass through 2mm
groundnut. sieve before analysis for different parameters. The
electrical conductivity and pH of the soil was
MATERIALS AND METHODS measured using 1:2.5 soil & de-ionized water
Experimental Site suspension. The suspension was shaken and
allowed to stand overnight and then measured
The experiments were conducted at research using pH cum conductivity meter. The other soil
farm of ICAR-Directorate of Groundnut Research properties were analysed using standard
(DGR), Junagadh, India. The experimental site is methodology as described by Jackson (1967). The
located in the foothills of Mt. Girnar in the southern olsen’s-P (Olsen et al.,1952), resin-P (Sibbesen, 1978)
region of Saurashtra (70.36° East longitude and and different soil P fractions (Tarafdar et al., 2006)
21.31° North latitude; 60m above mean sea level). were estimated colorimetrically. The inorganic and
The climate of this area is semi-arid with an average organic P-fractions were characterized in to four
rainfall of 650 mm. The soil under study was different conceptual pools namely soluble, labile,
medium black calcareous vertisols and developed mineralizable and stable depending upon their
on weathered hard milliolithic limestone parent vulnerability to availability and degree of fixation
materials. The soil depth within the root zone was in the soil system. The results were statistically
shallow to medium, very dark grey in colour and analysed for least significant difference using
clayey in texture contains sand (17%), silt (23%) and analysis of variance techniques in SAS software.
clay (60%). Soils are alkaline in reaction (pH 7.4-
8.0), low in available nitrogen (N) and phosphorus RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
(P2O5) and medium in available potassium (K2O).
The soils are rich in calcium carbonate (>5%) having The total soil phosphorus ranged from 917 to
cation exchange capacity (CEC) ranges from 42- 57 1100 mgkg -1 soil under different management
cmol (+) kg-1soil which is dominated by Ca+2 (65- practices with highest (1086 to 1100 mg kg-1) under
75%) and Mg+2 (15-20%) cations. Soil organic matter convensional system followed by resource
was ranges from 5.05 to 8.72 g/kg in the root zone. conservation (917 to 1003 mg kg-1) and least (925 to
162 YADAV et al. [Journal of Soil & Water Conservation 16(2)

Fig. 1. Total soil phosphorus (mg kg-1 soil) in rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere soils as influenced by different management
practices (PD; Polythene drip, RC; Resource conservation, CS; Conventional system, R; Rhizosphere, NR; Non-
rhizosphere)

981 mg kg-1) under polythene drip (Fig 1). These and 40.3 to 43.3 as Po) under conventional system.
results suggested that a considerable amount of soil Further, a significant decrease was observed in
phosphorus (approx. 9 to 16%) were transformed inorganic phosphorus and increase was observed
under these management practices. Further about in organic phosphrus fractions in the rhizosphere
2- 9% reduction was observed in total soil soils under different management practices. This
phosphorus in non-rhizosphere as compared the might be due to that the inorganic soil phosphorus
rhizosphere soils under these management would be taken by the plants in the rhizosphere
practices. This reduction was highest (8.6%) under soils whereas the higher amount of the organic
resource conservation followed by polythene drip phosphorus in the rhizosphere soils might be due
(5.7%) and least under convensional system (1.2%). to catalysis and immobilization of unstabilized
Although, these results are difficult to predict but calcium phosphates in to organic phosphate
it might be due to presence of higher amount of compounds due to the action of rhizo-depositions.
calcium phosphate which could be stabilized in the The residual soil phosphorus possesses the
rhizosphere due to higher biological activity and considerable amount (i.e., 17 to 46%) of the total
the rhizo-depositions under these management soil phosphorus under different management
practices. practices (Table 1). This phosphorus fraction might
be preferentially consisting of highly stable and
The availability of the soil phosphorus was recalcitrant inorganic phosphorus in these soils due
ranged from 0.89 to 3.00% of the total soil to presence higher amount of calcium carbonates
phosphorus under different management practices and smectite group of clay minerals. It is interesting
(Table 1). The highest availability was recovered to note that this phosphorus fraction was
under polythene drip (15 to 29 mg kg-1) followed appreciably reduced under resource conservation
by resource conservation (12 to 20 mg kg-1) and least (33.6 to 35.3%) and polythene drip (16.7 to 17.8%)
under conventional systems (9-13 mg kg -1 ) as compared to conventional system (45.1 to 46.3%).
depending on the inputs used. These results clearly The results indicated that these management
evidenced the enhanced availability of soil practices provide the congenial conditions for
phosphorus under polythene drip and resource transformation of these stable phosphorus fractions
conservation practices in groundnut cultivation. in the soil during crop growth.
The unavailable soil phosphorus fractions The inorganic and organic soil phosphorus
including inorganic, organic and residual soil pools were further characterized in to four different
phosphorus were ranged from 97 to 99% of the total conceptual pools namely soluble, labile,
soil phosphorus in these soils. In general, inorganic mineralizable and stable depending upon their
and organic phosphorus were observed to be at par vulnerability to availability and degree of fixation
in these soils. The highest inorganic (24.8 to 32.7%) in the soil system (Fig. 2). About 50-70% of the
and organic (50.6 to 57.4%) phosphorus were inorganic and organic phosphorus in this soil were
recovered under polythene drip followed by recovered in water soluble, labile and mineralizable
resource conservation (i.e., 15.4 to 20.6 as Pi and pools indicating that these pools would prone to
44.1 to 51% as Po) and least (i.e., 10.4 to 14.6% as Pi be available to plants through suitable
April-June 2017] DYNAMICS OF SOIL PHOSPHORUS 163

Table 1. Available and unavailable P fractions of soil phosphorus (mg kg-1) under polythene drip, resource conservation
and conventional systems for groundnut cultivation in calcareous vertisols. The values in parenthesis indicate the
per cent contribution in total soil phosphorus
Management practices Available Phosphorus Unavailable Phosphorus
Inorganic P Organic P Residual P

PD (R) 29.4 (3.00) 244.0 (24.8) 563.1 (57.4) 174.4 (17.8)

PD (NR) 15.8 (1.71) 302.5 (32.7) 468.3 (50.6) 154.6 (16.7)
RC (R) 20.3 (2.02) 154.4 (15.4) 511.3 (51.0) 337.7 (33.6)
RC (NR) 12.9 (1.41) 188.9 (20.6) 404.3 (44.1) 324.2 (35.3)
CS (R) 13.3 (1.21) 114.5 (10.4) 476.8 (43.3) 508.7 (46.3)
CS (NR) 9.7 (0.89) 158.4 (14.6) 438.5 (40.3) 489.6 (45.1)
LSD (p=0.05) 1.36 14.66 43.05 28.61
R: Rhizosphere, NR: Non-rhizosphere

Fig. 2. Changes in different pools of soil inorganic (A) and organic (B) phosphorus under different management practices
(PD; Polythene drip, RC; Resource conservation, CS; Conventional system)
164 YADAV et al. [Journal of Soil & Water Conservation 16(2)

Fig. 3. Per cent changes in different conceptual pools of soil inorganic and organic phosphorus under different management
practices

interventions. The highest soil inorganic-P were CONCLUSIONS

recovered from PD>RC>CS in water soluble and
The results clearly indicated that management
mineralizable pools, CS>PD>RC in labile pool and
practices like use of polythene mulch with drip
RC>CS>PD in stable pool. Similarly the soil organic-
irrigation and resource conservation were
P were recovered in the order of CS>RC>PD for
considerably altered/transformed the soil
soluble and labile pools and PD>RC>CS for
phosphorus in to different conceptual pools. Here
mineralizable and stable pools. The decrease in
it is interesting to note that more than 50% of the
labile inorganic and organic pools indicated that
soil phosphorus in these soils were found as bio-
the this pool of soil phosphorus gets immobilized
available pools which could be available for plant
in to mineralizable and stable pools due to higher
nutrition using appropriate management strategies.
biological activity under these management
It is clearly evidenced that polythene mulch
practices. The reverse changes in stable soil Pi and
coupled with drip irrigation provides the most
Po fractions with management practices are difficult
congenial condition in the rhizosphere which
to predict need to be further studies and
would enhance the availability of soil phosphorus
characterization for specific phosphorus
in the rhizosphere. Further, the residues
coumponds in these soils. It is reported that
incorporation with reduced tillage may also boost
combination of organic and inorganic fertilizers
the transformation of soil phosphorus by increased
resulted in increase of all the phosphorus fractions
organic matter and biological activities in the soil
in soils of Punjab where Ca bound P was dominant
which could be able to solubilize and/or mobilize
fraction (Sharma and Saroa, 2017).
the residual soil phosphorus considered as highly
As compared to the conventional system for recalcitrant and unavailable to plants. Hence the
groundnut cultivation, the different conceptual possibilities for enhanced soil P availability and
pools for inorganic soil phosphorus were increased nutrition of plants need to be explored under such
under polythene drip (27 to 472%) as well as management practices and further strengthened in
resources conservation (93 to 248%) practices except different agro-ecosystems.
labile pool which was decreased by 44% under
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