Phosphorus Stock Depletion and Soil C:N:P Stoichiometry Under Annual Crop Rotations and Grassland Management Systems Over 13 Years

Abstract

Phosphorus (P) nutrition is essential to both plant yield and soil organic matter (SOM) input. However, continuous extraction of P by plants and biomass harvesting can lead to soil P stock depletion, a reduction in crop yields and ultimately a reduction in organic matter input to the soil. In this work, we analysed P, C and N stock trends in the 0-30 cm topsoil layer cultivated with permanent cropland (CC) and mowed permanent grassland (GG) for 13 years. In addition, we characterized the changes in P organic forms by using 31P-NMR. The results showed that the amount of P exported within 13 years was 10% greater in GG than in CC (295 and 268 kg ha-1, respectively). The total P stocks decreased under both the CC and GG management systems (0.30 and 0.25 Mg ha-1, respectively). This depletion was mainly observed in total Pi forms, which recorded reductions of 0.75 and 0.29 Mg ha-1 in GG and CC, respectively. The total Po stock increased by 42.6% in GG; these results were consistent with the increase in C and N stocks in GG (2.6 and 0.19 Mg ha-1, respectively) and their reduction in CC (-4.2 and -0.38 Mg ha-1, respectively). Although P depletion mainly affected the P pool presenting the highest lability (labile P), this depletion did not have a negative effect on plant yield after 13 years due to the buffering capacity of P pools presenting less lability (moderately labile P). Mowing permanent grasslands led to a change in the pool of labile P from inorganic to organic forms and an increase in soil C and N stocks. Based on the 31P-NMR technique, permanent grasslands significantly reduced α-glycerophosphate and increased myo-IHP and adenosine monophosphate more than the permanent cropland. Although there was no significant decrease in productivity, the depletion of available P should be monitored over time, especially in mown permanent grassland crops, to prevent potential nutrient stress.