Response of white mustard (Sinapis alba) and the soil microbial biomass to P and Zn addition in a greenhouse pot experiment |
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Authors: | Khalid Saifullah Khan Rainer Georg Joergensen |
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Institution: | 1. Department of Soil Biology and Plant Nutrition, University of Kassel, Nordbahnhofstra?e 1a, 37213 Witzenhausen, Germany;2. Permanent address: Department of Soil Science, PMAS‐Arid Agriculture University, Murree Road, 46300 Rawalpindi, Pakistan |
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Abstract: | A 45‐d pot experiment was carried out to investigate the response of white mustard and the soil microbial biomass after Zn and P addition to a P deficient silt loam. The underlying hypothesis was that P application reduces the Zn availability to crops and microbial biomass. White mustard was supplied with different levels of P (0, 50, and 100 µg g?1 soil) and Zn (0, 10, and 20 µg g?1 soil). Amendments of P generally reduced extractable Zn, shoot Zn and soil microbial biomass Zn. Amendments of P generally decreased the microbial biomass C/P ratio. At 20 µg Zn g?1 soil, a negative effect on the microbial biomass C/P ratio was observed, suggesting that high contents of extractable Zn have a negative impact on the microbial P uptake. However, the minimum Zn requirements of soil microorganisms and the consequences of microbial Zn deficiency for soil microbiological processes are completely unknown. |
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Keywords: | plant biomass soil microbial biomass microbial biomass C/P microbial biomass Zn P deficiency Zn deficiency |
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