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Measuring Phosphorus Release in Laboratory Microcosms for Water Quality Assessment
Published on: July 22, 2019
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Species and termination method effects on phosphorus loss from plant tissue
R Elliott Carver1, Nathan O Nelson1, Kraig L Roozeboom1
1Dep. of Agronomy, Kansas State Univ., 2004 Throckmorton Plant Sciences Center, 1712 Claflin Rd., Manhattan, KS, 66506, USA.
Journal of Environmental Quality
|October 5, 2020
Summary
Cover crops can release phosphorus (P) into runoff. Selecting low-P-releasing species like rapeseed and avoiding freezing termination methods can minimize P loss from cover crop biomass.
Area of Science:
- Agronomy
- Soil Science
- Environmental Science
Background:
- Cover crops are beneficial for reducing erosion, weed pressure, and nutrient loss.
- However, cover crops can also be a source of phosphorus (P) in runoff water after termination.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of cover crop species, termination method, and time after termination on water-extractable phosphorus (WEP) release from biomass.
Main Methods:
- Two greenhouse trials used a 3x3x3 factorial design with three species (triticale, rapeseed, crimson clover), three termination methods (clipping, freezing, herbicide), and three WEP extraction times (1, 7, 14 days).
- Randomized complete block design with six replicates.
Main Results:
- Rapeseed consistently showed the lowest WEP release across termination methods and extraction times.
- Freezing termination significantly increased WEP concentrations compared to clipping or herbicide methods.
- WEP release increased with extraction time, particularly for herbicide- and freeze-terminated crops.
Conclusions:
- Cover crop species selection (e.g., rapeseed) and termination method (avoiding freezing) are critical for minimizing P loss.
- Extraction timing significantly influences WEP release measurements, requiring careful consideration in future research.
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