University of SaskatchewanHARVEST
  • Login
  • Submit Your Work
  • About
    • About HARVEST
    • Guidelines
    • Browse
      • All of HARVEST
      • Communities & Collections
      • By Issue Date
      • Authors
      • Titles
      • Subjects
      • This Collection
      • By Issue Date
      • Authors
      • Titles
      • Subjects
    • My Account
      • Login
      JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.
      View Item 
      • HARVEST
      • Electronic Theses and Dissertations
      • Graduate Theses and Dissertations
      • View Item
      • HARVEST
      • Electronic Theses and Dissertations
      • Graduate Theses and Dissertations
      • View Item

      THE INFLUENCE OF PULSE CROPS ON SOIL PHOSPHORUS AVAILABILITY TO SUBSEQUENT WHEAT CROPS IN THE BROWN SOIL ZONE OF SASKATCHEWAN

      Thumbnail
      View/Open
      MacDonald_Catharine_Anne_1999_sec.pdf (204.2Mb)
      Date
      1999
      Author
      MacDonald, Catharine Ann
      Type
      Thesis
      Degree Level
      Masters
      Metadata
      Show full item record
      Abstract
      A study was done to determine if part of the rotation benefit that is often observed in cereals grown on pulse vs. cereal stubble is due to differences in soil phosphorus (P) availability. The influence of pulse crops on soil P availability and P uptake by subsequent wheat (Triticumaestivum L.) crops was assessed in a series of laboratory experiments and field studies conducted in the Brown soil zone of Saskatchewan. Pulse residues generally had higher P concentrations than wheat residue when grown under similar soil fertility and environmental conditions. Higher P contents corresponded to lower carbon (C)to P ratios (C:P),which lowered the potential for P immobilization during residue decomposition. However, in a growth chamber experiment, pulse and cereal residues all had low enough P contents to cause soil P immobilization. Lentil (Lens culinaris Medic.)residue (C:P=285)caused the least immobilization while pea (Pisumsativum L.)residue (C:P=592) and wheat residue (C:P=1335)caused similar degrees of immobilization. Total P contributions from chickpea (Cicerarietinum L.),pea and wheat residues to soil during growth of a subsequent crop were estimated at 0.92, 1.24, and 1.03 kg P ha", respectively, at residue coverage rates of 5000 kg ha". This represents a minor contribution to the short-term P supply to a following crop. Estimated nutrient losses from pulse residues weathering in the field between crop harvest and seeding of a subsequent crop the following spring were also minimal and are not expected to have significant effects on P uptake by the following crop. Field comparisons indicated no significant increases in soil P availability related to the previous crop stubble. However, P uptake by the crop was significantly greater following pulse crops as compared to wheat and fallow. Some factor other than soil P supply, such as a better crop rooting system with a larger surface area to absorb P, may be responsible for greater P uptake by wheat following pulse crops. Studies of root infection by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF)were inconclusive, but if enhanced following growth of a pulse crop, AMF could contribute to enhanced root surface area and therefore nutrient uptake.
      Degree
      Master of Science (M.Sc.)
      Department
      Soil Science
      Program
      Soil Science
      Supervisor
      Schoenau, J.
      Copyright Date
      Fall 1999
      URI
      https://hdl.handle.net/10388/13574
      Collections
      • Graduate Theses and Dissertations
      University of Saskatchewan

      University Library

      The University of Saskatchewan's main campus is situated on Treaty 6 Territory and the Homeland of the Métis.

      © University of Saskatchewan
      Contact Us | Disclaimer | Privacy