Diffusion and uptake of phosphorus, and root development of corn seedlings, in three contrasting subtropical soils under conventional tillage or no-tillage

Soil mineralogy and management can have substantial effects on phosphorus (P) diffusion in soil and hence on root morphology. The aim of this study was to assess these effects in soils differing widely in P-sorbing components. Samples of a Rhodic Paleudult (RP), a Rhodic Hapludox (RH), and a Humic Hapludox (HH) under conventional tillage (CT) or no-tillage (NT) were placed in Petri dishes to assess P diffusion. Performance and root morphology in corn grown on soil samples subjected to three different P fertilization treatments (no fertilizer, surface, and deep fertilizer application) were examined. Phosphorus diffusion was slower in the HH than in the other soils by effect of its high P adsorption capacity because of its mineralogy. Soil management had no effect on P diffusion. Fertilization with P only affected plant-related variables in RH: surface fertilization increased root biomass, and deep fertilization shoot biomass and proportion of thick roots. Soil management affected plants growing on HH and RP: the plants grown under NT were taller (RP) and developed more fine roots (HH) than those under CT. Fertilization with P had little effect on plant growth in the goethite-rich soil (HH) or the one with high content in available P (RP). Our results suggest that management system in these soils has therefore greater influence on fertility than fertilization treatment.