ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Soil Phosphatase Activity and Phosphorus Content
as Influenced by Catch Crops Cultivated
as Green Manure
Anna Piotrowska-Długosz1, Edward Wilczewski2
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1Department of Soil Science and Soil Protection, Division of Biochemistry, Faculty of Agriculture and Biotechnology,
University of Technology and Life Sciences, Bernardyńska 6, 85-029 Bydgoszcz, Poland
2Department of Agrotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture and Biotechnology,
University of Technology and Life Sciences, Kordecki 20, 85-225 Bydgoszcz, Poland
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2014;23(1):157-165
KEYWORDS
ABSTRACT
In a 3-year experiment, the effect of catch crop management [catch crop incorporated in autumn (A) or
mulched (B) vs plots without a catch crop (C)] on soil acid (PAC) and alkaline (PAL) phosphatase activities as
well as on the available phosphorus content (PAVAIL) were investigated on typical Alfisol. The catch crops were
sown at the beginning of August and ploughed in the autumn in 2008, 2009, and 2010, or left as mulch during
the winter. Soil samples were taken four times a year from spring barley plots that were grown in 2009,
2010, and 2011. Generally, catch crop treatment significantly influenced the enzymatic activity as compared
to the control. The PAC activity was significantly greater with a mulched catch crop than in a ploughed one
only in I and II sampling dates, whereas the PAL activity was not influenced by the method and time of field
pea management. The time of sampling significantly influenced the PAL activity in 2011 and the PAC activity
in 2009 and 2011.