Characterization of Different Phosphorus Forms in Flooded and Upland Paddy Soils Incubated with Various Manures

Phosphorus (P) is an essential nutrient for crop production, and animal manures are rich in P. When using animal manures as alternatives to synthetic fertilizers, it is important to know the kinetics of P release from different animal manures and the forms, amounts, and dynamics of P in manure-treated soils. We chose four types of manure, viz., pig manure (PM), chicken manure (CM), dairy manure (DM), and commercial organic compost (OM), and evaluated the P release rate and availability in water solution and flooded/upland paddy soils. The WEP/total P (TP) and the water-extractable P (WEP) concentrations are highest for OM with the order: OM > PM > CM > DM. An increase in soil Olsen-P concentration was observed for the addition of manure with a varying application rate of P from low to moderate to high. The release capacity of Olsen-P in flooded conditions was higher than that in upland conditions. Under the flooded soil, PM and OM have faster release rates than CM and OM in the upland soil. Moreover, PM significantly increased available P by 29% in the flooded paddy soil while moderately inorganic P increased by 17% in the upland paddy soil. Olsen-P has a significant linear relationship with available P (Resin-P + NaHCO3-Pi; R2 = 0.104; P < 0.01) and moderately inorganic P (NaOH-Pi + HCl-P; R2 = 0.286; P < 0.01). The structural equation model showed that the organic input was beneficial to the conversion of moderately inorganic P to available P. Our results indicate that PM amendment promotes the release of available P in paddy soil.