Relationship among Soil Biophysicochemical Properties, Agricultural Practices and Climate Factors Influencing Soil Phosphatase Activity in Agricultural Land

Phosphorus (P) is a vital macronutrient crucial for crop productivity. Plants absorb P salts, mainly orthophosphate, from the soil, yet the primary P source resides in organic materials. Acid and alkaline phosphatases (the predominant forms of soil phosphomonoesterases (APases)) are crucial for alleviating P deficiency in plants and play a vital role in releasing P from organic materials via hydrolysis. Our aim was to summarize the direction of the relationship between a variety of influential factors on acid and alkaline phosphatase activity in agricultural lands and identify gaps in knowledge. Our findings indicate a strong linkage between both APases and soil pH, positively influenced by clay content, organic matter, microbial biomass carbon, and nitrogen. Adopting healthy soil practices like balanced organic fertilizer usage, optimal soil water levels, reduced tillage, crop rotation, and using beneficial plant microbes help boost both APase activity. However, the connection between APases and crop productivity remains uncertain due to insufficient research in this area. We identified gaps in knowledge in relation to meso-macrofauna, alongside essential plant nutrients such as potassium, nutrient ratios, and the synergistic effects of various factors on APase response. Understanding the rapid, efficient assimilation of P through APases in the plant-soil and/or plant-microbiota ecosystem it can be crucial for crop productivity and yields.

This research was funded by JP’s research and was supported by the TED2021-132627B-I00 grant, funded by MCIN and the European Union NextGeneration EU/PRTR.

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