Differential phosphorus acquisition strategies of nine cover crop species grown in a calcareous and a decalcified chernozem

Abstract Background and aims Cover cropping is a strategy to increase soil phosphorus (P) use efficiency in agroecosystems. We investigated adaptations on P acquisition strategies of nine cover crops grown in a calcareous and a non-calcareous chernozem with low available P. Methods Through a 108-day pot experiment using a calcareous and a decalcified chernozem, we evaluated black oat ( Avena strigosa Schreb.), white lupin ( Lupinus albus L.), narrow-leaf lupin ( Lupinus angustifolius L.), phacelia ( Phacelia tanacetifolia Benth.), berseem clover ( Trifolium alexandrinum L.), buckwheat ( Fagopyrum esculentum Moench), linseed ( Linum usitatissimum L.), ramtil ( Guizotia abyssinica [Lf] Cass.) and white mustard ( Sinapis alba L.) for their dry biomass production, tissue P concentration and uptake, and effects on soil pH, phosphatase activity, mycorrhiza infection rate and soil P fractions. Results Cover crops differed in several parameters between the two soils. Dry biomass varied from 3.3 (white lupin) to 41.6 g pot -1 (mustard). Tissue P concentrations ranged from 0.046% (mustard) to 0.24% (clover). Species affected pH of both soils, ranging from − 0.66 to + 0.24. Acid phosphatase activity was higher in the decalcified soil, while alkaline phosphatases were higher in the calcareous soil. Root mycorrhizal infection rates ranged from 0 to > 50%. Most plants explored soil labile P exclusively, with organic P mineralization being more relevant in the calcareous soil. Conclusion We confirm that cover crops favoured distinct strategies to access the predominant soil labile P forms in each soil. Mycorrhizal species were particularly efficient in the decalcified soil, while species with high phosphatase secretion accessed higher Po, especially in the calcareous soil.