Changes in mineral nitrogen, phosphorus availability and salt-extractable aluminium following the application of green manure residues in two weathered soils of South Vietnam

Phosphorus deficiency and aluminium toxicity in weathered soils can be amended by applying organic residues. Nitrogen mineralization, changes in P-availability and changes in salt-extractable Al following the incorporation of residues of various green manures (Flemingia congesta, Mucuna pruriens, Pueraria phaseoloides, Tithonia diversifolia) were quantified in a field core incubation experiment. Dried residues were added at an application rate of 45 kg P ha(-1) to two soils representative for the main soil groups of the South Vietnamese uplands, set up in incubation cores in an experimental field near Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Decomposition of the residues proceeded at high rates. Mineralized nitrogen from the residues was recovered mainly as ammonium during the first 2 weeks of incubation. Nitrogen release from Tithonia residues with the highest lignin content and lignin:N ratio occurred more gradually compared to the three legumes. Resin-extractable P was significantly increased by residue treatments. Largest and sustained increases in resin-extractable P (0.67 and 2.06 mg P kg(-1) in the two soils) were observed in samples amended with Tithonia, which was related to the large P-content (0.37 %) and small C:P ratio (110) of the residues. The P-concentration in the residues, rather than the total amount of P applied through the residues, affected the increase in P-availability. The increase in resin-extractable P was correlated to the P-content (R=0.64) and C:P ratio (R= -0.65) of the residues. Salt-extractable Al-concentrations were considerably reduced by the organic amendments, up to 70 and 50 % in the two soils. At the rate of 45 kg P ha(-1), no significant differences between the residue treatments to reduce soil acidity were observed. As such, the application of high quality residues that are rich in P, in particular T. diversifolia, may enhance crop production by creating favourable soil conditions during the initial stages of plant development of the main crop. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.