ABSTRACT
Land management practices alter not just soil structure but also plant physiology and soil microbial dynamics, thus influencing P mineralization under different management systems. Meta-analyses undertaken across the Fabaceae family of legumes have demonstrated that these plants have great potential for enhancing the supply of P for subsequent crops. Land use management can bring about variations in microbial community composition and related phosphatase-gene abundance in the soil that will affect P cycling. Conventional versus organic/integrated farming practices are known to influence the balance of P in soils. Organic farming is becoming more popular in Europe and the United States, and stringent regulations exist regarding the type and quality of agricultural inputs that are permitted under this designation. The predominant mode for manufacturing commercial phosphate fertilizers is through what is called the “acid route.” Algae can be one option for producing renewable phosphate fertilizers from organic waste.
