The distribution and kinetics of phosphatase activity in European agricultural soils under long-term tillage reduction practices

Achieving sustainability for agriculture is a significant challenge, particularly with respect to improving nutrient management in the field. This goal requires reducing the use of chemical fertilizers inputs and minimizing nutrient losses whilst maintaining crop yields. Phosphatases, enzymes produced by soil microorganisms and plants, play a key role in phophorus cycling by mobilizing phosphorus (P) from organic sources. This study examined the effects of three long-term tillage practices (no-tillage, reduced tillage, and standard tillage) on acid and alkaline phosphatase activity at two soil depths (0-10 and 10-20 cm) in seven agricultural field trials in Europe over a decade. Despite considerable variation among sampled sites, plots under reduced- and/or no-tillage regimes exhibited higher phosphatase activity in the topsoil compared with those under standard tillage. Both acid and alkaline phosphatases were influenced by the same major soil drivers, such as total nitrogen, total organic carbon, and total organic phosphorus contents. A predictive model incorporating total nitrogen alongside other soil features best explained changes in both phosphatase activities resulting from tillage treatments. Overall, our findings support that reduced-tillage practices enhance phosphatase activity, promote organic P mineralization, and could therefore reduce reliance on inorganic P fertilizers, contributing to more sustainable management of agricultural systems.