Effect of Sesbania [Sesbania cannabina (Retz.) Poir.] Green manure on inorganic phosphorus fractions at the manure microsite of coastal saline-alkali soil

The application of leguminous green manure (GM) can enhance the soil inorganic phosphorus (Pi) pool, offering considerable benefits for crop cultivation in slightly and moderately saline-alkali soils. To optimize its agronomic potential, systematic and science-based fertilization strategies are required. In this study, we researched the changes in the content, movement distance, and accumulation of Pi fractions at the GM microsites in coastal saline-alkali soils of differing salinity levels (slightly vs. moderately) following the application of Sesbania GM at two rates (30 and 60 t ha−1) over 14- and 28-day incubation periods. The results indicated that GM application significantly (p < 0.05) increased the accumulation of all Pi fractions—including aluminum-bound phosphorus (Al-P), iron-bound phosphorus (Fe-P), occluded phosphorus (O-P), and forms of calcium-bound Pi (Ca-P: Ca2-P, Ca8-P, and Ca10-P)—at the manure microsite, with the magnitude of increase declining with distance from the manure site. Further analysis revealed positive correlations between GM rate, two incubation periods and Pi-fraction movement distance, indicating that the observed effects were significantly influenced by incubation period, GM rate, and soil salinity-alkalinity. While temporal dynamics governed the rates of Pi movement and transformation, elevated salinity-alkalinity partially inhibited these processes. This study provides practical insights for improving GM utilization efficiency on saline-alkali soils. These results support optimized GM application to enhance P efficiency and reduce fertilizer reliance in saline systems.