Effect of introducing frogs and fish on soil phosphorus availability dynamics and their relationship with rice yield in paddy fields

The long-term impacts of introducing frogs and fish on rice yield and soil P availability are largely underestimated and undervalued. A 9-year field experiment compared the soil phosphorus fraction dynamics and their relationship with rice yield in rice-frog-fish (RFF) cultures, rice-fish (RF) cultures and rice-only (RO) cultures in southeastern China paddy fields. The yields in the RFF and RF cultures were notably higher than those in the RO culture, by 22.1% and 6.8%, respectively. Soil total P ranged from 345.5 to 385.6 mg kg(−1) among all the farming systems, with the smallest amount found in the RO culture. There were only slight changes in the distribution of soil phosphorus fractions with time. The concentrations of NaHCO(3)-Pi and NaHCO(3)-Po were significantly higher in the RFF and RF cultures compared with those in the RO culture, and most of the NaOH-Pi and NaOH-Po fractions were greater in the RFF and RF cultures compared with those in the RO culture. The rice grain yield was significantly correlated with labile P and slowly cycling P. Introducing frogs and fish might be useful for increasing soil active P supplies and meeting rice nutrient requirements. This study concluded that RFF is the best practice for improving rice grain yields and soil fertility in paddy fields.