氮添加和凋落物增减对华西雨屏区常绿阔叶林土壤团聚体及其碳氮的影响

大气氮沉降可通过改变土壤氮素可利用性(直接影响)和改变凋落物输入量(间接影响)对森林土壤碳氮动态产生影响.土壤团聚体是森林表层土壤最具代表性的基本结构单元,对于稳定贮存有机碳氮具有重要意义.通过氮添加和凋落物增减试验设计,探索氮添加和凋落物增减对土壤团聚体及其碳氮组分的影响.结果 表明:(1)凋落物增加(+L)和减少(...     

封育对蒿类荒漠草地土壤氮素含量及其组分特征的影响

为探讨蒿类荒漠草地土壤氮素含量及其组分特征,采用成对试验设计,研究封育对天山北坡不同区域蒿类荒漠草地土壤全氮、碱解氮、硝态氮和铵态氮含量的影响。结果表明:(1)封育后蒿类荒漠草地0—50 cm土层土壤氮密度(0.59~0.79 kg/m²)、土壤全氮含量(0.81~1.50 g/kg)、土壤碱解氮含量(19.44~67.49 mg/kg)变化不显著(p＞0.05)。(2)封育对蒿类荒漠草地土壤硝态氮含量(6.41~21.26 mg/kg)、铵态氮含量(0.26~2.53 mg/kg)的影响因区域差异而有所不同。封育后巩留、呼图壁样地0—50 cm土层硝态氮含量依次显著降低24.61%,47.25%(p＜0.01),而奇台样地则显著增加20.95%(p＜0.05);封育后玛纳斯样地0—50 cm土层铵态氮含量显著增加27.98%(p＜0.05),而巩留、博乐、呼图壁样地则降低不显著(p＞0.05)。(3)蒿类荒漠草地土壤硝态氮、铵态氮含量依次占全氮量的0.27%~3.01%,0.02%~0.42%,且随土壤全氮的增加,有机氮占比增加,而无机氮、硝态氮和铵态氮占比降低。(4)相关分析表明,土壤全氮、碱解氮、硝态氮、铵态氮与有机碳、全磷呈正相关,与土壤容重、pH、电导率呈负相关,铵态氮与土壤含水量呈正相关,与速效磷呈负相关。偏冗余分析表明,土壤理化因子对土壤氮素影响的主要因子为土壤有机碳和土壤含水量,解释率依次为32.60%,17.90%。研究结果为揭示封育过程中蒿类荒漠草地土壤恢复及养分管理提供科学数据支撑。     

凋落物及氮添加对针阔叶林土壤氮和水解氨基酸的影响

为探究凋落物对森林土壤氮的影响及氮沉降的调节，本研究以亚热带天然阔叶林(罗浮栲林)和人工针叶林(杉木林)2种林型土壤和凋落物为对象，分别设置土壤(对照)、土壤+凋落物(3倍添加)、土壤+氮(120 mg/kg)、土壤+凋落物(3倍添加)+氮(120 mg/kg) 4种处理，每种处理设置3个重复，进行为期一年的室内模拟淋溶试验，分析土壤可溶性氮和物理分级后各粒径土壤水解氨基酸变化。结果表明：与对照比较，阔叶林土壤添加凋落物处理增加土壤铵态氮和游离氨基酸，而降低硝态氮含量；氮添加降低针叶林土壤氨态氮，增加硝态氮含量，但是增加阔叶林土壤铵态氮和游离氨基酸；凋落物添加的情况下，氮添加显著增加阔叶林土壤硝态氮含量。土壤的各粒径组分分布比例差异显著，氮添加倾向于降低针叶林土壤大粒径、增加小粒径分配比例，而阔叶林相反。针叶林土壤添加凋落物显著增加土壤粒径组分2 000 ~ 250 μm、20 ~ 2 μm、<2 μm水解氨基酸含量；氮添加增加针叶林全土、2 000 ~ 250 μm和20 ~ 2 μm粒径水解氨基酸含量；在凋落物添加或氮添加情况下，氮添加或凋落物显著降低全土、250 ~ 53 μm、53 ~ 20 μm粒径水解氨基酸含量。而凋落物和氮添加对阔叶林土壤水解氨基酸含量的影响基本上相反。可见，不同土壤粒径组分水解氨基酸(作为可矿化氮)响应凋落物和氮添加处理的差异，有望作为揭示针阔叶林可溶性氮变化的指标。     

凋落物输入改变对慈竹林土壤有机碳的影响

通过野外试验,研究了凋落物输入改变对慈竹林土壤有机碳的影响。设置10%,50%和70%这3种去除凋落物量和分别添加15%,25%的绵竹、杉木凋落物处理及对照。结果发现,去除凋落后慈竹林土壤有机碳含量明显减少(p<0.05),而且去除量越大,有机碳含量减少越大。添加外源凋落物显著提高了慈竹林土壤有机碳含量(p<0.05),其中,15%的添加比例比25%更有利于土壤有机碳的积累,添加绵竹凋落物对土壤有机碳增加的效应高于添加杉木凋落物。研究表明,选择适合的树种和恰当的混交比例以及加强对凋落物层的保护,对维持慈竹林土壤有机碳具有重要的意义。     

氮添加对滇中高原森林凋落物养分残留及其持水性的影响

为揭示森林生态系统养分循环和水分循环对氮沉降的响应机制,以滇中高原华山松(Pinus armandii)和云南松(Pinus yunnanensis)为研究对象,开展野外氮添加下凋落叶、枝原位分解研究试验,设置对照、低氮、中氮和高氮共4个处理,利用尼龙网袋法和室内浸泡法,探究凋落叶、枝养分元素残留率、持水量和持水率及吸水速率对氮添加的响应。结果表明:(1)随着分解时间的持续,2种林分凋落叶、枝碳(C)、氮(N)、磷(P)分别呈释放、富集—释放、富集过程,凋落叶C、N、P残留率显著小于凋落枝(p＜0.05);(2)凋落叶最大持水量和最大吸水速率显著大于凋落枝(p＜0.05),分解24个月时,与CK相比,LN处理下2种林分凋落叶、枝C,华山松凋落叶N残留率降低1.98%~7.27%,10.79%,HN处理下2种林分凋落叶、枝C,华山松凋落叶、枝和云南松凋落枝N,华山松凋落枝P残留率则增加4.26%~9.08%,11.94%~44.51%,42.42%;(3)分解24个月时,与CK相比,LN、MN和HN处理华山松凋落叶、枝和云南松凋落叶最大持水量和最大吸水速率分别降低11.44%~25.24%,5.81%~32.23%,云南松凋落枝则增加15.48%~24.26%,17.97%~23.74%。 (4)2种林分凋落叶、枝持水量随浸泡时间延长而增加,而吸水速率则为降低,持水量与浸泡时间的关系均呈对数函数关系(m=a+bln t),吸水速率与浸泡时间的关系呈幂函数关系(v=at^-b)。(5)C与云南松凋落枝持水性呈正相关关系(p＜0.05),N与华山松凋落枝、P与华山松和云南松凋落叶持水性呈负相关关系(p＜0.05)。综上,氮添加通过改变凋落物分解过程中C、N、P养分元素残留特征进而影响其持水性。     

亚热带米槠天然林土壤有机氮组分对模拟氮沉降的响应

随着人类活动向大气排放越来越多的氮化合物,生态系统中的氮含量逐渐呈现饱和状态,亚热带地区已成为全球氮沉降最严重的区域之一。土壤有机氮组分能直观反映土壤氮素有效性对氮沉降的响应。以福建三明格氏栲自然保护区内的米槠天然林为研究对象,探讨不同施氮水平对土壤有机氮组分的影响。结果表明:(1)高氮处理下土壤有机氮(SON)含量(1.23 g/kg)显著高于对照处理(0.89 g/kg),高氮处理的土壤活性氮组分(LP Ⅰ-N+LP Ⅱ-N)含量(0.28 g/kg)显著高于低氮(0.24 g/kg)和对照处理(0.22 g/kg),而土壤惰性氮组分(RP-N)含量在高氮(0.94 g/kg)和低氮(0.82 g/kg)处理中都显著高于对照处理(0.68 g/kg)。(2)与对照和低氮处理相比,高氮处理显著提高土壤全氮(TN)、微生物生物量氮 (MBN)、铵态氮(NH₄⁺-N)含量和β-N-乙酰氨基葡萄糖苷酶(NAG)活性(p<0.05),硝态氮(NO₃^--N)、可溶性有机氮(DON)含量和β-葡萄糖苷酶(βG)、纤维素水解酶(CBH)活性随着施氮量的增加均呈上升趋势。(3)冗余分析(RDA)表明,土壤TN、NAG酶与有机氮及其各组分呈显著正相关,而土壤MBN、NH₄⁺-N与土壤有机氮及其各组分的相关性也较强。可见该区域氮沉降提高土壤氮养分有效性和微生物活性,这有助于进一步了解全球气候变化背景下亚热带森林土壤养分转化与循环机制。     

作物连作与自然恢复下黑土密度组分中碳、氮分布特征

本文以海伦农田生态系统国家野外科学观测站长期定位试验的黑土为研究对象, 通过对不同作物连作(玉米、大豆、小麦)和自然恢复(草地、裸地)下土壤及其密度分组中有机碳、氮含量的测定, 比较分析了土壤总有机碳、全氮以及密度组分碳、氮分布的变化特征。结果表明不同作物连作下土壤总有机碳的含量差异不显著。0~10 cm和10~20 cm土层农田土壤游离态轻组有机碳含量具有显著差异(P<0.05)。大豆连作的农田土壤游离态轻组有机碳主要分布在0~10 cm土层, 而小麦连作的土壤游离态轻组有机碳主要分布在10~20 cm土层。不同作物连作下土壤闭蓄态轻组有机碳含量差异不显著。不同组分中氮素具有与碳相似的分布特征。游离态轻组与闭蓄态轻组C/N比值之间呈显著负相关(P<0.05)。草地与农田、裸地相比显著提高了土壤总有机碳和全氮的含量。草地土壤游离态轻组、闭蓄态轻组和重组有机碳含量显著高于农田和裸地。作物连作和自然恢复导致土壤碳、氮的重新分配, 改变了土壤碳、氮的赋存特征。     

采煤沉陷区沙柳和小叶杨凋落物分解特征比较

[目的] 探究采煤沉陷区生态修复植物凋落物的分解特征及影响因素,为干旱气候条件下采煤沉陷区的生态修复提供理论依据。[方法] 采用野外分解袋试验的方法,选取沙柳(Salix psammophila)、小叶杨(Populus simonii)和沙柳与小叶杨混合凋落物3个处理,研究分析了在风沙土和黄土基质条件下,3种类型凋落物分解1 a后的残留量、有机碳(OC)、氮(N)、磷(P)、酸性洗涤纤维(ADF)和酸性洗涤木质素(ADL)的含量变化。[结果] ①沙柳凋落物年分解速率比小叶杨和混合凋落物高10%～15%;凋落物在黄土上的分解速率比在风沙土上的速率高13%～23%。②凋落物树种对凋落物OC,N和P含量有极显著(p＜0.01)影响,土壤类型对OC,N,P,ADF和ADL的含量均有显著(p＜0.05)或极显著(p＜0.01)影响,表明树种和分解土壤基质均是影响凋落物养分转化的重要因素。③不同凋落物处理之间,沙柳凋落物的OC,N含量高于混合和小叶杨,而沙柳凋落物的P含量在分解试验前4个月低于小叶杨和混合凋落物,随后接近该值。[结论] 相比沙柳,小叶杨凋落物分解较慢,在土壤上形成覆盖能够保持更长时,更适合作为内蒙古采煤沉陷区主要的修复植物。     

尕海湿地区沼泽草甸生长季土壤碳氮组分对增温施氮的响应

[目的] 为探究高寒湿地土壤碳氮组分对气候变暖和氮沉降的响应特征。[方法] 以尕海湿地沼泽草甸为研究对象,采用开顶箱增温(OTC)和外源氮素(NH₄NO₃)添加模拟未来气候变暖及氮沉降试验,分别设置对照(CK)、增温(W)、施氮(N)和增温施氮(WN)4种处理。在试验进行1.5年后对土壤碳氮组分含量进行测定。[结果] (1)开顶箱增温装置提高0—20 cm土层平均温度1.126℃,显著降低0—10 cm土层土壤含水量(SMC)、pH、全氮(TN)、微生物量氮(MBN)、铵态氮(NH₄⁺—N)、有机碳(SOC)和可溶性有机碳(DOC)含量,提高硝态氮(NO₃^-—N)含量。(2)施氮显著降低NH₄⁺—N、SOC和10—20 cm土层微生物生物量碳(MBC)及DOC含量,增加土壤TN、MBN和NO₃^-—N含量。(3)增温施氮显著增加土壤SMC、TN、NO₃^-—N和MBC含量,降低MBN、NH₄⁺—N和DOC含量。(4)相关分析显示,土壤水分与各理化因子均存在正相关性,土壤碳氮组分间均呈正相关性。[结论] 模拟增温施氮缓解尕海湿地植物生长的温度和氮的限制,促进TN的积累,对土壤微生物量碳氮影响较大,导致土壤微生物量碳氮及分布特征发生转换。     

短期氮添加对荒漠草原土壤微生物特征的影响

为探究荒漠草原土壤微生物特征对短期氮添加的响应,以宁夏荒漠草原为对象,参照国内外同类研究和当地的氮沉降量,设置N0、N1、N2、N3、N4的5个处理,其纯氮添加量分别为0,2.5,5,10,15 g/(m²·a),以尿素为氮源进行为期2年的氮添加试验,对不同氮添加处理下荒漠草原浅层土壤微生物特征进行了研究。结果表明:(1)随氮添加量的增加,荒漠草原0—20 cm土层土壤铵态氮含量呈升高的变化趋势,硝态氮含量呈先升高后下降的变化趋势。在0—10 cm土层,N1、N2、N3、N4处理草地铵态氮含量较N0处理分别增加了109.61％,136.52％,197.19％,198.88％,硝态氮含量以N2处理草地最高,显著高于N0、N3、N4处理(P<0.05)。(2)与N0相比,施氮后0—10 cm土层土壤微生物量氮含量显著下降,N1、N2、N3和N4处理分别较N0处理降低了37.54％,38.11％,28.56％,29.81％。(3)随氮添加量的增加,荒漠草原0—10 cm土层土壤真菌数量呈逐渐减少的变化趋势,N0、N1处理草地显著大于N3、N4处理草地(P＜0.05)。PcoA分析显示高氮添加处理(N3、N4)对荒漠草原土壤amoA区、nirK区微生物的群落结构有显著改变。高氮添加(N3、N4)会对荒漠草原土壤微生物群落产生负面影响,具体表现为真菌数量减少,硝态氮含量降低,氮转化微生物的α多样性和优势菌丰度降低,群落结构发生显著改变。     

半干旱区不同围封年限对草地土壤和微生物碳氮含量的影响

[目的]探究半干旱区草地根际土壤碳氮及土壤微生物量碳氮对不同封禁年限响应特征,为半干旱草地生态系统物质循环研究以及生态系统养分限制判定等提供依据,并为确定合理围封年限提供科学参考。[方法]以宁夏回族自治区固原市云雾山国家级自然保护区半干旱草原为研究对象,应用生态化学计量学方法对比分析放牧地与围封10,25,35 a样地根际土壤有机碳、全氮、硝态氮、铵态氮和土壤微生物量碳氮含量及其化学计量特征变化过程与规律。[结果]围封显著增加了土壤碳氮含量,其最大值出现在封育25 a样地,随后下降。围封10,25 a和35 a样地土壤有机碳含量分别是放牧样地的1.37,1.83倍和1.38倍;总氮含量分别是放牧样地1.34,1.52倍和1.24倍。但土壤C:N随围封年限增加基本保持稳定,其值与土壤有机碳含量存在极显著相关,而与土壤总氮无明显相关性。与放牧样地相比,围封样地铵态氮含量随封育年限无明显变化,硝态氮含量和硝态氮:铵态氮比值则普遍下降,在围封25 a时最低。围封增加了土壤微生物量碳氮含量,围封10,25,35 a样地土壤微生物量碳含量较放牧地分别提高了20.5%,45.7%和15.1%;微生物量氮含量分别提高了24.7%,60.5%和40.9%。而微生物量C:N则随围封年限延长而下降,微生物量碳占土壤有机碳百分比对围封年限无响应。围封10,25 a样地与放牧地相比,微生物量氮占土壤总氮百分比和化学计量不平衡性(即土壤C:N与微生物量C:N比值)均无显著差异,但其值却在围封35 a样地显著增加。[结论]围封措施能够显著提高半干旱退化草地土壤碳、氮养分,促进土壤微生物活动,有利于退化草地恢复,但封育时间过长则可能产生负效应,封育25 a是草地长期封育措施中一个较为合理的围封年限。     

Soil microbial properties under N and P additions in a semi-arid, sandy grassland

Surface (0–15 cm) soil samples were collected from a semi-arid, sandy grassland in Keerqin Sandy Lands, Northeast China to study changes in soil microbial and chemical properties after five consecutive years of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) additions. Nitrogen and P additions and their interactions negligibly affected soil organic carbon and total N contents, while P addition significantly increased soil total P content. Soil pH was significantly decreased by N addition, which significantly increased net nitrification rate, whereas it did not affect net N mineralization rate. No significant effects of N and P additions and their interactions on basal respiration were detected. In addition, N addition significantly decreased microbial biomass C (MBC) and N, and thus microbial quotient, but increased dissolved organic C and microbial metabolic quotient due to the significant decrease of MBC. Our results suggest that in the mid-term the addition of N, but not P, can change soil microbial properties, with a possible decline in soil quality of semi-arid, sandy grasslands.     

草甸草原土壤不同组分有机碳含量及化学结构对长期氮输入的响应

为探究长期氮输入对草甸草原土壤不同组分有机碳含量及化学结构影响，以内蒙古东北草甸草原为研究对象，于2010年设置0(CK)、30(N30)、50(N50)、100(N100)、150(N150)、200(N200)kg/(hm~2·a) 6个不同施氮水平处理，测定土壤不同组分有机碳含量及红外光谱特征。结果表明：(1)相比CK，长期氮输入条件下可提高土壤总有机碳(SOC)含量(增幅0.3%～13.6%)，且主要表现为颗粒有机碳(POC)含量的增加(9.22%～16.39%)，但降低土壤轻组有机碳(LOC)含量。(2)红外光谱主成分分析(PCA)结果表明，土壤LOC主要来源于脂肪碳、芳香碳、酚醇化合物，POC主要来源于芳香碳和酚醇化合物，矿物结合有机碳(MOC)主要来源于烷基碳和多糖。(3)相比CK，施氮处理凋落物和LOC官能团中烷氧碳(单糖+多糖)的相对强度降低，烷基碳、芳香碳相对强度增加；土壤POC和MOC官能团中烷氧碳、烷基碳及芳香碳相对强度增加，酚醇化合物相对强度降低；且施氮处理下凋落物及其不同土壤碳组分有机碳结构稳定性(芳香碳/脂肪碳)均高于CK。(4)结构方程模型(SEM)结果...     

Carbon and nitrogen storage in plant and soil as related to nitrogen and water amendment in a temperate steppe of northern China

We conducted a field-manipulated experiment to assess whether changes in precipitation and nitrogen (N) deposition alter ecosystem carbon (C) and N storage. Both C and N pools of plant and soil were monitored when urea-N (17.5 g N m⁻²) and water (increasing mean annual precipitation by 50%) were added to a temperate steppe. After 2 years of treatments, both N and water addition significantly increased soil inorganic N availability by 125% and 62% during the growing season. While water addition significantly increased ecosystem C storage by 6% and N storage by 8%, N addition showed significant effects on neither of them. There were no interactions between N and water addition to affect both total C and N storage in this ecosystem, though they did interact to affect several individual pools (e.g., aboveground biomass N pool, litter C, and N pool). Results from the present study indicate that water availability is more important than N availability for C sequestration and that increasing precipitation will favor C sequestration in this semi-arid grassland.     

Carbon and nitrogen store and storage potential as affected by land-use in a Leymus chinensis grassland of northern China

Understanding the store and storage potential of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) helps us understand how ecosystems would respond to natural and anthropogenic disturbances under different management strategies. We investigated organic C and N storage in aboveground biomass, litter, roots, and soil organic matter (SOM) in eight sites that were floristically and topographically similar, but which had been subjected to different intensities of disturbance by grazing animals. The primary objective of this study was to ascertain the impact of grazing exclusion (GE) on the store and storage potential of C and N in the Leymus chinensis Tzvel. grasslands of northern China. The results revealed that the total C storage (including that stored in aboveground biomass, litter, roots, and SOM, i.e. top 100-cm soil layer) was significantly different among the eight grasslands and varied from 7.0 kg C m⁻² to 15.8 kg C m⁻², meanwhile, the total N storage varied from 0.6 kg N m⁻² to 1.5 kg N m⁻². The soil C storage decreased substantially with grassland degradation due to long-term heavy grazing. 90% C and 95% N stored in grasslands were observed in the SOM, and they were minor in other pools. The limit range of C and N storage observed in these grassland soils suggests that GE may be a valuable mechanism of sequestering C in the top meter of the soil profile.     

黄土高原人工油松林土壤碳氮对短期氮添加的响应

为了更好地理解土壤碳氮元素对氮添加的响应,通过短期原位模拟氮沉降试验,揭示黄土高原子午岭人工油松(Pinus tabulaeformis Carrière)林土壤碳氮对外源氮添加的响应过程和机制。从2015—2016年设置4个氮添加水平,分别为对照(0kg/(hm~2·a),N0)、低氮(50kg/(hm~2·a),N50)、中氮(100kg/(hm~2·a),N100)和高氮(200kg/(hm~2·a),N200),研究人工油松林地不同深度土层土壤有机碳和全氮以及土壤碳氮储量对模拟氮添加的响应。结果表明:土层对土壤有机碳、全氮和碳氮储量有显著影响,上层土壤有机碳、全氮和碳氮储量显著高于下层土壤;氮添加水平对土壤有机碳、土壤碳储量影响不显著,但可显著影响土壤全氮和氮储量。此外,土壤有机碳、全氮和碳氮储量和土壤碳氮储量比受地下生物量碳氮比的影响显著。因此,短期氮添加对人工油松林地土壤碳的影响不显著,但可显著影响土壤氮,地下生物量碳氮比是影响土壤碳氮的重要因素。     

Soil Organic Carbon and Nitrogen Fractions under Different Land Uses and Tillage Practices

Many questions have surfaced regarding long-term impacts of land-use and cultivation system on soil carbon (C) sequestration. The experiment was conducted at Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center. Only minor variations of soil organic carbon (SOC) and nitrogen (N) fractions with depth under plow tillage (PT). The SOC, total nitrogen (TN), microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and microbial biomass nitrogen (MBN) concentrations were higher under grassland and forestland in the top 0–15 cm depth than arable soils. No-tillage (NT) also increased SOC and N fractions concentrations in the surface soils than PT. Compared to arable, grass and forest could significantly improve proportions of MBC and MBN, and reduce proportions of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and dissolved organic nitrogen (DON). NT and forest also increased the ratio of SOC/TN, MBC/MBN, and DOC/DON. Overall, grass and forest provided more labile C and improved C sequestration than arable. So did NT under arable land-use.     

Effects of long-term litter manipulation on soil carbon,nitrogen, and phosphorus in a temperate deciduous forest

Changes in above-ground litterfall can influence below-ground biogeochemical processes in forests. In order to examine how above-ground litter inputs affect soil carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) in a temperate deciduous forest, we studied a 14-year-old small-scale litter manipulation experiment that included control, litter exclusion, and doubled litter addition at a mature Fagus sylvatica L. site. Total organic C (TOC), total N (TN) and total P (TP), total organic P (TOP), bioavailable inorganic P (Pi), microbial C, N and P, soil respiration and fine root biomass were analyzed in the A and in two B horizons. Our results showed that litter manipulation had no significant effect on TOC in the mineral soil. Litter addition increased the bioavailable Pi in the A horizon but had no significant effect on N in the mineral soil. Litter exclusion decreased TN and TP in the B horizon to a depth of 10 cm. In the A horizon of the litter exclusion treatment, TP, TOP and bioavailable Pi were increased, which is most likely due to the higher root biomass in this treatment. The high fine root biomass seems to have counteracted the effects of the excluded aboveground litter. In conclusion, our study indicates that aboveground litter is not an important source for C in the mineral soil and that P recycling from root litter might be more important than from above-ground litter.     

Nitrogen mineralization and nitrogen uptake by maize as influenced by light and heavy organic matter fractions

On a sandy tropical soil, organic materials (prunings of Leucaena leucocephala, Senna siamea and maize stover) with contrasting C/N ratio (13, 18 and 56, respectively) were applied at the rate of 15 t ha^?1a^?1 in order to increase the amount of soil organic matter. Two light fractions (LF1 = LF > 2 mm and LF2 = 0.25 mm < LF < 2 mm) and the heavy fraction (HF) of the soil organic matter pool were determined by means of a combined density/particle size fractionation procedure and data obtained were related to soil nitrogen mineralization under controlled conditions and to nitrogen uptake by maize under field conditions. Under controlled conditions and when the LF1 fraction was excluded, nitrogen mineralization was found not to be correlated to total organic carbon content in the soil (R²=0.02). The R²-value of the linear regression increased considerably, when amount and C/N ratio of the LF2 fraction was taken into account in the regression analysis (R² = 0.88). Under field conditions, a multiple linear regression with amount and C/N ratio of HF, LF1 and LF2 better explained variation in crop nitrogen content and nitrogen uptake of maize (R² = 0.78 and 0.94) than a simple linear regression with total organic carbon (R² = 0.48 and 0.76). The results illustrate the importance of the two light and heavy organic matter fractions for estimating soil nitrogen mineralization. Determination of light and heavy soil organic matter fractions by density/particle size fractionation seems to be a promising tool to characterize functional pools of soil organic matter.     

Nitrogen Mineralization Potential as Influenced by Microbial Biomass,Cotton Residues and Temperature

Integrating information on nitrogen (N) mineralization potentials into a fertilization plan could lead to improved N use efficiency. A controlled incubation mineralization study examined microbial biomass dynamics and N mineralization rates for two soils receiving 56 and 168 kg N ha^?1 in a Panoche clay loam (Typic Haplocambid) and a Wasco sandy loam (Typic Torriorthent), incubated with and without cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) residues at 10 and 25°C for 203 days. Microbial biomass activity determined from mineralized carbon dioxide (CO₂) was higher in the sandy loam than in clay loam independent of incubation temperature, cotton residue addition and N treatment. In the absence of added cotton residue, N mineralization rates were higher in the sandy loam. Residue additions increased N immobilization in both soils, but were greater in clay loam. Microbial biomass and mineralization were significantly affected by soil type, residue addition and temperature but not by N level.