Mineralisation of <Superscript>15</Superscript>N-labelled sheep manure in soils of different texture and water contents

In order to investigate the effect of soil water and texture on C and N mineralisation of applied organic matter, sheep manure was sandwiched between two halves of intact soil cores and incubated at 20°C. The soils contained 10.8% (L1), 22.4% (L3) and 33.7% (L5) clay, respectively, and were drained to seven different matric potentials in the range -15 to -1,500 hPa. Evolution of CO₂-C was determined during 4 weeks of incubation. Contents of NO₃^--N, ¹⁵N and microbial biomass N were determined at the end of the incubation. The net release of CO₂-C from the manure (estimated as the difference between soils with and without manure) and the total CO₂-C evolution from soils with manure was not related to soil water content. Most CO₂-C evolved from manure-amended soils in the least clayey L1 soil. The manure caused immobilisation of soil NO₃^--N but the soil matric potential had no major effects on the net NO₃^--N production. Less than 1% of the manure ¹⁵N was found as NO₃^--N at the end of the incubation. When unamended, the sandy L1 soil held the least N in microbial biomass but the largest increases in biomass N caused by manure application were found in this soil. Despite the higher increases in microbial biomass N in the L1 soil, the total content of microbial biomass N in soils with manure application peaked in the most clayey soil (L5). The recovery of manure ¹⁵N at the end of the incubation ranged from 89% to 102%. The variation in ¹⁵N recovery was not related to soil clay content nor to soil matric potential. The experimental set-up was designed to mimic field conditions where manure is left as a discrete layer surrounded by structurally intact soil. In this situation the soil clay content and the soil water level appeared to have little influence on the C and N turnover in the manure layer.     

外加碳、氮对土壤氮矿化、固定与激发效应的影响

本文利用14C和15N对中国生黄绵土(坡地黄绵土)、菜园黄绵土和瑞典耕作草甸土的土壤氮矿化、固定与激发效应进行了研究。结果表明,外加碳、氮能促进土壤氮的矿化、固定与激发效应;促进作用的大小次序为外加NH4-15N大于外加NO3-15N,外加葡萄糖+NH4-15N大于外加葡萄糖+NO3-15N,外加麦秸+NH4-15N大于外加麦秸+NO3-15N,外加葡萄糖+NH4-15大于外加麦秸+NH4-15,外加葡萄糖+NO3-15N大于外加麦秸+NO3-15N;低肥力土壤高于高肥力土壤。在本文中提出了土壤净矿化氮的激发效应、土壤生物固定氮激发效应和土壤总矿化氮的总激发效应的概念,认为土壤氮的总激发效应更能反映土壤氮激发效应的实质。     

Nitrous oxide emission from soil and from a nitrogen-15-labelled fertilizer with the new nitrification inhibitor 3,4-dimethylpyrazole phosphate (DMPP)

Mineral-N fertilization can lead to a short-term enhancement of N₂O emission from cultivated land. The aim of this field study was the quantitative determination of the short-term N₂O emission after application of a fertilizer with the new nitrification inhibitor (NI) 3,4-dimethylpyrazole phosphate (DMPP) to winter wheat. NO₃^- and NH₄⁺ fertilizers labelled with ¹⁵N in liquid and granulated form were used in specific fertilizer strategies. N fertilizers with higher NO₃^- contents caused higher N₂O emission than NH₄⁺ fertilizers. For fertilizers with NIs, used in simplified fertilizer strategies with fewer applications and an earlier timing of the N fertilization, the N₂O release was reduced by about 20%. Of the total N₂O emission measured, 10-40% was attributed to fertilizer N and 60-90% originated from soil N. Besides the fertilizer NO₃^--N, the microbial available-N pool in the soil represented a further important source for N₂O losses. Compared to liquid fertilizers, the application in granulated form led to smaller N₂O emissions. For fertilizers with NIs, the decrease in the N₂O emission is mainly due to their low NO₃^--N content and the possibility of reducing the number of applications.     

Mineralization-immobilization of soil organic S and oxidation of elemental S in subtropical soils under flooded and nonflooded conditions

Information on the influence of soil moisture on elemental sulphur (S⁰) oxidation and transformation into organic S in semi-arid subtropical soils is scarce. We studied the impact of three moisture regimes on the mineralization of soil organic S, and the oxidation and immobilization of S⁰ in acidic (pH 4.9), neutral (pH 7.1) and alkaline (pH 10.2) subtropical soils. Repacked soil cores were incubated under aerobic (40% and 60% water-filled pore space, WFPS) and flooded soil conditions (120% WFPS) for 0, 14, 28 and 42 days with and without incorporated S⁰ (500 µg g^-1 soil). Soil moisture had profound effects on these processes and the mineralization of native soil organic S, oxidation of applied S⁰ and transformation of S⁰ into soil organic S proceeded most rapidly at 60% WFPS, irrespective of soil pH. Mineralization of native soil organic S resulted in the accumulation of 34, 49 and 44 g SO₄^2--S g^-1 soil in acidic, neutral and alkaline soil in a 42-day period at 60% WFPS. The oxidation rate of added S⁰ during the initial 14-day period at 60% WFPS was highest in alkaline soil (428 µg S cm^-2 day^-1), followed by neutral soil (326 µg S cm^-2 day^-1), and lowest in acidic soil (235 µg S cm^-2 day^-1). These rates are several folds higher than those reported in earlier studies because now we computed the oxidation rates by including the amount of S⁰ that was immobilized to organic S. Of the applied S⁰ at 40% and 60% WFPS, 2.6% and 6.0%, 3.4% and 10.0%, and 9.4% and 14.4% oxidized to SO₄^2-, and 15.0% and 17.6%, 17.6% and 19.6%, and 17.6% and 23.6% transformed into organic S in the 42-day period in acidic, neutral and alkaline soil, respectively. These results suggest that in order to synchronize the availability of S with plant need, S⁰ may be applied well before the seeding of crops especially in acidic soils and in rainfed regions where soil moisture remains at less than 60% WFPS. Apparently no oxidation of S⁰ and significant reduction of SO₄^2--S (7, 53 and 78 µg SO₄^2--S g^-1 in acidic, neutral and alkaline soil, respectively) under flooded conditions suggest that S⁰ is least effective for correcting S deficiency in flooded soil systems such as rice fields.     

Effects of nitrogen fertilization on soil nitrogen pools and microbial properties in a hoop pine (Araucaria cunninghamii) plantation in southeast Queensland, Australia

A field study was conducted to investigate the effects of N fertilization on soil N pools and associated microbial properties in a 13-year-old hoop pine (Araucaria cunninghamii) plantation of southeast Queensland, Australia. The treatments included: (1) control (without N application); (2) 300 kg N ha^-1 applied as NH₄NO₃; and (3) 600 kg N ha^-1 as NH₄NO₃. The experiment employed a randomized complete block design with four replicates. Soil samples were taken approximately 5 years after the N application. The results showed that application of 600 kg N ha^-1 significantly increased concentrations of NH₄⁺-N in 0-10 cm soil compared with the control and application of 300 kg N ha^-1. Concentrations of NO₃^--N in soil (both 0-10 cm and 10-20 cm) with an application rate of 600 kg N ha^-1 were significantly higher compared with the control. Application of 600 kg N ha^-1 significantly increased gross N mineralization and immobilization rates (0-10 cm soil) determined by ¹⁵N isotope dilution techniques under anaerobic incubation, compared with the control. However, N application did not significantly affect the concentrations of soil total C and total N. N application appeared to decrease microbial biomass C and N and respiration, and to increase the metabolic quotient (qCO₂) in 0-10 cm soil, but these effects were not statistically significant. The lack of statistical significance in these microbial properties between the treatments might have been associated with large spatial variability between the replicate plots at this experimental site. Spatial variability in soil microbial biomass C and N was found to relate to soil moisture, total C and total N.     

Effect of dicyandiamide and hydroquinone on the transformation of urea-nitrogen-15 in soil cropped to wheat

A pot experiment with a loam soil and spring wheat as test crop showed that an application of dicyandiamide (DCD), and especially its combination with hydroquinone (HQ), gave a much larger recovery of soil urea-¹⁵N than treatments based on the application of urea alone or urea plus HQ. Most of the urea-¹⁵N applied to soil was present as organic plus chemically fixed ¹⁵N in the DCD and DCD plus HQ treatments. These two treatments showed the smallest accumulation of urea-derived (NO₃^-+NO₂^-)-¹⁵N. Under well-drained conditions, there was a synergistic effect of the nitrification inhibitor DCD and the urease inhibitor HQ on urea-¹⁵N transformations and the recovery of fertilizer ¹⁵N in soil after the application of urea.     

Nationally Coordinated Evaluation of Soil Nitrogen Mineralization Rate using a Standardized Aerobic Incubation Protocol

Abstract

Aerobic incubation methods have been widely used to assess soil nitrogen (N) mineralization, but standardized protocols are lacking. A single silt loam soil (Catlin silt loam; fine‐silty, mixed, superactive, mesic, Oxyaquic Arguidoll) was subjected to aerobic incubation at six USDA‐ARS locations using a standardized protocol. Incubations were conducted at multiple temperatures, which were combined based on degree days (DD). Soil water was maintained at 60% water‐filled pore space (WFPS; constant) or allowed to fluctuate between 60 and 30% WFPS (cycle). Soil subsamples were removed periodically and extracted in 2 M potassium chloride (KCl); nitrate (NO₃) and ammonium (NH₄) concentrations in extracts were determined colorimetrically. For each location, the rate of soil organic‐matter N (SOMN) mineralization was estimated by regressing soil inorganic N (N_i) concentration on DD, using a linear (zero‐order) model. When all data were included, the mineralization rate from four datasets was not statistically different, with a rate equivalent to 0.5 mg N kg^?1 soil day^?1. Soil incubated at two locations exhibited significantly higher SOMN mineralization rates. To assess whether this may have been due to pre‐incubation conditions, time‐zero data were excluded and regression analysis was conducted again. Using this data subset, SOMN mineralization from five (of six) datasets was not significantly different. Fluctuating soil water reduced N‐mineralization rate at two (of four) locations by an average of 50%; fluctuating soil water content also substantially increased variability. This composite dataset demonstrates that standardization of aerobic incubation methodology is possible.     

Overwinter soil denitrification activity and mineral nitrogen pools as affected by management practices

During freeze-thaw events, biophysical changes occurring in soils can affect processes such as mineralization, nitrification and denitrification which control inorganic N balances in agro-ecosystems. To evaluate the impact of these climatic events on soil biochemical properties, a study was conducted comparing soil denitrification enzyme activity (DEA), dissolved organic C (DOC) and inorganic N levels before and after the winter season in plots under: (1) continuous corn (Zea mays L.) (CC) with annual chisel plow and disking, (2) corn-soybean (Glycine max L.) (CS) rotation with chisel plow every other year prior to planting soybean, and (3) corn-soybean-wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)/hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth) (CSW-V) with ridge tillage during the corn and soybean crops, and dairy manure application during the corn year. Soil cores were collected in late autumn and immediately after spring thaw at 0-5, 5-10, 10-15, and 15-30 cm depths. Regardless of management practices, freeze-thaw events resulted in significant (2-10 times) increases in NH₄⁺-N, NO₃^--N (P<0.001) and DOC (P<0.01) levels at all soil depths. Following freeze-thaw, DEA remained unchanged in the 5-30 cm depth but dropped significantly (P<0.01) in the 0-5 cm soil layer. In that layer, soils which had been chisel plowed during the previous growing season lost 78-84% of the DEA recorded during the fall, whereas in the plots amended with manure during the previous season, the loss of activity was 40-45%. These data indicate that frequent tillage, compared with manure additions, is more conducive to overwinter loss of DEA in surface layers of soils subject to freeze-thaw cycles.     

半干旱区施氮和灌溉条件下覆膜对春玉米产量及氮素平衡的影响

以典型半干旱区干湿砂质新成土（Ust-Sandic Entisols）为供试土壤进行田间试验,研究地膜覆盖、施氮及补充灌水量对春玉米（Zea mays L.）产量、土壤矿质氮（NO3--N和NH4+-N）及氮素平衡的影响。结果表明,0—100 cm土体范围内,随着土层加深,播前和收获后土壤NO3--N含量呈降低趋势,NH4+-N有所增加,但变幅不大;总矿质氮量（NO3--N和NH4+-N）表现为下降。说明地膜覆盖和施氮并没有使NO3--N深层累积量增加,这可能与土壤本身供氮能力严重不足有关。与不施氮相比,施氮各处理氮肥表观损失量增加;与不覆膜相比,作物氮素累积量比不覆膜显著增加（P0.05）。在低灌（80 mm）覆膜和高灌（160 mm）覆膜条件下,玉米的氮肥利用率均比不覆膜均提高了18.8%,说明覆膜低灌在相同施氮条件下,可节约80 mm灌水。但低灌（80 mm）与高灌（160 mm）不覆膜间氮肥利用率差异不显著,表明在相同施氮条件下,覆膜可有效提高氮肥利用率,减少氮素损失。综合考虑籽粒产量和氮肥利用率,“覆膜+补灌80 mm+施氮90 kg/hm2”可能为本试验条件下较优的栽培模式。     

Influence of soil parameters on the effect of 3,4-dimethylpyrazole-phosphate as a nitrification inhibitor

Nitrification inhibitors specifically retard the oxidation of NH₄⁺ to NO₂^- during the nitrification process in soil. In this study, the influence of soil properties on the nitrification-inhibiting effect of 3,4-dimethylpyrazole-phosphate (DMPP), a newly developed nitrification inhibitor, has been investigated. Based on short-term incubation experiments, where the degradation of DMPP could be largely disregarded, the oxidation of the applied NH₄⁺ was more inhibited in sandy soils compared with loamy soils. The influence of soil parameters on the relative NO₂^- formation could be described by a multiple regression model including the sand fraction, soil H⁺ concentration and soil catalase activity (R²=0.62). Adsorption studies showed that the binding behaviour of DMPP was influenced markedly by soil textural properties, viz. the clay fraction (r²=0.61). The adsorption of DMPP was found to be an important factor for the inhibitory effect on NH₄⁺ oxidation in a short-term incubation (r²=0.57). It is concluded that the evaluated soil properties can be used to predict the short-term inhibitory effect of DMPP in different soils. The significance of these results for long-term experiments under laboratory and field conditions needs further investigation.     

Nitrogen mineralization potential of dairy manures and its relationship to composition

The objectives of this study were to determine the variability in mineralization of dairy manure N, to determine if N mineralization can be predicted by compositional factors or by near- or mid-infrared reflectance spectroscopy. Dairy manures (n =107) were collected from farms in Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York, and Connecticut. The composition of these manures ranged from 14 to 386 g dry matter kg^-1, 0.9 to 9.5 kg total N/m³, and 0.3 to 4.7 kg NH₄⁺-N/m³. Manure-amended soil was aerobically incubated at 25°C and concentrations of NH₄⁺-N and NO₃^--N were determined at day 2 and day 56. The manures were highly variable in their N mineralization characteristics, ranging from a net mineralization of 54.9% to a net immobilization of 29.2% of the organic N. When compositional parameters were individually regressed against percentage mineralized organic N, the highest correlation coefficient (r) was 0.164. A stepwise regression of all 11 variables yielded a maximal r of 0.486. These results suggest that the availability of dairy manure organic N is highly variable and that the availability cannot be predicted from simple compositional parameters. No relationship was found between near-infrared spectral characteristics and N mineralization suggesting that no simple relationship exists between N mineralization and compositional characteristics. There appears to be some potential for the use of mid-infrared for determining the mineralization potential of manures.     

Nitrogen source and earthworm abundance affected runoff volume and nutrient loss in a tilled-corn agroecosystem

A simulated rainfall event was used to determine the influence of different N sources and earthworm density on surface hydrology and quality of runoff in a tilled-corn cropping system. N was added to spring-disked, continuous-corn plots as chopped legume, manure, or NH₄NO₃. Earthworm populations were manipulated in fertility treatments by reductions, additions, or left as ambient populations. We found that runoff volume and the NH₄⁺ and NO₃^- concentration of runoff were greater in inorganic treatments, compared with the organic N sources. Sediment load, and its total C and total N components were lower in manure treatments than chopped legume and inorganic N treatments. Although earthworm manipulations did not affect runoff volume, more sediment and sediment-associated C and N were lost from the reduction earthworm treatment, compared to the ambient treatment. Multiple regression models showed that surface hydrology and sediment flux were associated with incorporated residue levels, earthworm population, macropore and midden density. Our results indicate that water, nutrient and soil conservation could be improved by the use of organic N fertility sources and that earthworm impact varies with earthworm population, species composition, and incorporated residue level.     

恒电荷土壤及可变电荷土壤与离子间相互作用的研究 Ⅰ.共存离子对NO3-吸附的影响

研究了我国典型3种可变电荷土壤和4种恒电荷土壤在陪伴阳离子分别为K+、Na+、Ca2+时和1mmolL-1KCl、K2SO4支持电解质中NO-3的吸附.结果表明,NO-3吸附量随pH的增加而减小.在添加相同浓度NO-3时,3种可变电荷土壤对NO-3的吸附量顺序为Ca(NO3)2＞KNO3＞NaNO3＞KNO3+KCl＞KNO3+K2SO4;在初始NO-3浓度0.5～5mmolL-1的范围内,吸附量随浓度变化的关系符合Langmuir等温吸附式.由此求出与NO-3吸附结合能有关的常数(K)在不同共存离子存在下数值较小且差异不大,因此认为不同陪伴阳离子和不同伴随阴离子对NO-3吸附的电性机理影响不大,只是改变了土壤表面的正电荷数量从而使吸附量发生变化.4种恒电荷土壤对NO-3的吸附量通常很小,其中在Ca(NO3)2介质中较在其他介质中稍大,最大吸附量仅为1.5mmolkg-1左右,约为可变电荷土壤的1/10,且在浓度较低时常观察到负吸附.     

Nitrification and denitrification as sources of atmospheric nitrous oxide – role of oxidizable carbon and applied nitrogen

Laboratory incubation experiments were conducted to study the influence of easily oxidizable C (glucose) and mineral N (NH₄⁺ and NO₃^-) on N₂O emission, evolution of CO₂ and consumption of O₂. A flush of N₂O was always observed during the first few hours after the start of soil incubation, which was significantly higher with NH₄⁺ compared to NO₃^- applications. The increase in N₂O emission was attributed mainly to enhanced soil respiration and subsequent O₂ limitation at the microsite level. Application of NH₄⁺ helped to develop denitrifying populations since subsequent additions of NO₃^- and a C source significantly enhanced N₂O emissions. In soils treated with NH₄⁺, N₂O emissions declined rapidly, which was related to decreasing concentrations of easily oxidizable C. Addition of glucose in different amounts and pre-incubation of soil for different lengths of time (to create variation in the amount of easily oxidizable C) changed the pattern of N₂O emissions, which was ascribed to changes in soil respiration.     

氮肥后移对土壤氮素供应和冬小麦氮素吸收利用的影响

采用田间试验研究了氮肥后移对土壤氮素供应和冬小麦氮素吸收利用的影响。结果表明,与农民习惯施氮（N 300 kg/hm2,基肥和拔节肥各占1/2）比较,氮肥后移处理（N210kg/hm2,基肥、拔节肥和孕穗肥各占1/3）在不降低小麦产量的同时,大大提高了氮肥利用率,且全生育期氮素表观损失极低。过量施用氮肥(N 300 kg/hm2)明显提高了60 cm以下土层硝态氮含量,增加了其向地下水淋溶迁移的风险。氮肥后移可提高小麦成熟期0-20cm土层硝态氮积累量,降低其在20-100cm土层的积累。基于冬小麦不同生育阶段的氮素吸收量而进行氮肥后移是可行的,氮肥后移可节省氮肥30%,是较为理想的施氮方式。     

Nitrous oxide emission from animal manures applied to soil under controlled conditions

Animal manures may differ strongly in composition and as a result may differ in the emission of N₂O following application to soil. An incubation study was carried out to assess the effects of type of mineral N fertilizer and manure, application technique and application rate on N₂O emission from a sandy soil with low organic matter content. Fluxes of N₂O were measured 30 times over a 98-day period. The total N₂O emission from mineral N fertilizer ranged from 2.1 to 4.0% of the N applied. High emissions were associated with manures with high contents of inorganic N, easily mineralizable N and easily mineralizable C, such as liquid pig manure (7.3-13.9% of the N applied). The emission from cattle slurries ranged from 1.8 to 3.0% and that of poultry manures from 0.5 to 1.9%. The total N₂O emission during the experimental period tended to increase linearly with increasing N application rate of NH₄NO₃ and liquid pig manure. The N₂O emission from surface-applied NH₄NO₃ was significantly smaller than that following the incorporation of NH₄NO₃ in the soil. The N₂O emission from pig manure placed in a row at 5 cm depth was significantly higher than from surface-application and other techniques in which manure was incorporated in the soil. The results show that modification of the composition and application technique may be tools to mitigate emission of N₂O.     

化肥有机肥配合施用下双季稻田氮素形态变化

为揭示有机无机肥配合施用下稻田氮素的动态及迁移特征,在湘南双季水稻农作区第四纪红土发育的红黄泥稻田上进行了连续6年田间试验。通过比较不施氮肥（PK）、施用有机肥猪粪（M）、化肥（NPK）及有机肥化肥配合（NPKM）,研究稻田表层全氮、无机氮动态变化,不同层次（25—30、55—60、85—90 cm）土壤溶液无机氮动态,耕层土壤无机氮动态等。结果表明,NH4+-N是红壤双季稻田无机氮素存在的主要形态,施用化学肥料处理（NPK）施肥后1～3 d表面水NH4+-N浓度占全氮比例可达0.5～0.9,有机肥处理（M）为0.3左右。不同层次土壤溶液及其土壤氮素浓度呈现一致的特征,即施肥后短期内出现浓度峰值随后迅速下降,且随着往下推移,氮素峰值出现时间延长,表层水全氮及无机氮在施肥后1～2 d出现浓度高峰,耕层土壤及25—30 cm土壤溶液无机氮浓度高峰约在施肥后3～5 d。化肥有机肥配施有利于水稻稳产高产,年产量达12.2 t/hm2,比不施氮肥的对照产量（7.3 t/hm2）增加68%;土壤有机质6年提升18.5%,显著高于化肥。施用有机肥（M）及有机无机肥配合（NPKM）显著降低了稻田表层水全氮及不同层次土壤溶液和耕层土壤NH4+-N峰值浓度,提高水稻产量和培肥土壤,有利于减少当前氮肥过量施用带来的环境负荷。     

长白落叶松幼苗对铵态氮和硝态氮吸收的动力学特征

采用养分吸收动力学原理并利用溶液培养法研究了不同生长期的长白落叶松苗木对NH+4和NO-3的吸收特点。结果表明,单一氮源条件下,苗木根系吸收NH+4、NO-3的速率均随着苗木的生长呈下降趋势,并且苗木对于NH+4的吸收速率整体上高于NO-3。与无NO-3时相比,在速生期加入NO-3会影响载体与NH+4的亲和力,从而大幅度降低苗木对于NH+4的吸收速率,但不会明显影响苗木在生长初期和木质化期对于NH+4的吸收速率。与单一NO-3为N源时相比,NH+4的加入会降低苗木在速生期对于NO-3的载体亲和力,从而影响其吸收速率,但是会明显提高根系在生长初期吸收NO-3的载体数量和速率。在长白落叶松苗木的养分培育过程中,为了提高苗木对于氮的利用效率,建议以铵态氮肥为主,但是在其生长初期可以适当增施硝态氮肥。     

元素硫和双氰胺对菜地土壤铵态氮硝化抑制协同效应研究

采用好气培养法,研究了双氰胺（DCD）、元素硫（S0）和元素硫分解中间物（S2O32-）及其组合对蔬菜地土壤氮素硝化抑制作用。结果表明,在培养试验72 d内,DCD+S0、DCD、DCD+ Na2S2O3处理土壤NH4+-N总量分别是N处理的5. 8、5.1、5.9倍;S0、Na2S2O3处理分别是N处理的1.8、1.4倍;而所有硝化抑制剂（DCD、S0、S2O32-）处理土壤NO3--N含量显著低于N处理,表明DCD、S0和S2O32-均能抑制菜地土壤铵态氮硝化。培养试验开始8 d后,Na2S2O3和DCD对铵态氮硝化抑制产生协同效应,16 d后S0和DCD对铵态氮硝化抑制也产生协同效应,这可能是由于S0 氧化中间体S2O32-、S4O62-具有抑制DCD降解作用,延长了DCD硝化抑制作用时间。建议蔬菜生产上推荐使用DCD+S0组合,以提高氮素利用率。     

Effects of dicyandiamide, farmyard manure and irrigation on crop yields and ammonia volatilization from an alluvial soil under a rice (Oryza sativa L.)-wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cropping system

Volatilization of NH₃ from soil is a major N-loss mechanism that reduces the efficiency of applied N fertilizers, and causes environmental pollution. Strategies are needed to reduce the loss. The influences of dicyandiamide (DCD), farmyard manure (FYM) and irrigation on NH₃ volatilization from an alluvial soil in rice (Oryza sativa L.)-wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cropping system was studied using the acid trap method. The loss of NH₃ in the rice-wheat system ranged from 38.6 kg N ha^-1 from the unfertilized soil to 69.0 kg N ha^-1 in the treatment with urea+DCD. Substitution of 50% N provided through urea by FYM reduced NH₃-N volatilization by 10% in rice and wheat as compared to the urea treatment. Application of DCD increased NH₃ volatilization in wheat by 7% but in rice it had no effect. The irrigation level had no effect on NH₃ volatilization in rice but fewer irrigations with fewer splits of N in wheat resulted in higher NH₃ volatilization. Application of DCD and FYM with urea had similar effects on grain yield and N uptake by rice and wheat as that of the urea treatment. The study showed that integrated use of organic manure and chemical fertilizer has the potential to reduce the loss of N due to volatilization and thereby minimize environmental pollution. Nitrification inhibitors, which are reported to be useful in increasing the N-use efficiency by reducing the leaching and denitrification losses of N, however, may increase N loss due to volatilization.