Distribution and stability of organic forms of nitrogen in forest soil profiles in Tanzania

The organic C and total N in Tanzanian forest soil profiles decreased with the depth but the C:N ratio and pH tended to increase. Soil pH ranged from 6.5 in the surface horizon to 7.3 in sub-surface ones.Of the total N in the surface horizon, 69.3–85.6% was hydrolysable in boiling 6 n HCl and 14.4–30.7% was nonhydrolysable. The amounts, expressed as percentage of total soil N, of NH⁺₄-N, hexosamine-N, serine + threonine-N (hydroxy amino acid-N) and amino acid-N in the total hydrolysable-N fraction ranged between 10.8–21.4, 5.2–11.5, 4.6–11.3 and 18.6–31.2, respectively. The amount of identified-N ranged between 43.3 and 60.0%, and that of unidentified-N between 24.1 and 36.0%. Amino acid-N constituted the largest portion of the identified-N. Total, NH⁺₄, hexosamine, amino acid (in Olmotonyi forest profiles only) and identified N fractions generally tended to decrease with depth in the profile but nonhydrolysable-N increased. Hydroxy amino acid-N and unidentified-N followed no definite trend.During aerobic incubation of surface soil, the amounts of total hydrolysable-N, hexosamine-N and hydroxy amino acid-N decreased while those of NH⁺₄-N and nonhydrolysable-N increased. All the organic N fractions underwent transformation during incubation. The hexosamines and hydroxy amino acids were more unstable than the others; the former being more vulnerable than the latter.     

Distribution and partial characterisation of acid hydrolysable organic nitrogen in six New Zealand soils

Six New Zealand topsoils of widely different origins and properties were subjected to 6m HC1 hydrolysis and the distribution of N fractions and amino acids were determined qualitatively and quantitatively.Of the total-N in the soils studied 83–91%, was hydrolysable with 6m HCl. The largest proportion of the hydrolysable N was α-amino acid N (38– 42%). followed by hydrolysable-unknown N (HUN) (14–24%), and NH₄⁺-N (14–22%). A significant proportion (25–50%) of the HUN fraction was accounted for by the non α-amino acid-N. Oxidative (3% H₂O₂) hydrolysis released N-phenoxy amino acid-N and possibly N-compounds which were complexed with phenols and sugars. All soils had a similar amino-acid composition with a predominance of acidic amino-acids.     

Distribution of nitrogen in soils of the southern Mississippi river alluvial plain

Abstract

Nitrogen (N) dynamics in the agriculturally important alluvial soils of the southern Mississippi Delta are not well understood, and little information is available regarding the amounts of various forms of N present in these soils. Profiles of nine alluvial soils were selected to represent the principal agricultural acreage in the southern Mississippi Delta. Soils were sampled by horizon to a depth of 150 cm and the distribution of various N fractions were characterized. Forty‐one additional chemical, physical and mineralogical properties were measured, and regression techniques were used to determine if these soil properties were related to N distribution in the highly heterogeneous soils typical of this region. These profiles contained 11.6 to 26.5 Mt N/ha (average 18.8 Mt N/ha). The surface 15 cm contained an average of 4.8 Mt N/ha and accounted for about 26% of the profile N. Most of N in the surface 15 cm was recovered as organic N (78.4–87.4%), and the balance recovered primarily as nonexchangeable ("clay‐fixed") NH₄+. In subsurface horizons, nonexchangeable NH₄ ⁺ represented a substantially larger fraction of total N (average 35.6 %). The amounts of exchangeable NH₄ ⁺ and NO₃‐ were very low in most samples and accounted for only 0.2–0.7% of surface N and 0.3–2.5% (average 0.7%) of the total N accumulated within horizons. The proportion of total N recovered as organic N was most closely related to organic carbon (C) content and the amounts of 2: 1 type of clay minerals present in the horizon. Even though subsurface horizons contained an appreciable portion of their N as inorganic nonexchangeable NH₄ ⁺, organic C content was the best single indicator of total N content (r²= 0.931) within the 52 horizons studied.     

Errata

The content of fixed ammonium was analyzed for 12 samples of upland soils, including Saline soils, Sols lessives, Meadow soils, Black-colored soils, and Dark-brown forest soils, collected from Jilin and Liaoning provinces, Northeast China. The content of fixed NH₄ ⁺ -N ranged from 0.11 to 0.27 g kg^-1 and no appreciable differences among the soil types were observed. Fixed NH₄ ⁺-N accounted for 9 to 23% of total N in the Ap horizons.     

Nitrogen Recovery and Transformation from a Surface or Sub-Surface Application of Controlled-Release Fertilizer on a Sandy Soil

ABSTRACT

Controlled-release fertilizers (CRF) are used to reduce leaching of nutrients, especially nitrate-nitrogen (NO₃ ^?-N) to groundwater, caused mainly by application of soluble N fertilizers to sandy soils in Florida. A leaching column study was conducted to evaluate N release and transformation from a CRF (CitriBlen) over a 16-week period when it was applied on the soil surface or incorporated into the soil. When one pore volume of water was applied to column weekly or biweekly, the CRF released urea-N slowly over time with three peaks of release on 3–4, 8, and 12 week after application. Both ammonium-nitrogen (NH₄ ⁺-N) and NO₃ ^?-N were leached in large amounts on week 2, likely from soluble forms of N. Cumulatively, the most leached N at the end of study was in the NH₄ ⁺ form, followed by the NO₃ ^? form. The sum of all N forms leached and volatilized accounted for 53–69% of total N applied. Total N recovery was 70% and 93% of total N applied for surface and sub-surface application of the fertilizer, respectively. It was indicated that the better recovery rate found with sub-surface application may have been due to minimized N loss by volatilization. Sub-surface application of fertilizer resulted in more than three times NH₄ ⁺-N remained in soil, compared with surface application. On average for both application treatments throughout 16-week period, 5.8 h was required for ammonification and 4.7 d for nitrification to occur after N release from the fertilizer. Characterization of CRFs for specific soil type, leaching volume and cycle, and application manner as well as knowledge of N requirement of the crop will allow for the Best Management Practices of these fertilizers, thus obtaining optimum yields and minimizing nutrient losses from CRFs.     

灌溉施用氮肥后氮素在土壤中的转化及淋失状况: 土柱模拟研究

A soil column method was used to compare the effect of drip fertigation (the application of fertilizer through drip irrigation systems, DFI) on the leaching loss and transformation of urea-N in soil with that of surface fertilization combined with flood irrigation (SFI), and to study the leaching loss and transformation of three kinds of nitrogen fertilizers (nitrate fertilizer, ammonium fertilizer, and urea fertilizer) in two contrasting soils after the fertigation. In comparison to SFI, DFI decreased leaching loss of urea-N from the soil and increased the mineral N (NH₄⁺-N + NO₃^--N) in the soil. The N leached from a clay loam soil ranged from 5.7% to 9.6% of the total N added as fertilizer, whereas for a sandy loam soil they ranged between 16.2% and 30.4%. Leaching losses of mineral N were higher when nitrate fertilizer was used compared to urea or ammonium fertilizer. Compared to the control (without urea addition), on the first day when soils were fertigated with urea, there were increases in NH₄⁺-N in the soils. This confirmed the rapid hydrolysis of urea in soil during fertigation. NH₄⁺-N in soils reached a peak about 5 days after fertigation, and due to nitrification it began to decrease at day 10. After applying NH₄⁺-N fertilizer and urea and during the incubation period, the mineral nitrogen in the soil decreased. This may be related to the occurrence of NH₄⁺-N fixation or volatilization in the soil during the fertigation process.     

氮肥基追比对小麦产量、土壤水氮分布及利用的影响

为解决区域土壤质地类型针对性氮肥施用问题,在轻壤土和黏壤土上分别设置不施氮肥,氮肥基追比3∶7,4∶6,5∶5,6∶4和7∶3处理,研究小麦产量、水氮利用效率以及土壤含水量、贮水量、NH_4~+-N、NO_3~--N动态变化规律。结果表明:轻壤质土壤氮肥基追比4∶6的处理小麦产量、水分利用效率、氮肥生产效率最高分别为8 265.3 kg/hm~2,27.6 kg/(hm~2·mm),34.4 kg/kg。黏壤质土壤氮肥基追比5∶5的处理小麦产量、水分利用效率、氮肥生产效率最高分别为8 363.2 kg/hm~2,28.3 kg/(hm~2·mm),34.8 kg/kg。小麦不同生育期各土层含水量垂直分布变化较大,轻壤质土壤含水量在9.3%～26.2%,而黏壤质为9.7%～27.6%;小麦全生育期内土壤贮水量呈先升高后降低趋势,黏壤质土壤贮水量高于轻壤质。氮素追施量越多土壤表层NH_4~+-N与NO_3~--N含量越高,且随土层加深土壤NH_4~+-N与NO_3~--N含量降低,受降水影响轻壤质土壤NH_4~+-N与NO_3~--N更易于向土层深处淋溶,成熟期黏壤质各土层的NH_4~+-N和NO_3~--N含量均多于轻壤质。说明黏壤质土壤保水保氮肥能力强于轻壤质,氮肥基追比可以适当增加。     

根区一次施氮提高水稻氮肥利用效率的效果和原理

我国水稻氮肥施用量大,农民习惯氮肥表面撒施,氮肥通过氨挥发以及径流等途径损失严重,造成经济损失和环境污染。农村劳动力缺乏,土地流转迅速,省时省力、节肥高效的施肥方式亟待探索和推广。大田条件下,在环太湖水稻高施氮区,比较常规氮肥用量下(225 kg/hm2)的农民习惯分次施用(40%︰30%︰30%分次施用)与根区一次施用(偏根系5 cm,土表下10 cm穴施)两种施肥方式对水稻产量及氮肥利用率的影响。结果表明不种植水稻的前提下,习惯施氮处理表层土壤NH_4~+-N最高,自表层向下逐渐降低,各层养分均随时间推移而下降。根区一次施氮可显著提高施肥点周围土壤中的NH_4~+-N含量及其贮存时间,施肥后30,60和90 d,根区施氮处理NH_4~+-N最高值分别达到542.6、412.1和39.8 mg/kg。且根区一次施氮处理施肥点周围土壤高NH_4~+-N含量至少可保持60 d。种植水稻后,相对习惯分次施氮而言,根区一次施氮显著提高水稻分蘖数、各器官的氮含量、氮积累量及氮肥利用效率。根区一次施氮处理水稻氮积累量高达196.7 kg/hm2,相对习惯施氮增加34.9%。氮肥表观利用率分别达到59.8%(差值法)和42.5%(15N标记法),相对习惯施肥分别增加22.6和30.6个百分点。肥料氮损失由分次施用的73.0%下降到29.7%。根区一次施氮显著增加肥料养分在土壤中的贮存时间,降低肥料养分损失的风险,提高水稻氮肥利用效率,是一种节肥高效的施肥方式,值得进一步研发施肥机械和推广应用。     

Microbial ecology in tea soils

The soil chemical properties and microbial numbers in three volcanic ash soils and two non-volcanic ash soils, which had been continuously subjected to the same tea cultivation practices (21 y), were investigated. The results obtained were as follows. 1) pH values of all the soils gradually decreased from the original pH value (near neutral or mildly acid pH) to strongly acid values of about 4 or lower. In contrast, long-term tea cultivation practices resulted in the increase of the total C and N contents in the surface layers (0–20 cm) while the contents remained stable in the subsurface layers (20–40 cm). The increase in the organic matter content in non-volcanic ash soils was presumably due to the accumulation of microbial residues. The availability of P increased markedly. 2) Numbers of bacteria, actinomycetes, fungi, and denitrifiers were higher in volcanic ash soils than in non-volcanic ash soils, and also higher in surface layers than in subsurface layers. The results suggest that in spite of the same cultivation practices, the soil depth and soil type affected the microbial numbers in the tea soils. Numbers of autotrophic NH₄ ⁺ oxidizers were low in comparison with the numbers of autotrophic NO₂ ^- oxidizers. Influence of soil type and soil depth on autotrophic nitrifiers was not clear. 3) Total C and N contents in the tea soils were parameters closely related to the numbers of bacteria, actinomycetes, and fungi. For actinomycetes and fungi, the prediction could be more accurate, especially for total N content, if the estimations could be made within the same soil layers. The numbers per unit of C or N were higher in the surface layers than in the subsurface layers. 4) High concentration of NO₃ ^--N in the tea soils used suggests that nitrification could occur despite the low pH value (3.2-3.8). The negative relationship between the number of total bacteria or actinomycetes and soil NH⁴ ₊-N concentration suggests that some NH₄ ⁺-N was converted to organic microbial biomass-No.     

砂姜黑土区采煤塌陷坡耕地氮磷时空分布与流失特征

[目的]研究砂姜黑土区采煤塌陷坡耕地动态过程中表层土壤NH+4—N和有效磷(AP)的时空分布,揭示氮磷随地表径流流失的雨强和坡度变化特征。[方法]选择淮北平原砂姜黑土区两类不同煤矿井工开采方式引发的地表塌陷坡耕地,动态监测表层土壤中NH+4—N和AP含量,并在实验室应用人工模拟降雨,测定2种雨强和3种坡度处理的地表径流中可溶态及颗粒态NH+4—N,AP含量。[结果](1)充填开采地表塌陷坡耕地表层土壤中NH+4—N含量为16.5~72.0mg/kg,AP为26.0~63.5mg/kg,非充填开采分别为9.08~67.2 mg/kg和22.4~82.1 mg/kg,未塌陷区域为83.5~162 mg/kg和38.7~86.5mg/kg;(2)两种开采方式地表塌陷坡地土壤NH+4—N和AP含量与未塌陷区域相比,均显著降低(p0.05),NH+4—N含量自坡顶至坡底逐渐增加。随时间推移,NH+4—N和AP含量未显著降低,AP含量反而有增加迹象;(3)强降雨时NH+4—N和AP的流失量是弱降雨的3~5倍,颗粒态NH+4—N和AP流失量占总流失量的60%以上。坡度越大,NH+4—N和AP的流失量越多,流失量突变的坡度为5°~10°之间。[结论]砂姜黑土区采煤塌陷坡耕地土壤氮磷流失显著增加,颗粒态NH+4—N和AP为径流流失的主要形式。     

Fungal development and the transformation of 15N-labelled amino- and ammonium-nitrogen in forest soils under several management regimes

The effect of glucose on the transformation of ¹⁵N-labelled glycine in soils from three different vegetation types, viz. exotic pine plantation, protected eucalypt and burnt eucalypt forest, was studied in the laboratory during a 10-week incubation. There was considerable interchange between organic and inorganic N throughout the incubation, and the various N transformations could be interpreted in terms of fungal development as measured by the nylon mesh technique. The fungi in the pine and burnt eucalypt soils were particularly active but produced different end results, those in the pine soils maintaining greater amounts of the added ¹⁵N in hydrolysable forms whereas the fungi in the burnt eucalypt soil caused incorporation of most of the label into the nonhydrolysable fraction. Both management regimes however resulted in a loss of hydrolysable native-soil N. Addition of glucose caused rapid net immobilization of exchangeable ¹⁵NH₄⁺-N, some of which was re-mineralized in the later stages of incubation. Glucose also resulted in a depletion of hydrolysable ¹⁵NH₄⁺-N and a corresponding accretion in the total hydrolysable-N fraction. Increased demand for amino compounds by fungi in the presence of glucose is considered responsible.     

The distribution of nitrogen in some highly organic tropical volcanic soils

The qualitative and quantitative distribution of N-compounds in 10 tropical soils, and in a number of humic materials extracted from representative samples thereof, was determined after 6 N HCl hydrolysis.Eighty to 98% of the total N in the soils and humic materials was hydrolysable by 6n HCl. Slightly less than one half the hydrolysable N in the soils and humic fractions consisted of amino acids. Well-drained soils and fulvic acids extracted from them contained unusually high concentrations of the acidic amino acids, aspartic and glutamic acids. Between 80 and 95% of the amino acids in the soils was accounted for in the humic materials + NaOH-insoluble organic residues. NH⁺₄-N released by acid hydrolysis was generally higher for the soil samples than for the humic materials. Amino sugar-N constituted relatively small proportions of the total N in the soils and humic fractions.Our data suggest that large quantities of amorphous allophanic materials coupled with relatively high enzymic activity are responsible for the observed accumulation of acidic amino acids in the well-drained tropical volcanic soils.     

Organische Stoffgruppen im Mullhumus nicht kultivierter Böden mit besonderer Berücksichtigung der Stickstoff-Fraktionen

Fractions of organic components in mull humus of non cultivated soil profiles with special reference to various nitrogen fractions Different fractions of organic components were studied by horizons in four mull humus profiles, differing in genesis and ecology. Two of the soils were located in unmanaged grassland (Rendoll and Entisol) and two under deciduous hardwood (Eutrochept and Fluvaquent). In the grassland soils characteristic F-mull developed, but in the woodland soils L – and wet mull occurred respectively. Water soluble-, hemicellulose-, cellulose sugars and lignin derivates decreased with increasing soil depth. In contrast, amino sugars, proteins, lipids and unknown nitrogen containing fractions increased. Essential changes of those fractions happened in the organic-mineral horizons. Some clear differences among the profiles were recorded, depending on litter type, the genesis and soil water regime. At least 41% (Rendoll) to at most 50% (Fluvaquent) of the organic substance were extractable and identified. Amounts and distribution of the different organic fractions in the litter layers depend on the chemical composition of the litter. Hydrolysable unknown N, non hydrolysable and pseudo amide N increased from the litter to the mineral horizons in the Eutrochrept from 34 to 44 and in the Rendoll from 27 to 49% of total N, but in the Entisol these fractions are decreasing from 52 to 43% of total N. No change was observed in the Fluvaquent. In contrast, amino acid-, amino sugar – and true amide N decreased in most cases from the litter to the mineral horizons. Inorganic bound N, nearly exclusive fixed NH₄⁺-N, reached not more than 5% of total nitrogen.     

Release of nonexchangeable NH4-N after planting of ryegrass in relation to soil content and as affected by nitrate supply

The uptake of N by ryegrass grown in pot culture on a range of soils differing widely in content of nonexchangeable NH₄-N (topsoils: 117 to 354 mg kg^?1 soil; subsoils: 117 to 270 mg kg^?1 soil) was measured to indicate whether the amounts of NH₄-N released from clay minerals were correlated with soil NH₄-N. After two cuts soil analysis revealed that the amounts of mobilized nonexchangeable NH₄-N were between 3.5 and 25.2 mg kg^?1 from topsoils and between 0 and 8.2 mg kg^?1 from subsoils. There was no correlation between soil nonexchangeable NH₄-N content and release. The NH₄-N extracted with 1 N HCl and the actual N uptake of the plants correlated highly significant. Assuming that the whole of the NH₄-N released was taken up by ryegrass, NH₄-N accounted for 11.2 to 75.0% of total N uptake from topsoils and 0 to 37.3% from subsoils. The release of nonexchangeable NH₄-N was increased by the application of nitrate.     

Amount and speciation of N leached from a sandy soil fertilized with urea,liquid digestate,struvite and NH4-enriched chabazite zeolite-tuff

The large use and the bad management of fertilizers that are applied to soil for improving crop production have dramatically impaired soil, water, and air quality. To meet the requirements to reduce nitrogen (N) losses and all the related negative impacts on the environment and food production, it is mandatory to substitute or at least partially substitute the use of inefficient and unsustainable fertilizers with more efficient alternatives. The aim of this paper was to address the amount and speciation of the N released by a sandy soil fertilized with “slow-release fertilizers” and traditional fertilizers (urea and liquid digestate) by means of a series of column leaching experiments. The slow-release alternatives were represented by NH₄-enriched zeolitic tuff and struvite, both obtained by recovering the N from liquid digestate. The treatments consisted of sandy soil fertilized with (i) urea (U) (ii) liquid digestate (LD), (iii) NH₄-enriched zeolitic tuff (N-CHA) and (iv) struvite (STRV). Eight different flushing events were performed over 38 days, leachates were collected and analysed for total Kjeldahl N, organic-N, NH₄⁺-N, NO₃⁻-N, NO₂⁻-N and pH. U and LD lost the majority of N within the first 2 flushing events as organic N and NH₄⁺-N, respectively. On the other hand, STRV and N-CHA lost less N over the whole course of the experiment and with more balanced speciation. The mass balance outlined that after the experiment, native soil N was mined in U and LD treatments while in N-CHA and STRV a fraction of N from the fertilizers was still present. The results showed a slow release of N which can be used more efficiently in agricultural applications, minimizing the N losses.     

宁夏引黄灌区稻田氮素浓度变化与迁移特征

过量施氮与不合理灌水是农田面源污染加剧的主要原因。为了寻求较优的水氮管理模式以促进农业生产和减少农田退水对黄河水体的污染, 在宁夏引黄灌区典型稻田中开展了不同水氮条件下稻田氮素迁移转化规律研究。结果表明: 不同水氮条件下稻田田面水NH₄⁺-N 与NO₃^--N 浓度伴随施肥出现明显峰值, NO₃^--N 峰值出现时间较NH₄⁺-N 晚, 且变化较平缓。3 次追肥时期和整个生育期田面水NH₄⁺-N 平均浓度与施氮量和灌水量都呈显著相关, 田面水NO₃^--N 平均浓度与施氮量呈显著正相关, 与灌水量相关性不显著。稻田30 cm与60 cm 深度的直渗水NH₄⁺-N 浓度受施肥影响较大, 与田面水NH₄⁺-N 浓度变化规律相似, 90 cm 处直渗水NH₄⁺-N 浓度峰值出现较为滞后, 且浓度较上层土体低, 120 cm 处直渗水NH₄⁺-N 浓度大体呈现持续上升趋势,整个生育期直渗水NH₄⁺-N 平均浓度与施氮量呈显著相关, 仅30 cm 处NH₄⁺-N 平均浓度与灌水量呈负相关, 其他土层深度不显著。30 cm 与60 cm 直渗水NO₃^--N 浓度在首次灌水后急剧下降, 在施肥后有较小幅度上升, 90 cm 与120 cm 直渗水NO₃^--N 浓度下降缓慢, 仅30 cm 处NO₃^--N 平均浓度与施肥量显著正相关。总的结果表明减少施肥或灌水均可达到减少农田氮素淋失的目的。     

Improving the Accuracy of Diffusion for Inorganic 15N Analyses of Soil Extracts and Water

Sequential diffusion techniques used to speciate inorganic nitrogen-15 (¹⁵N) during soil or water analysis are complicated by incomplete recovery of ammonium (NH₄⁺)-N, introducing error in the subsequent determination of nitrate (NO₃^–)-N. Based on studies to evaluate different strategies for minimizing cross-contamination error in Mason-jar diffusions, a simple cleaning technique was developed that involves an additional 6-h diffusion using 0.6 M boric acid (H₃BO₃) at room temperature following the recovery of NH₄⁺-N. This technique was 60–87% effective for reducing cross-contamination of unlabeled NO₃^–-N by labeled NH₄⁺-N and became more effective for controlling analytical error with decreasing sample volumes, lower NH₄⁺-N enrichment, and larger quantities of NO₃^–-N. When used with the cleaning technique described, sequential diffusions were far superior for ¹⁵N analysis of NO₃^–-N, as compared to the nonsequential approach that involves an isotope dilution calculation after separate diffusions to determine NH₄⁺-N and total mineral N.     

Beziehung zwischen dem Stickstoff-Entzug der Pflanzen und der Abnahme von spezifisch gebundenem NH4-N im Boden

Relationship between the N uptake of plants and the mobilization of nonexchangeable NH₄-N In a pot experiment with ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) the relationship between the release of nonexchangeable NH₄⁺ and the N uptake of plants was studied. For this purpose the surface soil of an alluvial soil and of a grey brown podsolic soil was labelled with ¹⁵NH₄-N. The following results were obtained: After treating the soil with 15-N the alluvial soil contained 4,55 mg and the grey brown podsolic soil 1,64 mg nonexchangeable ¹⁵NH₄-N/100 g soil. In the alluvial soil 72% and in the grey brown podsolic soil 66% of the nonexchangeable ¹⁵NH₄⁺ had been released during the growing season when ryegrass was planted. However, without plants there was no change in the content of labelled nonexchangeable NH₄⁺ in the alluvial soil or only a slight decrease in the grey brown podsolic soil. A highly significant correlation was found between the ¹⁵NH₄-N released and the ¹⁵N uptake of ryegrass in the alluvial soil (r = 0,78⁺⁺⁺) as well as in the grey brown podsolic soil (r = 0,98⁺⁺⁺).     

Regression equations to monitor inorganic nitrogen changes in fallow and wheat soils

Soil NH⁺₄-N and NO^?₃-N at five soil depths (0–10, 10–20, 20–40, 40–60, 60–80 cm) and some environmental variables were measured in a field trial under fallow and wheat for 9 months.Significant linear and quadratic relationships were obtained relating soil NH⁺₄-N, NO^?₃-N, NH⁺₄-N + NO^?₃-N, and NH⁺₄-N + NO^?₃ + total-N uptake by wheat to soil heat accumulation (temperature), moisture, and rainfall. R² values generally decreased with soil depth and the maximum value (37%) was obtained for NO^?₃-N changes in the topsoil (0–10 cm).Although a considerable amount of variation in the inorganic values recorded is not included in the equations, our results suggest that the development of the above relationships particularly of the quadratic type are useful to predict crop requirements for N by measurement of environmental variables in the field.     

Retention and hydrolysable fraction of atmospherically deposited nitrogen in two contrasting forest soils in Switzerland

Nitrogen (N) from atmospheric deposition has been shown to be mainly retained in the organic soil layers of temperate forest ecosystems, but the mechanisms and the physico‐chemical fractions involved are still poorly defined. We performed a hot‐acid hydrolysis on ¹⁵N‐labelled soil samples collected 1 week, 3 months and 1 year following a single in situ application of either ¹⁵NO₃⁻ or ¹⁵NH₄⁺ in two montane forest ecosystems in Switzerland: Grandvillard (beech forest on a calcareous, well‐drained soil, 650 m above sea level) and Alptal (spruce forest on hydromorphic soil, 1200 m above sea level). After ¹⁵NH₄⁺ application, recovery rates in the soil were smaller in Alptal than in Grandvillard through a large rate of absorption by mosses. At both sites, the organic soil layers retained most of the tracers at all three sampling times between 1 week and 1 year. In Grandvillard, the hydrolysable fraction (hydrolysable N : total N) of ¹⁵N was on average 79% and thus similar to the hydrolysable fraction of native N. This similarity is probably because of the rapid incorporation of N into organic molecules, followed by stabilization of the recalcitrant N pool through organo‐mineral bonds with soil minerals. In Alptal, the ¹⁵N hydrolysable fraction was greater than that of native N, particularly after ¹⁵NH₄⁺ application (¹⁵N, 84%; native N, 72%). At both sites, ¹⁵N and the fraction of hydrolysable native N remained constant between 1 week and 1 year. This shows that both the recalcitrant and the hydrolysable pools are stable in the mid‐ to long‐term. We present arguments indicating that biological recycling through microbes and plants contributes to the stability of the hydrolysable N fraction.