Effect of nitrogen fertilization and irrigation on soil microbial activities and population dynamics — a field study

In a field experiment, net nitrogen (N) mineralization and immobilization were studied in relation to: 1) population dynamics and activities of N-metabolizing soil microbial communities, 2) changes in substrate-induced respiration (SIR) and 3) potential urease acitvity. Nitrogen fertilization (80 kg NO₃-N ha^-1) without irrigation induced additional N mineralization up to 280 kg N ha^-1. Net N-mineralization was weakly correlated to cell numbers of ammonifying and NH₄⁺-oxidizing microorganisms. Potential urease activity, respiration activity, and substrate-induced respiration activity were not correlated with the amount of mineralized nitrogen. Irrigation significantly increased potential urease activity of the soil microflora. Substrate induced respiration activity and basal respiration activity of the soil microflora were highest in the unfertilized and non irrigated treatment. But greatest differences were detected between the two sampling dates. NO₂^--oxidizing and ammonifying microbial populations increased, while populations of NH₄⁺-oxidizing and denitrifying microorganisms decreased with time. The results of this study demonstrate the interaction of nitrogen fertilizer application and irrigation on population dynamics of N-transforming soil microorganisms and microbial activities under field conditions. Detailed microbiological investigations of this type improve our understanding of nitrogen transformations in soil and suggest possible reasons of nitrogen losses, so that N fertilizer can be used more effectively and N losses be reduced.     

双季稻田添加脲酶抑制剂NBPT氮肥的最高减量潜力研究

【目的】添加脲酶抑制剂（Urease inhibitor, UI）是提高肥料利用率的有效途径,在尿素（Urea,U）中添加1%的脲酶抑制剂NBPT（N-丁基硫代磷酰三胺）是目前研究使用证明效果最可靠的添加比例。针对当前稻田氮肥施用水平过高的问题,本文采用田间小区试验研究了目前脲酶抑制剂添加比例下稻田氮肥的减施潜力以及脲酶抑制剂的节肥增效机理。【方法】本试验在我国长江中下游的双季稻田进行,脲酶抑制剂用量NBPT为尿素用量的1%。尿素用量设五个水平为N 90、 112.5、 135、 157.5 和180 kg/hm2,分别依次记为U1、 U2、 U3、 U4和U5, 7个处理为CK（不施氮肥）、 U1+UI、 U2+UI、 U3+UI、 U4+UI、 U5+UI、 U5（U5为传统施氮量, N 180 kg/hm2为农民习惯施氮量）,三次重复。U1~U5处理施氮量分别是在农民习惯施氮量的基础上降低50%、 37.5%、 25%、 12.5%、 0%。通过取样分析水稻分蘖期和孕穗期各处理对土壤脲酶活性、 硝酸还原酶活性、 土壤铵态氮含量、 硝态氮含量以及微生物量碳、 氮的含量,研究NBPT对水稻两个主要生育期土壤氮素供应的影响,比较各处理的产量以及氮肥利用率来得出氮肥的减施潜力,在此基础上通过逐步回归分析研究以上各指标对产量的影响,探明脲酶抑制剂（NBPT）在双季稻田的增效机理。【结果】 1) 在双季稻田,添加NBPT后,施氮量为N 135 kg/hm2的籽粒产量达到最高。与传统施氮（单施尿素N 180 kg/hm2）处理相比,早、 晚稻可分别增产8.54%和12.87%,氮肥当季利用率分别提高6.78%和9.46%,可节约氮肥25%; 2)与传统施氮相比,添加NBPT显著降低了水稻分蘖期的土壤脲酶活性和铵态氮含量,显著提高了孕穗期的铵态氮含量,而对此时期的脲酶活性无显著影响,NBPT对两个时期的硝酸还原酶活性、 硝态氮含量及微生物量碳、 氮含量均无明显影响,可见基施的NBPT主要是降低尿素水解速率方面效果显著,并且NBPT具有时效性,其主要是在水稻孕穗期之前起作用,在生态上较为安全; 3) 从各项土壤指标与水稻产量相关性的逐步回归分析结果来看,水稻分蘖期与孕穗期稻田土壤中铵态氮含量对水稻产量影响显著,而且孕穗期的影响大于分蘖期,其余指标则对产量无明显影响。【结论】由于脲酶抑制剂NBPT减缓了分蘖期尿素的水解作用,提高了孕穗期土壤中的铵态氮含量,为水稻后期生长提供充足的氮肥,在双季稻减肥方面具有显著的效果。在本试验土壤条件下,尿素中添加1% 的NBPT,可在提高产量的同时,将传统施氮肥量减少25%,是适于稻田应用的脲酶抑制剂。     

Heterotrophic nitrification is the predominant NO<Stack><Subscript>3</Subscript><Superscript>−</Superscript></Stack> production mechanism in coniferous but not broad-leaf acid forest soil in subtropical China

A study was carried out to investigate the potential gross nitrogen (N) transformations in natural secondary coniferous and evergreen broad-leaf forest soils in subtropical China. The simultaneously occurring gross N transformations in soil were quantified by a ¹⁵N tracing study. The results showed that N dynamics were dominated by NH₄⁺ turnover in both soils. The total mineralization (from labile and recalcitrant organic N) in the broad-leaf forest was more than twice the rate in the coniferous forest soil. The total rate of mineral N production (NH₄⁺ + NO₃⁻) from the large recalcitrant organic N pool was similar in the two forest soils. However, appreciable NO₃⁻ production was only observed in the coniferous forest soil due to heterotrophic nitrification (i.e. direct oxidation of organic N to NO₃⁻), whereas nitrification in broad-leaf forest was little (or negligible). Thus, a distinct shift occurred from predominantly NH₄⁺ production in the broad-leaf forest soil to a balanced production of NH₄⁺ and NO₃⁻ in the coniferous forest soil. This may be a mechanism to ensure an adequate supply of available mineral N in the coniferous forest soil and most likely reflects differences in microbial community patterns (possibly saprophytic, fungal, activities in coniferous soils). We show for the first time that the high nitrification rate in these soils may be of heterotrophic rather than autotrophic nature. Furthermore, high NO₃⁻ production was only apparent in the coniferous but not in broad-leaf forest soil. This highlights the association of vegetation type with the size and the activity of the SOM pools that ultimately determines whether only NH₄⁺ or also a high NO₃⁻ turnover is present.     

水稻根际和周围土壤中微生物功能基因丰度与碳、氮状况及其通量之间的关系

Rapid nitrogen（N） transformations and losses occur in the rice rhizosphere through root uptake and microbial activities. However,the relationships between rice roots and rhizosphere microbes for N utilization are still unclear. We analyzed different N forms（NH＋4,NO-3, and dissolved organic N）, microbial biomass N and C, dissolved organic C, CH4 and N2O emissions, and abundance of microbial functional genes in both rhizosphere and bulk soils after 37-d rice growth in a greenhouse pot experiment. Results showed that the dissolved organic C was significantly higher in the rhizosphere soil than in the non-rhizosphere bulk soil, but microbial biomass C showed no significant difference. The concentrations of NH＋4, dissolved organic N, and microbial biomass N in the rhizosphere soil were significantly lower than those of the bulk soil, whereas NO-3in the rhizosphere soil was comparable to that in the bulk soil. The CH4 and N2O fluxes from the rhizosphere soil were much higher than those from the bulk soil. Real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis showed that the abundance of seven selected genes, bacterial and archaeal 16 S rRNA genes, amoA genes of ammonia-oxidizing archaea and ammonia-oxidizing bacteria, nosZ gene, mcrA gene, and pmoA gene, was lower in the rhizosphere soil than in the bulk soil, which is contrary to the results of previous studies. The lower concentration of N in the rhizosphere soil indicated that the competition for N in the rhizosphere soil was very strong, thus having a negative effect on the numbers of microbes. We concluded that when N was limiting, the growth of rhizosphere microorganisms depended on their competitive abilities with rice roots for N.     

Role of dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) in soil N cycling in grassland soils

Dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) represents a significant pool of soluble N in many soils and freshwaters. Further, the low molecular weight (LMW) component of DON represents an important source of N for microorganisms and can also be utilized directly by some plants. Our purpose was to determine which of the pathways in the decomposition and subsequent ammonification and nitrification of organic N represented a significant block in soil N supply in three agricultural grassland soils. The results indicate that the conversion of insoluble organic N to LMW-DON and not LMW-DON to NH₄⁺ or NH₄⁺ to NO₃⁻ represents a major constraint to N supply. We hypothesize that there are two distinct DON pools in soil. The first pool comprises mainly free amino acids and proteins and is turned over very rapidly by the microbial community, so it does not accumulate in soil. The second pool is a high molecular weight pool rich in humic substances, which turns over slowly and represents the major DON loss to freshwaters. The results also suggest that in NO₃⁻ rich soils the uptake of LMW-DON by soil microorganisms may primarily provide them with C to fuel respiration, rather than to satisfy their internal N demand.     

Short-term competition between crop plants and soil microbes for inorganic N fertilizer

Agricultural systems that receive high amounts of inorganic nitrogen (N) fertilizer in the form of either ammonium (NH₄⁺), nitrate (NO₃⁻) or a combination thereof are expected to differ in soil N transformation rates and fates of NH₄⁺ and NO₃⁻. Using ¹⁵N tracer techniques this study examines how crop plants and soil microbes vary in their ability to take up and compete for fertilizer N on a short time scale (hours to days). Single plants of barley (Hordeum vulgare L. cv. Morex) were grown on two agricultural soils in microcosms which received either NH₄⁺, NO₃⁻ or NH₄NO₃. Within each fertilizer treatment traces of ¹⁵NH₄⁺ and ¹⁵NO₃⁻ were added separately. During 8 days of fertilization the fate of fertilizer ¹⁵N into plants, microbial biomass and inorganic soil N pools as well as changes in gross N transformation rates were investigated. One week after fertilization 45-80% of initially applied ¹⁵N was recovered in crop plants compared to only 1-10% in soil microbes, proving that plants were the strongest competitors for fertilizer N. In terms of N uptake soil microbes out-competed plants only during the first 4 h of N application independent of soil and fertilizer N form. Within one day microbial N uptake declined substantially, probably due to carbon limitation. In both soils, plants and soil microbes took up more NO₃⁻ than NH₄⁺ independent of initially applied N form. Surprisingly, no inhibitory effect of NH₄⁺ on the uptake and assimilation of nitrate in both, plants and microbes, was observed, probably because fast nitrification rates led to a swift depletion of the ammonium pool. Compared to plant and microbial NH₄⁺ uptake rates, gross nitrification rates were 3-75-fold higher, indicating that nitrifiers were the strongest competitors for NH₄⁺ in both soils. The rapid conversion of NH₄⁺ to NO₃⁻ and preferential use of NO₃⁻ by soil microbes suggest that in agricultural systems with high inorganic N fertilizer inputs the soil microbial community could adapt to high concentrations of NO₃⁻ and shift towards enhanced reliance on NO₃⁻ for their N supply.     

Microbial immobilization of ammonium and nitrate in relation to ammonification and nitrification rates in organic and conventional cropping systems

Agricultural systems that receive high or low organic matter (OM) inputs would be expected to differ in soil nitrogen (N) transformation rates and fates of ammonium (NH₄⁺) and nitrate (NO₃⁻). To compare NH₄⁺ availability, competition between nitrifiers and heterotrophic microorganisms for NH₄⁺, and microbial NO₃⁻ assimilation in an organic vs. a conventional irrigated cropping system in the California Central Valley, chemical and biological soil assays, ¹⁵N isotope pool dilution and ¹⁵N tracer techniques were used. Potentially mineralizable N (PMN) and hot minus cold KCl-extracted NH₄⁺ as indicators of soil N supplying capacity were measured five times during the tomato growing season. At mid-season, rates of gross ammonification and gross nitrification after rewetting dry soil were measured in microcosms. Microbial immobilization of NO₃⁻ and NH₄⁺ was estimated based on the uptake of ¹⁵N and gross consumption rates. Gross ammonification, PMN, and hot minus cold KCl-extracted NH₄⁺ were approximately twice as high in the organically than the conventionally managed soil. Net estimated microbial NO₃⁻ assimilation rates were between 32 and 35% of gross nitrification rates in the conventional and between 37 and 46% in the organic system. In both soils, microbes assimilated more NO₃⁻ than NH₄⁺. Heterotrophic microbes assimilated less NH₄⁺ than NO₃⁻ probably because NH₄⁺ concentrations were low and competition by nitrifiers was apparently strong. The high OM input organic system released NH₄⁺ in a gradual manner and, compared to the low OM input conventional system, supported a more active microbial biomass with greater N demand that was met mainly by NO₃⁻ immobilization.     

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.     

The Behavior of Nitrogen Isotopes in Acidified Forest Soils in the Czech Republic

The effects of atmospheric deposition on N cycling in acidified soils were studied at three spruce and one beech forested sites in the Czech Republic. Nitrogen content and δ¹⁵N were monitored in bulk and throughfall precipitation, needles, leaves, soils and soil solutions. Changes in soil NO₃ ^- production, effect of admixing of atmospheric N in spruce forest and N consumption in deciduous forest are described using changes in ¹⁵N fractionation of mineralized N in soil. Admixing of atmospheric NH4+ can be identified at low concentrations of exchangeable NH₄ ⁺. The δ¹⁵N ratio of atmospheric NO₃ ^- input is on average by 2‰ less negative than the δ5N ratio in soil water; admixing changes the δ¹⁵N of soil NO₃ ^- detected in lysimeters.     

Soil NO3-N production and immobilization affected by NH4-N,glycine, and NO3-N addition in different forest types in Shikoku,southern Japan

The characteristics of production and immobilization of NO₃-N were evaluated for soils from four forest types in Kochi Prefecture, southern Japan. Net NO₃-N production during the laboratory incubation differed among the soils from the four forest types, being high under Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica D. Don) and deciduous hardwood, and negligible under Japanese red pine (Pinus densiflora Sieb. et Zucc.) and hinoki cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa Endlicher). Nitrification under Japanese cedar and hardwood was mainly autotrophic based on the fact that nitrification was inhibited by acetylene or nitrapyrin, and was not affected by cycloheximide. Net NO₃-N production in these soils increased by glycine addition, but did not increase appreciably by NH₄Cl addition. However, net NO₃-N production increased after the addition of CaCO₃ with NH₄Cl. These results indicate that the substrate of nitrification is NH₃ rather than NH₄ ⁺ and that the added NH₄ ⁺ is not utilized by nitrifiers at low pH values. With NO₃-N addition to soils under red pine and hinoki cypress, immobilization of NO₃-N was observed followed by rapid production of NH₄-N. These findings suggested that mobile NO₃-N can be converted to less mobile NH₄-N by the activities of soil microorganisms. This microbial process may play an important role in retaining nitrogen within forest ecosystems where the potential of N loss is high due to the high precipitation in the area.     

Amino acid,peptide and protein mineralization dynamics in a taiga forest soil

The availability of inorganic N has been shown to be one of the major factors limiting primary productivity in high latitude ecosystems. The factors regulating the rate of transformation of organic N to nitrate and ammonium, however, remain poorly understood. The aim of this study was to investigate the nature of the soluble N pool in forest soils and to determine the relative rate of inorganic N production from high and low molecular weight (MW) dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) compounds in black spruce forest soils. DON was found to be the dominant N form in soil solution, however, most of this DON was of high MW of which >75% remained unidentified. Free amino acids constituted less than 5% of the total DON pool. The concentration of NO₃⁻ and NH₄⁺ was low in all soils but significantly greater than the concentration of free amino acids. Incubations of low MW DON with soil indicated a rapid processing of amino acids, di- and tri-peptides to NH₄⁺ followed by a slower transformation of the NH₄⁺ pool to NO₃⁻. The rate of protein transformation to NH₄⁺ was slower than for amino acids and peptides suggesting that the block in N mineralization in taiga forest soils is the transformation of high MW DON to low MW DON and not low MW DON to NH₄⁺ or NH₄⁺ to NO₃⁻. Calculated turnover rates of amino acid-derived C and N immobilized in the soil microbial biomass were similar with a half-life of approximately 30 d indicating congruent C and N mineralization.     

控释氮肥养分控释效果及合理施用研究

试验采用{3,3}单形重心设计方法,研究了普通尿素和2种包膜尿素D90、D60配比对土壤NH4+-N、NO3--N及矿质态氮(Nmin)含量的影响。结果表明,供试的7种包膜肥料初期溶出率均12.0%,微分溶出率在0.26%～2.49%之间。各处理土壤NH4+-N含量均随时间逐渐降低,而NO3--N和Nmin含量随时间逐渐增加。整个培养期内单独施用尿素处理,土壤NH4+-N、NO3--N及Nmin含量最高;2种控释肥单施或其配比施用土壤NH4+-N、NO3--N及Nmin含量最低;尿素与控释肥配合施用,土壤NH4+-N、NO3--N及Nmin含量居中。不同时期内土壤NH4+-N的来源不同,0～20d内,尿素对土壤NH4-N含量贡献最大;30～50d内,土壤NH4+-N主要来自D60;整个培养期内尿素对土壤NO3--N和Nmin的贡献均最大。肥料配比中随着尿素比例的减少,土壤NH4+-N、NO3--N及Nmin均逐渐减少。研究结果初步验证了混料设计在肥料配比研究中的可行性。     

Short-term effects of ammonium nitrogen in upland pasture soil affected or not affected by cattle

The short-term effects of excessive NH₄⁺-N on selected characteristics of soil unaffected (low annual N inputs) and affected (high annual N inputs) by cattle were investigated under laboratory conditions. The major hypothesis tested was that above a theoretical upper limit of NH₄⁺ concentration, an excess of NH₄⁺-N does not further increase NO₃⁻ formation rate in the soil, but only supports accumulation of NO₂⁻-N and gaseous losses of N as N₂O. Soils were amended with 10 to 500 μg NH₄⁺-N g⁻¹ soil. In both soils, addition of NH₄⁺-N increased production of NO₃⁻-N until some limit. This limit was higher in cattle-affected soil than in unaffected soil. Production of N₂O increased in the whole range of amendments in both soils. At the highest level of NH₄⁺-N addition, NO₂⁻-N accumulated in cattle-affected soil while NO₃⁻-N production decreased in cattle-unaffected soil. Despite being statistically significant, observed effects of high NH₄⁺-N addition were relatively weak. Uptake of mineral N, stimulated by glucose amendment, decreased the mineral N content in both soils, but it also greatly increased production of N₂O.     

Regulation of extracellular protease activity in soil in response to different sources and concentrations of nitrogen and carbon

A large proportion of the nitrogen (N) in soil is in the form of proteinaceous material. Its breakdown requires the activity of extracellular proteases and other decomposing enzymes. The goal of our study was to better understand how carbon (C) and N availability affect soil protease activity. Several aerobic incubations were carried out with ammonium (NH₄⁺) and proteins as N sources and cellulose as the main C source. A strong increase in protease activity was observed when proteins were added, the increase depending on the amount of protein added and its solubility. Protease synthesis was clearly substrate induced, as NH₄⁺ had no effect. During this substrate induced phase, the addition of glucose but not NH₄⁺ resulted in protease repression, indicating that the level of protease synthesis was determined by the need for C rather than N. After 1 month of incubation, protease activity remained relatively constant over time and was closely related to microbial biomass N. Different concentrations of mineral N in soil solution had no direct effect on protease activity. However, during this stationary phase, protease activity could be repressed by glucose and NH₄⁺ in a treatment with low mineral N content while in treatments with a higher N availability no repression was observed. We hypothesize that the need for N determined protease activity in the treatment with limited N availability. The addition of NH₄⁺ allowed for reallocation of C and N away from protease synthesis, leading to the observed decrease in protease activity. The repression by glucose may be attributed to shifts in the pathway of microbial NH₄⁺ assimilation. The results emphasize the close links between the microbially mediated cycles of organic C and N.     

好氧条件下两种水稻土的氮素总转化速率比较

Although to date individual gross N transformations could be quantified by ~(15)N tracing method and models,studies are still limited in paddy soil.An incubation experiment was conducted using topsoil(0-20 cm) and subsoil(20-60 cm) of two paddy soils,alkaline and clay(AC) soil and neutral and silt loam(NSL) soil,to investigate gross N transformation rates.Soil samples were labeled with either ~(15)NH4_NO_3 or NH_4~(15)NO_3,and then incubated at 25 °C for 168 h at 60%water-holding capacity.The gross N mineralization(recalcitrant and labile organic N mineralization) rates in AC soil were 1.6 to 3.3 times higher than that in NSL soil,and the gross N nitrification(autotrophic and heterotrophic nitrification) rates in AC soil were 2.4 to 4.4 times higher than those in NSL soil.Although gross NO_3~- consumption(i.e.,NO_3~- immobilization and dissimilatory NO_3~- reduction to NH_4~+ rates increased with increasing gross nitrification rates,the measured net nitrification rate in AC soil was approximately 2.0 to 5.1 times higher than that in NSL soil.These showed that high NO_3~- production capacity of alkaline paddy soil should be a cause for concern because an accumulation of NO_3~- can increase the risk of NO_3~- loss through leaching and denitrification.     

Nitrogen fertilization inhibits soil microbial respiration regardless of the form of nitrogen applied

We tested how amendments of different forms of nitrogen (N) affect microbial respiration rates by adding six different forms of N (NH₄NO₃, (NH₂)₂CO (urea), KNO₃, NH₄Cl, (NH₄)₂SO₄, Ca(NO₃)₂) to three distinct soils. All inorganic N forms led to a net reduction in microbial respiration, and the magnitude of the observed response (up to 60 % reduction) was consistent across all soils and negatively correlated with N concentration. Urea also reduced respiration rates in nearly all cases, but the effect was attenuated by the associated input of labile organic carbon. We observed decreases in respiration regardless of soil type, the specific N counter ion, N added as NH₄⁺ or NO₃⁻, or the effects of N form on soil pH, suggesting that decreases in respiration rates were mainly a direct result of the increase in soil N availability, rather than indirect effects caused by the form of N added.     

铵硝营养对水稻氮效率和矿质养分吸收的影响

NH_4~+和NO_3~–是对植物有效的两种主要无机氮源。水稻一般被认为是偏好NH_4~+的植物,但是在NO_3~–条件下,水稻也能良好地生长。大多数关于水稻铵硝营养的报道是在pH 6.0左右的水培条件下开展的,但是对于酸性条件下水稻铵硝营养研究很少。随着土壤酸化的加重及一些边际酸性土壤被用作水稻种植,研究酸性条件下水稻的铵硝营养具有重要意义。本文采用水培试验,在pH 5.0的条件下,通过添加和不添加pH缓冲剂MES(2-(N-吗啡啉)乙磺酸),研究了NH_4~+和NO_3~–对水稻生长、氮效率和矿质养分(N、P、K、Ca、Mg、Fe、Zn、Cu、Mn)吸收的影响。结果表明,在不添加MES的条件下,水稻地上部生长(株高、叶绿素含量、干重)在NH_4~+和NO_3~–之间没有显著差异,而添加MES后,NH_4~+处理的水稻地上部生长优于NO_3~–。不管是否添加MES,NO_3~–处理的水稻地下部生长(根长、根表面积和根物质量)优于NH_4~+。水稻含氮量和氮利用效率在不同NH_4~+和NO_3~–处理之间没有显著差异,但是NH_4~+处理的水稻氮吸收效率高于NO_3~–。与NO_3~–相比,NH_4~+增加了水稻地上部P和Fe含量,而降低了水稻地上部Ca、Mg、Zn、Cu和Mn含量,对K含量影响较小。上述结果表明,NH_4~+有利于改善水稻地上部生长,提高氮吸收效率、地上部P和Fe含量,而NO_3~–则有利于水稻发根,提高地上部Ca、Mg、Zn、Cu和Mn含量。     

Impact of nitrogen and phosphorus additions on soil gross nitrogen transformations in a temperate desert steppe

Nutrient addition has a significant impact on plant growth and nutrient cycling. Yet, the understanding of how the addition of nitrogen (N) or phosphorus (P) significantly affects soil gross N transformations and N availability in temperate desert steppes is still limited. Therefore, a ¹⁵N tracing experiment was conducted to study these processes and their underlying mechanism in a desert steppe soil that had been supplemented with N and P for 4 years in northwestern China. Soil N mineralization was increased significantly by P addition, and N and P additions significantly promoted soil autotrophic nitrification, rather than NH₄⁺-N immobilization. The addition of N promoted dissimilatory NO₃⁻ reduction to NH₄⁺, while that of P inhibited it. Soil NO₃⁻-N production was greatly increased by N added alone and by that of N and P combined, while net NH₄⁺-N production was decreased by these treatments. Soil N mineralization was primarily mediated by pH, P content or organic carbon, while soil NH₄⁺-N content regulated autotrophic nitrification mainly, and this process was mainly controlled by ammonia-oxidizing bacteria rather than archaea and comammox. NH₄⁺-N immobilization was mainly affected by functional microorganisms, the abundance of narG gene and comammox Ntsp-amoA. In conclusion, gross N transformations in the temperate desert steppe largely depended on soil inorganic N, P contents and related functional microorganisms. Soil acidification plays a more key role in N mineralization than other environmental factors or functional microorganisms.     

Short-Term Response of Soil Microbial Biomass to Different Chabazite Zeolite Amendments

Zeolitites (ZTs) are rocks containing more than 50% of zeolite minerals and are known to be a suitable material for agricultural purposes by improving soil physicochemical properties and nitrogen (N) use efficiency. However, little is known about their effects on soil microbial biomass. This study aimed to evaluate short-term effects of different chabazite-rich ZT (CHAZT) amendments on soil microbial biomass and activity. A silty-clay agricultural soil was amended in three different ways, including the addition of natural (5% and 15%) and NH_4~+-enriched (10%) CHAZT. Soil dissolved organic carbon (C), total dissolved N, NH_4~+, NO_3~-, NO_2~-, microbial biomass C and N, and ergosterol were measured periodically over 16 d in a laboratory incubation. To verify the microbial immobilization of the N derived from NH_4~+-enriched CHAZT, a high15N source was used for enriching the mineral to measure the microbial biomass δ15N signature. An increase in the ergosterol content was observed in the soil amended with 5% natural CHAZT. However, no similar result was observed in the soil amended with 15% natural CHAZT, suggesting that the fungal biomass was favored at a lower CHAZT application rate. In the soil amended with NH+ 4-enriched CHAZT, microbial biomass N was related to NO_3~-production over time and inversely related to NH_4~+, suggesting high nitrification process. Isotopic measurements on microbial biomass confirmed immediate assimilation of N derived from NH_4~+-enriched CHAZT. These results suggested that the NH_4~+-enriched CHAZT used in this study supplied an immediately available N pool to the microbial biomass.     

坡缕石包膜对尿素氮行为的影响

采用静态吸收和土柱淋溶试验方法,分析对比了3种不同用量坡缕石包膜尿素与普通尿素施入土壤后对尿素氮行为的影响,结果表明:在土壤中施用坡缕石包膜尿素较普通尿素减少10.38%～26.24%的氨挥发损失,减少5.88%～27.74%的氮素(NO3--N+NH4+-N)淋溶损失,20%的坡缕石包膜尿素能显著提高土柱土壤NH4+-N含量,3种坡缕石包膜尿素都能极显著提高土柱土壤NO3--N含量.坡缕石包膜后能减少尿素氨的挥发,降低NH4+-N和NO3--N的淋失,提高土壤NH4+-N和NO3--N含量,以20%的坡缕石包膜尿素的综合生态效应最好.