不同栽培模式和施氮量对小麦-玉米轮作体系土壤供氮特性的影响

以6年的小麦-玉米轮作定位试验不同处理为对象,研究了不同栽培模式及施氮对土壤供氮特性的影响。结果表明,与常规对照模式相比,覆草模式显著增加了土壤酸解总氮及有机氮各组分的含量,以及土壤微生物量氮含量及氮素矿化势N0;垄沟模式(垄上覆膜、沟内覆草)土壤酸解总氮及氮素矿化势有所增加,幅度小于覆草模式,但降低了土壤微生物量氮含量。随着施氮量的增加,土壤酸解总氮含量增加,其中以氨基酸氮、氨基糖氮及氨态氮含量的增加尤为明显;施氮还提高了土壤氮素矿化势,但降低了土壤微生物量氮含量,以施N 240 kg/hm2处理最为明显。栽培模式和施氮量对土壤酸解总氮影响的交互效应达显著水平(P0.05)。土壤氮素矿化势、微生物量氮与氨基酸氮和酸解未知态氮间呈显著相关性(P0.05),说明土壤微生物量氮及氨基酸氮和酸解未知态氮组分可能是土壤可矿化态氮的主要贡献者。     

黑土区水稻土有机氮组分及其对可矿化氮的贡献

采用Bremner法和长期淹水密闭培养法,研究了黑土区不同有机碳水平水稻土有机氮组分及其与可矿化氮的关系。结果表明,土壤酸解氮含量大于非酸解氮。土壤酸解各组分氮含量及其占全氮比例大小的顺序相同,即均为未知态氮氨基酸态氮氨态氮氨基糖态氮。土壤氮素矿化潜力(N0)为38~175.3 mg kg-1,矿化速率常数(k0)为0.022~0.041 d-1。土壤有机碳、全氮含量与氮矿化潜力(N0)之间均呈显著正相关(p0.01或p0.05);土壤C/N、p H与氮素矿化潜力(N0)之间均呈显著正相关(p0.01),而与矿化速率常数(k0)之间则均呈显著负相关(p0.05或p0.01),因此,土壤有机碳(氮)、C/N和p H是影响土壤有机氮素矿化的重要因素。相关分析表明,在各组分有机氮中,酸解氨态氮、酸解氨基酸态氮和非酸解氮均与氮矿化势(N0)关系密切(p0.01),但进一步通过多元回归分析和通径分析表明,酸解氨态氮是对可矿化氮具有直接重要贡献的组分,是土壤可矿化氮的主要来源。     

黄河三角洲盐渍土有机氮组成及氮有效性对土壤含盐量的响应

土壤盐分胁迫下有机氮组成及氮有效性对黄河三角洲盐渍土壤肥力的形成和生产力的提高具有重要作用。本研究采集黄河三角洲盐渍土壤区小麦-玉米轮作的3种盐渍土壤,分别为轻度盐渍土(含盐量2.28 g·kg~(–1), S1)、中度盐渍土(含盐量3.73 g·kg~(–1), S2)和重度盐渍土(含盐量6.69 g·kg~(–1), S3),分析不同盐分含量土壤的作物产量和土壤有机氮组分含量、无机氮含量、微生物生物量氮含量及相关酶活性等指标的变异特征,明确盐分含量对土壤有机氮组成及氮有效性的影响。结果表明:3种土壤中有机氮的酸解总氮含量是有机氮的主要组分,S1、S2和S3处理下分别占土壤总有机氮68.79%、61.60%和52.30%;不同处理下各形态含量酸解总氮为酸解铵态氮酸解未知氮酸解氨基酸氮酸解氨基糖氮,且各形态含量均以S1处理显著高于S2和S3处理(P0.05)。非酸解氮含量在3种处理间差异不显著,且均低于酸解总氮含量,其占全氮比例随土壤含盐量增加而提高。S1处理土壤硝态氮含量(22.08mg·kg~(–1))和微生物生物量氮含量(20.71mg·kg~(–1))最高,显著高于其他两种处理的土壤(P0.05);铵态氮含量在各处理下差异不显著。S1处理的小麦、玉米总产量分别是S2和S3的1.74倍和5.85倍。回归分析发现土壤可溶性全盐含量分别与土壤无机氮、微生物生物量氮含量呈显著的负指数关系,与小麦、玉米总产量、氨基酸态氮含量之间存在显著的负线性关系。土壤无机氮含量与土壤酸解总氮含量之间呈显著的正指数关系。土壤中较高含量的可溶性全盐抑制土壤酸解有机氮的形成及氮素有效性的提高。     

长期不同施肥模式对大麦-双季稻田根际土壤有机氮组分的影响

根际土壤有机氮组分在土壤养分和作物氮素营养中具有重要作用。本研究依托长期（37年）定位施肥试验田,设置4个施肥处理：不施肥对照（CK）、单独施用化肥（CF）、秸秆还田+化肥（RF）和30%有机肥+70%化肥（OM）,于晚稻成熟期测定大麦-双季稻田根际土壤基础理化性质、微生物量氮和有机氮组分（氨基酸态氮、氨基糖态氮、酸解氨态氮、酸解未知态氮、非酸解性氮）含量。研究表明：相对CK处理,RF和OM处理显著增加了稻田根际土壤有机碳、全氮、铵态氮和硝态氮的含量。RF和OM处理土壤微生物量氮含量分别比CK处理增加了19.8%和30.7%。酸解性氮作为根际土壤全氮的主体部分,占全氮的59.6%~72.1%;各处理根际土壤酸解性氮含量大小顺序表现为OM>RF>CF>CK。各施肥处理中,酸解有机氮中的氨基糖态氮、氨基酸态氮和酸解未知态氮含量均以OM处理最大,分别比CK处理增加139.3%、47.9%和110.0%;酸解氨态氮以RF处理最大,比CK处理增加69.9%。土壤有机碳、全氮、铵态氮、硝态氮与土壤氨基酸态氮、氨基糖态氮、酸解未知态氮以及微生物量氮均呈极显著（p<0.01）正相关。因此,秸秆、有机肥配施化肥均能有效提高大麦-双季稻田根际土壤的供氮能力,是改善稻田土壤肥力的有效手段。     

陇中地区多年种植苜蓿后不同后茬作物的土壤有机氮特征

依托2012年设置在陇中黄土高原雨养农业区苜蓿后茬作物的长期定位试验,探讨6种不同后茬作物[苜蓿连作(LC)、苜蓿-休闲(LF)、苜蓿-休闲-小麦(L_FW)、苜蓿-休闲-玉米(LFC)、苜蓿-马铃薯(LP)和苜蓿-谷子(LMi)]对土壤有机氮组分的影响。结果表明,不同后茬作物土壤全氮含量随着土层加深逐渐降低,0～10 cm土层LC土壤全氮含量最高,与LC相比,LMi、LP、L_FW、L_FC、LF全氮含量分别降低21.62%、14.27%、18.98%、13.41%、6.15%。土壤微生物量氮与土壤全氮含量变化趋势一致。不同后茬作物酸解态氮在土壤全氮中占主体,酸解有机氮中酸解未知态氮含量最高,氨基酸态氮次之,氨基糖态氮含量最低。各处理0～10cm土层酸解氮组分差异显著,与苜蓿连作相比,其余处理酸解总氮含量有所降低,降幅为11.90%～35.98%,氨基酸态氮含量降幅为10.29%～37.83%,酸解铵态氮含量降幅为24.11%～39.73%,LF和LP处理酸解未知态氮含量分别提高10.76%、3.39%,LMi、L_FC、L_FW处理酸解未知态氮含量分别降低9.34%、43.62%、65.18%。氨基酸态氮与土壤全氮、微生物量氮呈显著正相关关系。因此,在黄土高原雨养农业区推行苜蓿连作种植模式可以保持土壤有机氮的有效态组分,有利于本地区农业的可持续发展。     

肥力梯度红壤上不同形态氮库对玉米吸氮量的贡献

不同形态的土壤氮素是作物吸收氮素的主要来源,而土壤肥力不仅影响氮素的含量,也影响氮素的有效性,进而影响作物对氮素的吸收利用。明确不同肥力红壤中各形态氮素的变化及其对作物吸氮量的贡献,可为阐明氮素循环机制和沃土培肥提供理论依据。2019年5月在湖南祁阳红壤实验站选取低肥力、中肥力和高肥力红壤进行田间微区试验,设置不施氮（N0）和常规施氮（N1）两个处理。分析了2020年玉米（该试验的第三季作物）种植前和收获后土壤矿质氮（MN）、固定态铵（FN）、微生物生物量氮（MBN）和可溶性有机氮（SON）含量的变化及其与玉米地上部吸氮量的关系,并通过结构方程模型（SEM）建立了各形态氮库与吸氮量的关系模型。结果发现,N0条件下高肥力土壤的籽粒产量约为中肥力土壤的4.6倍,但在N1条件下,高肥力土壤的玉米产量和生物量与中肥力土壤无显著差异,但其吸氮量显著高于中肥力土壤。与种植前相比,N0条件下,收获后中肥力土壤FN含量显著提高了63%,低肥力和高肥力土壤分别增加了47%和11%。与其相反,土壤MN、MBN和SON含量均有所降低。土壤MN含量降低了0.4~4 mg?kg-1;MBN降低了18%~44%且土壤肥力间无显著差异;SON减少了55%~84%。N1条件下,土壤MN含量降低了约22~38 mg?kg-1; MBN降低了32%~72%;而SON的减少量在高肥力土壤中可达99 mg?kg-1,分别为中肥力土壤和低肥力土壤的2.0倍和9.3倍。相关分析结果表明,地上部吸氮量与MBN、SON和NH4+-N减少量存在显著正相关关系。结构方程模型结果进一步表明,SON和NH4+-N直接影响吸氮量,MBN通过影响SON和MN间接影响玉米地上部吸氮量。总体而言,SON和MBN可直接或间接影响玉米对氮素的吸收利用,是土壤中重要的氮素存在形态,应进一步加强对其形态转化的机制研究,可促进红壤培肥和氮素高效利用。     

黑土有机氮组分在甜菜生长季矿化特征的研究

采用田间、盆栽试验、室内好气培养和Bremner酸解法测定有机氮组分相结合的研究方法,探讨了甜菜生长季黑土有机氮组分变化及其矿化特征。结果表明,酸解总氮是黑土有机氮的主要组成部分,占土壤总氮的66%~97%,而非酸解态氮仅占较小的比例。施肥处理(N120/P120/K120)增加了从叶丛生长期(6月)到收获期(9月)土壤有机氮组分中酸解总氮和氨基酸态氮含量。在甜菜幼苗期(5月),黑土酸解有机氮各组分比例由大到小的次序为:氨态氮未知态氮氨基酸态氮氨基糖态氮。随着甜菜的生长,氨基酸态氮含量增幅最为明显,在叶丛生长期(6月)和糖分积累期(7月)达到高峰,施肥处理增幅均高于其他处理(N0/P120/K120,CK1,CK2),氨态氮无明显变化,未知态氮随着甜菜的生长,所占比例明显下降,因此到叶丛快速生长期后,各个处理酸解总氮的4种组分占全氮比例依次为:氨基酸态氮氨态氮未知态氮氨基糖态氮。经好气培养91d后,施肥处理明显增加土壤的累积矿化量,供氮潜力(N0)和供氮强度(k),土壤矿化势与氨基酸态氮呈显著正相关,相关系数为0.951(p0.05),与非酸解态氮和氨基糖态氮呈负相关,表明氨基酸态氮是土壤可矿化态氮的主要贡献者。     

土壤高残留氮条件下施氮对夏玉米氮素平衡、利用及产量的影响

土壤残留氮是不容忽视的土壤氮素资源.通过田间小区试验研究了土壤高残留氮下不同施氮量(0、80、160、240和320 kg/hm2)对夏玉米土壤硝态氮积累、氮素平衡、氮素利用及产量的影响,分析了夏玉米的经济效益.结果表明,土壤剖面硝态氮积累量随施氮量的增加而增加,且施氮处理硝态氮积累量显著高于不施氮处理;各施氮处理土壤硝态氮在0-60 cm土层含量最高,在0--180 cm剖面呈先减少后增加的变化趋势.不施氮处理夏玉米收获后土壤无机氮残留量高达378 kg/hm2,随施氮量的增加,无机氮残留和氮表观损失显著增加.作物吸氮量、氮表观损失量与总氮输入量呈显著正相关,总氮输入量每增加l kg作物吸氮量增加0.156 kg,而表观损失量增加0.369 kg,是作物吸氮量的2.4倍.高残留氮土壤应严格控制氮肥用量,以免造成氮素资源的大量浪费.夏玉米籽粒吸氮量随施氮量的增加呈增加的趋势,氮收获指数呈降低的趋势.氮肥农学效率、氮肥生理利用率、氮肥利用率和氮素利用率在施氮量80 kg/hm2时最高,随施氮量的增加降低;增施氮肥能降低高残留氮土壤中氮肥的增产效果和利用率.综合考虑产量、氮素利用和环境效应,N 80 kg/hm2是氮素高残留土壤上玉米的合理施氮量.     

不同氮肥用量对玉米田土壤酶活性及微生物量碳、氮的影响

为了探讨不同氮肥施用量对玉米田土壤酶活性及微生物量碳、氮含量的影响,设置5、10、25 g/m~2共3个施肥处理,以不施肥为对照,在玉米不同生长时期分两层采集0～20 cm的耕层土样,测定土壤微生物量碳、氮含量及土壤蔗糖酶、过氧化氢酶和脲酶活性,结果表明:不同处理间土壤酶活性及土壤微生物量碳、氮含量存在显著差异,各施肥处理均能显著提高土壤酶活性及土壤微生物量碳、氮含量,其中施氮肥量为10 g/m~2的处理效果最为显著;在玉米生长发育的各时期,不同处理的土壤酶活性及土壤微生物量碳、氮含量总体表现为先升后降的趋势;土壤脲酶活性、过氧化氢酶活性、微生物量碳含量与氮肥用量间存在显著或极显著正相关关系,土壤微生物量碳、氮含量及各种土壤酶活性相互间均存在显著或极显著相关关系。     

氮素和水分对贝加尔针茅草原土壤酶活性和微生物量碳氮的影响

在内蒙古贝加尔针茅草原,分别设对照(N0)、1.5 g·m-2(N15)、3.0 g·m-2(N30)、5.0 g·m-2(N50)、10.0 g·m-2(N100)、15.0 g·m-2(N150)、20.0 g·m-2(N200)和30g·m-2(N300)(不包括大气沉降的氮量)8个氮素(NH4NO3)梯度和模拟夏季增加降水100 mm的水分添加交互试验,研究氮素和水分添加对草原土壤养分、酶活性及微生物量碳氮的影响。结果表明:氮素和水分添加对草原土壤理化性质和生物学特性有显著影响。随施氮量的增加土壤总有机碳、全氮、硝态氮、铵态氮含量呈增加的趋势,相反,土壤pH值呈降低的趋势。土壤脲酶和过氧化氢酶的活性随施氮量的增加而升高,多酚氧化酶则随施氮量的增加呈下降的趋势。氮素和水分添加对草原土壤微生物量碳氮含量有显著影响,高氮处理(N150、N200和N300)显著降低了微生物碳含量,微生物氮含量随施氮量的增加呈上升趋势。水分添加能够减缓氮素添加对微生物的抑制作用,提高微生物量碳、微生物量氮含量。草原土壤养分、土壤酶活性及土壤微生物量碳氮含量间关系密切,过氧化氢酶与全氮、总有机碳、硝态氮呈显著正相关,多酚氧化酶与铵态氮、硝态氮、全氮呈显著负相关。微生物量氮含量与土壤全氮、铵态氮、硝态氮含量以及过氧化氢酶和磷酸酶活性呈显著正相关,与多酚氧化酶呈负相关;微生物量碳与过氧化氢酶呈负相关,与多酚氧化酶活性呈正相关。     

土壤微生物对施入肥料氮的固持及其动态研究

采集长期定位试验（１４年）土壤（棕壤）进行盆栽试验,并应用同位素＾１５Ｎ示踪技术研究了土壤中微生物对肥料氮的固持及其动态,结果表明,施肥后５天土壤微生物对施入人肥氮的固持达达到最高,除单施氮肥处理的固持量占施入人肥氮量的５．４％外,其余各处理均天１３．３％－１５．４％间,施肥后土壤微生物量氮的增加主要来自化肥氮,后者占微生物体总氮量的６４．１％－８７．３％,在作物生长期间微生物固持的化肥氮逐渐释入     

小麦苗期施入氮肥在土壤不同氮库的分配和去向

应用盆栽试验和15N标记技术研究了小麦苗期施入N肥后土壤不同N库的动态。结果表明 ,施肥后 28d ,作物所吸收的土壤N占总吸N量的 58.1% ,吸收的肥料N占 41.9%。作物对肥料N的利用率达到 55.3% ,N肥在土壤中的残留率为 24.3% ,损失率为 20.4%。施肥后短期以NH4+-4 N存在的肥料N占施N量的 50.5% ,随着硝化作用的进行和作物的吸收 ,土壤中的NH4+-N显著下降。NO3--N在第 7d达到高峰 ,表现为先升高后降低的趋势 ,说明施肥后在 7d以前有强烈的硝化作用发生。施肥后 2d ,以固定态铵存在的肥料N占 33.7% ,至 28d ,仅占施入N量的 2.4% ,说明前期固定的铵在作物生长后期又重新释放出来供作物吸收。在施肥后第 7d ,肥料N以微生物N存在的量占施肥量的 15.2% ;至 28d来自肥料N的微生物N也几乎被耗竭 ,仅占施N量的 2.4%。随作物生长 ,肥料N在各个土壤N库中的数量均显著下降。在其它N库几乎被耗竭的情况下 ,至施肥后 28d主要以有机N的形式残留。在不种作物的条件下 ,土壤N素的矿化量很低 ,作物的吸收作用导致土壤有机N库不断矿化 ,施入N肥后 ,土壤N素的矿化量增加 ,表现为明显的正激发效应     

Relationships between C and N availability, substrate age, and natural abundance C and N signatures of soil microbial biomass in a semiarid climate

Soil microbial organisms are central to carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) transformations in soils, yet not much is known about the stable isotope composition of these essential regulators of element cycles. We investigated the relationship between C and N availability and stable C and N isotope composition of soil microbial biomass across a three million year old semiarid substrate age gradient in northern Arizona. The δ¹⁵N of soil microbial biomass was on average 7.2‰ higher than that of soil total N for all substrate ages and 1.6‰ higher than that of extractable N, but not significantly different for the youngest and oldest sites. Microbial ¹⁵N enrichment relative to soil extractable and total N was low at the youngest site, increased to a maximum after 55,000 years, and then decreased slightly with age. The degree of ¹⁵N enrichment of microbial biomass correlated negatively with the C:N mass ratio of the soil extractable pool. The δ¹³C signature of soil microbial biomass was 1.4‰ and 4.6‰ enriched relative to that of soil total and extractable pools respectively and showed significant differences between sites. However, microbial ¹³C enrichment was unrelated to measures of C and N availability. Our results confirm that ¹⁵N, but not ¹³C enrichment of soil microbial biomass reflects changes in C and N availability and N processing during long-term ecosystem development.     

生物有机肥对潮土物理性状及微生物量碳、氮的影响

[目的]研究生物有机肥对潮土不同土层土壤物理特性及微生物碳氮的影响,为生物有机肥在土壤改良、水土保持和促进设施农业可持续发展等方面提供科学依据。[方法]采用田间小区试验的方法,研究生物有机肥对潮土0—15和15—30cm土层土壤水力学性质、土壤团聚体及微生物量碳、氮的改善效果,其中生物有机肥施用量分别为0,10,20t/hm~2。[结果]施用生物有机肥可显著降低土壤容重,提高土壤孔隙度和各水力学指标,其中土壤容重降低了10.37%~19.26%,田间持水量和饱和导水率提高了13.12%~32.25%和37.28%~67.11%;生物有机肥可提高土壤大团聚体含量和平均质量直径,降低分形维数;生物有机肥提高了土壤微生物量碳、氮含量,增幅分别为33.66%~52.67%和11.52%~22.64%;土壤物理特性与微生物量碳、氮具有明显相关性。[结论]生物有机肥可有效改善潮土土壤结构和水力学特性,增加土壤蓄水供水能力,提高土壤大团聚体含量、稳定性和微生物量碳、氮含量。     

不同施肥制度对玉米生育期土壤微生物量的影响

通过测定不同施肥制度下玉米土壤微生物量碳、氮的动态变化,探讨了不同施肥制度对玉米土壤的培肥效应。研究结果表明,与无肥、单施有机肥、单施化肥相比,有机肥与N、P、K肥配合施用能显著增加玉米各生育时期的土壤微生物量碳、氮,促进土壤微生物量显著增长,增强了土壤养分容量的供应强度,有利于培肥土壤。     

生物复混肥对土壤微生物群落功能多样性和微生物量的影响

在温室盆栽条件下,采用Biolog微平板法和氯仿熏蒸浸提法,研究了玉米施用等养分量的无机肥、有机无机复混肥和生物复混肥后土壤微生物群落功能多样性及土壤微生物量的变化。结果表明:生物复混肥处理的土壤微生物平均颜色变化率(AWCD)、微生物群落Shannon指数(H)和微生物群落丰富度指数(S)均最高;施用生物复混肥可明显提高土壤微生物对碳源的利用率,尤其是多酚化合物类和糖类;不同处理土壤微生物碳源利用特征有一定差异,生物复混肥在第1主成分上的得分值为正值,其他各处理在第1主成分上的得分值基本上为负值,起分异作用的主要碳源是糖类和羧酸类。在玉米生长期间各处理土壤微生物量大致呈先升高后逐渐平稳的趋势,且土壤微生物量碳、氮、磷的含量均以生物复混肥处理最高,最高值分别为333.21mg.kg 1、53.02 mg.kg 1和22.20 mg.kg 1。研究表明,生物复混肥的施用比等养分量的有机无机复混肥处理能显著提高土壤微生物群落碳源利用率、微生物群落丰富度和功能多样性,显著增加土壤微生物量碳、氮、磷的含量,有利于维持良好的土壤微生态环境。     

The effect of suppression treatments on the uptake of 15N by intercropped corn from labeled alfalfa (Medicago sativa)

In greenhouse experiments, we examined the N transferred to intercropped corn from ¹⁵N-labeled alfalfa shoot residue and intact roots in an undisturbed soil system in response to two different suppression treatments and complete killing of alfalfa. The alfalfa treatments included complete killing (glyphosate only), glyphosate injury + cutting, and cutting only, with alfalfa shoot residue returned to the soil surface in all three treatments. Corn was planted in each pot following application of the treatments. When alfalfa was suppressed by glyphosate injury + cutting, corn had recovered 12% of the alfalfa N by 8 weeks of growth, but with cutting only, N recovery by corn was reduced to 4.0%. The completekill treatment resulted in 8% recovery by corn of alfalfa N. In all treatments, most of the alfalfa-N remained in the soil organic pool. A second experiment tested a cutting only treatment with ¹⁵N-labeled alfalfa residue returned to the soil surface. The ¹⁵N-labeled alfalfa residue contributed 4.1% of N to corn during the 8-week growth cycle. Twice as much ¹⁵N was found in the active microbial biomass pool in the two treatments with live intereropped plants compared to the monoculture treatments with complete killing (non-intercropped) and the control treatment of alfalfa regrowth only. An analysis of the change in the ¹⁵N content of the undisturbed alfalfa roots from just before the suppression until 8 weeks later suggested that approximately 80% of the root ¹⁵N was lost from the plant suppressed by cutting. This corresponds to 28% of the total N released from the alfalfa. The results suggest that the degree of legume suppression was a key factor in the availability of legume N to the second crop. When the two species were intercropped, more of the N available from legume residues went to plant uptake and microbial biomass and was not stabilized as quickly in the soil organic pool. Appropriate management schemes must be designed to increase N availability to the second crop without yield reduction. These studies suggest severe suppression is necessary; if successful, more of the N can be maintained in active pools.     

Nitrogen availability to grain sorghum from organic and inorganic sources on sandy and clayey soil surfaces in a greenhouse pot study

In a greenhouse pot study, we examined the availability of N to grain sorghum from organic and inorganic N sources. The treatments were¹⁵N-labeled clover residues, wheat residues, and fertilizer placed on a sandy clay loam and loamy sand soil surface for an 8-week period. Soil aggregates formed under each soil texture were measured after 8 weeks for each treatment. Significantly greater ¹⁵N was taken up and recovered by grain sorghum in sandy clay loam pots compared with loamy sand pots. Greater ¹⁵N recovery was consistently observed with the inorganic source than the organic sources regardless of soil texture or time. Microbial biomass C and N were significantly greater for sandy clay loam soil compared with the loamy sand. Microbial biomass ¹⁵N was also significantly greater in the sandy clay loam treatment compared to the loamy sand. The fertilizer treatment initially had the greatest pool of microbial biomass ¹⁵N but decreased with time. The crop residue treatments generally had less microbial biomass ¹⁵N with time. The crop residues and soil texture had a significant effect on the water-stable aggregates formed after 8 weeks of treatments. Significantly greater water-stable aggregates were formed in the sandy clay loam than the loamy sand. Approximately 20% greater water-stable aggregates were formed under the crop residue treatments compared to the fertilizer only treatment. Soil texture seemed to be one of the most important factors affecting the availability of N from organic or inorganic N sources in these soils.Contribution from the MissouriAgricultural Experiment Station, Journal Series No.12131     

The influence of two agricultural biostimulants on nitrogen transformations, microbial activity, and plant growth in soil microcosms

The influence of two experimental soil treatments, Z93 and W91, on nitrogen transformations, microbial activity and plant growth was investigated in soil microcosms. These compounds are commercially marketed fermentation products (Agspectrum) that are sold to be added to field soils in small amounts to promote nitrogen and other nutrient uptake by crops in USA. In laboratory microcosm experiments, soils were amended with finely ground alfalfa-leaves or wheat straw, or left unamended, in an attempt to alter patterns of soil nitrogen mineralization and immobilization. Soils were treated in the microcosms with Z93 and W91 at rates equivalent to the recommended field application rates, that range from 0.2 to 1.1 l ha⁻¹, (0.005-0.03 μl g⁻¹ soil). We measured their effects on soil microbial activity (substrate-induced respiration (SIR), dehydrogenase activity (DHA) and acid phosphatase activity (PHOS)), soil nitrogen pools (microbial biomass N, mineral N, dissolved organic N), and transformations (net N mineralization and nitrification, ¹⁵N dilution of the mineral N pool, and accumulation of mineral N on ion-exchange resins), and on wheat plant germination and growth (shoot and root biomass, shoot length, N uptake and ¹⁵N enrichment of shoot tissues), for up to 56 days after treatment. To follow the movement of nitrogen from inorganic fertilizer into plant biomass we used a ¹⁵N isotopic tracer. Most of the soil and plant responses to treatment with Z93 or W91 differed according to the type of organic amendment that was used. Soil treatment with either Z93 or W91 influenced phosphatase activity strongly but did not have much effect on SIR or DHA. Both chemicals altered the rates of decomposition and mineralization of organic materials in the soil, which was evidenced by significant increases in the rates of the decomposition of buried wheat straw, and by the acceleration of net, rates of N mineralization, relative to those of the controls. Soil nitrate availability increased at the end of the experiment in response to both chemical treatments. In alfalfa-amended soils, the final plant biomass was decreased significantly by treatment with W91. Increased plant growth and N-use efficiency in straw-amended soil, resulting from treatments with Z93 or W91, was linked to increased rates of N mineralization from indigenous soil organic materials. This supports the marketing of these compounds as promoters of N uptake at these low dosage inputs.     

Effect of residue placement and chemical fertilizer on soil microbial biomass under tropical dryland cultivation

Four treatments (control, chemical fertilizer, wheat straw, and wheat straw+fertilizer) were established on the dryland experimental farm of the Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University. Organic in C in the different treatments ranged from 0.69 to 0.93%, total N from 0.08 to 0.11%, and total P from 0.018 to 0.021. The application of straw significantly increased the soil water-holding capacity. The maximum effect on the microbial biomass was realized with the straw+fertilizer treatment, followed by straw and then by the fertilizer treatment. During the study microbial biomass C ranged from 144 to 491 g g^-1 dry soil, biomass N from 14.6 to 50.1 g g^-1, and biomass P from 7.2 to 17.6 g g^-1 soil. Microbial biomass C, N and P represented 3.2–4.6% of total C, 2.6–3.8% of total N, and 5.8–8.2% of total P in the soil, respectively, in all cases the highest proportion occurred in the straw+fertilizer treatment and the lowest in the control. Microbial biomass C, N, and P were positively correlated with each other. Microbial biomass C and N increased by 77% in straw+fertilizer-treated plots relative to the control. The increase in microbial biomass P in the straw+fertilizer treatment over the control was 81%. The increase in the microbial biomass is expected to enhance nutrient availability in the soil, as the microbial biomass acts both as a sink and a source of plant nutrients.