腐植酸尿素氨挥发特性及影响因素研究

采用室内模拟,研究了腐植酸尿素在土壤培养条件下其氨挥发特性及其与土壤脲酶活性、氮溶出率以及土壤铵态氮、硝态氮含量变化的关系。结果表明,研制的4种腐植酸尿素氨挥发量分别比普通尿素降低了48.14%、 47.99%、 30.89%、 59.22%,其中水溶性腐植酸含量11.78%的腐植酸尿素降低最多。腐植酸尿素降低氨挥发量与其养分释放模式和形成的土壤环境密切相关。土壤氨挥发总量与脲酶活性在培养前期相关系数较高,培养48和96 h分别达到0.825和0.808; 土壤氨挥发总量与肥料累积溶出量相关系数为0.903; 培养前期,土壤氨挥发量与铵态氮含量相关系数达到0.869。     

硫酸铵与腐植酸及改性腐植酸配施对氨挥发的影响

通过室内连续培养试验,研究了石灰性褐土中硫酸铵与不同用量及改性腐植酸(HA)配施对氨挥发及氮素形态转化的影响。试验设置6个腐植酸用量处理,分别为CKⅠ、ASNⅠ(硫酸铵Ⅰ)、ASNⅠ+5% HA、ASNⅠ+10% HA、ASNⅠ+15% HA、ASNⅠ+20% HA(5%、10%、15%、20%为腐植酸占硫酸铵施用量的百分比)和6个改性腐植酸处理,分别为CKⅡ、ASNⅡ(硫酸铵Ⅱ)、ASNⅡ+W0、ASNⅡ+W400、ASNⅡ+W600、ASNⅡ+OHA(W0、W400、W600分别为含水量0%、400%、600%的改性腐植酸,OHA为干燥+过氧化氢氧化处理的改性腐植酸)。结果表明:培养32 d后,与单施硫酸铵处理(ASNⅠ)相比,ASNⅠ+10% HA～ ASNⅠ+20% HA处理可以抑制氨挥发,其中ASNⅠ+20% HA处理抑制效果最佳,日平均氨挥发速率降幅为5.07%。腐植酸经不同改性处理后,按硫酸铵用量的20%与硫酸铵配施培养32 d后,与单施硫酸铵处理(ASNⅡ)相比,ASNⅡ+W400与ASNⅡ+W600处理加剧了土壤氨挥发,土壤氨挥发总量分别增加了50.69%和57.64%;ASNⅡ+OHA处理则明显抑制了土壤氨挥发,氨挥发总量降低了7.84%、日平均氨挥发速率降低了7.66%。分析土壤氨挥发累积量与土壤中硝态氮、铵态氮含量的相关性,氨挥发累积量与土壤硝态氮含量呈负相关。研究结果表明,硫酸铵辅以20%用量且经干燥+过氧化氢氧化改性的腐植酸处理可以有效抑制石灰性褐土中氨挥发损失,提高硫酸铵氮素利用率,有利于实现硫酸铵的高效资源化利用。     

灌溉水盐度对滴灌棉田土壤氨挥发的影响

【目的】氨挥发是农田氮素损失的重要途径之一,咸水灌溉直接或间接影响土壤的理化性质,进而影响土壤氨挥发,但目前对于咸水灌溉下氨挥发的报道还较少。因此通过田间试验研究尿素滴灌施肥条件下,淡水和咸水灌溉对棉田土壤氨挥发的影响。【方法】试验设置淡水和咸水两种灌溉水,其电导率(EC)分别为0.35和8.04d S/m(分别用CK和SW表示),氮肥(N)用量为240 kg/hm2。氨挥发的收集采用密闭室法,用稀硫酸作为氨的吸收液,测定用靛酚蓝比色法。【结果】1)灌溉施肥后,咸水滴灌棉田土壤盐分、脲酶活性和铵态氮含量均显著高于淡水滴灌。SW处理土壤电导率(EC1∶5)较CK平均高出4.53倍。灌溉施肥后SW处理土壤脲酶活性迅速增加,第4天达到最大,随后降低,SW处理脲酶活性较CK处理平均增加了20.6%。SW处理土壤铵态氮含量明显高于CK处理,尤其是灌溉施肥后第2天,SW处理铵态氮含量比CK处理增加了66.1%。2)SW处理棉田土壤p H值低于CK处理,但在灌溉施肥周期内都呈先增加后降低趋势,p H的变化在7.6~8.0之间。3)SW处理抑制了硝化作用,SW处理土壤硝态氮含量较CK处理显著降低。SW处理土壤硝态氮含量平均较CK低7.68%。4)3个灌溉施肥周期的平均温度分别为24.6℃、26.05℃和24.9℃,因此在第2个和第3个灌溉施肥周期氨挥发高,第1个灌溉施肥周期的总降水量最大,分别比第2和3个灌溉施肥周期高3.7 mm和10.2 mm,但降水量远远小于灌溉量,因此对于氨挥发影响不大。5)总体上,土壤氨挥发损失量在灌溉施肥后1~2天最大,占氨挥发总量的45.7%~79.3%,随后呈降低趋势;灌溉施肥后第1天土壤氨挥发最大,在3个灌溉施肥周期,SW处理第1天的氨挥发较CK分别增加70.7%、69.43%和60.8%。SW处理棉田土壤氨挥发显著高于CK处理。在三个连续灌溉施肥周期内,SW处理棉田土壤氨挥发累积总量为10.98 kg/hm2,CK处理为7.57 kg/hm2,SW处理较CK处理增加了45.1%。【结论】咸水灌溉促进了脲酶活性,但抑制了土壤的硝化作用,导致铵态氮含量增加,加剧了氨的挥发。温度升高促进土壤氨挥发,少量降雨对氨挥发影响不大。因此,滴灌施肥条件下,咸水灌溉会增加氨挥发损失。     

脲酶抑制剂与硝化抑制剂对稻田氨挥发的影响

采用密闭室间歇通气法和15N标记技术研究了尿素施入稻田后氨挥发损失特征以及脲酶抑制剂(N-丁基硫代磷酰三胺,NBPT)和硝化抑制剂(3, 4-二甲基吡唑磷酸盐,DMPP)对稻田氨挥发损失的影响。结果表明,稻田施用尿素后第4天氨挥发速率达到峰值,氨挥发损失主要发生在施肥后21天内。与单施尿素处理相比,添加NBPT处理的氨挥发速率峰值降低27.04%,累积氨挥发损失量降低21.65%;NBPT与DMPP配施时,氨挥发速率峰值降低12.95%,累积氨挥发损失量降低13.58%;而添加DMPP时,氨挥发速率峰值增加23.61%,累积氨挥发损失量与单施尿素的差异不显著。相关性分析表明,地表水中铵态氮浓度和pH值与氨挥发速率均达极显著正相关,说明二者是影响氨挥发速率的主要因素,而气温、 地温和水温与氨挥发速率的相关性不显著。与单施尿素相比,添加脲酶抑制剂可显著增加稻谷产量。脲酶抑制剂与硝化抑制剂配合施用可更有效地提高氮肥的回收率。综合降低氨挥发、 提高水稻产量及地上部氮肥回收率的效果,添加脲酶抑制剂以及脲酶抑制剂与硝化抑制剂配施的两个处理效果较为理想,硝化抑制剂不宜单独添加。     

尿素与缓释尿素配施添加DMPP对砂姜黑土氮素转化的影响

研究尿素与缓释尿素配施添加硝化抑制剂3,4-二甲基吡唑磷酸（DMPP）对砂姜黑土氮素转化的影响，为田间速效与缓释氮的合理配施提供理论依据。采用室内恒温、恒湿培养试验方法，试验设不施肥（CK）、单施尿素（N）、单施缓释尿素（S）、60%尿素+40%缓释尿素（NS）、尿素+DMPP（ND）、缓释尿素+DMPP（SD）、60%尿素+40%缓释尿素+DMPP（NSD）共七个处理，通过测定不同处理土壤中不同形态氮素含量，探究添加DMPP在单施尿素、单施缓释尿素及尿素与缓释尿素配施上对土壤氮素转化的不同影响。ND处理在培养第1~35 d内铵态氮含量均显著高于N处理（P<0.05），并有效延缓了铵态氮向硝态氮转化的时间。SD处理较之S处理在显著提高土壤中铵态氮含量的同时（P<0.05），也能有效抑制硝化作用，其硝化抑制有效作用时间在49 d左右，并且在此期间内能降低表观硝化率，提高硝化抑制率。与NS处理相比，NSD处理不仅能够显著提高土壤铵态氮含量（P<0.05），使铵态氮半衰期延长至18.6 d，硝化抑制率显著提高（P<0.05），表观硝化作用有效抑制时间延长了32 d左右。综合分析表明，尿素与缓释尿素配施添加DMPP在抑制氨氧化作用中效果明显，显著提高硝化抑制率（P<0.05），降低表观硝化率，有效延长了铵态氮在土壤中停留的时间，该措施为有效阻控农田氮素损失提供了科学依据。     

尿素不同配施处理对棕壤茶园土壤尿素转化及硝化作用影响的研究

采用好气土壤培养试验,以单施尿素为对照,研究了尿素配施双氰胺（UD）、菌剂（UJ）、复混肥（UY）、菌剂+复混肥（UYJ）以及表面覆盖茶末（UF）处理对尿素转化和硝化作用的影响,测定了土壤铵态氮、硝态氮、脲酶活性、氨氧化菌数量并计算表观硝化率,结果表明:各种处理均能提高土壤中铵态氮含量,降低硝态氮含量,延迟脲酶活性高峰期,减小表观硝化率,抑制氨氧化菌。其中以覆盖茶末（UF）处理效果最好,其土壤铵态氮含量最高,硝态氮和硝化率最低;其次为UD处理,配施DCD能明显推迟脲酶活性高峰出现时间并降低前期活性,同时能显著抑制氨氧化菌生长。此外,比较UYJ和UJ处理结果可以推测:在有机质丰富的茶园中施用菌剂来抑制硝化作用的效果不显著。     

高氮复混(合)肥在不同类型土壤上的氨挥发特性和氮素转化

采用室内恒温培养的方法,对6种高氮复混(合)肥料在不同类型土壤上的氨挥发特性及氮素转化进行研究。结果表明,土壤氨挥发速率、氨挥发累积量均表现为黑钙土黑土白浆土,与土壤pH呈显著正相关关系;不同肥料在土壤中的氨挥发状况各异,与掺混肥相比,控释肥料、稳定性肥料和肥包肥可推迟氨挥发速率峰值出现2d;而高塔造粒肥、脲甲醛肥料和稳定性肥料可降低氨挥发累积量5.3%~56.9%。土壤的硝化能力表现为黑钙土白浆土黑土,这与土壤pH、土壤质地有关;不同类型高氮复混(合)肥施入土壤后土壤铵态氮含量均表现为先快速上升,7d左右达到峰值后再缓慢下降,第40天后逐渐趋于平稳。而土壤硝态氮含量保持平稳上升状态。在3种供试土壤中,稳定性肥料均显著降低土壤硝化率。     

不同DMPP添加水平对土壤有机氮素转化的影响

研究单施有机肥模式下,3,4-二甲基吡唑磷酸盐(DMPP)对土壤有机氮素转化的影响,为土壤氮素高效利用和减少损失提供科学依据。采用土壤恒温培养试验,研究单施有机肥条件下不同DMPP添加水平对土壤中有机氮素转化及硝化抑制效应的影响。结果表明,单施有机肥条件下,DMPP可明显抑制土壤硝化反应的进程。培养期间DMPP最佳硝化抑制效果出现在14d,与不添加DMPP的处理相比,添加DMPP的处理铵态氮含量增加2～3倍,硝态氮含量减少2～3倍。14d后DMPP硝化抑制效果逐渐减弱。DMPP对硝化反应的抑制效果及有效抑制时间随着DMPP用量的增加而不断增强,但是当用量增加到2%以上水平时,硝化抑制剂效果不再明显增强。综合用量水平和抑制效果,施用有机肥模式下DMPP添加量以氮素含量的1%～2%较为适宜。     

含水量对黑土氮素转化及土壤酶活性影响的模拟研究

通过室内模拟试验(2013年7月23日~8月15日),研究不同含水量(20%,35%,60%)条件对东北黑土区土壤氮素转化及土壤酶活性的影响,初步探讨了其作用机制。结果表明:随着培养时间的增加,不同含水量的铵态氮含量呈波动性变化,最后呈下降趋势;硝态氮含量随着时间的增加一直呈下降趋势,35%及60%含水量的黑土铵态氮和硝态氮含量在相同培养时间高于20%含水量的黑土。各含水量处理组氨化速率、矿化速率、硝化速率随着培养时间的增加均逐渐下降,说明土壤中可被转化的有机氮含量逐渐降低,60%含水量的黑土净矿化速率和净硝化速率变化幅度最大,分别从1.518 g kg-1d-1、1.376 g kg-1d-1下降到0.009 g kg-1d-1,0.007 g kg-1d-1;除了35%含水量处理组在24 h内的氨化速率高于其他两组含水量氨化速率外,整个培养期间的氮素转化速率均表现为60%含水量35%含水量20%含水量。对土壤酶活性的研究表明:在培养初期(前2 d),20%含水量土壤脲酶活性逐渐增加,35%和60%含水量土壤脲酶活性先增加后下降,随后脲酶活性趋于稳定,直到第13 d开始略有下降,总体来看,2 d后不同含水量对脲酶活性的影响变化不显著;而转化酶活性呈波动性变化,整个培养周期,35%含水量的转化酶活性始终高于60%含水量处理组,而20%含水量的转化酶活性在其他两组含水量的转化酶活性上下波动。研究表明含水量对黑土氮素转化影响显著,硝化、矿化、反硝化作用及土壤中微生物活性的变化是氮素转化及酶活性变化的主要原因。     

紫云英还田对单季稻田氨挥发的影响

为探究紫云英还田对单季稻田氨挥发损失的影响,以我国南方单季稻-紫云英种植模式为研究对象,采用盆栽试验,设置不施氮(CK)、尿素单施(N)、尿素与紫云英配施(NM)3个处理,研究紫云英还田对南方单季稻田NH_3挥发动态特征的影响。结果表明,N和NM的氨挥发通量在氮肥施用后第3天达到峰值(分别为10.8 kg·hm~(-2)·d-1和9.27 kg·hm~(-2)·d-1),之后迅速下降。在整个监测期间,氨挥发累积量分别为93.4 kg·hm~(-2)和79.8 kg·hm~(-2),分别占氮素施用量的25.7%和21.9%。田面水中铵态氮含量和pH值以及分蘖期土壤中羟胺还原酶活性与氨挥发速率或累积量呈显著线性正相关关系。与N相比,NM显著降低表面水中铵态氮含量以及水稻分蘖期土壤中羟胺还原酶活性(37.8%),最终显著降低外源氮素NH_3挥发累积量和挥发系数(14.6%和14.8%)。综上,NM可有效减少单季稻田外源氮素NH_3挥发损失,从而提高氮素养分利用率,降低氮素养分的环境风险。本研究结果为紫云英在缓解模式内氮肥气态损失,提高氮素当季利用率提供了理论依据。     

华北地区冬小麦-夏玉米轮作体系的氮素循环与平衡

对华北地区冬小麦-夏玉米轮作体系农田氮素输入输出的数量特征、平衡状况进行了分析,并评估其优化潜力。研究表明,华北地区冬小麦-夏玉米轮作体系农田每年的氮素输入中,化学氮肥、农家肥、降水、灌溉、非生物固氮和种子带入农田的氮分别为545、68、21、15、15和5kghm-2a-1,氮素年输入总量为669kghm-2a-1;每年的氮素输出中,作物收获带走的氮为311kghm-2a-1,而氨挥发、反硝化和淋洗损失的氮分别为120、16和136kghm-2a-1,氮素年输出总量为583kghm-2a-1;氮素年盈余量为86kghm-2a-1。目前我国华北地区冬小麦-夏玉米轮作体系农田氮素处于大量赢余状态,从而导致氮素大量损失。因此,加强氮肥管理,提高氮肥利用率,加大有机肥施用的力度,是华北地区农田氮素资源管理的长期任务。     

Optimum N concentration in winter wheat grown in the coastal plain region of Virginia

Abstract

Limited information is available on optimum N levels in winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), particularly at higher yield levels. Three experiments were conducted in the Coastal Plain region of Virginia where N was applied at rates of 0, 67, 90 and 112 kg/ha to Wheeler, Mc Nair 1003 and Coker 747 soft red winter wheat varieties. Yields ranged from 2.33 to 5.83 Mg/ha in the study. Nitrogen fertilization increased yield up to the 67 kg/ha rate and increased N concentration in the plant tissue up to 67 or 112 kg of N/ha, depending on variety. Optimum N concentration, i.e., N concentration at maximum (100%) yield for Wheeler, Mc Nair 1003 and Coker 747, over the three experiments, was 4.54%, 4.52% and 4.81%, respectively, for entire above‐ground plant samples collected at Feekes growth stage 4 and 4.72%, 4.73% and 4.44% for flag leaf samples collected at Feekes growth stage 10. A N sufficiency range of 4.00–5.00% is suggested for use for the plant parts sampled for both growth stages.     

Immobilization of ammonium and nitrate and their interaction with native N in three Illinois Mollisols

Summary Three Illinois Mollisols were incubated for 2 weeks at 25°C after treatment with different amounts of glucose and/or ¹⁵N-labelled (NH₄)₂SO₄ or ¹⁵N-labelled KNO₃. The objectives were: (1) to compare the immobilization and interaction of NH _inf4 ^sup+ –N and NO _inf3 ^sup- –N with the native soil N, and (2) to study the relationship between immobilization of applied N and the added N interaction. As determined, immobilized N refers to forms not extractable with 2 MKCl (immobilized ¹⁵N+clay-fixed ¹⁵NH _inf4 ^sup+ ). In all cases, both NH _inf4 ^sup+ –N and NO _inf3 ^sup- –N were actively immobilized and transformed into organic forms in the presence of glucose. In the absence of glucose, a higher proportion of NH _inf4 ^sup+ than NO _inf3 ^sup- was recovered in organic forms. Although the three soils differed considerably in the amounts of applied N immobilized, similar trends in N immobilization were observed. A positive added N interaction occurred with all soils, the magnitude increasing with the rate of N addition. In the absence of glucose, higher added N interactions were obtained for NH _inf4 ^sup+ than NO _inf3 ^sup- , whereas there was very little difference between NH _inf4 ^sup+ and NO _inf3 ^sup- in the presence of glucose. The results indicate that under conditions of rapid immobilization (e.g., in the presence of glucose), NH _inf4 ^sup+ and NO _inf3 ^sup- will show comparable interaction with the native soil N, whereas in unamended soil, the extent of this interaction will be greater with NH _inf4 ^sup+ than with NO _inf3 ^sup- . Significant correlations were observed between applied N immobilized and the added N interaction only in one soil having a high initial mineral N content.     

Comparison of Chemical Methods for Assessing Nitrogen Mineralization in Two Calcareous Soils Treated with Organic Materials

Reliable and quick methods for measuring nitrogen (N)–supplying capacities of soils (NSC) are a prerequisite for using N fertilizers. This study was conducted to develop a routine method for estimation of mineralizable N in two calcareous soils (sandy loam and clay soils) treated with municipal waste compost or sheep manure. The methods used were anaerobic biological N mineralization, mineral N released by 2 M potassium chloride (KCl), ammonium (NH₄ ⁺) N extracted by 1 N sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄), NH₄ ⁺-N extracted by acid potassium permanganate (KMnO₄), and NH₄ ⁺-N released by oxidation of soil organic matter using acidified potassium permanganate. The results showed that oxidizable N extracted by acid permanganate, a simple and rapid measure of soil N availability, was correlated with results of the anaerobic method. Oxidative 0.05 N KMnO₄ was the best method, accounting for 78.4% of variation in NSC. Also, the amount of mineralized N increased with increasing level of organic materials and was greater in clay soil than sandy loam soil.     

黑垆土有机氮组分对可矿化氮的关系

Mineralizable N and organic N components in different layers (0-15, 15-30, 30-45, 45-60, 60-80 and 80-100 cm) of six soils with different fertilities sampled from Yongshou County, Shaanxi Province, China,were determined by the aerobic incubation method and the Bremner procedure, respectively. Correlation,multiple regression and path analyses were performed to study the relation of minerallzable N to organic N components. Results of correlation and regression analyses showed that the amounts of the N mineralized were parallel to, and significantly correlated with, the total acid hydrolyzahle N, but was not so with the acid-insoluble N. Of the hydrolyzable N, the amino acid N and the ammonia N had a highly consistent significant correlation with the mineralized N, and their partial regression coefficients were significant in the regression equations, showing their importance in contribution to the mineralizable N. The amino sugar N, on the other hand, had a relatively high correlation with the mineralized N, but their partial regression coefficients were not significant in the regression equations. In contrast, the hydrolyzable unknown N had no such relations.Path analysis further indicated that the amino acid N and ammonia N made great direct contributions to the mineralized N, but the contributions of the amino sugar N were very low. These strongly suggested tha tthe mineralized N in the soils tested was mainly from the hydrolyzable N, particularly the amino acid N and ammonia N which are the major sources for its production.     

Mid-Season Recovery from Nitrogen Stress in Winter Wheat

ABSTRACT

Although spring-applied nitrogen (N) has been shown to be most efficient, the technique of delaying all N applications until mid-season, and the resultant effect on maximum yields, has not been thoroughly evaluated. This experiment was conducted to determine if potential yield reductions from early-season N stress can be corrected using in-season N applications. Data from three experimental sites and two growing seasons (six site-year combinations) were used to evaluate three preplant N rates (0, 45, and 90 kg ha^?1) and a range of in-season topdress N rates. Topdress N amounts were determined using a GreenSeeker hand-held sensor and an algorithm developed at Oklahoma State University. Even when early-season N stress was present (0-N preplant), N-applied topdress at Feekes 5 resulted in maximum or near-maximum yields in four of six site-year combinations when compared with other treatments receiving both preplant and topdress N.     

Apparent availability of nitrogen in composted municipal refuse

The use of composted municipal refuse on agricultural land requires prior knowledge of the interactions among compost, soil, and plants. Research into the availability of N in highly matured municipal refuse compost is particularly important considering the current concern about groundwater contamination by NO _inf3 ^sup- -N. A greenhouse pot bioassay was conducted to determine the percentage of short-term apparent bioavailable N of a highly matured refuse compost and its relative efficiency in supplying inorganic N to the soil-plant system in comparison with NH₄NO₃. Municipal refuse (after 165 days of composting) was applied at rates equivalent to 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 t ha^-1 to a ferrallitic soil from Tenerife Island (Andeptic Paludult). NH₄NO₃ was applied at rates equivalent to the total N content of the compost treatments. Perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) was grown in 3-kg pots and the tops were harvested at regular intervals after seedling emergence. The compost increased dry matter yield, soil mineral N, and plant N uptake proportional to the applied rate. These increases were significantly higher than the control at an application rate of 20 t ha^-1. After 6 months the apparent bioavailable N ranged from 16 to 21%. The relative efficiency was 43% after 30 days. This suggests that large inputs of inorganic N into soil can be obtained with high rates of this kind of compost, with a potential for NO _inf3 ^sup- -N contamination. However, applied at moderate rates in our bioassay (<50 t ha^-1), compost showed a low N-supplying capacity to ryegrass, i.e. a small fraction of the mineralized compost N was used by plants in the course of time. This was ascribed to a partial biological immobilization. This pattern of N availability in highly matured municipal refuse compost, positive net mineralization but partial immobilization, is similar to the pattern of N availability in biologically active soils and is therefore extremely interesting for the conservation of N in agro-ecosystems.     

保护地蔬菜轮作体系中两种不同复合肥对产量的影响及其氮素动态特征

Yield and N uptake of tomato (Lycopersicum esculentum Mill.) and pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) crops in five successive rotations receiving two compound fertilizers (12-12-17 and 21-8-11 N-P₂O₅-K₂O) were studied to determine 1) crop responses, 2) dynamics of NO₃-N and NH₄-N in different soil layers, 3) N balance and 4) system-level N efficiencies. Five treatments (2 fertilizers, 2 fertilizer rates and a control), each with three replicates, were arranged in the study. The higher N fertilizer rate, 300 kg N ha^-1 (versus 150 kg N ha^-1), returned higher vegetable fruit yields and total aboveground N uptake with the largest crop responses occurring for the low-N fertilizer (12-12-17) applied at 300 kg N ha^-1 rather than with the high-N fertilizer (21-8-11). Ammonium-N in the top 90 cm of the soil profile declined during the experiment, while nitrate-N remained at a similar level throughout the experiment with the lower rate of fertilizer N. At the higher rate of N fertilizer there was a continuous NO₃-N accumulation of over 800 kg N ha^-1. About 200 kg N ha^-1 was applied with irrigation to each crop using NO₃-contaminated groundwater. In general, about 50% of the total N input was recovered from all treatments. Pepper, relative to tomato, used N more efficiently with smaller N losses, but the crops utilized less than 29% of the fertilizer N over the two and a half-year period. Local agricultural practices maintained high residual soil nutrient status. Thus, optimization of irrigation is required to minimize nitrate leaching and maximize crop N recovery.     

Organic nitrogen compounds extracted from arable and forest soils by electro-ultrafiltration and recovery rates of amino acids

Summary Extraction of synthetic amino acids dissolved in water by means of electro-ultrafiltration (EUF) showed average recovery rates of about 75%. Higher losses were obtained, particularly with cysteine, methionine and NH₄ ⁴; the latter, probably being deprotonated at the cathode, may be lost in form of NH₃. The EUF extracts of three arable and two forest soils were investigated for their N compounds. In the arable soils only about 3% of the total organic N extracted by EUF was free amino acids; about 23%–55% consisted of amino N (hydrolysable N) and the rest was non-hydrolysable N. The two forest soils contained higher amounts of EUF-extractable organic N compared with the arable soils. In the two forest soils the content of free amino-acid N amounted to 8% and 11% of the EUF organic N, and the proportion of hydrolysable N from total EUF-organic N was 41% and 46%. It is suggested that the amino-acid N and the hydrolysable N can be easily mineralized.     

Characterization of the N benefit of a grain legume (Lupinus angustifolius L.) to a cereal (Hordeum vulgare L.) by an in situ 15N isotope dilution technique

Summary A crop of barley was grown on plots which had previously supported pure stands of lupins, canola, ryegrass, and wheat. The plots were labelled with ¹⁵N-enriched fertilizers at the time of sowing of the antecedent crops. The crop of lupins, which derived 79% of its N from symbiotic N₂ fixation at physiological maturity, conferred an N benefit to barley of 3.4 g N m^-2 when compared to barley following wheat. Lupins used less fertilizer N and less unlabelled soil N compared to the other crops, but the ratios of these sources of N in the plant tops were similar. The apparent sparing of soil+fertilizer N under lupins compared with wheat was 13.6 g N m^-2, which was much larger than the measured N benefit. Barley following lupins was less enriched in ¹⁵N compared to barley following wheat, and the measured isotope dilution was used to estimate the proportion of barley N derived from biologically fixed N in the lupin residues. This in turn enabled the N benefit to be partitioned between the uptake of spared N and the uptake of fixed N derived from the mineralization of legume residues. Spared N and fixed N contributed in approximately equal proportions to the N benefit measured in barley following lupins compared to barley following wheat.