Heterotrophic and autotrophic nitrification in two acid pasture soils

Laboratory incubation experiments, using ¹⁵N-labeling techniques and simple analytical models, were conducted to measure heterotrophic and autotrophic nitrification rates in two acid soils (pH 4.8-5.3; 1/5 in H₂O) with high organic carbon contents (6.2-6.8% in top 5 cm soil). The soils were from pastures located near Maindample and Ruffy in the Northeast Victoria, Australia. Gross rates of N mineralization, nitrification and immobilization were measured. The gross rates of autotrophic nitrification were 0.157 and 0.119 μg N g⁻¹ h⁻¹ and heterotrophic nitrification rates were 0.036 and 0.009 μg N g⁻¹ h⁻¹ for the Maindample and Ruffy soils, respectively. Heterotrophic nitrification accounted for 19% and 7% of the total nitrification in the Maindample and Ruffy soils, respectively. The heterotrophic nitrifiers used organic N compounds and no as the substrate for nitrification.     

Root uptake of N-containing and N-free low molecular weight organic substances by maize: A C/N tracer study

Most studies showing potential organic nitrogen uptake were conducted with amino acids. They conclude that, in some ecosystems, amino acids significantly contribute to the N demand of plants and that roots have special transporters to re-uptake amino acids released into the rhizosphere. However, the relevance of the uptake of organic N compounds can only be evaluated by comparing the uptake of N-containing and N-free organic substances. We compared the uptake of alanine, glucose and acetate labelled with ¹⁴C by maize. Additionally, the N uptake was estimated by ¹⁵N labelled alanine and KNO₃. We found a similar uptake of ¹⁴C from alanine, glucose and acetate, amounting for the whole plant less than 1% of ¹⁴C input. These results show that maize did not prefer N-containing to N-free organic substances. The uptake of ¹⁵N by maize exceeded that of ¹⁴C (10- to 50-fold), irrespective of the ¹⁵N source. However, plant uptake of nitrate (23.6–35.2% of ¹⁵N input) always exceeded the uptake of N from alanine (9.6–28.8%). The uptake of organically bound N by maize growing in soil occurred mainly by transpiration flow – as dissolved organics. The contribution of specific amino acid transporters was minor.     

Forest floor gross and net nitrogen mineralization in three forest types in Quebec, Canada

The effect of high nitrogen (N) depositions on forest ecosystems is an important concern in North America and may lead to N saturation of forest ecosystems and contribute to soils and surface water acidification. In this study, nitrogen dynamics in the FH layers of a sugar maple (SM), a balsam fir (BF) and a black spruce (BS) forest was characterized using a short term ¹⁵N isotopic pool dilutions approach and mid-term FH material incubation both in situ and in the laboratory. The short term dilutions approach indicated that the mean residence times of and in the FH material of the three sites were low (<1 d). The amount of inorganic nitrogen () recycled annually within the exchangeable forest floor reservoir was between one and two orders of magnitude larger than the annual atmospheric N deposition found at each of the sites. The BS site was clearly distinct than the two other forest types in that net N mineralization was negligible, even in absence of root uptake, suggesting that soil microorganisms were severely N limited. While net nitrification was not observed within the FH material of the BF site, did accumulate in the FH of the SM despite a low pH of 3.72 presumably because of heterotrophic nitrification or as a result of acid-tolerant autotrophic nitrification. The difference in N dynamics between the sites were most probably caused by dominant tree species. Transformation rates of inorganic N were higher in SM, followed by BF and BS stands. Given that the potential to mineralize inorganic N matches with a superimposed N atmospheric deposition gradient in Québec, the sugar maple forest is more likely to be affected by N saturation than coniferous forests.     

Mineralization of forest litter nutrients by heat and combustion

Temperature dependant mineralization dynamics during fire of litter species characteristic of the New Jersey pine barrens was determined. Senescent leaf material of pitch pine (Pinus rigida), white oak (Quercus alba) and black huckleberry (Gaylusssacia baccata) were collected at the time of abscission; sorted, ground and oven-dried at 70 °C. Replicate samples were then heated for 2 h at: 70, 100, 200, 300, 400, and 550 °C. Mass loss and total nitrogen and total phosphorus concentration of the heated material were determined. Additional samples of the residual material were extracted with deionized water, and the filtrate was assayed for the anions: , , ; and cations: , K⁺, Mg⁺⁺, and Ca⁺⁺.By heating leaf litter over a range of temperatures, to simulate the heterogeneous nature of forest litter burning, we identified patterns of nutrient mineralization characteristic of specific temperatures, some of which were common to all three litter species and others unique to individual species. In general, it appears that black huckleberry leaf litter was the most nutrient rich and the most labile. In huckleberry litter, there was a large reserve of soluble nitrogen, sulfur, phosphate, calcium and magnesium that became available upon heating to 200 °C. Pitch pine litter was the most nutrient poor, and the rates of nutrient mineralization were also generally the lowest of the three species studied. White oak litter nutrient concentration and rates of mineralization along the temperature gradient were intermediate. For all three litter species examined organic and inorganic nitrogen losses due to volatilization were >99% upon heating to 550 °C, and soluble magnesium concentrations declined significantly at temperatures of 300 °C, despite having a volatilization temperature greater than 1100 °C. Under the temperature range employed, heating of leaf litter resulted in little volatilization loss of phosphorus; however, the amount of soluble phosphate phosphorus was much lower in all three litter types at temperatures of 300 °C and above. With increasing temperatures, inorganic phosphate ions presumably became bound to cations in the ash, forming insoluble metal phosphates. The dramatic increase of the ratio of total phosphorus to soluble inorganic phosphate at higher temperatures, the loss of soluble magnesium above 300 °C, and the near complete loss of nitrogen at 550 °C suggests that after intense fires availability of these minerals may be dramatically reduced.     

The impacts of inorganic nitrogen application on mineralization of C-labelled maize and glucose, and on priming effect in saline alkaline soil

Organic matter dynamics and nutrient availability in saline alkaline soil of the former lake Texcoco will determine the success of a planned reforestation program. Uniformly labelled ¹⁴C-maize (MAI-treatment) and glucose (GLU-treatment) with or without 200 mg  kg⁻¹ soil (MAI-N treatment and GLU-N treatment, respectively) were added to soils with electrolytic conductivity (EC) 56 dS m⁻¹ (soil A) and 12 dS m⁻¹ (soil B) to investigate the importance of N availability on decomposition of organic material. Production of CO₂ and and inorganic N dynamics were monitored. The amount of ¹⁴C-glucose mineralized increased 1.8-times in the soil A, but had no effect in the soil B when 200 mg  kg⁻¹ soil was added, while the amount of ¹⁴C-maize mineralized increased 1.7 and 1.3-times when 200  kg⁻¹ soil was added in the soils A and B, respectively. Application of increased priming effect 3.7-times in the MAI-treatment of the soil A and 3.4-times in the GLU-treatment, while in the soil B the increase of priming effect was 4.1-times in the MAI-treatment and 3.7-times in the GLU-treatment. Of the 200 mg  kg⁻¹ added to both soils less than 10 mg NH₃-N kg⁻¹ was volatilized within one day, while 22 and 44 mg  kg⁻¹ soil was fixed on the soil matrix in the soil A and the soil B, respectively. Therefore more than 100 mg −N kg⁻¹ was immobilized into the microbial biomass within the first day. Concentration of nitrite increased sharply in all the treatments of soil A at the onset of the incubation followed by a decrease. A similar pattern was observed in the GLU-N and MAI-N treatments of the soil B, but not in the other treatments. A decrease in concentration of was observed in both soils followed by an increase in the MAI-N and GLU-N treatments of the soil B. It was found that application of had a stimulating effect on the decomposition of maize and glucose, and on the priming effect, while assimilatory reduction of resulted in an increase of in the soil A, and nitrification in the soil B.     

Rhizosphere activity, grass species and N availability effects on the soil C and N cycles

We examined whether grass species and soil nitrogen (N) availability could enhance Carbon (C) and N turnover during root litter decay in grassland. Three species with increasing competitiveness (Festuca ovina, Dactylis glomerata and Lolium perenne) were grown at two N fertiliser levels in an undisturbed grassland soil, in which soil organic fractions derived for the last 9 years from Lolium root litter which was ¹³C-depleted. During the subsequent experimental year, the C turnover was calculated using the respective δ¹³C values of the old and new C in the root phytomass, in two Particulate Organic Matter (POM) fractions above 200 μm and in the lightest part of the aggregated soil fraction between 50 and 200 μm. Soil N availability was monitored during the regrowth periods with ion exchange resins (IER). The C decay rates of each particle size fraction were calculated with a simple mechanistic model of C dynamics. The N mineralisation immobilisation turnover (MIT) was characterised by dilution of ¹⁵N-labelled fertiliser in the N harvestThe C:N ratio and the residence time of C in the fractions decreased with particle size. The presence of a grass rhizosphere increased the decay rate of old C. Accumulation of new C in particle size fractions increased with species competitiveness and with N supply. Species competitiveness increased C turnover in the aggregated fraction, as a result of greater accumulation of new C and faster decay of old C. Fertiliser N increased N turnover and C mineralisation in the SOM. Species competitiveness decreased soil -N exchanged with the IER and increased dissolved organic C (DOC) content. The nature of the current rhizosphere is thus an important factor driving C and N transformations of the old root litter, in relation with grass species strategy. Plant competitiveness may stimulate the C and N turnover in the more evolved SOM fractions in a similar way to the mineral N supply.     

Constraining the conditions conducive to dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium in temperate arable soils

Here we offer the first assessment of conditions conducive to dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium (DNRA) in temperate arable soils, through an examination of the potential for this process to occur in a range of soils of contrasting characteristics. NH₄¹⁵NO₃ (6.2 g N m⁻², 25 atom % excess ¹⁵N) was applied, and recovery of ¹⁵N in the pool taken as indicative of occurrence of DNRA. Up to 5% of applied ¹⁵N was recovered in the pool 2 d after addition of N, glucose (44.6 g C m⁻²) and l-cysteine (7.7 g m⁻², 0.9 g N m⁻², 2.3 g C m⁻²). concentrations were positively correlated with soil pH, ratio, bulk density, sand content and concentration, but negatively correlated with soil C and organic N content. Our results demonstrate the potential for DNRA to contribute to N cycling in temperate arable soils, but its detection and significance is likely to depend on the provision of a low molecular weight C source.     

Mineralization of carbon and nitrogen from fresh and anaerobically stored sheep manure in soils of different texture

A sandy loam soil was mixed with three different amounts of quartz sand and incubated with (¹⁵NH₄)₂SO₄ (60 g N g^-1 soil) and fresh or anaerobically stored sheep manure (60 g g^-1 soil). The mineralization-immobilization of N and the mineralization of C were studied during 84 days of incubation at 20°C. After 7 days, the amount of unlabelled inorganic N in the manure-treated soils was 6–10 g N g^-1 soil higher than in soils amended with only (¹⁵NH₄)₂SO₄. However, due to immobilization of labelled inorganic N, the resulting net mineralization of N from manure was insignificant or slightly negative in the three soil-sand mixtures (100% soil+0% quartz sand; 50% soil+50% quartz sand; 25% soil+75% quartz sand). After 84 days, the cumulative CO₂ evolution and the net mineralization of N from the fresh manure were highest in the soil-sand mixutre with the lowest clay content (4% clay); 28% fo the manure C and 18% of the manure N were net mineralized. There was no significant difference between the soil-sand mixtures containing 8% and 16% clay, in which 24% of the manure C and -1% to 4% of the manure N were net mineralized. The higher net mineralization of N in the soil-sand mixture with the lowest clay content was probably caused by a higher remineralization of immobilized N in this soil-sand mixture. Anaerobic storage of the manure reduced the CO₂ evolution rates from the manure C in the three soil-sand mixtures during the initial weeks of decomposition. However, there was no effect of storage on net mineralization of N at the end of the incubation period. Hence, there was no apparent relationship between net mineralization of manure N and C.     

Effects of ammonium and nitrate additions on carbon mineralization in wetland soils

Wetlands have been recognized as a soil carbon (C) sink due to low decomposition. As decomposition is largely controlled by the availability of soil nitrogen (N), an elevated anthropogenic N input could influence the C balance in wetlands. However, the effects of the form of N on decomposition are poorly understood. Here, a 54-day laboratory incubation experiment was conducted, with a diel cycle (day: 22 °C for 13 h; night: 17 °C for 11 h) in order to determine how the dominant N form influences the mineralization of soil C in two adjacent wetland soils, with distinct physicochemical characteristics. Three combinations of N compounds were added at three different rates (0, 30, 60 kg N ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹): Ammonium dominant (NH₄Cl + NH₄NO₃); nitrate dominant (NH₄NO₃ + NaNO₃); and ammonium nitrate treatments (NH₄NO₃). In the acidic soil, the CO₂ efflux was reduced with N additions, especially with NH₄NO₃ treatment. In addition, decreases in the microbial enzyme activities (β-glucosidase, N-acetyl-glucosaminidase, phosphatase, and phenol oxidase) and soil pH were observed with NH₄NO₃ and -dominant treatment. Under alkaline conditions, marginal changes in response to N additions were observed in the soil CO₂ efflux, extractable DOC, simple substrate utilization, enzyme activities and pH. A regression analysis revealed that the changes in pH and enzyme activities after fertilization significantly influenced the soil CO₂ efflux. Our findings suggest that the form of N additions could influence the rate of C cycling in wetland soils via biological (enzyme activities) and chemical (pH) changes.     

The role of plant residues in pH change of acid soils differing in initial pH

Reports on the effect of plant residues on soil pH have been contradictory. The conflicting accounts have been suggested to result from differences in compositions and types of plant residues and characteristics of soils. This incubation study examined the effect of plant residues differing in concentrations of N (3-49 g kg⁻¹) and of alkalinity (excess cations) (220-1560 mmol kg⁻¹) on pH change of three soils differing in initial pH (3.9-5.1 in 0.01 M CaCl₂). The addition of plant residues at a rate of 15 g kg⁻¹ soil weight increased the pH of all soils by up to 3.4 units and the pH reached the maximum at day 42 after incubation for Wodjil (initial pH 3.87) and Bodallin (pH 4.54) soils and day 14 for Lancelin soil (pH 5.1). The amount of pH buffering was decreased by residue addition in Wodjil soil, increased in Bodallin soil and remained unchanged in Lancelin soil, which closely related to changes of soil pH. Residue addition increased concentration and the increase in concentration generally correlated positively with the concentration of residue N. The concentration increased with time, reached the peak at Days 42-105 for Wodjil soil, Days 14-105 for Bodallin soil and Days 14-42 for Lancelin soil, and then decreased only in Lancelin soil. The concentration of was kept minimal in Wodjil and Bodallin soils. In Lancelin soil, concentrations increased with incubation time from days 14-28. Irrespective of plant residue and incubation time, the amounts of alkalinity produced due to residue addition correlated highly with the sum of the alkalinity added as plant residues (excess cations) and those resulting from mineralization of residue N, with the slope of regression lines decreasing with increase of the initial soil pH. Direct shaking of soil with the residues at the same rate of alkalinity (excess cations) under sterile conditions increased the pH of the Wodjil soil but decreased it in the Lancelin soil. It is suggested that the decarboxylation of organic anions (as indicated by excess cations) of added plant residues and ammonification of the residue N causes soil pH increase whereas nitrification of mineralised residue nitrogen causes soil pH decrease, and that the association/dissociation of organic compounds also plays a role in soil pH change, depending initial pH of the soil. The overall effect on soil pH after addition of plant residues would therefore depend on the extent of each of these processes under given conditions.     

Why does temperature affect relative uptake rates of nitrate, ammonium and glycine: A test with Eucalyptus pauciflora

Few studies have examined how temperature affects uptake of nitrate, ammonium and amino acids from soil. This study tests the hypothesis that cool temperatures favour uptake of the amino acid glycine while warm temperatures favour uptake of inorganic forms of N such as nitrate. We used glasshouse-grown ectomycorrhizal seedlings of the sub-alpine tree species Eucalyptus pauciflora Sieber ex Spreng. Seedlings were grown in soil (humic umbrosol, from species' habitat) that was dominated by amino acids and ammonium with only small amounts of nitrate. To examine if root physiology affects temperature responses of N uptake, we measured uptake from ¹⁵N-labelled hydrosolutions containing equimolar 100 μmol L⁻¹ mixtures of ammonium, nitrate and glycine at temperatures from 5 to 35 °C. We also examined if the effect of temperature on uptake of N forms was due to plant-microbe competition by following the fate of equimolar amounts of labelled ammonium, nitrate and glycine injected into the soil at temperatures of 5 °C and 25 °C. Hydrosolution experiments showed that uptake of glycine was favoured by warm temperatures and inorganic N by cool temperatures. In contrast, when ¹⁵N was injected into soil the uptake of glycine was favoured by low temperatures and nitrate by warm temperatures. At 25 °C, glycine was 17% of the N taken up from soil and nitrate was 51%; whereas at 5 °C glycine was 30% of the N taken up from soil and nitrate was 23%. Microbes were better competitors than seedlings for all forms of N, but temperature did not affect microbial preference for the different N forms. Hence, while microbes limit N available for plant uptake, they do not seem to be the cause of the greater plant uptake of glycine at cool temperatures and nitrate at warm temperatures. Intact uptake of glycine by plants was suggested by the positive relationship between uptake of ¹³C and ¹⁵N and detection by GC-MS of intact , ¹⁵N glycine molecules in roots. In conclusion, uptake of glycine is favoured by cool temperatures and nitrate by warm temperatures, but this is apparently not a function of root physiology or competition with soil microbes.     

Mineralization of soil organic nitrogen solubilized by aqua ammonia fertilizer

Organic N solubilized by NH_3(aq) was extracted from ¹⁵N-labelled or unlabelled soil, concentrated and added to non-extracted soil, which was incubated under aerobic conditions at 27±1°C. Gross N mineralization, gross N immobilization, and nitrification in soils with or without addition of unlabelled soluble organic N were estimated by models based on the dilution of the NH ₄ ⁺ or NO _inf3 ^sup- pools, which were labelled with ¹⁵N at the beginning of incubation. Mineralization of labelled organic N was measured by the appearance of label in the mineral N pool. Although gross N mineralization and gross N immobilization were increased in two soils between day 0 and day 7 following addition of unlabelled organic N solubilized by NH_3(aq), there was no increase in net N mineralization. Solubilization of ¹⁵N-labelled organic N increased and the ¹⁵N enrichment of the soluble organic N decereased as the concentration of NH_3(aq) added increased. A constant proportion of approximately one-quarter of the labelled organic N added at different rates to non-extracted soil was recovered in the mineral N pool after an incubation period of 14 days, and the availability ratios calculated from net N mineralization data were 1.1:1 and 2.1:1 for 111 and 186 mg added organic-N kg^-1 soil, respectively, indicating that the mineralization of organic N was increased by solubilization.     

Effects of repeated fertilizer and cattle slurry applications over 38 years on N dynamics in a temperate grassland soil

The effects of repeated synthetic fertilizer or cattle slurry applications at annual rates of 50, 100 or 200 m³ ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ over a 38 year period were investigated with respect to herbage yield, N uptake and gross soil N dynamics at a permanent grassland site. While synthetic fertilizer had a sustained and constant effect on herbage yield and N uptake, increasing cattle slurry application rates increased the herbage yield and N uptake linearly over the entire observation period. Cattle slurry applications, two and four times the recommended rate (50 m³ ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹, 170 kg N ha⁻¹), increased N uptake by 46 and 78%, respectively after 38 years. To explain the long-term effect, a ¹⁵N tracing study was carried out to identify the potential change in N dynamics under the various treatments. The analysis model evaluated process-specific rates, such as mineralization, from two organic-N pools, as well as nitrification from NH₄⁺ and organic-N oxidation. Total mineralization was similar in all treatments. However, while in an unfertilized control treatment more than 90% of NH₄⁺ production was related to mineralization of recalcitrant organic-N, a shift occurred toward a predominance of mineralization from labile organic-N in the cattle slurry treatments and this proportion increased with the increase in slurry application rate. Furthermore, the oxidation of recalcitrant organic-N shifted from a predominant NH₄⁺ production in the control treatment, toward a predominant NO₃⁻ production (heterotrophic nitrification) in the cattle slurry treatments. The concomitant increase in heterotrophic nitrification and NH₄⁺ oxidation with increasing cattle slurry application rate was mainly responsible for the increase in net NO₃⁻ production rate. Thus the increase in N uptake and herbage yield on the cattle slurry treatments could be related to NO₃⁻ rather than NH₄⁺ production. The ¹⁵N tracing study was successful in revealing process-specific changes in the N cycle in relationship to long-term repeated amendments.     

Decomposition of N-labelled maize leaves in soil affected by endogeic geophagous Aporrectodea caliginosa

A microcosm experiment was carried out for 56 days at 12 °C to evaluate the feeding effects of the endogeic geophagous earthworm species Aporrectodea caliginosa on the microbial use of ¹⁵N-labelled maize leaves (Zea mays) added as 5 mm particles equivalent to 1 mg C and 57 μg N g⁻¹ soil. The dry weight of A. caliginosa biomass decreased in the no-maize treatment by 10% during the incubation and increased in the maize leaf treatments by 18%. Roughly 5% and 10% of the added maize leaf-C and leaf-N, respectively, were incorporated into the biomass of A. caliginosa. About 29% and 33% of the added maize leaf-C were mineralised to CO₂ in the no-earthworm and earthworm treatments, respectively. The presence of A. caliginosa significantly increased soil-derived CO₂ production by 90 μg g⁻¹ soil in the no-maize and maize leaf treatments, but increased the maize-derived CO₂ production only by 40 μg g⁻¹ soil. About 10.5% of maize leaf-C and leaf-N was incorporated into the soil microbial biomass in the absence of earthworms, but only 6% of the maize leaf-C and 3% of the maize leaf-N in the presence of earthworms. A. caliginosa preferentially fed on N rich, maize leaf-colonizing microorganisms to meet its N demand. This led to a significantly increased C/N ratio of the unconsumed microbial biomass in soil. The ergosterol-to-microbial biomass C ratio was not significantly decreased by the presence of earthworms. A. caliginosa did not directly contribute to comminution of plant residues, as indicated by the absence of any effects on the contents of the different particulate organic matter fractions, but mainly to grazing of residue-colonizing microorganisms, increasing their turnover considerably.     

Rapid uptake of N-ammonium and glycine-C, N by arbuscular and ericoid mycorrhizal plants native to a Northern California coastal pygmy forest

While it is well established that plants are able to acquire nitrogen in inorganic form, there is less information on their ability to ‘short circuit’ the N cycle, compete with microbes, and acquire nitrogen in organic form. Mycorrhizal fungi, known to enhance nutrient uptake by plants, may play a role in organic N uptake, particularly ericoid mycorrhizas. We asked the question—Can mycorrhizal fungi increase the ability of plants to take up organic N, compared to inorganic N? Here, we report on the abilities of three plant species, ericoid mycorrhizal Rhododendron macrophyllum and Vaccinium ovatum and arbuscular mycorrhizal Cupressus goveniana ssp. pigmaea, to acquire C and/or N from an organic and an inorganic N source. All three species are native to a California coastal pygmy forest growing in acidic, low-fertility, highly organic soils. In a pot study, glycine-α¹³C, ¹⁵N and ¹⁵N-ammonium were applied to pygmy forest soil for 17 or 44 h. Ericoid mycorrhizal species did not demonstrate a preference for either inorganic or organic sources of N while Cupressus acquired more NH₄-N than glycine-N. For all species, glycine-N uptake did not increase after 17 h suggesting glycine uptake and glycine immobilization occurred rapidly. Both glycine-N and glycine-C were recovered in shoots and in roots suggesting that all species acquired some N in organic form. Regression analyses of glycine-N and glycine-C recovery in root tissue indicate that much of the glycine was taken up intact and that the minimum proportion of glycine-N recovered in organic form was 85% (Cupressus) and 70% (Rhododendron). Regressions were non-significant for Vaccinium. For all species, glycine-N remained predominantly in roots while glycine-C was transferred to shoots. In contrast, NH₄-N remained in roots of ericoid plants but was transferred to shoots of arbuscular mycorrhizal Cupressus. Since net N mineralization rates in pygmy forest soils are low, our results suggest that organic N may be an important N source for plants in this temperate coniferous ecosystem regardless of mycorrhizal type. Acquisition of amino acid C by these species also may partially offset the carbon cost to plants of hosting mycorrhizal fungi.     

Savanna-derived organic matter remaining in arable soils of the South African Highveld long-term mixed cropping: Evidence from C and N natural abundance

Sustainable agriculture requires the formation of new humus from the crops. We utilized ¹³C and ¹⁵N signatures of soil organic matter to assess how rapidly wheat/maize cropping contributed to the humus formation in coarse-textured savanna soils of the South African Highveld. Composite samples were taken from the top 20 cm of soils (Plinthustalfs) cropped for lengths of time varying from 0 to 98 years, after conversion from native grassland savanna (C4). We performed natural ¹³C and ¹⁵N abundance measurements on bulk and particle-size fractions. The bulk soil δ¹³C values steadily decreased from −14.6 in (C4 dominated) grassland to −16.5‰ after 90 years of arable cropping. This δ¹³C shift was attributable to increasing replacement of savanna-derived C by wheat crop (C3) C which dominated over maize (C4) inputs. After calculating the annual C input from the crop yields and the output from literature data, by using a stepwise C replacement model, we were able to correct the soil δ¹³C data for the irregular maize inputs for a period of about one century. Within 90 years of cropping 41-89% of the remaining soil organic matter was crop-derived in the three studied agroecosystems. The surface soil C stocks after 90 years of the wheat/maize crop rotation could accurately be described with the Rothamsted Carbon Model, but modelled C inputs to the soil were very low. The coarse sand fraction reflected temporal fluctuations in ¹³C of the last C₃ or C₄ cropping and the silt fraction evidenced selective erosion loss of old savanna-derived C. Bulk soil ¹⁵N did not change with increasing cropping length. Decreasing δ¹⁵N values caused by fertilizer N inputs with prolonged arable cropping were only detected for the coarse sand fraction. This indicated that the present N fertilization was not retained in stable soil C pool. Clearly, conventional cropping practices on the South African highlands neither contribute to the preservation of old savanna C and N, nor the effective humus reformation by the crops.     

Coarse particulate organic matter is the primary source of mineral N in the topsoil of three beech forests

Forest soils contain a variable amount of organic N roughly repartitioned among particles of different size, microbial biomass and associated with mineral compounds. All pools are alimented by annual litter fall as main input of organic N to the forest floor. Litter N is further subject to mineralization/stabilization recognized as the crucial process for the turnover of litter N. Although it is well documented that different soil types have different soil N stocks, it is presently unknown how different soil types affect the turnover of recent litter N. Here, we compared the potential mineralization of the total soil organic N with that of recent litter-released N in three beech forests varying in their soil properties. Highly ¹⁵N-labelled beech litter was applied to stands located at Aubure, Ebrach, Collelongo, which differ in humus type, soil type and soil chemistry. After 4-5 years of litter decomposition, the upper 3 cm of the organo-mineral A horizon was sampled and the net N mineralization was measured over 112 days under controlled conditions. The origin of mineralized N (litter N versus soil organic N) was calculated using ¹⁵N labeling. In addition, soils were fractionated according to their particle size (>2000 μm, 200-2000 μm, 50-200 μm, <50 μm) and particulate organic matter (POM) was separated from the mineral fraction in size classes, except the <50 μm fraction. Between 41 and 69% of soil organic N was recovered as POM. Litter-released ¹⁵N was mainly to be found in the coarse POM fractions >200 μm. On a soil mass basis, N mineralization was two-fold higher at Aubure and Collelongo than at Ebrach, but, on a soil N basis, N mineralization was the lowest at Collelongo and the highest at Ebrach. On a soil N (or ¹⁵N) basis, mineralization of litter ¹⁵N was two to four-fold higher than mineralization of the average soil N. Furthermore, the δ¹⁵N of the mineral N produced was closer to that of POM than to that of the mineral-bound fraction (<50 μm). Highest rates of ¹⁵N mineralization happened in the soil with the lowest N content, and we found a negative relationship between accumulations of N in the upper A horizon and the mineralization of ¹⁵N from the litter. Our results show that mineral N is preferentially mineralized from POM in the upper organo-mineral soil irrespective of the soil chemistry and that the turnover rate of litter N is faster in soils with a low N content.     

Sorption, microbial uptake and decomposition of acetate in soil: Transformations revealed by position-specific C labeling

Many previous studies on transformation of low molecular weight organic substances (LMWOS) in soil were based on applying ¹⁴C and/or ¹³C labeled substances. Nearly all these studies used uniformly labeled substances, i.e. all C atoms in the molecule were labeled. The underlying premise is that LMWOS transformation involves the whole molecule and it is not possible to distinguish between 1) the flux of the molecule as a whole between pools (i.e. microbial biomass, CO₂, DOM, SOM, etc.) and 2) the splitting of the substance into metabolites and tracing those metabolites within the pools.Based on position-specific¹⁴C labeling, we introduce a new approach for investigating LMWOS transformation in soil: using Na-acetate labeled with ¹⁴C either in the 1st position (carboxyl group, -COOH) or in the 2nd position (methyl group, -CH₃), we evaluated sorption by the soil matrix, decomposition to CO₂, and microbial uptake as related to both C atoms in the acetate. We showed that sorption of acetate occurred as a whole molecule. After microbial uptake, however, the acetate is split, and C from the -COOH group is converted to CO₂ more completely and faster than C from the -CH₃ group. Correspondingly, C from the -CH₃ group of acetate is mainly incorporated into microbial cells, compared to C from the -COOH group. Thus, the rates of C utilization by microorganisms of C from both positions in the acetate were independently calculated. At concentrations of 10 μmol l⁻¹, microbial uptake from soil solution was very fast (half-life time about 3 min) for both C atoms. At concentrations <100 μmol l⁻¹ the oxidation to CO₂ was similar for C atoms of both groups (about 55% of added substance). However, at acetate concentrations >100 μmol l⁻¹, the decomposition to CO₂ for C from -CH₃ decreased more strongly than for C from -COOH.We conclude that the application of position-specifically labeled substances opens new ways to investigate not only the general fluxes, but also transformations of individual C atoms from molecules. This, in turn, allows conclusions to be drawn about the steps of individual transformation processes on the submolecular level and the rates of these processes.     

Nitrogen dynamics in co-composted drilling wastes: Effects of compost quality and N fertilization

A better understanding of N availability in co-composted drilling wastes is required to evaluate the potential use of the composts as growth media. We investigated N dynamics in co-composted drilling wastes by examining the changes in the concentrations and partition of applied ¹⁵N in various soil N pools (, , dissolved organic N, microbial biomass N, and non-extractable N) in a 4-month greenhouse incubation experiment using 1-, 2-, 3-, and 4-year-old (referred to below as 1Y, 2Y, 3Y, and 4Y, respectively) composts, representing substrates with different quality. Regardless of compost age, after 4 months of incubation extractable N concentrations decreased (P<0.05), in contrast with the increasing pattern of the non-extractable N, indicating stabilization of the extractable N into the recalcitrant soil organic fraction. Fertilizer N application increased (P<0.05) extractable N concentrations. In the younger composts, a major part of the applied ¹⁵N was recovered in the non-extractable N fraction (44.0% for 1Y and 38.5% for 2Y) with little recovered as mineral N. On the other hand, a considerable percentage of the applied ¹⁵N (21.8% for 3Y and 18.8% for 4Y) was found in the pool in the older composts with relatively high mineral N but low organic C contents. This study shows that the dynamics of biologically available N and fate of applied N in the composts depend on compost quality such as mineral N and organic C contents, and compost C:N ratio. To use the co-composted drilling waste as growth media, different N management strategies need to be established for those composts with differed substrate quality.     

Immobilization and remineralization of N following addition of wheat straw into soil: determination of gross N transformation rates by N-ammonium isotope dilution technique

N dynamics in soil where wheat straw was incorporated were investigated by a soil incubation experiment using ¹⁵N-labelled nitrate or ¹⁵N-labelled wheat straw. The incubated soils were sampled after 7, 28, 54 days from the incorporation of wheat straw, respectively, and gross rates of N transformations including N remineralization and temporal changes in the amount of microbial biomass were determined.Following the addition of wheat straw into soils, rapid decrease of nitrate content in soil and increase of microbial biomass C and N occurred within the first week from onset of the experiment. Both the gross rates of mineralization and immobilization determined by ¹⁵N-ammonium isotope dilution technique were remarkably enhanced by the addition of wheat straw, and gradually decreased with time. Remineralization rate of N derived from ¹⁵N-labelled nitrate, and mineralization rate of N derived from ¹⁵N-labelled wheat straw was estimated by ¹⁵N isotope dilution technique using non-labelled ammonium. Remineralization rates of N derived from ¹⁵N-labelled nitrate were calculated to be 0.71 mg N kg⁻¹ d⁻¹ after 7 days, 0.55 mg N kg⁻¹ d⁻¹ after 28 days, and 0.29 mg N kg⁻¹ d⁻¹ after 54 days.Nearly 10% of the ¹⁵N-labelled N originally contained in the wheat straw was held in the microbial biomass irrespective of the sampling time. The amount of inorganic N in soil which was derived from ¹⁵N-labelled wheat straw ranged between 1.93 and 2.37 mg N kg⁻¹.Rates of N transformations in soil with ¹⁵N-labelled wheat straw were obtained by assuming that the k value was equal to the ¹⁵N abundance of biomass N, and the obtained values were considered to be valid.