Bodenbiologische Parameter entlang von Transekten in Kalk-Halbtrockenrasen

Microbiological properties along transects in calcareous grasslands In this study microbiological properties along four transects from farmland to calcareous grasslands were investigated. It was examined whether changes in microbiological properties had developed in the peripheral zone of the calcareous grasslands parallel to the change in species composition caused by nutrient input. At three study sites the enzyme activities in the soils of the farmland were lower than in the soils of the peripheral zones and the calcareous grasslands. At two study sites basal respiration was also lower in the farmland soils. Two transects showed differences between the soils of the peripheral zone and the calcareous grassland. At the Galgenberg basal respiration and enzyme activities in the peripheral zone were lower than in the calcareous grassland, which might be due to a decrease in root mass and an increase in phosphate contents (inhibition of phosphatase activity). In the peripheral zone of Forstberg site increased microbial biomass was found, caused by higher production and favorable C/N ratios of the litter.     

Effect of soil characteristics on N mineralization capacity in 112 native and agricultural soils from the northwest of Spain

N mineralization capacity and its main controlling factors were studied in a large variety (n=112) of native (forest, bush) and agricultural (pasture, cultivated) soils from several climatic zones in Spain. The available inorganic N content, net N mineralization, and net N mineralization rate were determined after 6 weeks of aerobic incubation. NH _inf4 ^sup+ –N largely predominated over NO _inf3 ^sup- -N (ratio near 10:1) except in some agricultural soils. Net N mineralization predominated (83% of soils) over net N immobilization, which was more frequent in agricultural soils (25%) than in native soils (9%). In forest soils, both net N mineralization and the net N mineralization rate were significantly higher than in the other soil groups. The net N mineralization rate of pasture and cultivated soils was similar to that of bush soils, but available inorganic N was lower. The net N mineralization rate decreased in the order: soils over acid rocks>soils over sediments>soils over basic rocks or limestone; moreover, the highest net N mineralization and available inorganic N were found in soils over acid rocks. The highest N mineralization was found in soils with low C and N contents, particularly in the native soils, in which N mineralization increased as the C:N ratio increased. N mineralization was higher in soils with a low pH and base saturation than in soils with high pH and base saturation values, which sometimes favoured N immobilization. Soils with an Al gel content of >1% showed lower net N mineralization rates than soils with Al gel contents of <1%, although net N mineralization and available inorganic N did not differ between these groups. The net N mineralization rate in silty soils was significantly lower than in sandy and clayey soils, although soil texture only explained a low proportion of the differences in N mineralization between soils.     

红壤水稻土微生物生物量氮与总氮矿化的关系

通过田间采样并布置室内培育试验,研究了红壤水稻土微生物生物量N和总N的矿化动态及其相互关系。结果表明,红壤水稻土微生物生物量N矿化速率和矿化量随培养时间延长而降低,随水稻土肥力水平提高而增加。12周培养期内,红壤水稻土微生物生物量N的一半以上被矿化,其中约1/2的矿化量出现在前4周;不同熟化程度红壤水稻土的累积矿化N量为73.0～127.8mg/kg,平均矿化速率为6.09～10.7mg/(kg·wk)。用双指数方程和一级动力学方程可以很好地模拟红壤水稻土微生物生物量N和总N的矿化过程。微生物生物量N和总N的矿化过程均可分为快速和缓慢2个阶段,培养的前8周是快速矿化阶段。2个模拟方程参数的比较表明,微生物生物量N矿化量占总N矿化量的比例为10.8%～49.5%,其矿化潜力大,持续矿化时间长,对保证土壤N素的持续供应有积极作用。     

Influence of nitrogen and elemental‐sulfur fertilization on sulfur oxidation and mineralization in relation to soil moisture on a calcareous soil of the Inner Mongolia steppe of China

Grassland‐livestock farming is the main agricultural activity in the Inner Mongolia steppe of China. It has been estimated that more than 80% of the grasslands suffer from sulfur (S) deficiency in this region. In an incubation study and a greenhouse experiment with alfalfa, the influence of soil moisture (40% and 70% water‐holding capacity, WHC), nitrogen (0 and 200 mg N (kg soil)^–1 as NH₄NO₃), and elemental sulfur (eS; 0 and 300 mg S (kg soil)^–1) amendments on the apparent eS oxidation, eS‐oxidation rate, net S‐mineralization rate, and S uptake of alfalfa were studied. After 28 d of incubation, the eS‐oxidation rate was four times higher at 70% than at 40% WHC if no N was applied. With N application, soil moisture had only minor effects on eS oxidation during the whole incubation period. In the greenhouse experiment, lower values for eS‐oxidation rate and net S‐mineralization rate were found if no N was applied. Application of N and eS significantly increased alfalfa growth and S uptake. The results of both experiments suggest that combined N and eS applications are the best way to alleviate S deficiency on these calcareous soils.     

围海造田长期耕种稻田和旱地土壤氮矿化速率及供氮潜力比较

围海造田是沿海地区拓展土地面积的主要途径。土壤氮矿化参数是揭示围海造田土壤肥力演变和土壤氮供应的重要指标,但是我国沿海造田土壤的相关研究少有报道。本研究以杭州湾南岸海积平原上慈溪市1000年和520年筑塘造田区为对象,选择4个代表性采样点,每个点从低洼稻田采集1个表层混合水稻土,在其相邻高地采集1个表层混合旱地土壤,共8个样品。采用间隙淋洗法研究了土壤样品氮矿化动力学特征。结果如下: 119 d培养试验证实水稻土和旱地土壤有机氮矿化动力学符合一级反应动力学方程Nt=N0(1-e-kt); 水稻土有机氮矿化势（N0）为82.7～161.9 mg/kg（平均114 mg/kg）,占有机氮的7.3%,旱地土壤N0为63.9～104.4 mg/kg（平均83.4 mg/kg）,占有机氮的7.3%; 水稻土有机氮矿化速率（k）为0.033～0.114/d（平均0.064/d）,旱地土壤k为0.007～0.023/d（平均0.020/d）。土壤综合供氮指标（N0k）,水稻土为3.8418.46 mg/(kgd)［平均8.0 mg/(kgd)］,旱地土壤为0.54～2.66 mg/(kgd)［平均1.6 mg/(kgd)］。水稻土总氮含量为1.4～2.0 g/kg （平均1.6 g/kg）,旱地为0.87～2.0 g/kg（平均1.3 g/kg）。可见,水稻土氮库、供氮潜力和速率均大于相邻旱地土壤。因此,从土壤氮肥力来讲,相对于旱地,围海形成的水稻田更具有可持续利用性。     

Soil feedback on plant growth in a sub-arctic grassland as a result of repeated defoliation

In the long term, defoliation of plants can be hypothesized to decrease plant carbon supply to soil decomposers and thus decrease decomposer abundance and nutrient mineralization in the soil. To test whether defoliation creates changes in soil that can feedback to plant growth, we collected soil from sub-arctic grassland plots that had been either defoliated or non-defoliated for three years and followed the growth of different plant species combinations in these soils in greenhouse conditions. Plant N acquisition and plant growth were lower in the soil collected from the defoliated field plots than in the soil collected from the non-defoliated plots. This response did not depend on the species composition or richness of the tested plant community. In the field, defoliation decreased net nitrogen mineralization. Despite the negative effect of decreased nutrient mineralization rate on plant growth and N accumulation in the greenhouse test, the aboveground abundance of most plant species was not affected by defoliation in the field. This indicates that plants in these sub-arctic grasslands can at least temporarily overcome defoliation-induced decrease in soil nutrient availability. To our knowledge, our results are the first direct evidence that defoliation can induce changes in the soil that negatively feedback to plant growth and N accumulation. This finding indicates that, especially in arctic and sub-arctic grasslands where nutrient mineralization rates are inherently low, soil feedbacks can have an important role in the outcome of herbivore–plant interactions.     

Net Nitrogen and Sulfur Mineralization in Mountainous Soils Amended with Indigenous Plant Residues

Abstract

Mineralization of nitrogen (N) and sulfur (S) were examined over a 31‐week incubation period under aerobic conditions in 13 soils selected from the mountainous district of Pertouli, central Greece. The main native plant species are turf, forage crops, forest trees, herbs, and shrubs. Net mineralization and immobilization of N and S by indigenous plants were estimated. Most soils are acidic in this xeric, mesic climatic regime, and organic carbon (C), organic nitrogen (N), and sulfur (S) appreciably varied in soils and plant species. The cumulative net mineralization of N is much higher in comparison to the amount of mineralized S. Release of N is curvilinear with time and associated with a declining mineralization in the later stages of the incubation. Close relationships exist between soil organic S and N and between organic C and N, indicating that these elements are mainly bound in the organic matter. The cumulative net mineralization from soils varies greatly and ranges between 36.6 and 212.8 (average 104.8) mg/kg for N and between 21.4 and 45.2 (average 31.8) mg/kg for S. Immobilization occurs in most soils amended with indigenous plant residues, with the amount of immobilized N varying between 14.8 and 49.5 mg/kg and that of immobilized S ranging from 2.6 to 30.7 mg/kg. However, the estimated rates of N and S mineralization are not negligible and can be taken into account as potential sources in the management of the upland soils.     

Effects of prescribed burning and seasonal and interannual climate variation on nitrogen mineralization in a typical steppe in Inner Mongolia

Fires in grasslands significantly alter nutrient cycling processes. Seasonal climatic changes can interact with fire to further modify nutrient cycling processes. To investigate the effects of fire on soil nitrogen transformation processes and their seasonal change and interannual variability in a typical steppe in Inner Mongolia, we determined the rates of net nitrogen mineralization and nitrification over two growing seasons and a winter following a prescribed spring fire in May 2006. Fire significantly decreased rates of both net nitrogen mineralization and net nitrification during the first growing season and winter following burning. Cumulative net nitrogen mineralization in unburned and burned plots in the 2006 growing season was 133% and 183% higher, respectively, than in the drier 2007 growing season. Nitrogen mineralization apparently occurred in winter and the cumulative net nitrogen mineralization from October 2, 2006, to April 27, 2007 in unburned and burned plots amounted to 1.18 ± 0.25 g N m⁻² and 0.51 ± 0.08 g N m⁻², respectively. Cumulative net nitrogen mineralization was higher in a wet 2006 than in a dry 2007 growing season, indicating that the net N mineralization rate was sensitive to soil moisture in a dry season. Our study demonstrated that a one-time prescribed fire decreased net N mineralization rates only for a short period of time after burning while interannual variation in climate had more significant effects on the process of nitrogen mineralization.     

高寒草甸土CO2流通和氮矿化之间的关系以及对外加碳或氮的响应

In nutrient-limited alpine meadows,nitrogen(N) mineralization is prior to soil microbial immobilization;therefore,increased mineral N supply would be most likely immobilized by soil microbes due to nutrient shortage in alpine soils.In addition,low temperature in alpine meadows might be one of the primary factors limiting soil organic matter decomposition and thus N mineralization.A laboratory incubation experiment was performed using an alpine meadow soil from the Tibetan Plateau.Two levels of NH4NO3(N) or glucose(C) were added,with a blank without addition of C or N as the control,before incubation at 5,15,or 25 ℃ for 28 d.CO2 efflux was measured during the 28-d incubation,and the mineral N was measured at the beginning and end of the incubation,in order to test two hypotheses:1) net N mineralization is negatively correlated with CO2 efflux for the control and 2) the external labile N or C supply will shift the negative correlation to positive.The results showed a negative correlation between CO2 efflux and net N immobilization in the control.External inorganic N supply did not change the negative correlation.The external labile C supply shifted the linear correlation from negative to positive under the low C addition level.However,under the high C level,no correlation was found.These suggested that the correlation of CO2 efflux to net N mineralization strongly depend on soil labile C and C:N ratio regardless of temperatures.Further research should focus on the effects of the types and the amount of litter components on interactions of C and N during soil organic matter decomposition.     

华北平原农田生态系统土壤C、N净矿化及尿素转化研究

以华北平原区4个农田生态系统[京郊蔬菜大棚(GH)和河北栾城(LF)、河北南皮(NF)、山东惠民(HF)3个粮田]为研究对象,采用室内好气、恒温、避光条件下培养30.d,对比研究了不同海拔和不同农业扰动强度下的农田生态系统中耕层(020.cm)土壤的净N矿化、净硝化、净C矿化以及尿素的转化,旨在探索人类农业扰动强度和地理海拔对土壤供N潜力和尿素N转化的影响。结果表明,4个地区的土壤供N潜力分别为:14.4、13.2,17.7和16.5.mg/kg,说明高度熟化的华北区农田土壤供N潜力相对稳定。以施用有机肥为主的蔬菜大棚和以施用化肥为主的粮田对土壤供N没有显著影响。农田土壤净矿化后的供N形式主要是NO3--N。以施用有机肥为主的蔬菜大棚积累了较高的土壤有机质和全N,但是土壤净C矿化以及施用尿素后CO2的排放量均低于以施用化肥为主的粮田。尿素在各区域农田土壤中水解转化后均主要以NO3--N形式存在,NO3--N占尿素水解后无机N增量的98%9～9%;华北平原农田生态系统施入尿素态N.30d后,水解成有效态无机N的转化率为63.4%8～3.2%,即每克尿素态N在京郊蔬菜大棚(GH)、栾城高产农田(LF)、南皮农田(NF)和惠民农田(HF)土壤中转化为NO3--N的量分别为0.69、0.82、0.64和0.63.g/kg,同时可使相应区域农田的CO2排放量分别增加CO21.20、1.360、.67和1.58.g/kg。     

Nitrogen fertilizer–induced mineralization of soil organic C and N in six contrasting soils of Bangladesh

A 90‐day laboratory incubation study was carried out using six contrasting subtropical soils (calcareous, peat, saline, noncalcareous, terrace, and acid sulfate) from Bangladesh. A control treatment without nitrogen (N) application was compared with treatments where urea, ammonium sulfate (AS), and ammonium nitrate (AN) were applied at a rate of 100 mg N (kg soil)^–1. To study the effect of N fertilizers on soil carbon (C) turnover, the CO₂‐C flux was determined at nine sampling dates during the incubation, and the total loss of soil carbon (TC) was calculated. Nitrogen turnover was characterized by measuring net nitrogen mineralization (NNM) and net nitrification (NN). Simple and stepwise multiple regressions were calculated between CO₂‐C flux, TC, NNM, and NN on the one hand and selected soil properties (organic C, total N, C : N ratio, CEC, pH, clay and sand content) on the other hand. In general, CO₂‐C fluxes were clearly higher during the first 2 weeks of the incubation compared to the later phases. Soils with high pH and/or indigenous C displayed the highest CO₂‐C flux. However, soils having low C levels (i.e., calcareous and terrace soils) displayed a large relative TC loss (up to 22.3%) and the added N–induced TC loss from these soils reached a maximum of 10.6%. Loss of TC differed depending on the N treatments (urea > AS > AN >> control). Significantly higher NNM was found in the acidic soils (terrace and acid sulfate). On average, NNM after urea application was higher than for AS and AN (80.3 vs. 71.9 and 70.9 N (kg soil)^–1, respectively). However, specific interactions between N‐fertilizer form and soil type have to be taken into consideration. High pH soils displayed larger NN (75.9–98.1 mg N (kg soil)^–1) than low pH soils. Averaged over the six soils, NN after application of urea and AS (83.3 and 82.2 mg N (kg soil)^–1, respectively) was significantly higher than after application of AN (60.6 mg N (kg soil)^–1). Significant relationships were found between total CO₂ flux and certain soil properties (organic C, total N, CEC, clay and sand content). The most important soil property for NNM as well as NN was soil pH, showing a correlation coefficient of –0.33** and 0.45***, respectively. The results indicate that application of urea to acidic soils and AS to high‐pH soils could be an effective measure to improve the availability of added N for crop uptake.     

施入~(15)N标记氮肥在长期不同培肥土壤的残留及其利用

采用盆栽试验和短期矿化培养相结合的方法,研究了施入15N标记氮肥(+N)及其与秸秆配施(+1/2N+1/2S)在3种长期(19年)不同培肥土壤(即:No-F,长期不施肥土壤;NPK,长期施用NPK化肥土壤;MNPK,长期有机无机肥配施土壤)中的残留及其矿化和作物吸收特性。结果表明,第一季小麦收获后,+1/2N+1/2S处理下三供试土壤和+N处理下的NPK和MNPK土壤残留肥料氮(残留15N)中有82.6%~95.1%以有机态存,而+N处理下No-F土壤残留15N有47.7%以矿质态存在。经过28 d矿化培养后,与NPK土壤相比,MNPK土壤氮素净矿化量显著增加,增幅为39%~49%;NPK和MNPK土壤残留肥料氮(残留15N)矿化量为1.23~1.90 mg kg-1,占总残留15N的2.78%~5.53%,均显著高于No-F土壤。与+N处理相比,+1/2N+1/2S处理显著提高了3供试土壤氮素净矿化量,但两施肥处理对NPK和MNPK土壤残留15N矿化量无显著影响。+N处理下No-F土壤残留15N的利用率为20%,显著高于NPK(9%)和MNPK(12%)土壤。两种施肥处理下,MNPK土壤残留15N的利用率均显著高于NPK土壤。短期培养期间土壤氮素矿化量和第二季小麦生育期作物吸氮量呈显著性正相关,而残留15N矿化量和第二季小麦吸收残留15N量间无显著性相关关系。长期有机无机配施可以提高土壤残留肥料氮的矿化量及有效性。     

喀斯特山区不同母质(岩)发育的土壤主要理化性质差异性分析

在贵阳市乌当区采集了白云岩、石灰岩、钙质紫色砂页岩等9种母质(岩)上发育的土壤样品763个,分别进行了土壤主要理化性质的测定和差异性分析。结果表明不同母质(岩)发育的土壤理化性质具有很大的差异:红色粘土、老风化壳和页岩上发育的土壤pH值均为酸性至强酸性,有机质和CEC含量中等,土壤质地较粘重;石灰岩、白云岩和钙质紫色砂页岩上发育的土壤pH值为中性至微碱性,有机质和CEC含量较高,质地较为适中;砂页岩和河流冲积物上发育的土壤pH值为酸性至中性,其余理化性质为中等水平;砂岩发育的土壤pH值为强酸性,其余理化性质均较差。     

华中地区两种典型菜地土壤中氮素的矿化特征研究

以华中地区两种典型的菜地土壤——黄棕壤和潮土为研究对象,利用室内连续培养试验研究了菜地土壤氮素的矿化规律和矿化特征.结果表明,黄棕壤和潮土氮素的矿化以硝态氮量较多,铵态氮较少.两种土壤的矿化速率随培养时间的延长而降低,培养13周以后黄棕壤的矿化速率为N 0.13 mg/(kg.d),潮土为N 0.32 mg/(kg.d).随着培养时间的延长,黄棕壤和潮土的累计氮矿化量缓慢增长.培养结束时黄棕壤矿化量为N 68.65 mg/kg,潮土矿化量为N109.37 mg/kg,分别占土壤全氮量的24.52％和21.45％.黄棕壤和潮土氮素的矿化势分别为N 74.63 mg/kg和123.45mg,/kg,分别占土壤全氮量的26.65％和24.21％.     

石灰岩山地侧柏纯林非生长季土壤氮矿化研究

为探明石灰岩山地侧柏纯林非生长季土壤氮矿化能力,采用PVC管原位培养法对济南南部山区石灰岩山地人工恢复不同年限(5,10,25年)的侧柏纯林土壤的氮矿化能力进行研究。结果表明:3种不同恢复年限侧柏纯林NO3--N含量先升高后降低然后再有所升高,NH4+-N含量变化没有明显的规律性。其净硝化速率和净氮矿化速率均在11月份达到最大值,分别为(0.07±0.04)mg/(kg.d),(0.11±0.01)mg/(kg.d),(0.15±0.02)mg/(kg.d)和(0.15±0.04)mg/(kg.d),(0.29±0.02)mg/(kg.d),(0.33±0.03)mg/(kg.d)。石灰岩山地侧柏纯林土壤的净氮矿化速率与土壤湿度表现为二次函数关系,但随湿度增加,土壤净氮矿化能力降低。土壤净氮矿化与土壤pH值呈显著负相关(r=-0.452,p=0.018),与土壤有机碳含量、微生物量碳含量和C/N比均呈正相关关系,但相关性不显著(r=0.076,p=0.707;r=0.374,p=0.055;r=0.337,p=0.086)。非生长季石灰岩山地侧柏纯林土壤有较强的氮转化能力,气温变化所导致的土壤环境因素对氮矿化有显著影响。     

模拟氮添加对亚热带杉木人工林土壤有机碳矿化的影响

为探讨氮添加对亚热带杉木人工林土壤有机碳矿化的影响，选择福建三明森林生态系统与全球变化国家野外科学观测研究站38年生杉木人工林土壤为研究对象，设置N0(0 mg/kg)、N10(100 mg/kg)、N25(250 mg/kg) 3个氮添加水平，并进行117 d的培养。结果表明：(1)氮添加后，土壤有机碳矿化速率在培养开始(0 d)即达到最大值，在培养前期(0～57 d)这一段时间内N0、N10和N25处理的有机碳矿化速率平均值显著下降了44%、45%、47%，而在整个培养期间3个处理有机碳平均矿化速率分别为9.97、9.27、8.89 mg/(kg·d)；(2)有机碳矿化累积量随培养时间延长显著增加，随氮添加增加显著降低，与N0处理相比，培养117 d后N10、N25处理有机碳矿化累积量平均值分别降低了3.4%、7.4%；(3)微生物生物量对氮添加响应并不显著，但真菌/细菌比随氮添加增加而增大。总体上，氮添加主要是通过改变土壤有机碳和氮抑制了土壤有机碳矿化。因此，氮添加后土壤中碳、氮养分含量的变化是有机碳矿化变化的主要原因，而微生物群落结构变化则不是主要因素。     

Assessment of N Mineralization and N Leaching in Soil Using a New in situ Incubation Method

Field incubations have been pointed out as the more realistic method to provide estimates of nitrogen (N) mineralization. The aim of this study is to evaluate the quality of the results obtained in a field incubation using an open reactor to estimate net N mineralization and N leaching. The incubation experiment was initiated with 24 reactors. At each date, the reactors were destructed and mineral N in the soil and adsorbed on the exchange resins was determined. Net N mineralization and N leaching were estimated as 23.3 and 18.0 mg/kg, respectively. The results revealed an acceptable repeatability, with coefficient of variation (CV) of 9.0%, a significant adjustment (r² = 0.991), and a low root mean square error (S_yx = 4.2) for the regression model used. The use of this type of reactor may be considered as a reliable alternative to assess N mineralization kinetics from native organic matter and probably for organic residues applied to soils in field studies.     

Dynamik und Elementgehalte von Fichtenfeinwurzeln in Kalkgesteinsböden am Wank (Bayerische Kalkalpen)

Dynamics and nutrient concentration in fine-roots of alpine spruce stands on calcareous soils (Wank-Massif/Bavarian Alps) The dynamics and the concentrations of nutrient elements in the fine roots of two stands of alpine spruce differing in vigour on calcareous soils overlying limestone in the Wank massif of the bavarian alps were measured. Selected root parameters were compared with those obtaining on acid soils. At Wank, the concentration (mg/100 ml soil) of living fine roots and root tips was maximum in the organic surface layer and the mineral horizon immediately underlying the surface layer. There were significantly more fine root biomass (kg ha^?1) on the calcareous site (Walk) than on acid soils (Solling and Fichtelgebirge). There were also marked differences between the two sites in concentration of nutrient elements in the fine roots was strongly influenced by chemical composition of the soil solution.     

Potential mineralization and nitrification in volcanic grassland soils in Chile

Abstract

A proportion of the nitrogen (N) applied to grasslands as organic or inorganic fertilizers can be lost to water courses as nitrate and to the atmosphere as nitrous and nitric oxides. Volcanic soils from Chile are not generally prone to leaching, possibly due to net immobilization of nitrate and/or ammonium, and/or due to inhibition of nitrification by either chemical or physical processes. In laboratory studies we found large mineralization potentials in soils from three different Chilean soils after 17 weeks of incubation, totalling 215 and 254 mg kg^?1 dry soil for two Andisols and 127 mg kg^?1 dry soil in an Ultisol. Nitrification occurred after a short period, and was lowest in the Ultisol. In addition, microbial analysis showed nitrifiers to be present in all three soils. Adsorption of ammonium was two-fold stronger than for nitrate, ranging from 29 to 180 kg N ha^?1. The highest potential for N adsorption in the 0–60 cm soil profile was with the Ultisol (398 kg N ha^?1), but was similar in both Andisols (193 and 172 kg N ha^?1, respectively). The combination of ammonium retention together with delayed nitrification could account for the low leaching rates in these soils.     

Climatic conditions and crop‐residue quality differentially affect N,P, and S mineralization in soils with contrasting P status

The substitution of the widely practiced crop‐residue burning by residue incorporation in the subtropical zone requires a better understanding of factors determining nutrient mineralization. We examined the effect of three temperature (15°C, 30°C, and 45°C) and two moisture regimes (60% and 90% water‐filled pore space (WFPS)) on the mineralization‐immobilization of N, P, and S from groundnut (Arachis hypogae) and rapeseed (Brassica napus) residues (4 t ha^–1) in two soils with contrasting P fertility. Crop‐residue mineralization was differentially affected by incubation temperature, soil aeration status, and residue quality. Only the application of groundnut residues (low C : nutrient ratios) resulted in a positive net N and P mineralization within 30 days of incubation, while net N and P immobilization was observed with rapeseed residues. Highest N and P mineralization and lowest N and P immobilization occurred at 45°C under nearly saturated soil conditions. Especially net P mineralization was significantly higher in nearly saturated than in aerobic soils. In contrast, S mineralization was more from rapeseed than from groundnut residues and higher in aerobic than in nearly saturated soil. The initial soil P content influenced the mineralization of N and P, which was significantly higher in the soil with a high initial P fertility (18 mg P (kg soil)^–1) than in the soil with low P status (8 mg P (kg soil)^–1). Residue‐S mineralization was not affected by soil P fertility. The findings suggest that climatic conditions (temperature and rainfall‐induced changes in soil aeration status) and residue quality determine N‐ and S‐mineralization rates, while the initial soil P content affects the mineralization of added residue N and P. While the application of high‐quality groundnut residues is likely to improve the N supply to a subsequent summer crop (high temperature) under aerobic and the P supply under anaerobic soil condition, low‐quality residues (rapeseed) may show short‐term benefits only for the S nutrition of a following crop grown in aerobic soil.