Organic nitrogen mineralization in temperate humid-zone soils after two and six weeks of aerobic incubation

The N mineralization rate in 11 soils was studied by aerobic incubation at 28°C and at a moisture content of 75% of field capacity for 2 weeks (short term) and 6 weeks (medium term). Relationships between the N mineralization indices for each period were evaluated. Ammonification largely predominated during the first 2 weeks of incubation, whereas nitrification was the predominant process between weeks 2 and 6. The net N mineralized in the different soils varied from 0 to 2.85% of the organic N after 2 weeks of incubation and from 0.32 to 3.36% of the organic N after 6 weeks of incubation, the mean values for each period being 0.82 and 1.51% of the organic N, respectively. The quantities of NH _inf4 ^sup+ -N, NO _inf3 ^sup- -N, and total inorganic N produced and the percentage of organic N mineralized after 2 weeks of incubation were highly and positively correlated with the coresponding values after 6 weeks of incubation. These results showed that either length of incubation could be used to determine the potential N mineralization capacity of the soils. Information obtained from two incubation periods was largely supplementary for the kinetic study of N mineralization, ammonification, and nitrification; therefore a medium-term incubation with intermediate measurements of N mineralization over a short term may be more useful than a single measurement using either of the two incubation periods.     

The effect of inorganic nitrogen on the added nitrogen interaction of soils in incubation experiments

A laboratory incubation experiment was conducted to study the effect of indigenous inorganic N on the immobilization of applied N and on the occurrence of an added N interaction (ANI). Samples of six Mollisols from Illinois were incubated with ¹⁵N-labelled (NH₄)₂SO₄ (100 or 200 mg N kg^-1 soil), with or without the use of 0.01 M CaCl₂ to extract inorganic N (mainly NO _inf3 ^sup- ) before incubation. From 6 to 49% of the N applied was immobilized, higher percentages being obtained with unextracted soils than with the extracted soils and with the higher rate of N addition. Net mineralization of native N occurred in both the unextracted and extracted soils, but was more extensive in the unextracted soil and increased with the addition of N. The increases were accompanied by a positive ANI, which usually exceeded the amount of applied N immobilized and increased with the rate of addition. The ANI values observed with extracted soils were attributed to increased mineralization of native organic N.     

Impact of land-use types on soil nitrogen net mineralization in the sandstorm and water source area of Beijing,China

Changes of land-use type (LUT) can affect soil nutrient pools and cycling processes that relate long-term sustainability of ecosystem, and can also affect atmospheric CO₂ concentrations and global warming through soil respiration. We conducted a comparative study to determine NH₄⁺ and NO₃⁻ concentrations in soil profiles (0–200 cm) and examined the net nitrogen (N) mineralization and net nitrification in soil surface (0–20 cm) of adjacent naturally regenerated secondary forests (NSF), man-made forests (MMF), grasslands and cropland soils from the windy arid and semi-arid Hebei plateau, the sandstorm and water source area of Beijing, China. Cropland and grassland soils showed significantly higher inorganic N concentrations than forest soils. NO₃⁻-N accounted for 50–90% of inorganic N in cropland and grassland soils, while NH₄⁺-N was the main form of inorganic N in NSF and MMF soils. Average net N-mineralization rates (mg kg⁻¹ d⁻¹) were much higher in native ecosystems (1.51 for NSF soils and 1.24 for grassland soils) than in human disturbed LUT (0.15 for cropland soils and 0.85 for MMF soils). Net ammonification was low in all the LUT while net nitrification was the major process of net N mineralization. For more insight in urea transformation, the increase in NH₄⁺ and, NO₃⁻ concentrations as well as C mineralization after urea addition was analyzed on whole soils. Urea application stimulated the net soil C mineralization and urea transformation pattern was consistent with net soil N mineralization, except that the rate was slightly slower. Land-use conversion from NSF to MMF, or from grassland to cropland decreased soil net N mineralization, but increased net nitrification after 40 years or 70 years, respectively. The observed higher rates of net nitrification suggested that land-use conversions in the Hebei plateau might lead to N losses in the form of nitrate.     

Soil particulate organic matter effects on nitrogen availability after afforestation with Eucalyptus globulus

We examined the hypothesis that changes in the quality and/or quantity of soil particulate organic matter (POM) after afforestation of pasture land with Eucalyptus globulus Labill. plantations caused increased nitrogen (N) immobilization and a decline in N availability. The quantity of POM was measured on soils from 10 paired pasture/plantation sites in south-western Australia. Net mineralization of C and N were measured over a 14-day incubation of POM, whole soil, and a mix of POM (33%) and whole soil (67%) at 25 °C and optimal moisture content (matric potential of 25 kPa). There was no significant difference in total organic C between pasture and plantation. However, the POM fraction C was higher in plantation soils (75%) than under pasture (62%), reflecting the coarser nature of organic inputs under plantation. Total soil N concentration was 20% lower under plantation compared to pasture, and the proportion in the POM was higher (74% compared to 57% for pasture soil). The C:N ratios in POM under both pasture and plantation, and in the whole soil under plantation were around 19, but C:N ratios of whole soil under pasture was 17. Average C mineralization was 13% lower in plantation relative to that in pasture soil. The isolated POM fraction had 18% higher C mineralization rate than that in whole soil. The change in net N mineralization with afforestation was marked, with 50% lower net N mineralization in plantation than pasture whole soils. Net N mineralization in the isolated POM fraction was also about 50% of that in the whole soil for both pasture and plantation soils. Although, the pasture and plantation POM had similar C:N ratios, the net N mineralization was 2-fold greater in pasture POM than in plantation POM, suggesting that biochemical characteristics other than the C:N ratio had the main influence on net N mineralization rates. The POM fraction did not significantly immobilize N from the whole soil when placed in a mixture of POM and whole soil, suggesting that N immobilization was not the main mechanism for POM to influence N availability in these soils.     

Comparison of different methodologies for field measurement of net nitrogen mineralization in pasture soils under different soil conditions

 Net mineralization was measured in free-draining and poorly drained pasture soils using three different field incubation methodologies. Two involved the use of enclosed incubation vessels (jar or box) containing C₂H₂ as a nitrification inhibitor. The third method confined soil cores in situ in an open tube in the ground, with an anion-exchange resin at the base to retain leached NO₃ ^– (resin-core technique, RCT). Measurements were made on three occasions on three free-draining pastures of different ages and contrasting organic matter contents. In general, rates of net mineralization increased with pasture age and organic matter content (range: 0.5–1.5 kg N ha^–1 day^–1) and similar rates were obtained between the three techniques for a particular pasture. Coefficients of variation (CVs) were generally high (range: 10.4–98.5%), but the enclosed incubation methods were rather less variable than the RCT and were considered overall to be the more reliable. The RCT did not include C₂H₂ and, therefore, newly formed NO₃ ^– may have been lost through denitrification. In a poorly drained pasture soil, there were discrepancies between the two enclosed methods, especially when the soil water content approached field capacity. The interpretation of the incubation measurements in relation to the flux of N through the soil inorganic N pool is discussed and the drawbacks of the various methodologies are evaluated. Received: 18 November 1999     

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.     

Changes in soil N status and N supply rates in agricultural land afforested with eucalypts in south-western Australia

In south-western Australia, plantations of Eucalyptus globulus are being established on land that has previously been used for conventional agriculture. Sustaining the productivity of these tree plantations in second and subsequent rotations will depend partly on maintenance of soil fertility, especially soil nitrogen (N) supply rates. We compared soil N status and supply rates between adjacent pasture and 6-11 year old first-rotation eucalypt plantations at 31 paired sites in south-western Australia. Total soil N varied widely among sites (0.07-0.68% in the fraction <2 mm of the 0-10 cm soil layer), but concentrations averaged over all sites did not differ between land-use types. However, measurements of the indices of mineralization (mineral N produced during incubation of intact cores), potentially available N (from short-term anaerobic incubation) and model-predicted mineralization rates during 28-day aerobic incubations were generally lower in afforested soils than in pasture soils. This finding was supported by in situ field estimates of N mineralization over a full year at two contrasting paired pasture-plantation sites. At each site there was a marked reduction (2-3-fold) in net annual mineral N flux rates in soils under eucalypt plantations. Reduced N mineralization associated with tree plantations was due to both changes in soil organic matter quality and the generally lower soil moisture content under trees in comparison with pasture. These results suggest that N supply rates of pasture soils are likely to decline when the land is planted to successive crops of eucalypts. Eucalypt plantation managers will need to take account of this and implement management strategies to maintain adequate N nutrition to sustain tree growth in future rotations.     

The phosphorus composition of contrasting soils in pastoral,native and forest management in Otago,New Zealand: Sequential extraction and 31P NMR

The distribution and form of P in soil is central to the sustainability of agricultural practice. This study used sequential fractionation and ³¹P nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (³¹P NMR) of NaOH–EDTA extracts to examine the influence of pastoral, native (undisturbed) and forest land use on soil P forms in 5 contrasting soils ranging from a Regosol to a Rendzina in Otago, New Zealand. Climatic factors likely to influence soil P distribution were negated by careful site selection. Together with a decrease in soil organic C (31%), total P decreased in forested soils (mean=674 mg kg⁻¹) compared to native soils (mean=784 mg kg⁻¹). In contrast, the ratio of inorganic to organic P increased (10%) probably due to mineralization of organic P in forest soils, while for pasture soils, accumulation of P in inorganic forms due to P inputs via fertilisers and animal dung was to blame. Investigation of the organic P forms in NaOH–EDTA extracts of each land use by ³¹P NMR indicated that diesters were greatest in the native soil (4–12% of total P in spectra), and declined as a proportion of total P in pasture soils and more so in forest soils. This was reflected in a decline of the diester to monoester ratio. However, the ratio was generally greater in forest than pasture soils and attributed to the labile nature of diesters, mineralization of monoesters in forest soils, and an increase in monoesters in pasture soils from inositol phosphates in plant debris. This effect was pronounced in the Regosol due to sandy texture and the preferential accumulation of plant debris in coarse particle size fractions. Due to the depletion of soil P reserves, forest soils in the area should be followed by pasture and well managed fertiliser additions before replanting.     

Phosphorus mineralization in subarctic agricultural and forest soils

Summary Potential P and C mineralization rates were determined in a 12-week laboratory incubation study on subarctic forest and agricultural soil samples with and without N fertilizer added. There was no significant difference in net inorganic P produced between N fertilized and unfertilized soils. The forest soil surface horizons had the highest net inorganic P mineralized, 32 mg P kg^-1 soil for the Oie and 17 mg P kg^-1 soil for the Oa. In the cropped soils net inorganic P immobilization started after 4 weeks and lasted through 12 weeks of incubation. Cumulative CO₂–C evolution rates differed significantly among soils, and between fertilizer treatments, with the N-fertilized soils evolving lower rates of CO₂–C than the unfertilized soils. Soils from the surface horizons in the forest evolved the highest rates of CO₂–C (127.6 and 89.4 mg g^-1 soil for the Oie and Oa horizons, respectively) followed by the cleared uncropped soil (42.8 mg g^-1 soil C), and the cropped soils (25.4 and 29.0 mg g^-1 soil C). In vitro soil respiration rates, or potential soil organic matter decomposition rates, decreased with increasing time after clearing and in accord with the degree of disturbance. Only soils with high potential C mineralization rates and high organic P to total P ratios, mineralized P by the end of the study. Mineralizable P appeared to be associated with readily mineralizable organic C.     

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.     

Rapid intrinsic rates of amino acid biodegradation in soils are unaffected by agricultural management strategy

Amino acids represent one of the largest inputs of dissolved organic nitrogen to soil and consequently they constitute a major component of the organic N cycle. The effect of agricultural management on the rate of amino acid turnover in soil, however, remains largely unknown. The aim of this study was to evaluate in long-term field experiments the effect of fertilizer addition (N, P and K), grazing, pH manipulation (lime addition), vegetation cover and shifts (grassland versus arable) and drainage on the mineralization of ¹⁴C-labelled amino acids in agricultural topsoils. Our results showed that the intrinsic rate of amino acid mineralization was rapid for all management regimes, irrespective of the tested soil type. The average (±SEM) half-life of the amino acids in all soils (n=155) was calculated to be 2.3±0.5 h. The relative amount of amino acid-C partitioned into respiration (25% of total C) versus biomass production (75% of total C) was also unaffected by management strategy. The rate of amino acid mineralization was shown to be slightly sensitive to soil pH, peaking at around pH_(2CaCl) 5.0 with an approximate twofold reduction at the pH extremes (pH 3.8 and 6.4). We conclude that management regime has little effect on the intrinsic rate of amino acid mineralization in agricultural soils. We propose therefore that total microbial activity rather than microbial diversity or community structure is likely to be the key determinant governing amino acid turnover in agricultural soils.     

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。     

土地利用方式对湿润亚热带土壤硝化作用的影响

在土壤最大持水量60%和30℃条件下对采自江西的自然土壤(森林和灌丛)和农业利用土壤(稻田、旱地和茶园)进行了实验室培养,研究土地利用对硝化作用的影响。结果表明,由于土壤呈酸性(pH4.2～6.3,平均为4.9),供试土壤的硝化作用很弱甚至缺失。当无外加铵态氮时,土壤的硝化速率与有机氮矿化速率呈显著的线性关系(p<0.01),而与土壤pH无关;当外加铵态氮使基质饱和时,硝化速率与土壤pH显著相关(p<0.01)。农业利用显著提高土壤的硝化作用能力,绝大部分自然土壤(78%)的净硝化速率小于净矿化速率,无机氮以铵态氮为主,而绝大部分农业利用土壤(74%)的净硝化速率大于净矿化速率。农业利用通过提高土壤pH、氮肥施用刺激硝化作用及改善土壤磷素供应状况等途径促进土壤的硝化作用。农业利用土壤硝化作用能力的提高增加了氮肥以硝态氮形态淋失的风险。     

Nitrogen mineralization in boreal forest stands of isle royale,Northern Michigan

The correlation of soil temperature and moisture with inorganic N concentrations and net mineralization beneath major species types in mature boreal and northern hardwood forests was examined over a two year period. Soils beneath species types where the canopy was dominated byBetula papyrifera, Picea glauca, Alnus rugosa or, in northern hardwoods,Acer saccharum were studied. Net NO₃ ^? mineralization varied by species type and net total inorganic nitrogen (N) mineralization varied by month and the interaction of species type with month. Soil NO₃ ^? concentration and NO₃ ^? mineralization were correlated for spruce, and inversely correlated for alder and maple. Soil NH₄ ⁺ concentration and NH₄ ⁺ mineralization were inversely correlated for alder and maple. In laboratory temperature and moisture treatments of birch, spruce and maple soils, NH₄ ⁺ and total inorganic N-mineralization increased with temperature. The response to moisture was most evident for NO₃ ^? mineralization in maple soils.     

Net mineralization, net nitrification and potentially available nitrogen in the subsoil beneath a cultivated crop and a permanent pasture

The brigalow clay soils of central Queensland in eastern Australia contain large quantities of nitrate-N in the subsoil beneath shallow rooting cultivated crops. A laboratory incubation study was conducted to determine whether nitrate accumulation at depth beneath these crops was due to in situ nitrogen mineralization. Intact soil cores, 5 cm long and 5 cm diameter, were obtained at four depths to 120 cm beneath cultivated black gram (Vigna mungo) and green panic (Panicum maximum var trichoglume) permanent pasture and incubated for 12 weeks at 60% water-filled pore space and 25°C. Net mineralization of organic N occurred in all soil cores obtained from under black gram with values ranging from 4.3 to 9 mg N kg^?1 soil at 12 weeks. Beneath the pasture, net mineralization had not commenced by the end of 12 weeks. Potentially available nitrogen (N_a) ranged from 1.2 to 62.7 kg N ha^?1 under black gram, and from 10.2 to 136.9 kg N ha^?1 under pasture. A significant relationship was observed between N_a and total N beneath both crops, and between N_a and total C under the pasture. Leaching of N mineralized in the surface layers of soil appears to be the main avenue of nitrate build-up in the subsoil beneath black gram, with subsoil mineralization making only a partial contribution to the accumulated nitrate pool.     

Nitrogen transformations in cold and frozen agricultural soils following organic amendments

Though microbial activity is known to occur in frozen soils, little is known about the fate of animal manure N applied in the fall to agricultural soils located in areas with prolonged winter periods. Our objective was to examine transformations of soil and pig slurry N at low temperatures. Loamy and clay soils were either unamended (Control), amended with ¹⁵NH₄-labeled pig slurry, or amended with the pig slurry and wheat straw. Soils were incubated at −6, −2, 2, 6, and 10 °C. The amounts of NH₄, NO₃ and microbial biomass N (MBN), and the presence of ¹⁵N in these pools were monitored. Total mineral N, NO₃ and ¹⁵NO₃ increased at temperature down to −2 °C in the loam soil and −6 °C in the clay soil, indicating that nitrification and mineralization proceeded in frozen soils. Nitrification and mineralization rates were 1.8-4.9 times higher in the clay than in the loamy soil, especially below freezing point (3.2-4.9), possibly because more unfrozen water remained in the clay than in the loamy soil. Slurry addition increased nitrification rates by 3-14 times at all temperatures, indicating that this process was N-limited even in frozen soils. Straw incorporation caused significant net N immobilization only at temperatures ≥2 °C in both soils; the rates were 1.4-3.4 higher in the loam than in the clay soil. Nevertheless, up to 30% of the applied ¹⁵N was present in MBN at all temperatures. These findings indicate that microbial N immobilization occurred in frozen soils, but was not strong enough to induce net immobilization below the freezing point, even in the presence of straw. The Q₁₀ values for estimated mineralization and nitrification rates were one to two orders-of-magnitude larger below 2 °C than above this temperature (13-208 versus 1.5-6.9, respectively), indicating that these processes are highly sensitive to a small increase in soil temperature around the freezing point of water. This study confirms that net mineralization and nitrification can occur at potentially significant rates in frozen agricultural soils, especially in the presence of organic amendments. In contrast, net N immobilization could be detected essentially above the freezing point. Our results imply that fall-applied N could be at risk of overwinter losses, particularly in fine-textured soils.     

In situ net N transformations in pine,fir, and oak stands of different ages on acid sandy soil, 3 years after liming

Summary The effect of liming on in-situ N transformations was studied in two stands of different ages of each of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.), Douglas fir [Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco], and common oak (Quercus robur L.). The stands were located on acid sandy soils in an area with high atmospheric N input. The organic matter of the upper 10-cm layer of the soil, including the forest floor, had a relatively high N content (C: N ratio <25) in all stands. Using a sequential core technique, N transformations were measured in both control plots and plots that had been limed 3 years previously with 3 t ha^-1 of dolomitic lime. Limed plots had a higher net NO _inf3 ^sup- production and a higher potential for NO _inf3 ^sup- leaching than the controls in all stands except that of the younger oak. Net N mineralization did not differ significantly between limed and control plots in oak stands and younger coniferous stands but was significantly lower in the limed plots of the older coniferous stands. It is concluded that long-term measurements of net N mineralization in limed forest soils are needed to evaluate the effect of liming with respect to the risk of groundwater pollution.     

C and N turnover in structurally intact soils of different texture

The turnover of native and applied C and N in undisturbed soil samples of different texture but similar mineralogical composition, origin and cropping history was evaluated at −10 kPa water potential. Cores of structurally intact soil with 108, 224 and 337 g clay kg⁻¹ were horizontially sliced and ¹⁵N-labelled sheep faeces was placed between the two halves of the intact core. The cores together with unamended treatments were incubated in the dark at 20 °C and the evolution of CO₂-C determined continuously for 177 d. Inorganic and microbial biomass N and ¹⁵N were determined periodically. Net nitrification was less in soil amended with faeces compared with unamended soil. When adjusted for the NO₃-N present in soil before faeces was applied, net nitrification became negative indicating that NO₃-N had been immobilized or denitrified. The soil most rich in clay nitrified least N and ¹⁵N. The amounts of N retained in the microbial biomass in unamended soils increased with clay content. A maximum of 13% of the faeces ¹⁵N was recovered in the microbial biomass in the amended soils. CO₂-C evolution increased with clay content in amended and unamended soils. CO₂-C evolution from the most sandy soil was reduced due to a low content of potentially mineralizable native soil C whereas the rate constant of C mineralization rate peaked in this soil. When the pool of potentially mineralizable native soil C was assumed proportional to volumetric water content, the three soils contained similar proportions of potentially mineralizable native soil C but the rate constant of C mineralization remained highest in the soil with least clay. Thus although a similar availability of water in the three soils was ensured by their identical matric potential, the actual volume of water seemed to determine the proportion of total C that was potentially mineralizable. The proportion of mineralizable C in the faeces was similar in the three soils (70% of total C), again with a higher rate constant of C mineralization in the soil with least clay. It is hypothesized that the pool of potentially mineralizable C and C rate constants fluctuate with the soil water content.     

Protein breakdown represents a major bottleneck in nitrogen cycling in grassland soils

Proteins represent the dominant input of organic N into most ecosystems and they also constitute the largest store of N in soil organic matter. The extracellular protease mediated breakdown of proteins to amino acids therefore represents a key step regulating N cycling in soil. In this study we investigated the influence of a range of environmental factors on the rate of protein mineralization in a grazed grassland and fallow agricultural soil. The protein turnover rates were directly compared to the rates of amino acid mineralization under the same conditions. Uniformly ¹⁴C-labelled soluble protein and amino acids were added to soil and the rate of ¹⁴CO₂ evolution determined over 30 d. Our results indicate that the primary phase of protein mineralization was approximately 20 ± 3 fold slower that the rate of amino acid mineralization. The addition of large amounts of inorganic NO₃⁻ and NH₄⁺ to the soil did not repress the rate of protein mineralization suggesting that available N does not directly affect protease activity in the short term. Whilst protein mineralization was strongly temperature sensitive, the presence of plants and the addition of humic and tannic acids had relatively little influence on the rate of soluble protein degradation in this fertile grassland soil. Our results suggests that the extracellular protease mediated cleavage of proteins to amino acids rather than breakdown of amino acids to NH₄⁺ represents the limiting step in soil N cycling.     

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。