A mass-balance approach to measuring microbial uptake and pools of phosphorus in nutrient-amended soils

Soil microbial biomass P is usually determined through fumigation-extraction (FE), in which partially extractable P from lysed biomass is converted to biomass P using a conversion factor (K_p). Estimation of K_p has been usually based on cultured microorganisms, which may not adequately represent the soil microbial community in either nutrient-poor or in altered carbon and nutrient conditions following fertilisation. We report an alternative approach in which changes in microbial P storage are determined as the residual in a mass balance of extractable P before and after incubation. This approach was applied in three low-fertility sandy soils of southwestern Australia, to determine microbial P immobilisation during 5-day incubations in response to the amendment by 2.323 mg C g⁻¹, 100 μg N g⁻¹ and 20 μg P g⁻¹. The net P immobilisation during the amended incubations determined to be 18.1, 14.1 and 16.3 μg P g⁻¹ in the three soils, accounting for 70.6-90.5% of P added through amendment. Such estimates do not rely on fumigation and K_p values, but for comparison with the FE method we estimated ‘nominal’ K_p values to be 0.20-0.31 for the soils under the amended conditions. Our results showed that microbial P immobilisation was a dominant process regulating P concentration in soil water following the CNP amendment. The mass-balance approach provides information not only about changes in the microbial P compartment, but also about other major P-pools and their fluxes in regulating soil-water P concentrations under substrate- and nutrient-amended conditions.     

土壤微生物生物氮与植物氮吸收的关系

The contents of the soil microbial biomass nitrogen (SMBN) in the soils sampled from the Loess Plateau of China were determined using chloroform fumigation aerobic incubation method (CFAIM),chloroform fumigation anaerobic incubation method (CFANIM) and chloroform fumigation-extraction method (CFEM). The N taken up by ryegrass on the soils was determined after a galsshouse pot experiment. The flushes of nitrogen (FN) of the soils obtained by the CFAIM and CFANIM were higher than that by the CFEM, and there were significantly positive correlations between the FN obtained by the 3 methods. The N extracted from the fumigated soils by the CFAIM,CFANIM and CFEM were significantly positively correlated with the N uptake by ryegrass. The FN obtained by the 3 methods was also closely positively correlated with the N uptake by ryegrass. The FN obtained by the 3 methods was also closely positively correlated with the plant N uptake. The contributions of the SMBN and mineral N and mineralized N during the incubation period to plant N uptake were evaluated with the multiple regression method. The results showed that the N contained in the soil microbial biomass might play a noticeable role in the N supply of the soils to the plant.     

Plant nitrogen uptake drives rhizosphere bacterial community assembly during plant growth

When plants establish in novel environments, they can modify soil microbial community structure and functional properties in ways that enhance their own success. Although soil microbial communities are influenced by abiotic environmental variability, rhizosphere microbial communities may also be affected by plant activities such as nutrient uptake during the growing season. We predicted that during the growing season, plant N uptake would explain much of the variation in rhizosphere microbial community assembly and functional traits. We grew the invasive C₃ grass Bromus tectorum and three commonly co-occurring native C₃ grasses in a controlled greenhouse environment, and examined rhizosphere bacterial community structural and functional characteristics at three different plant growth stages. We found that soil N availability and plant tissue N levels strongly correlated with shifts in rhizosphere bacterial community structure. It also appeared that the rapid drawdown of soil nutrients in the rhizosphere during the plant growing season triggered a selection event whereby only those microbes able to tolerate the changing nutrient conditions were able to persist. Plant N uptake rates inversely corresponded to microbial biomass N levels during periods of peak plant growth. Mechanisms which enable plants to influence rhizosphere bacterial community structure and function are likely to affect their competitive ability and fitness. Our study suggests that plants can alter their rhizosphere microbiomes through influencing nutrient availability. The ways in which plants establish their rhizosphere bacterial communities may now be viewed as a selection trait related to intrinsic plant species nutrient demands.     

Relationships between microbial biomass nitrogen,nitrate leaching and nitrogen uptake by corn in a compost and chemical fertilizer-amended regosol

Abstract

To determine the relationships between microbial biomass nitrogen (N), nitrate–nitrogen leaching (NO₃-N leaching) and N uptake by plants, a field experiment and a soil column experiment were conducted. In the field experiment, microbial biomass N, 0.5 mol L^?1 K₂SO₄ extractable N (extractable N), NO₃-N leaching and N uptake by corn were monitored in sawdust compost (SDC: 20 Mg ha^?1 containing 158 kg N ha^?1 of total N [approximately 50% is easily decomposable organic N]), chemical fertilizer (CF) and no fertilizer (NF) treatments from May 2000 to September 2002. In the soil column experiment, microbial biomass N, extractable N and NO₃-N leaching were monitored in soil treated with SDC (20 Mg ha^?1) + rice straw (RS) at five different application rates (0, 2.5, 5, 7.5 and 10 Mg ha^?1 containing 0, 15, 29, 44 and 59 kg N ha^?1) and in soil treated with CF in 2001. Nitrogen was applied as (NH₄)₂SO₄ at rates of 220 kg N ha^?1 for SDC and SDC + RS treatments and at a rate of 300 kg N ha^?1 for the CF treatment in both experiments. In the field experiment, microbial biomass N in the SDC treatment increased to 147 kg N ha^?1 at 7 days after treatment (DAT) and was maintained at 60–70 kg N ha^?1 after 30 days. Conversely, microbial biomass N in the CF treatment did not increase significantly. Extractable N in the surface soil increased immediately after treatment, but was found at lower levels in the SDC treatment compared to the CF treatment until 7 DAT. A small amount of NO₃-N leaching was observed until 21 DAT and increased markedly from 27 to 42 DAT in the SDC and CF treatments. Cumulative NO₃-N leaching in the CF treatment was 146 kg N ha^?1, which was equal to half of the applied N, but only 53 kg N ha^?1 in the SDC treatment. In contrast, there was no significant difference between N uptake by corn in the SDC and CF treatments. In the soil column experiment, microbial biomass N in the SDC + RS treatment at 7 DAT increased with increased RS application. Conversely, extractable N at 7 DAT and cumulative NO₃-N leaching until 42 DAT decreased with increased RS application. In both experiments, microbial biomass N was negatively correlated with extractable N at 7 DAT and cumulative NO₃-N leaching until 42 DAT, and extractable N was positively correlated with cumulative NO₃-N leaching. We concluded that microbial biomass N formation in the surface soil decreased extractable N and, consequently, contributed to decreasing NO₃-N leaching without impacting negatively on N uptake by plants.     

Plant and microbial uptake of nitrogen and phosphorus affected by drought using 15N and 32P tracers

Competition for nutrients between plants and microbes is an important determinant for plant growth, biodiversity and carbon cycling. Perturbations such as drought affect the availability of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P), and may cause shifts in uptake of N and P between plants and microbes. Competitiveness for these nutrients may depend on how flexible plants and microbes are in taking up N and P. We used a novel dual isotope labelling technique (¹⁵N and ³²P) to assess short-term uptake of N and P by plants and microbes affected by drought in two different plant–soil systems. Mesocosms were extracted from two grassland sites differing in soil nutrient availability and plant species. Half of the mesocosms were subjected to drought one week prior to injection of ¹⁵N (as KNO₃) and ³²P (as H₃PO₄) tracers. Uptake rates of ${{\text{NO}}_3}^{-}$ and P in plants and microbes were estimated based on average source pool enrichment during the labelling period and on plant and microbial recovery of ¹⁵N and ³²P measured after 4 days of labelling. Overall competition for N and P was reduced with drought as less ${{\text{NO}}_3}^{-}$ and P was taken up in plants and microbes. However, plant uptake of ${{\text{NO}}_3}^{-}$ was more sensitive to drought than microbial ${{\text{NO}}_3}^{-}$ uptake, while microbial P uptake was more sensitive than plant P uptake. These different sensitivities to drought by plants and microbes may decouple the N and P cycle with increased drought conditions.     

几种有机和无机氮肥对草莓生长及其氮素吸收分配影响的差异

通过不同生育时期植株各部位的氮素分析,研究了不同商品有机肥和有机无机复混肥对大田草莓(FragariaAnanassa.c.v.Dutch.)植株生长及氮素吸收分配的影响。结果表明,施用不同肥料品种均可促进植物氮素吸收,提高氮素积累速率,促进氮素向果实中分配。在施等量氮素养分条件下,草莓器官的氮素吸收状况对不同氮肥品种反应不一。尽管无机肥处理的氮素积累速率和地上部全氮含量较高,但施用商品有机肥较无机氮肥或有机无机复混肥更能促进草莓生长发育和草莓果实产量的增加,说明无机氮不宜作为草莓基肥一次性施用。结果还表明,施肥处理氮素的日均积累量平均为10.8.mg/plant,而不施肥处理仅为5.1.mg/plant。在果实采收末期,不同处理草莓各器官的氮素分配趋势为果实茎和叶柄叶片根系。施用纯有机肥(OFA和OFB),果实中吸收的氮素超过植株吸收总量的一半,分别占53.5%和51.7%,无机氮肥处理(UN)和有机无机复混肥处理(OIF)的果实氮素分配率分别只有46.1%和39.8%。     

Abiotic dissolution and biological uptake of nitrous oxide in Mediterranean woodland and pasture soil

Soil is generally regarded as a net emitter of nitrous oxide (N₂O). However, there are numerous field studies showing net uptake of N₂O from soil in different ecosystems. Consumption of N₂O may be abiotic (absorption by water; adsorption by soil matrix) and biotic (microbial reduction of N₂O). This study is the first using undisturbed soil cores to determine the capacity of soil to consume N₂O and discuss the fate of N₂O.We exposed the base of undisturbed soil cores from Mediterranean pasture and woodland soil to elevated concentrations of N₂O and sulphur hexafluoride (SF₆; as tracer gas). Headspace concentrations of N₂O and SF₆ were determined over time and consumption rates of N₂O were calculated ranging from 148.8 ± 19.8 ng N₂O min⁻¹ g⁻¹ to 163.8 ± 17.2 ng N₂O min⁻¹ g⁻¹ in woodland soil and from 117.2 ± 36.1 ng N₂O min⁻¹ g⁻¹ to 145.1 ± 19.4 ng N₂O min⁻¹ g⁻¹ in pasture soil. Absorption of N₂O by soil water contributed 17–49% of the total N₂O consumption. The remaining N₂O consumed by the cores was due to adsorbtion by the soil matrix and/or reduction by microbes.Mediterranean soil from different ecosystems with different nitrogen (N) loads has a great potential to store and consume N₂O, if exposed to an N₂O elevated atmosphere.     

Importance of organic nitrogen fractions in sandy soils,obtained by electro-ultrafiltration or CaCl2 extraction,for nitrogen mineralization and nitrogen uptake of rape

Summary Sandy soils have low reserves of mineral N in spring. Therefore organic-bound N is the most important pool available for crops. The objective of the present investigation was to study the importance of the organic-bound N extracted by electro-ultrafiltration and by a CaCl₂ solution for the supply of N to rape and for N mineralization. Mitscherlich-pot experiments carried out with 12 different sandy soils (Germany) showed a highly significant correlation between the organic N extracted (two fractions) and the N uptake by the rape (electroultrafiltration extract: r=0.76^***; CaCl₂ extract: r=0.76^***). Organic N extracted by both methods before the application of N fertilizer was also significantly correlated with N mineralization (electro-ultrafiltration extract: r=0.75^***; CaCl₂ extract: r=0.79^***). N uptake by the rape and the mineralization of organic N increased with soil pH and decreased with an increasing C:N ratio and an increasing proportion of sand in the soils. Ninety-eight percent of the variation in N uptake by the rape was determined by the differences in net mineralization of organic N. This show that in sandy soils with low mineral N reserves (NO _inf3 ^sup- -N, NH ₄ ⁺ -N) the organic soil N extracted by electro-ultrafiltration or CaCl₂ solutions indicates the variance in plant-available N. Total soil N was not related to the N uptake by plants nor to N mineralization.     

4种熏蒸剂处理对土壤可溶性有机氮和微生物量碳氮的影响

采用室内恒温通气培养法,以北京大棚蔬菜地土壤为研究对象,以未使用熏蒸剂土壤为对照,研究4种熏蒸剂[氯化苦(Pic)、1,3-二氯丙烯(1,3-D)、二甲基二硫(DMDS)和威百亩(MS)]对土壤可溶性氮素和微生物量碳、氮的影响。结果表明,4种熏蒸剂处理均能增加土壤中可溶性有机氮的含量,熏蒸处理后敞气0 d时,Pic、MS、DMDS和1,3-D处理的土壤可溶性有机氮累积量分别为47.55 mg·kg-1、42.15 mg·kg-1、40.34 mg·kg-1和32.02 mg·kg-1,较对照(29.97 mg·kg-1)分别增加58.67%、40.65%、34.61%和6.87%。敞气后14~84 d,Pic、DMDS和MS处理DON含量仍持续上升,1,3-D和对照变化不大,各处理之间DON含量差异显著。4种熏蒸剂处理后短时间内,土壤中可溶性氨基酸(DAA)与对照相比大幅上升,在熏蒸后7 d达到最大值,其中Pic处理的上升幅度最大,为12.87 mg·kg-1,对照DAA含量最低,为5.74 mg·kg-1。4种熏蒸剂处理之后,土壤中微生物量碳和氮均呈现急剧下降的趋势,其中Pic处理对微生物的杀灭作用最强,敞气后0 d,Pic处理的微生物量碳和微生物量氮含量分别比对照下降69.39%和70.95%,MS和DMDS次之,1,3-D的杀灭作用最弱。     

不同施氮方式对春玉米产量、氮素吸收及经济效益的影响

通过田间试验,研究了不同施氮方式(习惯施氮量、推荐施氮量及等氮量下有机肥替代)对春玉米产量、氮素吸收及经济效益的影响。结果表明:施氮能显著提高春玉米产量,2008年和2009年分别提高11.2%～16.8%、10.9%～24.2%。等氮量下,30%有机肥氮替代模式能够维持或显著提高春玉米产量。除2009年推荐施氮量下有机肥氮替代处理春玉米产量低于习惯施氮量外,其它相同施氮模式间春玉米产量均无显著差异。有机肥氮替代模式氮素吸收量和肥料利用率较等氮量下100%化肥氮偏低,但施氮效益较高,因此,有机肥氮部分替代化肥氮可作为东北春玉米的有效施氮措施。     

黄腐酸和聚天冬氨酸对蕹菜氮素吸收及氮肥去向的影响

为了解黄腐酸(FA)和聚天冬氨酸(PASP)对蕹菜氮素吸收及氮肥去向的影响,采用15N尿素示踪技术,设置不施氮肥(CK),单施尿素(N),尿素配施低、中、高用量的FA和PASP(NF1、NF2、NF3、NP1、NP2、NP3)8个处理,在温室条件下进行盆栽试验。结果表明,与N处理相比,配施FA和PASP后蕹菜地上部鲜重增加了7.46%~17.55%;NP2、NP3和各NF处理显著提高了蕹菜的吸氮量,提高幅度为10.84%~18.25%,其中,蕹菜对非标记氮的吸收量显著增加,且随FA和PASP用量的增大而增加;NF3处理的15N利用率显著低于N处理,其余处理无显著变化;NF2、NF3、NP2和NP3处理的15N损失率比N处理减少了5.41~14.58个百分点;NF2、NF3和NP2处理的15N土壤残留率增加了5.08~20.02个百分点。研究表明,中、高用量的FA和PASP与尿素配施促进了蕹菜对氮素(尤其是非标记氮素)的吸收,同时减少了氮肥的损失,增加了氮肥在土壤中的残留,对土壤氮库的贡献作用显著。     

Mycorrhizal fungi mitigate nitrogen losses of an experimental grassland by facilitating plant uptake and soil microbial immobilization

Nitrogen (N) is one of the most limited nutrients of terrestrial ecosystems, whose losses are prevented in tightly coupled cycles in finely tuned systems. Global change-induced N enrichment through atmospheric deposition and application of vast amounts of fertilizer are now challenging the terrestrial N cycle. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are known drivers of plant-soil nutrient fluxes, but a comprehensive assessment of AMF involvement in N cycling under global change is still lacking. Here, we simulated N enrichment by fertilization (low/high) in experimental grassland microcosms under greenhouse conditions in the presence or absence of AMF and continuously monitored different N pathways over nine months. We found that high N enrichment by fertilization decreased the relative abundance of legumes and the plant species dominating the plant community changed from grasses to forbs in the presence of AMF, based on aboveground biomass. The presence of AMF always maintained plant N:phosphorus (P) ratios between 14 and 16, no matter how the soil N availability changed. Shifts in plant N:P ratios due to the increased plant N and P uptake might thus be a primary pathway of AMF altering plant community composition. Furthermore, we constructed a comprehensive picture of AMF’s role in N cycling, highlighting that AMF reduced N losses primarily by mitigating N leaching, while N₂O emissions played a marginal role. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi reduced N₂O emissions directly through the promotion of N₂O-consuming denitrifiers. The underlying mechanism for reducing N leaching is mainly the AMF-mediated improved nutrient uptake and AMF-associated microbial immobilization. Our results indicate that synergies between AMF and other soil microorganisms cannot be ignored in N cycling and that the integral role of AMF in N cycling terrestrial ecosystems can buffer the upcoming global changes.     

Pathways of nitrogen utilization by soil microorganisms - A review

Microorganisms are able to utilize nitrogen (N) from a wide range of organic and mineral compounds. In this paper, we review the current knowledge about the regulation of the enzyme systems involved in the acquisition of N and propose a conceptual model on the factors affecting the relative importance of organic and mineral N uptake. Most of the N input into soil is in the form of polymers, which first have to be broken down into smaller units by extracellular enzymes. The small organic molecules released by the enzymes can then be taken up directly or degraded further and the N taken up as ammonium (NH₄⁺). When NH₄⁺ is available at high concentrations, the utilization of alternative N sources, such as nitrate (NO₃⁻) and organic molecules, is generally repressed. In contrast, when the NH₄⁺ availability is low, enzyme systems for the acquisition of alternative N sources are de-repressed and the presence of a substrate can induce their synthesis. These mechanisms are known as N regulation. It is often assumed that most organic N is mineralized to NH₄⁺ before uptake in soil. This pathway is generally known as the mineralization-immobilization-turnover (MIT) route. An advantage of the MIT route is that only one transporter system for N uptake is required. However, organic N uptake has the advantage that, in addition to N, it supplies energy and carbon (C) to sustain growth. Recent studies have shown that the direct uptake of organic molecules can significantly contribute to the N nutrition of soil microorganisms. We hypothesize that the relative importance of the direct and MIT route during the decomposition of residues is determined by three factors, namely the form of N available, the source of C, and the availability of N relative to C. The regulation system of soil microorganisms controls key steps in the soil N cycle and is central to determining the outcome of the competition for N between soil microorganisms and plants. More research is needed to determine the relative importance of the direct and MIT route in soil as well as the factors affecting the enzyme systems required for these two pathways.     

氮肥基追施比例对芝麻产量和氮素吸收、分配的影响

【目的】研究实现芝麻高产、提高氮肥利用效率、减少氮肥残留的氮肥最佳基追比例。【方法】采用盆栽试验,供试芝麻品种为‘郑太芝1号’,设置4个氮肥基追比例处理,氮肥底施与初花期追施比例分别为1∶0(N1∶0)、2∶1(N2∶1)、1∶2(N1∶2)、0∶1(N0∶1)。利用15N示踪技术,每盆施含有15N标记的总氮0.9g,分析各处理芝麻产量及氮素的吸收、分配特征。【结果】不同处理相比,N2∶1处理单株产量最高,N1∶2处理次之,N2∶1与N1∶0、N0∶1处理差异达显著水平。在初花期,N2∶1处理,芝麻单株生物量和植株总吸氮量均最高,不施基肥的N0∶1处理最低;各处理植株对肥料氮的吸收表现为N1∶0>N2∶1>N1∶2,对土壤氮的吸收以N2∶1最高;肥料氮和土壤氮在各器官中的分配均为叶>茎>根。在成熟期,N2∶1处理的单株总生物量最大,单株籽粒吸氮量和总吸氮量也最高,N1∶0处理最低,两者差异达显著水平;植株对肥料氮和土壤氮的吸收比例为23.7%~29.1%和70.9%~76.3%;对肥料氮和土壤氮的吸收均为籽粒>叶片>茎>蒴皮>根,籽粒吸氮量明显高于其它器官,籽粒占总吸氮量的33.0%~44.3%。N2∶1处理氮肥利用率最高,为32.5%,N2∶1、N1∶2、N0∶1处理间差异不显著,但均与N1∶0(17.8%)差异达显著水平。不同处理芝麻收获后土壤15N回收率以N2∶1处理的最低(16.2%),N0∶1处理的最高(31.3%)。【结论】在本试验条件下,氮肥底施与初花期追施比例为2∶1时,芝麻产量和生物量以及氮肥利用率最高,氮肥土壤残留量最少,是最佳氮肥基追施比例。     

Carbon and nitrogen relationships in the microbial biomass of soils in beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) forests

Soils from 38 German forest sites, dominated by beech trees (Fagus sylvatica L.) were sampled to a depth of about 10 cm after careful removal of overlying organic layers. Microbial biomass N and C were measured by fumigation-extraction. The pH of the soils varied between 3.5 and 8.3, covering a wide range of cation exchange capacity, organic C, total N, and soil C:N values. Maximum biomass C and biomass N contents were 2116 g C m^-2 and 347 g N m^-2, while minimum contents were 317 and 30 g m^-2, respectively. Microbial biomass N and C were closely correlated. Large variations in microbial biomass C:N ratios were observed (between 5.4 and 17.3, mean 7.7), indicating that no simple relationship exists between these two parameters. The frequency distribution of the parameters for C and N availability to the microflora divided the soils into two subgroups (with the exception of one soil): (1) microbial: organic C>12 mg g^-1, microbial:total N>28 mg g^-1 (n=23), a group with high C and N availability, and (2) microbial:organic C12 mg g^-1, microbial:total N28 mg g^-1 (n=14), a group with low C and N availability. With the exception of a periodically waterlogged soil, the pH of all soils belonging to subgroup 2 was below 5.0 and the soil C:N ratios were comparatively high. Within these two subgroups no significant correlation between the microbial C:N ratio and soil pH or any other parameter measured was found. The data suggest that above a certain threshold (pH 5.0) microbial C:N values vary within a very small range over a wide range of pH values. Below this threshold, in contrast, the range of microbial C:N values becomes very large.     

Comparison of the difference method and 15N technique for studying the fate of nitrogen from plant residues in soil

We compared the dynamics of net mineralization of nitrogen (N) derived from white clover material (Ndfc) as measured by the difference and the ¹⁵N methods in a pot experiment with a sandy loam (15°C and pF 2.4) planted with Italian ryegrass. On day 22, mineralized Ndfc (soil mineral N plus plant N uptake) was 5.8% and 1.3% of added N for the ¹⁵N and the difference methods, respectively. The discrepancy was reduced on day 43. On day 64, the relationship was reversed, and on day 98 the values given by the two methods were 22.8% and 29.5%, respectively. The results obtained by the two methods were linearly correlated (r = 0.987) and, on average, did not differ significantly. Nevertheless, the different temporal patterns led to appreciably different parameter values as estimated by fitting of a reparameterized Richards model. On day 22, clover amendment reduced mineralized N derived from soil (Ndfs) by 3.4 mg N pot^–1. The reason for this was that the clover amendment led to a reduction in plant growth and uptake of Ndfs, most likely because of allelopathy, while mineral Ndfs did not increase correspondingly. Clover-induced Ndfs in the microbial biomass of 5.1 mg N pot^–1 suggested that the mineral Ndfs not taken up by plants had been reimmobilized. Towards the end of the experiment, clover-induced Ndfs in the biomass declined to 1.5 mg N pot^–1, while mineralized Ndfs due to clover amendment increased to 5.1 mg N pot^–1. The results strongly suggested that this increase was caused by a real stimulation of humus N mineralization by clover amendment rather than by isotope displacement or pool substitution. Received: 5 May 1997     

Variations in nitrogen uptake and nitrate-nitrogen concentration among sorghum groups

Nitrogen uptake and nitrate-N concentration in forage sorghums, which are related to ground water pollution or feed quality under conditions of crop fertilization by only animal wastes, were examined. Seventy-four genotypes of sorghum and Sudan grass were tested. They were classified into 4 groups; grain type and dual purpose type sorghums (6 and 13 genotypes, respectively, Sorghum bicolor Moench), sorgo type sorghum (21, S. bicolor), Sudan type sorghum (22, S. bicolor × S. sudanense (Piper) Stapf), Sudan grass (12, S. sudanense). There was a strong correlation between dry matter (DM) yield and N uptake, with the sorgo type producing the highest DM matter yield and showing the highest N uptake. Nitrate-N, which causes nitrate poisoning of ruminants, was detected mostly in the stem of all the genotypes. The nitrate-N concentration based on DM could be calculated accurately by multiplying the nitrate-N concentration of stem on a fresh matter basis by the DM partitioning ratio of stem divided by the DM concentration of stem. The grain type and the dual purpose type of sorghums with dry stem showed the lowest nitrate-N concentration because these plants had a lower DM partitioning ratio of stem and higher DM concentration of stem. Sudan grass and Sudan type sorghum with the genetic background of Sudan grass showed higher nitrate-N concentrations owing to their ability to accumulate nitrate-N.     

Remnant tree effects on soil microbial carbon and nitrogen in tropical seasonal pasture in western Mexico

Selection of plant species for agro-silvo-pastoral or ecological reclamation programs must be based on a deeper knowledge of the existing relationships between plant species and soil nutrient dynamics in each ecosystem. We evaluated the seasonal pattern of soil microbial carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) under two remnant tree species (Caesalpinia eriostachys and Cordia elaeagnoides) in a tropical seasonal pasture dominated by Panicum maximum in western Mexico. Soil samples were taken from under two arboreal species and P. maximum in rainy and dry seasons. The soil C:N ratio was higher under P. maximum [17] than under both tree species [15]. The soil microbial C (Cm) was higher under C. elaeagnoides than under C. eriostachys and P. maximum. Magnitude and direction of effect of the two remnant tree species on soil biogeochemistry changed with seasonal rainfall. The interaction of plant species and seasonal rainfall did have an effect on soil microbial N (Nm). Soil samples from April and July had the lowest microbial N concentrations under the three plant species, increasing four fold in September under C. elaeagnoides and P. maximum. At the end of the wet season, C. elaeagnoides clearly had the highest Nm values (130 μg N g⁻¹), suggesting that this tree species has a higher capacity to protect soil N within microbial biomass than C. eriostachys, because under C. elaeagnoides the soil had more organic matter due a higher input of litter and root chemical quality. Therefore, C. elaeagnoides would be the best plant species to implement in agro-silvo-pastoral programs or ecological reclamation of TDF pastures.     

不同施氮量对水稻氮素吸收与分配的影响

运用15N示踪法研究了不同施氮量对两个品种水稻（4007和武运粳15）干物质积累量与其对15N吸收及分配的影响。结果表明,当施氮量超过N 150 kg/hm2时, 两个品种水稻子粒产量均不再显著增加。4007在4个施氮量下(N 100,150,200和 250 kg/hm2)分别比无氮区增产22.3%,36.9%,43.2%和38.1%;武运粳15分别增产10.6%,18.8%,27.1%和21.5%。同一施氮量下,4007子粒中15N累积量显著高于武运粳15,但茎叶和根中没有差异。增加施氮量降低了15N在水稻子粒中的分配比例,但提高了茎叶中15N的分配比例。15N在根中的分配比例不受施氮量和品种的影响。研究结果还表明,同一施氮量下,4007对肥料氮的总体利用率要比武运粳15高3～6个百分点。