Simultaneous nitrification and diffusion in soil. I. The effects of the addition of a low level of ammonium chloride

The nitrification of NH₄⁺ and the simultaneous diffusion of NH₄⁺, NO₃^? and H⁺ following the addition of ammonium chloride to a fine sandy loam soil was analysed experimentally and theoretically. Experimentally, the concentration profiles of mineral N and pH were analysed 140h and 284 h after the homogeneous addition of 11 μmoles NH₄Cl_cm^?3 of soil to one part of a composite soil column. The mathematical model presented includes a kinetic model of nitrifier growth and activity, the adsorption equilibria of NH₄⁺ and soil acidity with the soil solid phase and the influence of other ions on the diffusion characteristics of each diffusing ion. The predictions of the model were generated using parameters derived from independent experiments so that the predictions did not depend on data derived from the experimental concentration profiles. Good agreement was found between experimental and predicted profiles. The use of the model for predicting the penetration of NH₄⁺ and NO₃^? into the soil is demonstrated.     

Simultaneous nitrification and diffusion in soil. II. The effects at levels of ammonium chloride which inhibit nitrification

The physicochemical and microbiological changes occurring in a fine sandy loam soil following the application of ammonium chloride were followed experimentally and with a simulation model. Two levels of ammonium addition were used corresponding to application rates of 37 and 143 kg ha^?1. The measured concentration profiles of ammonium nitrate and pH, which developed in soil columns as a result of the diffusion and simultaneous nitrification of the added NH₄⁺, were measured at different incubation times. The measured profiles suggested that nitrification was inhibited at the site of application of the ammonium salt. This inhibition was attributed to an effect of increased osmotic pressure or chloride ion in the soil. A simulation model was developed to account for the inhibition by examining and testing two hypotheses about the response of nitrifiers to a fluctuating osmotic pressure. These were the irreversible inhibition model, which assumed that exposure to high osmotic pressures irreversibly inactivated a portion of the nitrifier population, and the reversible inhibition model, which assumed that the nitrifiers would recover after exposure to high osmotic pressures. The model included terms for the adsorption equilibria of NH⁴⁺ and soil acidity with the soil solid phase, and the influence of other ions on the rate of diffusion of each diffusing ion. The inputs to the model were based on parameters obtained independently of the diffusion experiments. Good agreement was found between experimental and predicted concentration profiles for both models although the reversible inhibition model gave the better simulation of the data.     

Diffusion of NH+4 and NO−3 mineralized from organic N in soil

The mineralization of native soil organic matter and the simultaneous diffusion of zero NH⁺₄ and NO^?₃ to a solution sink of zero N concentration was analysed experimentally and theoretically for a fine sandy loam soil. Experimentally, the NH₄ and NO₃ ions produced in an incubated unsaturated soil column were allowed to diffuse through a sintered glass plate into a stirred solution sink. The distribution of NH⁺₄ and NO^?₃ in the soil column was measured after various incubation times. The rate of ammonification was measured directly during incubation and the rate of nitrification modelled from nitrifier growth kinetics. A Freundlich equation was used to describe the equilibrium between soluble and exchangeable NH⁺₄ in the soil. Terms for the microbial transformation of N and the adsorption-desorption of NH⁺₄ were combined with diffusion equations which were solved numerically using finite difference methods. The model constructed was used to predict the NH⁺₄ and NO^?₃ con-centration distributions in the soil column, and good agreement was obtained between the experimental and predicted concentration profiles. The use of the model for predicting the diffusive flux of mineral N to the outer surfaces of soil peds, where it is vulnerable to leaching, was demonstrated.     

Chemical Composition of Precipitation, Throughfall and Soil Solutions at Two Forested Sites in Guangzhou, South China

Rain water at two forested sites in Guangzhou (south China) show high concentrations of SO₄ ^2?, NO₃ ^? and Ca²⁺ and display a remarkable seasonal variation, with acid rain being more important during the spring and summer than during the autumn and winter. The amount of acid rain represents about 95% of total precipitation. The sources of pollutants from which acid rain developed includes both locally derived and long-middle distance transferred atmosphere pollutants. The seasonal variation in precipitation chemistry was largely related to the increasing neutralizing capacity of base cations in rainwater in winter. Soil acidification is highlighted by high H⁺ and Al³⁺ concentrations in soil solutions. The variation in elemental concentration in soil solution was related to nitrification (H⁺, NH₄ ⁺ and NO₃ ^?) and cation exchange reaction (H⁺, Al³⁺) in soil. The negative effect of soil acidification is partly dampened by substantial deposition of base cations (Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺ and K⁺) in this area.     

Symbiosis of Trifolium subterraneum with mycorrhizal fungi and Rhizobium trifolii as affected by ammonium sulphate and nitrification inhibitors

The symbioses between Trifolium subterraneum, mycorrhizal fungi and Rhizohium are affected by (NH₄)₂SO₄ and by the nitrification inhibitors 2-chloro-6 (trichloromethyl) pyridine (N-Serve) and 2-trichloromethyl pyridine (2TMP). At 50 μg · g^?1 soil N-Serve and 2TMP had toxic effects on plant growth, measured as leaf expansion, root length and dry weight. Lower concentrations of N-Serve also produced some toxic symptoms. The addition of (NH₄)₂SO₄ to the soil at 2 and 6 m-equiv NH⁺₄ per pot, resulted in reduced root length and nodulation. Shoot dry weight was reduced at 6 m-equiv NH⁺₄ per pot. In the presence of (NH₄)₂SO₄ the toxic effects of the nitrification inhibitors on plant growth were less.Both nitrification inhibitors reduced development of mycorrhizal entry-points and extent of root colonization (% infection). Percentage infection of the root system was also reduced by (NH₄)₂SO₄. Development of nodules on the lateral roots was increased in the presence of N-Serve at 5 and 15 μ · g^?1. This effect, however, was accompanied by a marked reduction in N₂ase activity. Smaller increases in nodulation were apparent with 2TMP and were associated with variable N₂ase activity.     

Variation in the relationship between nitrification and acidification of subtropical soils as affected by the addition of urea or ammonium sulfate

The effects on nitrification and acidification in three subtropical soils to which (NH₄)₂SO₄ or urea had been added at rate of 250 mg N kg⁻¹ was studied using laboratory-based incubations. The results indicated that NH₄⁺ input did not stimulate nitrification in a red forest soil, nor was there any soil acidification. Unlike red forest soil, (NH₄)₂SO₄ enhanced nitrification of an upland soil, whilst urea was more effective in stimulating nitrification, and here the soil was slightly acidified. For another upland soil, NH₄⁺ input greatly enhanced nitrification and as a result, this soil was significantly acidified. We conclude that the effects of NH₄⁺ addition on nitrification and acidification in cultivated soils would be quite different from in forest soils. During the incubation, N isotope fractionation was closely related to the nitrifying capacity of the soils.     

Fog and Precipitation Chemistry at Mt. Rokko in Kobe, April 1997-March 1998

Fog water and precipitation were collected and analyzed to study fog and precipitation chemistry. The research was carried out through one year from April 1997 to March 1998 at Mt. Rokko in Kobe. Higher fog occurrence and larger volume of fog water were observed in summer, corresponding to the trend of seasonal variation in precipitation amount. The annual mean pH value of fog water (3.80) was lower by ca. one pH unit than that of precipitation (4.74). The concentration of chemical species in fog water was ca. 7 times that in precipitation. The highest anion and cation concentrations were SO₄ ^2? and NH₄ ⁺ in fog water and Cl^? and Na⁺ in precipitation, although the Cl^?/Na⁺ equivalent ratio in both fog water and precipitation was almost the same value as that in sea water. It is considered that in the longest fog event, NH₄ ⁺ and nss-SO₄ ^2? in fog water mainly scavenged as (NH₄)₂SO₄, mainly derived from (NH₄)₂SO₄ (aerosol) in the atmosphere, NH₃ was scavenged at the growing stage, and SO₂ was also scavenged after the mature stage. NO₃ ^? in this fog event was mainly absorbed as HNO₃.     

Evalution of Acid Deposition in Korea

This study was carried out to evaluate acid depositions and to understand their effect. Wet precipitation has been collected at twenty-four sites in Korea for one year of 1999. The ion concentrations such as H⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, Mg²⁺, NH₄ ⁺, Ca²⁺, Cl^?, NO₃ ^? and SO₄ ^2? were chemically analyzed and determined. Precipitation had wide range of pH(3.5～8.5), and volume-weighted average was 5.2. The contribution amounts of Cl^?, SO₄ ^2? and NO₃ ^? in anion were shown to be 54%, 32%, and 14%, respectively and those of Na⁺ and NH₄ ⁺ in cation were 32% and 25%. The ratios of Cl^? and Mg²⁺ to Na⁺ in precipitation were similar to those of seawater, which imply that great amount of Cl^? and Mg²⁺ in precipitation could be originated from seawater. The concentration of H⁺ is little related with SO₄ ^2?, NO₃ ^? and Cl^? ions, whereas nss^?SO₄ ^2? and NO₃ ^? are highly correlated with NH₄ ⁺, which could suggest that great amount of SO₄ ^2? and NO₃ ^? exist in the form of ammonium associated salt. The annual wet deposition amounts (g m^?2year^?1) of SO₄ ^2?, NO₃ ^?, Cl^?, H⁺, NH₄ ⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ were estimated as 0.88～4.89, 0.49～4.37, 0.30～9.80, 0.001～0.031, 0.06～2.15, 0.27～4.27, 0.10～3.81, 0.23～1.59 and 0.03～0.63.     

Effect of ammonium fertilizer on NH3 loss and Ca,Mg, ammonium and nitrate content in a calcareous soil solution

Summary This study examined the effects of NH _inf4 ⁺ fertilizers [(NH₄)₂SO₄, (NH₄)₂HPO₄, CO(NH₂)₂, NH₄OH, and NH₄NO₃] on NH₃ loss and the quantity of Ca + Mg, NH _inf4 ⁺ and NO _inf3 ^sup– in the solution of a calcareous soil (Harkey sicl, Typic Torrifluvent). Various NH₄ fertilizers applied at a depth of 5 cm in the soil produced differing NH₃ loss characteristics. Applying (NH₄)₂SO₄ (AS) resulted in high volatile NH₃ losses as compared with NH₄OH (AH) and (NH₄)₂CO₃ (AC). The AS treatment formed an equal molar amount of CaSO₄, which increased the mobility of ammonium, while AH and AC treatments caused Ca precipitation and decreased ammonium mobility. Leaching the AS system before NH₃ loss could occur resulted in the most rapid nitrification rate. Lower nitrification rates were found with AH and AC than AS under the same conditions. Surface placement of NH₄ fertilizers resulted in variable leachate contents of Ca + Mg. Ammonium sulfate reacted with CaCO₃ either to solubilize some Ca + Mg or simply to replace exchangeable Ca + Mg with NH₄, while AH, AC, and (NH₄)₂HPO₄ (DAP) precipitated essentially an equivalent molar amount of soluble and adsorbed Ca + Mg. Use of NH₄NO₃, which does not form an insoluble calcium precipitate, resulted in the leaching of an equivalent molar amount of exchangeable Ca + Mg from the Harkey soil.The authors are Professor and former laboratory technician, respectively, at Texas A&M Research Center at El Paso, 1380 A&M Circle, El Paso, TX 79927, USA     

The effect of potassium chloride on ion dynamics and – budget in a slightly acidic forest soil

In a laboratory study, KCI- a neutral salt - equivalent to 300kg K/ha and 272 kg CI/ha was applied to the surface of undisturbed columns of a forest soil (Terra Fusca Rendzina) under steady state unsaturated flow conditions (1.0 cm/day). The effluent of the five soil columns was collected daily, and pH, cation- and anion concentrations were measured. Most of the applied K ions were retained in the top 10cm of the soil and moved in decreasing amounts further down the column. Among the cations studied Ca⁺⁺, Mg⁺⁺, and Na⁺ were lost from the system, K⁺, NH₄, Fe⁺⁺⁺, Mn⁺⁺, H⁺, and Al⁺⁺⁺ were retained. Nitrate and sulfate concentrations in the leachates showed a temporary decrease when CI passed through the columns. This decrease was accompanied with a decrease in pH. CI^?, NO₃^?, and SO₄^? exhibited leaching losses. Besides these anions, HCO₃^? played an important role.     

The role of neutral salts in the ion exchange between acid precipitation and soil

Theory and experimental results have shown that neutral salts in the precipitation or supplied to the ground by other means reduce the acidification of soils by acid precipitation. This salt effect is caused by the cation exchange occurring after the entry of the rain water into the soil.The acid components of precipitation consist of H₂SO₄, HNO₃ and HCl and of NH₄⁺ after nitrification in the soil. The magnitude of the salt effect depends on the relative bonding energy of H₃O⁺ and of Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, NH₄⁺ in the soil as well as on the concentrations of H₃O⁺ and the above cations in the precipitation. The salt effect may be considerable in very acid soils. It decreases with rising pH to become very small or negligible in neutral soils, chiefly due to the increasing bonding energy of H₃O⁺ in this direction.The adverse effect of acid precipitation, therefore, is likely to be less in very acid soils, such as podsols, than in slightly acid and neutral soils with low buffering capacity against pH change. Soil texture and calcite content are very important factors in this respect as fine material and calcite increase the buffering.     

Geochemical Distribution of Selected Heavy Metals in Stream Sediments Affected by Tannery Activities

Bayesian regularized back-propagation neural network (BRBPNN) was developed for trend analysis, acidity and chemical composition of precipitation in North Carolina using precipitation chemistry data in NADP. This study included two BRBPNN application problems: (i) the relationship between precipitation acidity (pH) and other ions (NH₄ ⁺, NO₃ ^?, SO₄ ^2?, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, K⁺, Cl^? and Na⁺) was performed by BRBPNN and the achieved optimal network structure was 8-15-1. Then the relative importance index, obtained through the sum of square weights between each input neuron and the hidden layer of BRBPNN(8-15-1), indicated that the ions' contribution to the acidity declined in the order of NH₄ ⁺ > SO₄ ^2? > NO₃ ^?; and (ii) investigations were also carried out using BRBPNN with respect to temporal variation of monthly mean NH₄ ⁺, SO₄ ^2? and NO₃ ^? concentrations and their optimal architectures for the 1990–2003 data were 4-6-1, 4-6-1 and 4-4-1, respectively. All the estimated results of the optimal BRBPNNs showed that the relationship between the acidity and other ions or that between NH₄ ⁺, SO₄ ^2?, NO₃ ^? concentrations with regard to precipitation amount and time variable was obviously nonlinear, since in contrast to multiple linear regression (MLR), BRBPNN was clearly better with less error in prediction and of higher correlation coefficients. Meanwhile, results also exhibited that BRBPNN was of automated regularization parameter selection capability and may ensure the excellent fitting and robustness. Thus, this study laid the foundation for the application of BRBPNN in the analysis of acid precipitation.     

Niederschlags-Chemismus und atmosphärische Element-Deposition in einem an der Nordseeküste von Schleswig-Holstein gelegenen Agrarökosystem

Precipitation chemistry and atmospheric element-deposition in an agroecosystem at the North-Sea Coast of Schleswig-Holstein The objective of this study was to examine the chemistry of bulk precipitation and atmospheric element inputs in an arable soil near the North Sea coast of Schleswig-Holstein, North Germany. Bulk precipitation was collected at weekly intervals from November 1989 to October 1991. Precipitation amount, pH, electrical conductivity, and concentrations of Na⁺, K⁺, NH₄⁺, Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, Cl^?, NO₃^?, and SO₄^2? were recorded. The average volume-weighted pH was 5.5 and the average EC was 92 μS cm^?1. Sodium and Cl^? were with 64% and 76% the dominant ions (equivalent concentration) in bulk precipitation indicating the influence of the North Sea. The contribution of marine alkalinity to neutralization reactions of bulk precipitation was negligible (1%). The neutralizing substances NH₃ (63%) and Carbonate (36%) were more important. Deposition rates were in 1990 and 1991 97.0 and 51.7 kg Na⁺ ha^?1, 6.2 and 4.0 kg K⁺ ha^?1, 15.0 and 8.4 kg Mg²⁺ ha^?1, 13.2 and 10.4 kg Ca²⁺ ha^?1, 12.3 and 9.5 kg NH₄⁺-N ha^?1, 8.0 and 5.9 kg NO₃^?-N ha^?1, 168 and 83.1 kg Cl^? ha^?1 and 19.1 and 12.7 kg SO₄^2?-S ha^?1. In 1990 both more westerly winds and stronger wind-forces occurred than in 1991 and resulted in higher inputs of marine origin. Calculated on Cl^? basis 93% of Na⁺, 55% of K⁺, 74% of Mg²⁺, 24% of Ca²⁺, and 36% of SO₄^2? were of marine origin. Atmospheric input of marine origin supplied 39–72% of Mg and 21–37% of S requirement for crop production. The North Sea is an important source providing significant amounts of these elements to agricultural crops.     

Absorption of Ammonia Released from Poultry Manure to Soil and Bark and the Use of Absorbed Ammonia in Solubilizing Phosphate Rock

Composting systems were designed to utilize ammonia (NH₃) released during composting of poultry manure to solubilize phosphate rock (PR). The NH₃ released from decomposing manure was allowed to pass through columns containing soil or bark materials mixed with North Carolina phosphate rock (NCPR) at a rate of 1 mg P g^?1. After eight weeks of incubation, the columns were dismantled and the forms of P and N in PR/soil or PR/bark mixtures were measured. The dissolution of PR was determined from the increases in the amount of soluble and adsorbed P (resin plus NaOH extractable P) or from the decreases in the residual apatite P (HC1 extractable P).

The amounts of NH₄^+-N in the soil and bark columns increased due to absorption of the NH₃ released from poultry manure. No nitrification of absorbed NH₃ occurred, however, unless the soil or bark were reinoculated with a fresh soil solution and incubated for further six weeks.

In the absence of NH₃ absorption, soil and bark materials dissolved approximately 33 percent and 82 percent of NCPR, respectively. The higher dissolution of NCPR in bark was attributed to its higher exchangeable acidity and Ca sink size. There was no increase in NCPR dissolution during the initial NH₃ absorption phase (36 percent and 85 percent dissolution in soil and bark respectively), which may be due to the absence of nitrification. However, during subsequent reincubation when nitrification occurred, the final dissolution of NCPR in the NH₃ treated soil and bark was slightly higher (41 percent and 100 percent, respectively). Protons (H⁺) are released during the oxidation of NH₄⁺ to NO_3? (nitrification) which promote the dissolution of PR. However, most of the H⁺ released during nitrification was involved with soil and bark pH buffering reactions. Only five to 10 percent was involved in PR solubilization in PR/soil mixtures whereas about 50 percent was involved in PR/bark systems.

Bark covers for poultry manure and poultry manure compost heaps have the potential to reduce NH₃ loss and conserve N and may be useful for other purposes such as PR solubilization.     

An analysis of spatial variability of the dominant ions in precipitation in the eastern United States

Data of the Multistate Atmospheric Power Production Pollution Study (MAP3S) and the National Atmospheric Deposition Program (NADP) were utilized to develop wet deposition spatial distribution patterns for the eastern United States for 1979. The ions of SO₄ ^?, NO₃ ^?, H⁺, and NH₄ ⁺ were selected for study since they are the most prominent ones found in precipitation. Total wet deposition for 1979 was normalized to one centimeter of precipitation and objectively analyzed using the Synagraphic Mapping System (SYMAP) technique. Gradients of SO₄ ^? and NO₃ ^? were found to be essentially uniform, both to the east and west of the major pollution regions. An increased gradient in normalized deposition for SO₄ ^?, NO₃ ^?, and H⁺ was found in the Appalachian Mountain region. Estimates of total wet deposition were obtained by using the normalized deposition values in conjunction with precipitation as reported by the National Climatic Center. SYMAP analyses of the estimated total wet deposition were localized in nature due to precipitation variations between sites.     

Using Organic Matter with Chemical Amendments to Improve Calcareous Sodic Soil

Abstract

Kangping soil in northeast China is a sodic soil characterized by a high pH and excessive sodium. The high pH and excessive sodium in sodic soils generally cause loss of soil structure, reduce hydraulic conductivity (HC), increase soil hardness, and make the soil unproductive land. After we mixed organic matter (rice straw) and chemical amendments (H₂SO₄, CaSO₄, and FeSO₄), a column experiment was conducted to evaluate the physical and chemical properties of the soil influenced by the changes in HC, penetrability of soil s`urface, pH, electrical conductivity, CO₃ ^2‐, HCO₃ ^?, Ca²⁺, Na⁺, sodium adsorption rate (SAR), available phosphorus (P) and iron (Fe), and leached P.

Organic matter decreased the concentrations of CO₃ ^2‐, HCO₃ ^?, and Na⁺ in soil solution and increased the total volume of the leachate. Organic matter also reduced the amount of available Fe and increased the available P. However, organic matter did not affect the penetrability of the soil surface as much as soil hardness, HC, and SAR within the short period of this experiment. Among the chemical amendments, H₂SO₄ and FeSO₄ were more effective than CaSO₄ to restore HC, electrical conductivity, Na⁺, and SAR. The chemical amendments, compared with organic matter, significantly leached P from the soil in this study, but the leaching was independent of the concentration of available P in the soil. The CaSO₄ had the strongest effect in increasing leached P from the soil without changing the concentration of available P in the soil. Organic matter with added CaSO₄ leached P from the soil more than all other treatments.     

The influence of nitrate and ammonium fertilization on N2O release and CH4 uptake of a well-drained topsoil demonstrated by a soil microcosm experiment

The effects of the application of KNO₃ and NH₄Cl (100 kg N ha^?1) on N₂O release and CH₄ uptake by a well-aerated topsoil (porosity: 55%, water-filled pore space: 67% of the total pore space) were studied in a laboratory incubation experiment over 50 days using a soil microcosm system with an automated registration of N₂O and CH₄ fluxes. The total N₂O-N losses over 50 days were low for all treatments and amounted to 0.9 mg m^?2 for the control, 1.2 mg m^?2 for the soil columns fertilized with KNO3, and 7.3 mg m^?2 for the soil columns fertilized with NH₄Cl. The slightly elevated N₂O release after the application Of NH₄Cl was associated with the nitrification of NH₄⁺ added. Only ?0.06% of the fertilized NH₄?N was lost as N₂O. This nitrogen fertilization reduced the CH₄ uptake of the soil columns by 43% (NH₄Cl) and 21% (KNO₃), respectively.     

Does the potential ammonium fixation of soils have an impact on the optimum nitrogen fertilizer rate?

Field experiments were conducted to determine the effect of nitrogen (N) fertilizer forms and doses on wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) on three soils differing in their ammonium (NH₄) fixation capacity [high = 161 mg fixed NH₄-N kg^?1 soil, medium = 31.5 mg fixed NH₄-N kg^?1 soil and no = nearly no fixed NH₄-N kg^?1 soil]. On high NH₄⁺ fixing soil, 80 kg N ha^?1 Urea+ ammonium nitrate [NH₄NO₃] or 240 kg N ha^?1 ammonium sulfate [(NH₄)₂SO₄]+(NH₄)₂SO₄, was required to obtain the maximum yield. Urea + NH₄NO₃ generally showed the highest significance in respect to the agronomic efficiency of N fertilizers. In the non NH₄⁺ fixing soil, 80 kg N ha^?1 urea+NH₄NO₃ was enough to obtain high grain yield. The agronomic efficiency of N fertilizers was generally higher in the non NH₄⁺ fixing soil than in the others. Grain protein was highly affected by NH₄⁺ fixation capacities and N doses. Harvest index was affected by the NH₄⁺ fixation capacity at the 1% significance level.     

Effect of reforestation on turnover of 15N-labelled nitrate and ammonium in relation to changes in soil microflora

The effects of incubation time, vegetation type (represented by a pine plantation, a protected and a periodically burnt eucalypt forest), lime and finely ground pine needles on the transformation of (¹⁵NH₄)₂SO₄ and K¹⁵NO₃ were studied in incubation experiments with a sandy lateritic podzolic soil from south-east Queensland. Microorganisms were counted so as to relate N transformations to particular groups of microorganisms.The heterotrophic miroflora utilized NH⁺₄ as a source of N in preference to NO^?₃, and autotrophic nitrifiers seemed to be weak competitors for NH⁺₄. Lime caused a slight loss of NO^?₃ and this was accompanied by an increase in the population of denitrifying bacteria.Lime promoted immobilization of NH⁺₄ by heterotrophic bacteria and subsequent mineralization by nitrifying bacteria, but when pine needles were also added the nitrifiers were suppressed and immobilization by heterotrophic bacteria dominated. Pine needles alone stimulated fungi to immobilize NH⁺₄.While reforestation with exotic pines caused a loss of total-N there was evidence of increased turnover, i.e. more rapid immobilization and nitrification, in pine plantation soils. Prescribed burning also promoted nitrification while reducing total-N.     

Evidence that fungi can oxidize NH4+ to NO3− in a grassland soil

The contribution of bacteria and fungi to NH₄⁺ and organic N (N_org) oxidation was determined in a grassland soil (pH 6.3) by using the general bacterial inhibitor streptomycin or the fungal inhibitor cycloheximide in a laboratory incubation study at 20°C. Each inhibitor was applied at a rate of 3 mg g^?1 oven‐dry soil. The size and enrichment of the mineral N pools from differentially (NH₄¹⁵NO₃ and ¹⁵NH₄NO₃) and doubly labelled (¹⁵NH₄¹⁵NO₃) NH₄NO₃ were measured at 3, 6, 12, 24, 48, 72, 96 and 120 hours after N addition. Labelled N was applied to each treatment, to supply NH₄⁺‐N and NO₃^?‐N at 3.15 μmol N g^?1 oven‐dry soil. The N treatments were enriched to 60 atom % excess in ¹⁵N and acetate was added at 100 μmol C g^?1 oven‐dry soil, to provide a readily available carbon source. The oxidation rates of NH₄⁺ and N_org were analysed separately for each inhibitor treatment with a ¹⁵N tracing model. In the absence of inhibitors, the rates of NH₄⁺ oxidation and organic N oxidation were 0.0045 μmol N g^?1 hour^?1 and 0.0023 μmol N g^?1 hour^?1, respectively. Streptomycin had no effect on nitrification but cycloheximide inhibited the oxidation of NH₄⁺ by 89% and the oxidation of organic N by more than 30%. The current study provides evidence to suggest that nitrification in grassland soil is carried out by fungi and that they can simultaneously oxidize NH₄⁺ and organic N.