Influence of pH on the release of NO and N2O from fertilized and unfertilized soil

Summary NO and N₂O release rates were measured in an acidic forest soil (pH 4.0) and a slightly alkaline agricultural soil (pH 7.8) after the pH was adjusted to values ranging from pH 4.0 to 7.8. The total release of NO and N₂O during 20 h of incubation was determined together with the net changes in the concentrations of NH ₄ ⁺ , NO ₂ ^– and NO ₃ ^– in the soil. The release of NO and N₂O increased after fertilization with NH ₄ ⁺ and/or NO ₃ ^– ; it strongly decreased with increasing pH in the acidic forest soil; and it increased when the pH of the alkaline agricultural soil was decreased to pH 6.5. However, there was no simple correlation between NO and N₂O release or between these compounds and activities such as the NO ₂ ^– accumulation, NO ₃ ^– reduction, or NH ₄ ⁺ oxidation. We suggest that soil pH exerts complex controls, e.g., on microbial populations or enzyme activities involved in nitrification and denitrification.     

Coupled nitrification-denitrification associated with liquid manure in a gel-stabilized model system

Summary Following the application of liquid manure to soil, the development of the two processes, nitrification and denitrification, was studied in a two-phase model system. A saturated mixture of manure and soil, stabilized with silica gel, was overlain by an aerobic soil phase. Profiles of the redox potential pH, inorganic N, dissolved organic C, nitrification and denitrification potentials, and phospholipid concentrations for an estimate of microbial biomass were measured during a 20-day period. NH ₄ ⁺ diffusing into the aerobic soil was oxidized within 10 mm of the interface, but with only a small accumulation of NO ₂ ^- and NO ₃ ^- . It was estimated that N equivalent to approximately 70% of the NH ₄ ⁺ originally present in the manure was lost through coupled nitrification-denitrification. The potentials for nitrification and denitrification increased 40-and 20-fold, respectively, around the interface. Maximum values were recorded after 14 days. Within 0–5 mm of the anaerobic zone, apparent generation times for NH ₄ ⁺ -oxidizing bacteria of 1.1–1.8 days were estimated between day 1 and day 7. The phospholipid concentration profiles suggested that the biomass within 2 mm on either side of the interface was stimulated throughout the 20-day period.     

Effects of soil variables and season on the production and consumption of nitric oxide in oxic soils

Summary NO production rates, NO uptake rate constants, NO compensation points, and different soil variables were determined for various soil types and different soil horizons, and checked for mutual correlations. NO production was detected in all, and NO comsuption in most soils tested. Only soils in a very early state of soil genesis showed no NO consumption activity. NO consumption was positively correlated with soil water and NH ₄ ⁺ contents. NO production rates were not correlated with any soil variable. Both NO production and NO consumption tended to decrease from the upper organic to the deeper mineral horizons in different climax soils. The seasonal variation of NO production and NO consumption in a calcic cambisol and a luvisol showed highest rates in summer. The rates of NO production and NO consumption were correlated with a few of the soil variables, but showed no uniform, theoretically comprehensible pattern. However, NO production in samples of the calcic cambisol was stimulated by fertilization with NH ₄ ⁺ , but not with NO ₃ ^– and was inhibited by nitrapyrin, indicating that NO was produced by nitrification. NO production made up about 3% of the nitrification rates. In the luvisol, in contrast, NO production was not affected by the addition of NH ₄ ⁺ or NO ₃ ^– . Nitrification was also undetectable in this acidic soil, except for a few patches where NO production was also detected.     

Evaluation of denitrification losses by the acetylene inhibition technique in a permanent ryegrass field (Lolium perenne L.) fertilized with animal slurry or ammonium nitrate

In a field experiment, the effect of animal slurry, (with and without the nitrification inhibitor dicyandiamide on total denitrification losses estimated by the C₂H₂ inhibition technique was measured over 2 years (1989–1990). During this period, four different plots (each with four replicates) were fertilized six times with 150 kg N ha^-1 in the form of cattle-pig slurry or NH₄NO₃. Soil samples (0–20 cm) were analysed at regular intervals for NH _inf4 ^sup+ and NO _inf3 ^sup– concentrations. The soil water content was determined gravimetrically. During the first year (1989) total denitrification losses from unfertilized, mineral-fertilized, and animal slurry-amended plots (with or without dicyandiamide) were estimated as 0.2, 3.1, 0.7, and 0.6 kg N ha^-1, respectively. During the second year (1990) the denitrification losses were 0.4, 1.3, 0.7, and 0.7 kg N ha^-1, respectively. There was a clear relationship between the NO _inf3 ^sup– concentration or soil water content and the denitrification rate. The results are siteund experiment-specific and cannot be generalized so far.     

Controls on nitric oxide emissions from tropical pasture and rain forest soils

In field studies, forest soils in the Atlantic Lowlands of Costa Rica emitted greater amounts of nitric oxide (NO) than soils from pastures that had been actively grazed for over 20 years following their conversion from forest. We measured NO production from intact soil cores from these land uses. Laboratory tests using ammonium(NH ₄ ⁺ ), nitrate (NO ₃ ^– ), nitrite (NO ₂ ^– ), water, and acetylene (C₂H₂) additions demonstrate a response consistent with field studies.Forest soil cores produced more NO than pasture cores regardless of treatment. In forest soil the response toNH ₄ ⁺ solution was significantly greater than response to water or an ambient moisture control. Addition of 10 kPa C₂H₂ caused a marked decrease in NO production in forest soil cores. These responses suggest a nitrification-linked control over NO production. Large and rapid responses toNO ₂ ^– additions suggest that chemical decomposition of this ion may contribute to NO production. Pasture soil cores did not show a significant response to any of the treatments including NO ₂ ^– . Low porosity in the pasture soils may restrict emission of NO produced therein.     

Enhanced denitrification in plots of N2-fixing faba beans compared to plots of a non-fixing legume and non-legumes

Denitrification rates were studied using the C₂H₂ inhibition technique in a 2-year field experiment within plots of nodulated and non-nodulated faba beans, ryegrass, and cabbage. Denitrification rates ranged from 14.40 to 0.02 ng N₂O–N g^–1 soil dry weight h^–1. Mean denitrification increased fourfold in plots of N₂–fixing Vicia faba compared to non-nodulated V. faba mutant F48, Lolium perenne, and Brassica oleracea. The results with and without C₂H₂ treatment indicate that in the field the major part of this enhanced denitrification led to the endproduct N₂ rather than to the ozone-degrading N₂O. Higher denitrification rates of plots with N₂–fixing plants in September seemed to be caused by an increase in soil NO _inf3 ^sup- of about 20 kg ha^–1 found between July and August. Soil NO _inf3 ^sup- and soil moisture explained 67% of the variation in denitrification rates of the different soil samples over the growing seasons in the 2 years. Soil moisture explained 44% of the variation for soil planted with N₂–fixing plants and 62% for soil planted with non-fixing plants. Positive exponential relationships were obtained between denitrification rates and soil nitrate (r=0.71) and soil moisture (r=0.82).     

Nitrogen turnover rates in a riparian fen determined by 15N dilution

Summary Gross rates of N mineralization, assimilation, nitrification, and NO _in3 ^sup- reduction were determined in soil from a wet riparian fen by 1-day incubations of soil cores and slurries with ¹⁵N-labelled substrates. N mineralization transformed 0.1% of the total organic N pool daily in the soil cores, of which 25% was oxidized through autotrophic nitrification and 53%–70% was incorporated into microorganisms. N mineralization and nitrification were markedly inhibited below 5 cm in soil depth. At least 80% of the NO _in3 ^sup- reduction in aerated cores occurred through dissimilatory processes. Dissimilatory reduction to NH _in4 ^sup+ (DNRA) occurred only below 5 cm in depth. The results show that NH _in4 ^sup+ oxidation was limited by available substrate and was itself a strong regulator of NO _in3 ^sup- -reducing activity. NO _in3 ^sup- reduction was significantly increased when the soil was suspended under anaerobiosis; adding glucose to the soil slurries increased NO _in3 ^sup- reduction by 2.4–3.7 times. Between 3% and 9% (net) of the added NO _in3 ^sup- was reduced through DNRA in the soil slurries. The highest percentage was observed in soil samples from deeper layers that were pre-incubated anaerobically.     

Denitrification and nitrogen immobilization as affected by organic matter and different forms of nitrogen added to an anaerobic water-sediment system

The effects of wheat straw and different forms of N on denitrification and N immobilization were studied in an anaerobic water-sediment system. The water-sediment system was supplemented with various combinations of wheat straw and ¹⁵N-labelled and unlabelled (NH₄)₂SO₄ or KNO₃, and incubated anaerobically at 30°C for 10 days. ¹⁵N-labelled and unlabelled NO _inf3 ^sup- , NO _inf2 ^sup- , NH _inf4 ^sup+ , and organic N were determined in the water-sediment system. The gases evolved (N₂, CO₂, N₂O, and CH₄) were analyzed by gas chromatography at regular intervals. Larger quantities of ¹⁵N₂–N and organic ¹⁵N were formed in wheat straw-amended systems than in non-amended systems. Trends in CO₂ production were similar to those of N₂–N evolution. The evolution of N₂O and CH₄ was negligible. Denitrification processes accounted for about 22 and 71% of the added ¹⁵NO _inf3 ^sup- –N in the absence and presence of wheat straw, respectively. The corresponding denitrification rates were 3.4 and 12.4 g ¹⁵Ng^-1 dry sediment day^-1. In systems amended with ¹⁵NO _inf3 ^sup- –N and ¹⁵NO _inf3 ^sup- +NH _inf4 ^sup+ –N without wheat straw, 1.82 and 1.58%, respectively, of the added ¹⁵NH _inf3 ^sup- –N was immobilized. The corresponding figures for the same systems supplemented with wheat straw were 5.08 and 4.10%, respectively. Immobilization of ¹⁵NO _inf4 ^sup+ –N was higher than that of ¹⁵NO _inf3 ^sup- –N. The presence of NO _inf3 ^sup- –N did not stimulate NH _inf4 ^sup+ –N immobilization.     

Contribution of denitrification and autotrophic and heterotrophic nitrification to nitrous oxide production in andosols

To quantify the contribution of denitrification and autotrophic and heterotrophic nitrification to N₂O production in Andosols with a relatively high organic matter content, we first examined the effect of C₂H₂ concentrations on N₂O production and on changes in mineral N contents. The optimum C₂H₂ concentration for inhibiting autotrophic nitrification was 10 Pa. Secondly, and Andosol taken from an arable field was incubated for 32 days at 30°C at 60, 80, and 100% water-holding capacity with or without the addition of NH ₄ ⁺ or NO _inf3 ^sup- (200 mg N kg^-1), and subsamples collected every 4–8 days were further incubated for 24 h with or without C₂H₂ (10 Pa). At 60 and 80% water-holding capacity with NH ₄ ⁺ added, 87–92% of N₂O produced (200–250 g N₂O–N kg^-1) was derived from autotrophic nitrification. In contrast, at 100% water-holding capacity with or without added NO _inf3 ^sup- , enormous amounts of N₂O (29–90 mg N₂O–N kg^-1) were produced rapidly, mostly by denitrification (96–98% of total production). Thirdly, to examine N₂O production by heterotrophic nitrification, the Andosol was amended with peptone or NH ₄ ⁺ (both 1000 mg N kg^-1)+citric acid (20 g C kg^-1) and with or without dicyandiamide (200 mg N kg^-1). Treatment with citric acid alone or with citric acid+dicyandiamide suppressed N₂O production. In contrast, peptone increased N₂O production (5.66 mg N₂O–N kg^-1) mainly by denitrification (80% of total production). However, dicyandiamide reduced N₂O production to 1.1 mg N₂O–N kg^-1. These results indicate that autotrophic nitrification was the main process for N₂O production except at 100% water-holding capacity where denitrification became dominant and that heterotrophic nitrification had a lesser importance in the soils examine.Dedicated to Professor J. C. G. Ottow on the occasion of his 60th birthday     

CH4 oxidation in two temperate arable soils as affected by nitrate and ammonium application

The short-term effect of NaNO₃ or (NH₄)₂SO₄ application on CH₄ oxidation was measured under laboratory conditions with sieved soils collected from the top layer (0–12 cm) of a loamy and a sandy soil. The soils were incubated in sealed flasks and the CH₄ and CO₂ concentrations in headspace were measured periodically. On each gas sampling date the soils were analysed for inorganic N, electro-ultrafiltration organic N, and pH. NH ₄ ⁺ application to the loamy soil inhibited CH₄ oxidation entirely whereas in the untreated control soils CH₄ concentration decreased linearly with a rate of-41 nl CH₄ l^-1 h^-1; NO ₃ ^sup- application to this soil caused a small but significant reduction in CH₄ uptake. The CH₄-oxidizing ability of the sandy soil was low, even in the control. This was mainly a result of the disturbed soil structure after sieving. Both NH ₄ ⁺ and NO ₃ ^sup- treatments completely inhibited CH₄ uptake in this ligh-textured soil. The adverse impact of NH ₄ ⁺ persisted during the entire incubation, although in the loamy soil only 17% of the NH ₄ ⁺ added was recovered after 168 h. The negative effect of NO ₃ ^sup- was probably caused by an increase in osmotic potential. Immediate inhibition of CH₄ oxidation after inorganic N addition was demonstrated in two arable soils, although the effect was directly related only in part to soil N transformations.     

Effects of earthworms on nitrogen mineralization

The influence of earthworms (Lumbricus terrestris and Aporrectodea tuberculata) on the rate of net N mineralization was studied, both in soil columns with intact soil structure (partly influenced by past earthworm activity) and in columns with sieved soil. Soil columns were collected from a well drained silt loam soil, and before the experiment all earthworms present were removed. Next, either new earthworms (at the rate of five earthworms per 1200 cm³, which was only slightly higher than field numbers and biomass) were added or they were left out. At five points in time, the columns were analyzed for NH ₄ ⁺ , NO ₃ ^– , and microbial biomass in separate samples from the upper and lower layers of the columns. N mineralization was estimated from these measurements. The total C and N content and the microbial biomass in the upper 5 cm of the intact soil columns was higher than in the lower layer. In the homogenized columns, the C and N content and the microbial biomass were equally divided over both layers. In all columns, the concentration of NH ₄ ⁺ was small at the start of the experiment and decreased over time. No earthworm effects on extractable NH ₄ ⁺ were observed. However, when earthworms were present, the concentration of NO ₃ ^– increased in both intact and homogenized cores. The microbial biomass content did not change significantly with time in any of the treatments. In both intact and homogenized soil, N mineralization increased when earthworms were present. Without earthworms, both type of cores mineralized comparable amounts of N, which indicates that mainly direct and indirect biological effects are responsible for the increase in mineralization in the presence of earthworms. The results of this study indicate that earthworm activity can result in considerable amounts of N being mineralized, up to 90 kg N ha^–1 year^–1, at the density used in this experiment.     

Seasonal pattern of denitrification under an irrigated wheat-maize cropping system fertilized with urea and farmyard manure in different combinations

Under semiarid subtropical field conditions, denitrification was measured from the arable soil layer of an irrigated wheat–maize cropping system fertilized with urea at 50 or 100 kg N ha^–1 year^–1 (U₅₀ and U₁₀₀, respectively), each applied in combination with 8 or 16 t ha^–1 year^–1 of farmyard manure (FYM) (F₈ and F₁₆, respectively). Denitrification was measured by acetylene inhibition/soil core incubation method, also taking into account the N₂O entrapped in soil cores. Denitrification loss ranged from 3.7 to 5.7 kg N ha^–1 during the growing season of wheat (150 days) and from 14.0 to 30.3 kg N ha^–1 during the maize season (60 days). Most (up to 61%) of the loss occurred in a relatively short spell, after the presowing irrigation to maize, when the soil temperature was high and a considerable NO₃^–-N had accumulated during the preceding 4-month fallow; during this irrigation cycle, the lowest denitrification rate was observed in the treatment receiving highest N input (U₁₀₀+F₁₆), mainly because of the lowest soil respiration rate. Data on soil respiration and denitrification potential revealed that by increasing the mineral N application rate, the organic matter decomposition was accelerated during the wheat-growing season, leaving a lower amount of available C during the following maize season. Denitrification was affected by soil moisture and by soil temperature, the influence of which was either direct, or indirect by controlling the NO₃^– availability and aerobic soil respiration. Results indicated a substantial denitrification loss from the irrigated wheat–maize cropping system under semiarid subtropical conditions, signifying the need of appropriate fertilizer management practices to reduce this loss.     

Effects of soil fauna on leaching of nitrogen and phosphorus from experimental systems simulating coniferous forest floor

Summary Long-term experiments (97–98 weeks) were carried out in macrocosm systems simulating the complexity of coniferous forest soil. The macrocosms were partially sterilized by freezing, thawing and drying, then re-inoculated with microbes alone or microbes + soil fauna. Removable microcosms containing birch litter, spruce litter, or humus were inserted into the substrate humus in the macrocosms. Two experiments used organic matter only, and in the third there was mineral soil below the humus. The macrocosms were incubated in climate chambers that simulated both summer and winter conditions. At 4- to 6-week intervals the substrates were irrigated for analyses of pH, total N, NH ₄ ⁺ –N, NO ₃ ^– –N, and PO ₄ ^3– –P in the leachates. At the end of each growing season a destructive sampling was performed, including analyses of KCl-extractable N and P.Leaching of NH ₄ ⁺ and PO ₄ ^3– from both the litter and the total systems was significantly enhanced by the soil fauna. There were also differences in mineralization of N and P between the refaunated systems, apparently due to divergent development of the faunal communities. In general, fauna affected KCl-extractable nutrients from the litter positively, although this effect was less evident than in the leaching water. In the humus and mineral soil the fauna significantly increased the release of N and P, especially in the later stages of the experiments. Soil pH was higher in the presence of fauna, but there was no difference in the pH of the leachates. Not only invertebrate-microbial interactions, but also mutual relationships among fauna were important in the nutrient dynamics.     

Nitrification of ammonium in different components of a flooded rice soil system

Nitrification associated with the various components [subsurface soil from unplanted and planted (rhizosphere) fields, standing water and surface soil from planted and unplanted fields and leaf sheath suspensions] of submerged rice paddies was examined in incubation experiments with solutions inoculated with soil or water samples. Substantial nitrification occurred in all samples, standing water and surface soil samples in particular, during their 40-day incubation with NH ₄ ⁺ –N. Almost all the NH ₄ ⁺ –N, disappeared during incubation with standing water, was recovered as NO _inf3 ^sup- –N. This, compared to 70–80% from all soil samples and only 29% from leaf sheath suspensions. Significant loss of nitrogen, especially from leaf sheath suspensions, is probably due to nitrification-denitrification as evidenced by its complete recovery in the presence of N-Serve. Nitrification potential of the soil and water samples varied with the crop growth stage and was more pronounced at tillering and panicle inititation stages than at other stages. Nitrification potential of samples from green-manure-amended plots was distinctly less than that of samples from control and urea-amended plots. Most probable number (MPN) estimates of ammonium-oxidizing bacteria were always higher in surface soil in both planted and unplanted plots at all stages of crop growth.Dedicated to Professor J. C. G. Ottow on the occasion of his 60th birthday     

Variables controlling denitrification from earthworm casts and soil in permanent pastures

Summary Denitrification (using the acetylene block method) was determined in earthworm casts and soils from permanent, drained or undrained pasture plots fertilized with 0 or 200 kg N ha^-1 year^-1 as ammonium nitrate. Rates of N₂O production from soil cores were about three times higher from the fertilized than from the unfertilized plots while drainage had a relatively small effect. Denitrification rates from casts were 3–5 times higher than those from soil irrespective of the drainage treatment. Casts generally had higher NO _inf3 ^sup- , NH _inf4 ^sup+ , and moisture contents, and higher microbial respiration rates than soil. Rates of N₂O production were determined primarily by NO _inf3 ^sup- supply, secondarily by moisture; available C did not appear to limit denitrification in these pastures. Estimates of the potential contribution of casts to denitrification ranges from 10.1% of 29.3 kg ha^-1 year^-1 from the unfertilized, drained plot to 22% of 82.5 kg ha^-1 year^-1 from the fertilized undrained plot.     

Immobilization of ammonium and nitrate and their interaction with native N in three Illinois Mollisols

Summary Three Illinois Mollisols were incubated for 2 weeks at 25°C after treatment with different amounts of glucose and/or ¹⁵N-labelled (NH₄)₂SO₄ or ¹⁵N-labelled KNO₃. The objectives were: (1) to compare the immobilization and interaction of NH _inf4 ^sup+ –N and NO _inf3 ^sup- –N with the native soil N, and (2) to study the relationship between immobilization of applied N and the added N interaction. As determined, immobilized N refers to forms not extractable with 2 MKCl (immobilized ¹⁵N+clay-fixed ¹⁵NH _inf4 ^sup+ ). In all cases, both NH _inf4 ^sup+ –N and NO _inf3 ^sup- –N were actively immobilized and transformed into organic forms in the presence of glucose. In the absence of glucose, a higher proportion of NH _inf4 ^sup+ than NO _inf3 ^sup- was recovered in organic forms. Although the three soils differed considerably in the amounts of applied N immobilized, similar trends in N immobilization were observed. A positive added N interaction occurred with all soils, the magnitude increasing with the rate of N addition. In the absence of glucose, higher added N interactions were obtained for NH _inf4 ^sup+ than NO _inf3 ^sup- , whereas there was very little difference between NH _inf4 ^sup+ and NO _inf3 ^sup- in the presence of glucose. The results indicate that under conditions of rapid immobilization (e.g., in the presence of glucose), NH _inf4 ^sup+ and NO _inf3 ^sup- will show comparable interaction with the native soil N, whereas in unamended soil, the extent of this interaction will be greater with NH _inf4 ^sup+ than with NO _inf3 ^sup- . Significant correlations were observed between applied N immobilized and the added N interaction only in one soil having a high initial mineral N content.     

Nitrification activity in submerged soils and its relation to denitrification loss

Summary Nitrification activity (formation of NO ₂ ^– + NO ₃ ^– per unit soil weight) was measured in the surface layer of 15 presubmerged soils incubated in petri dishes under flooded but aerobic conditions. soils with pH above 5 nitrified quickly, whereas soils with pH below this level did not nitrify or nitrified slowly. The pH values between 7 and 8.5 were optimal for nitrification. Organic-matter levels in the 15 soils of our study did not influence their nitrification activities. In a follow-up greenhouse pot study, after a period of 3 weeks, ¹⁵N-balance measurements showed that the loss of N through apparent denitrification did not follow the nitrification patterns of the soils observed in the petri dishes. Apparent denitrification accounted for 16.8% and 18.9% loss of ¹⁵N from a soil with insignificant nitrification activity and a soil with high nitrification activity, respectively. These results, thus, indicate a lack of correspondence between the nitrification activities of soil and the denitrification loss of N when the former was measured in the dark and the latter was estimated in the light. Soils that nitrified in the darkness of the incubator did not nitrify in the daylight in the greenhouse.     

The effect of some carbon substrates on denitrification rates and carbon utilization in soil

Summary Soil was amended with a variety of carbon sources, including four soluble compounds (glucose, sucrose, glycerol and mannitol) and two plant residues (straw and alfalfa).. Potential denitrification rates, measured both as N₂O accumulation and NO₃ ^– disappearance, were compared, and the predicted values of available C, measured as CO₂ production and water-extractable C, were assessed.The two measures of denitrification agreed well although N₂O accumulation was, found to be most sensitive. Soil treated with the four soluble C compounds resulted in the same rate of denitrification although glycerol was not as rapidly oxidized. Alfalfa-amended soil produced a significantly higher rate of denitrification than the same amount of added straw. CO₂ evolution was found to be a good predictor of denitrification over the first 2 days of sampling, but neither measure of available substrate C correlated well with denitrification rate beyond 4 days, when NO₃ ^– was depleted in most treatments. The data with alfalfa-amended soil suggested that denitrifiers used water-extractable C. materials produced by other organisms under anaerobic conditions.     

Effects of phosphorus addition with and without ammonium, nitrate, or glucose on N2O and NO emissions from soil sampled under Acacia mangium plantation and incubated at 100 % of the water-filled pore space

An incubation experiment was conducted to examine the effects of phosphorus (P) addition with and without ammonium, nitrate, or glucose on N₂O and NO emissions from soil taken under Acacia mangium plantation and incubated at 100 % water-filled pore space (WFPS). Additions of NO ₃ ^? stimulated the N₂O and NO emissions while NH ₄ ⁺ did not, showing that denitrification was the main process of N₂O and NO production in the study condition. When NO ₃ ^? was added with P significantly (P?<?0.05) increased N₂O emissions regardless of the ratio of the added nitrogen and carbon, suggesting that P addition stimulated denitrification activity. The activation of denitrification by P addition is possibly attributed to two mechanisms: (1) the added-P stimulated denitrification by relieving P shortage for denitrifying bacteria and (2) the added-P stimulated activity of heterotrophic soil microflora with increased O₂ consumption promoting the development of anaerobic conditions with stimulation of denitrification.     

Leaching of nutrients from soil cores treated with a single large dose of digested sewage sludge

Core lysimeters containing undisturbed coarse sandy soil (from grassland) were amended with a high rate of anaerobically digested sewage sludge (equivalent to >1,000 t ha^–1). Water, at a rate equivalent to the mean weekly rainfall for the soil, was applied to amended and control lysimeters for 30 weeks and the leachate analysed for anions and cations. Lysimeters were also destructively sampled at intervals throughout the experiment and soil samples were analysed for extractable NH₄⁺-N, NO₃^–-N and PO₄^3–-P. Ammonium N leached for about 11 weeks from the amended lysimeters, then abruptly stopped. A similar amount of NO₃^–-N leached, but leaching was continuing when the experiment finished. The control lysimeters leached as much NO₃^–-N as those that were amended, but no NH₄⁺-N. The amended lysimeters also leached NO₂^–-N. Negligible PO₄^3–-P, but large amounts of SO₄^2– were leached from the amended lysimeters. Concentrations of extractable NH₄⁺-N and PO₄^3–-P were very high in the amended soils, but NO₃^–-N concentrations remained low throughout the experiment, indicating that nitrification rates were low and/or that denitrification rates were high.