Denitrification rates in relation to groundwater level in a peat soil under grassland

In this study spatial and temporal relations between denitrification rates and groundwater levels were assessed for intensively managed grassland on peat soil where groundwater levels fluctuated between 0 and 1 m below the soil surface. Denitrification rates were measured every 3–4 weeks using the C₂H₂ inhibition technique for 2 years (2000–2002). Soil samples were taken every 10 cm until the groundwater level was reached. Annual N losses through denitrification averaged 87 kg N ha^-1 of which almost 70% originated from soil layers deeper than 20 cm below the soil surface. N losses through denitrification accounted for 16% of the N surplus at farm-level (including mineralization of peat), making it a key-process for the N efficiency of the present dairy farm. Potential denitrification rates exceeded actual denitrification rates at all depths, indicating that organic C was not limiting actual denitrification rates in this soil. The groundwater level appeared to determine the distribution of denitrification rates with depth. Our results were explained by the ample availability of an energy source (degradable C) throughout the soil profile of the peat soil.This revised version was published online November 2003 with corrections to Figure 4 and in February 2004 with corrections to Figure 2.     

施用铵态氮对森林土壤硝态氮和铵态氮的影响

对取自武夷山的红壤、黄壤、黄壤性草甸土分别在对照(CK,N 0 mg/kg)、低氮(LN,N 50 mg/kg)、高氮(HN,N 100 mg/kg)3种氮(N)水平处理下开展培养实验,研究施加NH4+-N对森林土壤N转化的短期影响.结果表明,添加NH4+-N可显著(p＜0.05)降低土壤NO3--N含量4.5％～25.7％,但LN与HN处理差异不显著,NO3--N降低可能与NO3--N反硝化和异氧还原有关;然而,黄壤性草甸土NO3--N没有降低.与培养前比较,在第56天红壤NO3--N含量显著增加5倍左右;桐木关黄壤增加40％左右,而黄冈山25 km黄壤仅在CK处理下增加16％,但是黄壤性草甸土显著降低;结果显示LN与HN处理土壤NO3--N含量变化幅度小于CK.与CK相比,LN和HN处理红壤NH4+-N分别显著(p＜0.05)升高24.1％ ～ 96.5％和68.7％～114.1％,且随培养进行没有累积,可能与微生物固N有关;桐木关NH4+-N分别升高17.6％ ～ 39.6％和37.6％～95.8％ (p＜0.05),LN处理黄冈山25 km黄壤NH4+-N只有第7天升高17.8％ (p＜0.05),HN处理第7、14、28、42天显著升高17.5％～48.6％(p＜0.05).LN处理黄壤性草甸土的NH4+-N在前3周显著降低11.6％～28.5％ (p＜0.01); HN处理在第7天和14天分别降低10.8％(p＜0.01)和7.5％,但是在第28～56天显著增加17.6％～20.4％(p=0.002).随着培养进行,CK处理红壤NH4+-N逐渐降低,桐木关黄壤、黄冈山25 km黄壤和黄壤性草甸土升高;LN和HN处理黄壤和黄壤性草甸土NH4+-N逐渐升高.可见,不同海拔土壤类型对NH4+-N添加响应存在差异.     

Losses of nitrogen by denitrification from a grassland soil fertilized with cattle slurry and calcium nitrate

Losses of N by denitrification from an imperfectly drained grassland soil were measured by the acetylene-inhibition technique over a 1-yr period, during which applications of up to 200 kg ha ^?1 of N as cattle slurry or calcium nitrate were made. The quantities of N lost from nitrate-treated soil were much greater than from slurry-treated areas, and ranged up to 21% of the N applied. The losses occurred predominantly over brief periods following fertilizer application in the spring. Ratios of N released as N₂ to that released as N₂O increased as denitrification rates increased. The highest ratio recorded, 24, may have been a conservative estimate because inhibition of N₂O reduction may not have been complete on all occasions. Increased respiration was observed in the soil profile as a result of adding C₂H₂. This effect should be taken into account in interpreting experiments using the C₂H₂-inhibition technique.     

不同氮用量对新疆棉田土壤微生物的影响

为揭示连续定点不同氮用量对棉田土壤微生物的影响,于2018～2020年在阿拉尔连续3年定点设置6个氮处理：0 kg/hm²(N0)、90 kg/hm²(N1)、180 kg/hm²(N2)、270 kg/hm²(N3)、360 kg/hm²(N4)、450kg/hm²(N5),研究了连续3年定点施氮对0～60 cm土层三大菌群数量及结构比例的影响。结果表明,各处理0～60 cm土层土壤微生物均以细菌为主,放线菌次之,真菌最少。连续定点施氮可分别提高0～60 cm土层土壤细菌、真菌、放线菌总数,且随施氮量的增加基本呈先增后降的变化趋势。其中细菌、放线菌数量均在N3处理达到峰值,其数量变化均主要集中在0～40 cm土层(0～40 cm细菌占其总数的71.92%～79.65%,0～40 cm放线菌占其总数的77.21%～92.06%);真菌数量在N4处理达到峰值,其数量变化主要集中在0～20 cm土层(0～20 cm真菌占其总数的35.62%～65.84%)。随...     

Denitrification losses from 15N-labelled calcium nitrate fertilizer in a clay soil in the field

Calcium nitrate fertilizer containing 92.3 atoms % excess nitrogen-15 was applied on 5 May 1981 at a rate equivalent to 100 kg N ha^?1 to a clay soil in southern England cropped to winter wheat. Samples of the soil gases were collected frequently during the following 3 weeks. The soil oxygen concentration declined to 5% after 60 mm rain. A maximum of 1.5 ± 0.5 atom % N-15 enrichment in labelled N₂ gas (²⁹N₂) was detected in the soil atmosphere on 28 May. Total denitrification losses, calculated from air-filled pore space and rates of gas loss from the soil estimated using a Fick's law approximation, were 9.5 kg N ha^?1 with a daily rate of 0.30 ± 0.07 kg N ha^?1. Estimated total losses were greater than 30 kg N ha^?1, 93% in the form N₂, but the estimation depends on several assumptions about the amount of double labelled gas (³⁰N₂), rates of gas diffusion and flux.     

Exchangeable ammonium and nitrate from different nitrogen fertilizer preparations in polyacrylamide-treated and untreated agricultural soils

 High molecular weight, anionic polyacrylamide (PAM) is currently being used as an irrigation water additive to significantly reduce soil erosion associated with furrow irrigation. PAM contains amide-N, and PAM application to soils has been correlated with increased activity of soil enzymes, such as urease and amidase, involved in N cycling. Therefore we investigated potential impacts of PAM treatment on the rate at which fertilizer N is transformed into NH₄ ⁺ and NO₃ ^– in soil. PAM-treated and untreated soil microcosms were amended with a variety of fertilizers, ranging from common rapid-release forms, such as ammonium sulfate [(NH₄)₂SO₄] and urea, to a variety of slow-release formulations, including polymerized urea and polymer-encapsulated urea. Ammonium sulfate was also tested together with the nitrification inhibitor dicyandiamide (DCD). The fertilizers were applied at a concentration of 1.0 mg g^–1, which is comparable to 100 lb acre^–l, or 112 kg ha^–1. Potassium chloride-extractable NH₄ ⁺-N and NO₃ ^–-N were quantified periodically during 2–4 week incubations. PAM treatment had no significant effect on NH₄ ⁺ release rates for any of the fertilizers tested and did not alter the efficacy of DCD as a nitrification inhibitor. However, the nitrification rate of urea and encapsulated urea-derived NH₄ ⁺-N was slightly accelerated in the PAM-treated soil. Received: 16 January 1998     

磷酸二氢钙和氯化钾对氯化铵处理黄泥土水溶性铵态氮和硝态氮的影响

氮磷钾是农业生产中大量施用并且经常共同施用的肥料,三者在土壤中的相互作用对养分的迁移转化、吸收和代谢有着深远影响.本文模拟生产中氮磷钾肥料同施,研究了田间持水量条件下磷酸二氢钙、氯化钾对氯化铵处理土壤水溶性铵态氮和硝态氮的影响.结果表明,铵态氮施入土壤后,随着培养时间的延长,土壤中水溶性铵态氮含量下降,硝态氮含量升高,两者之间存在着显著相关性.磷酸二氢钙延缓了铵态氮向其他形态氮的转变,使培养中期土壤水溶性铵态氮显著高于氯化铵处理土壤,并对培养中后期硝态氮的增加有抑制作用.氯化钾增加了培养前中期氯化铵处理土壤铵态含量,但显著抑制了氯化铵处理土壤培养后期硝态氮的含量.因此,农业生产中氯化铵和氯化钾共施,氯化铵和磷酸二氢钙共施,氯化铵、氯化钾和磷酸二氢钙共施,对提高氮肥利用率,降低硝态氮淋失损失均有重要作用.     

不同施氮量对太湖地区新增设施菜地土壤硝态氮累积的影响

采用田间小区试验,研究了太湖地区大棚蔬菜不同施N量对土壤NO3--N累积及其土壤电导率、pH和蔬菜产量品质的影响.结果表明:土壤NO3--N的累积与施N量呈正比,种植两季蔬菜后,农民习惯施N下的土壤NO3--N从35 mg/kg上升到221.35 mg/kg;土壤电导率、pH与NO3--N含量显著相关,其中电导率与NO3--N的关系更为密切,相关系数达到0.832.NO3--N的累积导致蔬菜的产量与品质下降,与莴苣、芹菜施N量分别为312、384 kg/hm2的处理相比,农民习惯施N处理下的莴苣和芹菜产量分别下降了11.8％和33.9％,Vc含量下降了17％和36.6％,而硝酸盐含量增加了22.3％和32％,农民习惯施N处理下的两季蔬菜硝酸盐含量均达到三级污染,可危害人体健康.     

The differential effects of ammonium and nitrate on methanotrophs in rice field soil

It has been known that nitrogenous fertilizers can either stimulate or inhibit methane oxidation in soils. The mechanism, however, remains unclear. Here we conducted laboratory incubation experiments to evaluate the effects of ammonium versus nitrate amendment on CH₄ oxidation in a rice field soil. The results showed that both N forms stimulated CH₄ oxidation. But nitrate stimulated CH₄ oxidation to a greater extent than ammonium per unit N base. The 16S rRNA genes and the pmoA genes were analyzed to determine the dynamics of total bacterial and methanotrophic populations, respectively. The methanotrophic community consisted of type I and type II methanotrophs and was dominated by type I group after two weeks of incubation. Nitrate promoted both types of methanotrophs, but ammonium promoted only type I. DNA-based stable isotope probing confirmed that ammonium stimulated the incorporation of ¹³CH₄ into type I methanotrophs but not type II, while nitrate caused almost homogenous distribution of ¹³CH₄ in type I and type II methanotrophs. Our study suggests that nitrate can promote CH₄ oxidation more significantly than ammonium and is probably a better N source for both types of methanotrophs in rice field soil. More investigations, e.g. using ¹⁵N labeling, are necessary to elucidate this possibility.     

Denitrification in a cultivated soil: Optimal glucose and nitrate concentrations

An experiment was conducted in the laboratory on a cultivated soil incubated in serum bottles with a range of C-to-nitrate concentrations. C was added in form of glucose and nitrate in form of Ca(NO₃)₂. It was shown that an C-N concentration of respectively 500 μg C (glucose-equivalent, Glc-Eq.) and 36 μg N g⁻ dry soil was optimal for denitrification. Results obtained either in the laboratory, in soil columns or in the field were in good agreement with one another. In particular, the root zone was shown to be favorable for denitrifying activity because the water-soluble C (Glc-Eq.) and N concentrations were more favorable than in bare soil. Furthermore, the water-soluble extractable Glc-Eq. appeared to be closely related to the denitrification rate and is thus likely to represent the energetic C pool supporting denitrification.

This was related to an inhibiting effect of increasing NO₃⁻ and NO₂⁻ concentrations on NO₃⁻ loss and N₂O production. Such inhibition can affect short-term measurements of denitrification in the field.     

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     

Inhibition of nitrate accumulation in tropical grassland soils: effect of nitrogen fertilization and soil disturbance

In acid soils in the Eastern Plains of Colombia, forage grasses planted on land prepared before the previous dry season produced 40–50% more dry matter than when land was prepared immediately before planting. Virtually no NO₃⁻ accumulated in surface (0–10 cm) soil from three native undisturbed savanna sites. Where land was ploughed before the dry season, NO₃⁻ levels increased gradually after a 2–3 month lag, and dropped at the beginning of the rains. In samples incubated for 4 weeks, more NO₃⁻ accumulated in the wet than the dry season. A similar 2–3-month lag occurred when land was ploughed after the dry season. NH₄⁺ levels were higher in ploughed than savanna soils, and rose in all soils at the beginning of the rains. More NO₃⁻ and NH₄⁺ accumulated on incubation in pots than in soil cores. Forage grasses inhibited NO₃⁻ accumulation in the soil, relative to plant-free plots, and legumes stimulated it. N fertilization overcame this inhibition except in the case of Brachiaria humidicola .     

Nitrous oxide emission from a grassland soil fertilized with slurry and calcium nitrate

Concentrations of nitrous oxide (N₂O) and oxygen were monitored over a 2-yr period in an imperfectly drained grassland soil receiving applications of N as cattle slurry or Ca(NO₃)₂. In both years N₂O concentrations in the different treatments were in the order nitrate > slurry > control. Gaseous diffusion coefficients were determined in soil cores by a krypton-85 tracer method and used to calculate approximate N₂O fluxes from the soil. Only 1–5 kg N ha^?1 was lost as N₂O after a single application of > 1200 kg N ha ^?1 as slurry compared with 3–11 kg N ha ^?1 lost after 100 kg was added as NO₃^?. Total gaseous losses (N₂O+N₂) could be expected to be higher in both cases.     

Effects of nitrogen fertilizer application rates on nitrate nitrogen distribution in saline soil in the Hai River Basin,China

Background and Objectives  

Soil nitrate nitrogen (NO₃ ⁻-N) accumulation is related closely to NO₃ ⁻ leaching, which is an important issue in groundwater pollution, especially in intensive agricultural areas with saline soils where volumes of water are used in irrigation to avoid salt accumulation in the root zone. However, in the saline environment in Hai River Basin, China, the importance of detailed research into NO₃ ⁻-N distribution in the root zone has not been adequately recognized. Considering the impacts of eco-environmental system N and crop production, the present study aimed at contributing to an understanding of the effects of N application rate on soil NO₃ ⁻-N distribution, NO₃ ⁻-N residue, N loss, and maize (Zea mays L.) yield in this region.     

The effect of grassland renovation on soil mineral nitrogen and on nitrate leaching during winter

Renovation of grassland may increase the mineralization of organic material and leads to a high amount of mineral N in soil which can be leached in the winter period. Soil mineral N (SMN) in autumn and calculated nitrate leaching during winter were measured after the renewal of 8 y–old cut grassland on a sandy soil in NW Germany in 1999 to 2002. Several factors, which may influence the intensity of N mineralization, were investigated in the 2 years following renewal: the season of renovation (spring or late summer/early autumn), the technique (rotary cultivator or direct drilling), and the amount of N fertilization (0 or 320 kg N ha^–1 y^–1 in the 7 years before the renovation). Calculated nitrate‐N leaching losses during winter were significantly higher following renewal in early autumn (36–64 kg N ha^–1) compared to renewal in spring (1–7 kg N ha^–1). This effect was only significant in the first, not in the second winter after renovation. The renovation technique had a significant effect on the nitrate‐N leaching losses only in the first year after the renovation. Direct drilling led to higher leaching losses (35 kg N ha^–1) than the use of a rotary cultivator (30 kg N ha^–1) in the same year. Calculated nitrate losses (on average over 60 kg N ha^–1) were highest after renewal of N‐fertilized grassland in late summer/early autumn. To minimize N leaching losses, it would be more effective to plan grassland renewal in spring rather than in late summer/autumn. Another, however, less effective option is to reduce N fertilization before a renovation in autumn.     

典型黑土不同施氮量对马铃薯产量和氮素利用率的影响

  【目的】  我国马铃薯生产中养分不平衡施用问题严重，过量施氮不利于农业可持续发展和生态环境保护。在养分专家系统 (Nutrient Expert，NE) 推荐施肥量基础上，研究不同施氮量对马铃薯产量、养分吸收和氮肥利用率的影响，为马铃薯推荐施肥提供科学依据。  【方法】  于2017―2018年，分别在黑龙江克山县不同地块进行2个田间试验，在NE系统推荐施肥量 (N₁₈₀) 的基础上，设减施推荐施氮量的50% (N₉₀)、25% (N₁₃₅) 和增施25% (N₂₂₅)、50% (N₂₇₀) 4个处理，并以不施氮肥的处理作对照 (N₀)。测定马铃薯产量、养分吸收量、肥料利用率等指标。  【结果】  017和2018年马铃薯产量均以NE系统推荐的N₁₈₀处理最高，较N₀处理两年平均增产40.4%。N₉₀和N₁₃₅处理低施氮水平 (≤ 180 kg/hm2) 下，随着施氮量的增加，马铃薯产量也明显增加，当施氮量超过NE系统推荐的施肥量 (180 kg/hm2) 后，继续增施氮肥对产量增加无明显作用。与N₀处理相比，两年N₁₈₀处理的块茎、秸秆和全株氮素吸收量平均增幅分别为49.8%、58.2%和52.0%，磷素吸收量平均增幅为36.3%、52.2%和39.8%，钾素吸收量平均增幅为26.4%、46.8%和31.3%，生产1 t块茎 (鲜重) 所需要的氮、磷、钾养分分别为4.6、1.1和5.8 kg。N₁₈₀处理的产量和氮磷钾养分吸收量均为最高，氮素农学效率和回收率与N₉₀和N₁₃₅处理差异不显著。  【结论】  在不超过马铃薯氮素需求条件下，增加氮肥投入可显著增加马铃薯产量和氮素吸收量，NE系统能够指导马铃薯科学施肥，保障马铃薯产量，提高氮肥利用效率。     

Effects of ammonium and nitrate on mineralization of nitrogen from leguminous residues

A laboratory incubation experiment was conducted to compare the effects of NH _inf4 ^sup+ and NO _inf3 ^sup- on mineralization of N from ¹⁵N-labelled vetch (Vicia villosa Rotn) in an Illinois Mollisol, and to determine the effect of a nitrification inhibitor (nitrapyrin) on mineralization of vetch N when used with NH _inf4 ^sup+ . The addition of either NH _inf4 ^sup+ or NO _inf3 ^sup- (100 and 200 mg N kg^-1 soil) significantly increased mineralization of vetch N during incubation for 40 days. The effect was greater with NH _inf4 ^sup+ than with NO _inf3 ^sup- , and a further increase occurred in the presence of nitrapyrin (10 mg kg^-1 soil). The addition of NO _inf3 ^sup- retarded the nitrification of NH _inf4 ^sup+ -N derived from vetch.     

Effect of sodium chloride on denitrification in glucose amended soil treated with ammonium and nitrate nitrogen

Laboratory incubations were conducted to study the effect of sodium chloride (NaCl) on denitrification and respiratory gases (CO₂, O₂) from soil treated with ammonium or nitrate and incubated at 20 % moisture. The same samples were assayed for denitrifying enzyme activity (DEA) after incubation at 40 % moisture with glucose and NO₃^–. Under aerobic conditions (20 % water content), a flush of activity was observed at 6 hours after start of incubation and subsided to negligible levels at 12 hours. Sodium chloride significantly depressed N₂O and CO₂ emissions and O₂ consumption. Significantly more loss of N₂O occurred from NH₄⁺‐ than NO₃^–‐treated soil at all NaCl levels and was attributed to higher microbial activity. A highly significant positive correlation was obtained between N₂O emission and respiratory gases. The respiratory quotient (CO₂ evolved/O₂) was higher for NH₄⁺‐treated soil and decreased with the amount of NaCl. At 40 % moisture, N₂O emissions were higher than at 20 % and peaked at 37 hours followed by a sharp decrease. Short‐term incubations of soil with NH₄⁺ or NO₃^– did not have an effect on denitrifying enzyme activity (DEA) while NaCl had a positive effect, particularly in previously NO₃^–‐treated soil.     

不同处理对河套灌区玉米土壤硝态氮和铵态氮动态及氮肥利用率的影响

为了探讨内蒙古河套灌区农业化肥面源污染检测和治理措施,采用大田土壤淋溶试验,分析了河套灌区农田在缓控释尿素、活性炭、生物菌肥处理下,玉米生育期内土壤硝态氮、铵态氮动态变化特征及氮肥利用情况。结果表明,缓控释尿素、活性炭、微生物菌肥处理与常规处理相比,在玉米拔节期、大喇叭口期土壤NO-3-N、NH+4-N含量变化不太显著,而苗期土壤NO-3-N含量平均分别提高24.76%、18.36%、4.31%,收获期平均分别降低23.98%、12.53%、5.47%;苗期土壤中NH+4-N含量较常规处理分别平均提高28.21%、15.47%、5.24%,收获期平均分别降低26.33%、16.93%、7.37%;氮肥利用率分别较常规处理提高15.71%、10.65%和5.16%。