Hydraulic conductivity of calcareous soils as affected by salinity and sodicity. I. effect of concentration and composition of leaching solution and type and amount of clay minerals of tested soils

Abstract

Although there is generally no physical problem with salt‐affected soils when irrigated with saline and sodic waters, physical deterioration of the soils often results when leached with good quality (low salt and low sodium) irrigation water or by rain. Two major mechanisms of swelling and dispersion of clay particles have been proposed to be responsible for reduction in hydraulic conductivity (HC). The type and amount of clay minerals are major factors influencing the swelling and dispersion properties of soil in the presence of saline‐sodic solutions. The study was initiated to improve the understanding of swelling and dispersion processes in response to saline‐sodic conditions, particularly the role of the type and amount of clay minerals of the tested soils and the concentration of the leaching solutions. The study was conducted in a series of two leaching experiments. In the first experimental soil samples were leached with solutions of different combinations of 100 meq (NaCl+CaCl₂)L^‐1 and sodium adsorption ratio (SARs) 5, 10, 15, and 20. In the second, 8 samples of them selected to be leached with solutions of the same SARs of 5, 10, 15, and 20, but the higher concentration of 1000 meq (NaCl+CaCl₂)L^‐1. The changes in the HCs were determined through the concept of “the Sensitivity Index‐SI values”;. In general, solutions with lower concentrations and higher SAR resulted in greater reductions in the soil HC (i.e, SI value), and the SI values and SAR level showed a negative linear relationship. With respect to the regression equations between the SI values and the swelling/dispersion processes, and the relatively coarse texture as well as the mineralogical composition of the tested soils which shows the dominant clay minerals in almost all tested soils is non‐expanding dispersive quartz, illite and chlorite, it may be concluded that the slaking of the soil structure is responsible for blockage of the conducting pores and reduction in the HCs of the tested soils.     

Mineralization of nitrogen in Danish soils,as affected by short-, medium- and long-term annual inputs of animal slurries

At four sites across Denmark with varying medium- and long-term histories of annual slurry applications, N turnover rates and crop N use efficiencies were measured in 2000. No significant effect of medium-term (in this study, 3 years) annual slurry applications on gross N turnover was observed. However, a significant effect of long-term (in this study, >25 years) annual slurry applications was observed. At one site in Denmark with short-term (4 days before measurement) slurry application, N turnover was measured in 2001. Gross N turnover was 4–5 times higher in the slurry-amended soil compared to the unamended soil. In both years, net N turnover was unaffected by the slurry application. Generally, the crops had higher use efficiency of slurry NH₄ ⁺-N than of mineral fertilizer-N, indicating that the crops were able to extract slurry organic-N, independently of the net mineralization. The measured net N mineralization rate was generally higher than the difference between gross rates. The application of ¹⁵NH₄ ⁺ to soil (a prerequisite for the determination of N mineralization and N immobilization turnover), probably stimulated the gross N immobilization rate in soil with little native NH₄ ⁺, since NH₄ ⁺ is the substrate for immobilization. The results suggest that gross immobilization estimates should be interpreted with caution.     

The effect of precipitation and application rate on dicyandiamide persistence and efficiency in two Irish grassland soils

The nitrification inhibitor dicyandiamide (DCD) has had variable success in reducing nitrate () leaching and nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions from soils receiving nitrogen (N) fertilizers. Factors such as soil type, temperature and moisture have been linked to the variable efficacy of DCD. As DCD is water soluble, it can be leached from the rooting zone where it is intended to inhibit nitrification. Intact soil columns (15 cm diameter by 35 cm long) were taken from luvic gleysol and haplic cambisol grassland sites and placed in growth chambers. DCD was applied at 15 or 30 kg DCD/ha, with high or low precipitation. Leaching of DCD, mineral N and the residual soil DCD concentrations were determined over 8 weeks high precipitation increased DCD in leachate and decreased recovery in soil. A soil × DCD rate interaction was detected for the DCD unaccounted (proxy for degraded DCD). In the cambisol, degradation of DCD was high (circa 81%) and unaffected by DCD rate. In contrast, DCD degradation in the gleysol was lower and differentially affected by rate, 67 and 46% for the 15 and 30 kg/ha treatments, respectively. Variation in DCD degradation rates between soils may be related to differences in organic matter content and associated microbiological activity. Variable degradation rates of DCD in soil, unrelated to temperature or moisture, may contribute to changing DCD efficacy. Soil properties should be considered when tailoring DCD strategies for improving nitrogen use efficiency and crop yields, through the reduction of reactive nitrogen loss.     

Changes in recovery of native and applied phosphorus with time as affected by soil properties in some calcareous soils

In an attempt to investigate variations in availability of native and applied phosphorus (P) with time, twenty five calcareous soil samples were treated with 0, 50 and 500 mg P kg^?1 soil and incubated at 80–90% of field capacity moisture content in an open door glasshouse for a period of one year. Soil samples were taken out at certain intervals for P extraction with Olsen extractant under moist condition. Results indicated that following wetting the mean value of native Olsen-P decreased initially and then increased gradually with time of incubation. Generally, the short term (24 h) recoveries were not correlated with long term ones. The recovery of added P with time was described properly by the following new proposed model: R = 100/(1 + kt^b), where R is percent recovery at time t, and k and b are empirical parameters. The values of k constant at 50 and 500 mg P kg^?1 were in the ranges of 0.40 to 1.22 (0.84 ± 0.25, on average) and 0.04 to 0.52 (0.23 ± 0.14, on average), respectively. The corresponding respective values of b constant also ranged from 0.05 to 0.32 (0.15 ± 0.06, on average) and 0.12 to 0.92 (0.46 ± 0.23, on average).     

Rice yield and water use as affected by soil management practices

A field experiment was conducted at the Shenyang Experimental Station of Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences,to study the effects of soil management practices on water use and rice (Oryza sativa L.) yield in an axtuic brown soil during 2001 and 2002. A completely random experimental design with three replications was employed, having four soil management practices as treatments, namely: an undisturbed plow layer (CK), a thin plastic film (TN), a thick plastic film (TI) and subsoil compacting (CP). Results indicated no significant differences among all treatments for rice biomass and grain yields. Also, water consumption was about the same for treatments TN and CK, however the treatments TI and CP were much lower with more than 45% and 40% of the irrigation water in the treatments TI and CP, respectively,saved each year compared to CK. Therefore, water use efficiency was higher in the treatments TI and CP. These results will provide a scientific basis for the water-saving rice cultivation.     

Recovery of phosphorus fertilizer in potato as affected by application strategy and soil type

Phosphorus (P) fertilizers are usually supplied prior to or at planting of potato even though most P is taken up 40 to 80 d after emergence. This may lead to inefficient P use as a result of P leaching or fixation in the soil. This study evaluates the effects of split P application at multiple times during the growth period according to the plant's need for P. Potato (Solanum tuberosum L. cv. Ditta) was grown in pots in climate chambers, and radioactive ³²P isotope was used to distinguish between the fertilizer and soil‐derived P sources. Two soils were tested in combination with five application rates of P, and the plants were harvested at four dates. The results show that the recovery of P fertilizer can be significantly enhanced if the P supply is split. The result also showed that the proportion of soil‐derived P, accumulated in the plant, was significantly reduced both when more fertilizer P was applied to the soil and when P supply was split into several applications. The positive effects of multiple P applications on the P recovery were greatest in the soil with low P status and low buffer capacity.     

Impact of integrated application of biochar and nitrogen fertilizers on maize growth and nitrogen recovery in alkaline calcareous soil

Biochar application has been considered as a rich source of carbon which helps to improve the physico-chemical properties and fertility of the soil. In Pakistan, excessive use of nitrogen fertilizer is considered a serious problem, so it is of vital importance to examine the effect of biochar on soil with varying doses of nitrogen fertilizer. We hypothesized that addition of biochar to an alkaline calcareous soil could improve not only soil quality and crop yield but also nitrogen use efficiency (NUE), reducing the loss of nitrogen (N) in the form of denitrification, ammonia volatilization, and nitrate leaching. A pot experiment was conducted under 2-factorial completely randomized design having three replications to evaluate the NUE in biochar amended calcareous soil. Biochar was applied at the rate of 0%, 1% and 2% (w/w) in pots filled with 17 kg of soil using various levels of N (0%, 50% and 100% of recommended dose) on maize (Zea mays L.). Several soil quality indicators, uptake, and yield of maize were monitored. Biochar application significantly decreased soil pH, increased water-holding capacity, total organic carbon, maize yield, stomatal conductance, and nitrogen uptake in plant. The results of the study indicated that addition of biochar could not only decrease the use of inorganic fertilizers by improving its quality and yield as in our case biochar at the rate of 1% and N at the rate of 50% provided optimum output minimizing the economic cost eventually.     

Effects of Nitrogen and Zeolite on Rice Grain Yield,Water and Nitrogen Use,and Soil Total Nitrogen in Coastal Region of Northeast China

Pot experiment were conducted from 2013 to 2014 to provide solutions for poor water–nitrogen (N) use efficiency with zeolite (Z) in near-surface soil. This article aims to study the influences of different levels of Z (Z1, Z2, Z3, 0, 7500, and 15,000 kg hm^?2) and N (N1, N2, N3, 0, 78.75, and 157.5 kg hm^?2) on rice grain yield, soil total N (STN), water productivity (WP), and N recovery efficiency (NRE). Results showed that higher dry matter weight, grain yield, water consumption, N accumulation, and WP were obtained with increasing N rates. There were no significant influences on dry matter weight of stem and leaf, water consumption, and WP with the application of Z. However, Z input could obtain a higher spike and root weight, grain yield, 1000-grain weight, N accumulation, STN, and NRE. Z might alleviate the water used in jointing-booting stage, heading-flowering stage, and milky ripen stage. Overuse of Z and N led to a decrease in NRE. N3Z2 increased rice grain yield by 10.4%, WP by 7.3%, and NRE by 63% compared with conventional fertilization (N3Z1). The way of N3Z2 is recommended to improve rice yield, WP, NRE, and STN comprehensively in coastal region of Northeast China.     

Grain yield,nitrogen use efficiency and tillage intensity in wheat as affected by precision nutrient management

ABSTRACT

The present studies were conducted to evaluate the effect of different nutrient management practices under two tillage options in wheat. The experiments were laid out in split-plot design with a combination of two varieties (WH 1105 and HD 2967) and two tillage options (Conventional and No tillage) in the main plot and six precision nutrient management practices [absolute control, site-specific nutrient management with Nutrient Expert for wheat (SSNM-NE)(170 kg nitrogen (N)/ha), SSNM NE+GreenSeeker (GS)(153/158 N kg/ha), N₁₂₀ (120 kg N/ha) before irrigation, N₁₂₀ after irrigation and N Rich (180 kg N/ha)] in subplot replicated thrice. The grain yield and quality characters in no tillage (NT) and conventional tillage (CT) were similar but agronomic efficiency was higher in NT. Both the varieties (WH 1105 and HD 2967) gave similar grain yield and quality. Wheat variety WH 1105 recorded significantly higher sodium dodecyl sulfate sedimentation (SDS) and gluten index. The treatment SSNM NE+GS had resulted in 107.1% higher grain yield than no nitrogen control but similar to enriched N plot (180 kg N/ha). The grain protein, SDS and gluten index in need-based nutrient management (SSNM+GS) treatment were found to be similar as recorded in SSNM-NE (170 kgN/ha) and N enriched plot (180 kg N ha^?1). The agronomic efficiency and recovery efficiency in SSNM+GS were also better than SSNM NE.     

太湖地区单季晚稻产量-氮肥施用量反应曲线的历史比较

本文对19821~985年和20042~006年在太湖地区进行的两次水稻产量-化肥氮施用量的田间试验网中获得的大量结果进行了对比分析。结果表明,与80年代初相比,当前的水稻产量-施氮量的反应曲线明显上移,在氮肥用量相同的情况下,化肥氮的表观利用率和增产效果明显增高,这可能与水稻栽培品种的产量潜力和吸收效率的提高,以及氮肥施用技术的改进有关。因此,在高产、高施氮量地区,培育产量潜力更高、吸收能力更强和对氮肥反应更大的品种,并结合栽培技术(包括氮肥施用技术)的改进,是进一步增加施氮量以提高产量、协调高产与环保的重要基础。     

低量施氮对小青菜生长和氮素损失的影响

采用田间试验和微区试验相结合,研究了低量施氮对小青菜(Brassica.chinensis)产量、氮肥利用率和氮素损失的影响,其中氮素总损失用15N示踪法测定,氨挥发用通气密闭室法测定,反硝化损失用乙炔抑制-原状土柱培养法测定,不加乙炔测定N2O排放。结果表明,施用氮肥显著增加了小青菜的产量和吸氮量,在75和150kg/hm2氮肥水平下,氮肥利用率分别为46.8%和39.4%。由于试验地土壤pH低(5.38),各处理的氨挥发均很低且差异不大,施用氮肥没有增加氨挥发。试验地土壤反硝化损失和N2O排放量较高,分别为N4.34kg/hm2/sup和N2.65kg/hm2,施用氮肥没有增加反硝化损失和N2O排放,表明氮源不是反硝化作用的限制因子。在N75和150kg/hm2两个施氮水平下,氮素回收率分别为103%和91.3%,并且土壤残留氮主要累积在020cm土层,表明肥料氮损失很少,这与氨挥发、反硝化损失较低的结果相吻合。     

Yield and water use efficiency of hybrid Bt cotton as affected by methods of sowing and rates of nitrogen under surface drip irrigation

Field experiments were conducted for two years to find out the appropriate sowing configuration and rate of nitrogen (N) for sustained yield and improved water use efficiency of hybrid Bt cotton irrigated through surface drip irrigation. Drip irrigation under normal sowing, in which equal quantities of water and N were applied as check-basin irrigation, resulted in an increase of 389 and 155 kg ha^?1 in seed cotton yield compared with check-basin irrigation during the first and second year, respectively. Normal paired row sowing under a drip irrigation system, in which only 50% of irrigation water was applied compared with normal sowing, produced a yield similar to normal sowing under drip irrigation during both years, resulting in 22% higher water use efficiency. Dense paired row sowing under drip irrigation, in which only 75% irrigation water was applied compared with normal sowing, increased the mean seed cotton yield by 5% and water use efficiency by 19%. Decrease in the rate of nitrogen application (from 150 to 75 kg N ha^?1) caused a decline in seed cotton yield and water use efficiency under all the methods of sowing, but the reverse was true for agronomic efficiency of N.     

An empirical model for estimating nitrate leaching as affected by crop type and the long-term N fertilizer rate

Abstract. An empirical model was developed for prediction of annual average nitrate leaching as affected by the long-term rate of N fertilization and crop type. The effect of N fertilization was estimated from annual values of nitrate leaching obtained from two Danish investigations of drainage from pipe drains with four rates of N fertilization on a loamy sand and sandy clay loam from 1973-89. The effect of crop at normal N fertilization was estimated from 147 observations of annual nitrate leaching obtained from field measurements. The nitrate leaching model consists of a relative N fertilization submodel and an absolute submodel for specific combinations of crop, soil and drainage at the normal rate of N fertilization. The relative submodel is Y/Y _lN= exp[0.7l(N/ N₁– I)], where Y is the nitrate leaching (kg N/ha per year) at fertilization rate N , and Y _IN and N₁ are the corresponding values at the normal rate of N fertilization. The relative submodel is valid for cereals, root crops and grass leys fertilized with mineral fertilizer at N/N ₁ < 1.5, and on the prerequisite that the fertilization rate N has been constant for some years. To illustrate the use of the relative leaching submodel, estimated values of Y _IN corrected to mean annual drainage for 1970 to 1990 in Denmark for spring cereals and grass on sandy and loamy soils are given as input to the relative leaching submodel. The model can be used for sandy to loamy soils to estimate the mean nitrate leaching over a number of years.     

冬小麦-夏玉米轮作体系中不同施氮水平对玉米生长及其根际土壤氮的影响

在河北衡水潮土上进行田间试验,以当地习惯高氮用量(小麦季施N 300 kg/hm2,玉米季施N 240 kg/hm2)为对照,研究冬小麦-夏玉米轮作体系中减少氮肥用量对玉米季植株生长、氮素吸收及根际土壤中无机氮与微生物量氮的影响。结果表明,两季作物氮肥施用量减少25%和40%,对玉米产量、生物量及植株体内氮累积量未产生明显影响,氮肥利用率提高。不同氮肥施用量对根际和非根际土壤铵态氮含量的影响不显著;减少氮肥施用量,对玉米根际土壤硝态氮含量也没有明显影响。在玉米苗期、抽雄期和成熟期,习惯高施氮量处理的非根际土壤硝态氮含量较高,其中抽雄期,非根际土壤硝态氮含量较氮肥减施40%用量处理高出近一倍,但非根际土壤微生物量氮水平含量明显降低。氮肥减施未影响根际土壤微生物量碳、氮含量,反而增加了非根际土壤微生物量碳、氮水平。在高肥力的潮土上,冬小麦/夏玉米轮作体系中适当减施氮肥并未影响玉米根际土壤氮素水平,可保证玉米稳产,实现减氮增效。     

湖北省早、中、晚稻施氮增产效应及氮肥利用率研究

20062009年,通过在湖北省18个县(市、区)布置多点田间肥效试验,研究了当前生产条件下施用氮肥对水稻产量的影响,分析了氮肥的利用率现状,并探讨了早、中、晚稻施氮效果的差异。结果表明,当前生产条件下,施用氮肥可以显著提高水稻产量,早、中、晚稻的平均增产量分别为1641、1717和1695 kg/hm2,增产率分别为37.6%、27.5%和35.0%。早稻和中稻产量的提高主要是由于单位面积有效穗数和每穗粒数的增加,而晚稻主要是由于单位面积有效穗数增加和千粒重提高所致。早、中、晚稻对氮肥的利用效率存在一定的差异,农学利用率平均分别为10.7、10.0和10.4 kg/kg,偏生产力分别为46.2、50.1和45.3 kg/kg,吸收利用率分别为31.0%、33.2%和248%,生理利用率分别为31.8、31.8和41.1 kg/kg。3种类型水稻的土壤氮素依存率平均值都在60%以上,表明水稻吸收的氮素主要来自土壤,其中晚稻对土壤氮素的依赖程度要大于早稻和中稻。     

氮肥运筹对机插双季稻产量、氮肥利用率及经济效益的影响

【目的】 随着劳动力成本的提高,机械插秧是降低水稻生产劳动强度的必要措施之一,研究适应该技术的氮肥施用时期和比例,对推广该技术,实现机插双季稻稳产高产具有重要意义。 【方法】 以早稻和晚稻为试验材料,进行机插双季稻氮肥施用田间试验。在同一施氮量下,设置氮素基肥∶分蘖肥∶穗肥比例为 8∶2∶0（N_8∶2∶0）、7∶2∶1（N_7∶2∶1）、6∶2∶2（N_6∶2∶2）、5∶2∶3（N_5∶2∶3）、4∶2∶4（N_4∶2∶4）、3∶2∶5（N_3∶2∶5）和不施氮肥（CK）7 个处理。调查了早稻和晚稻产量形成、氮素吸收以及氮肥利用特征,讨论了氮肥后移与产量、产量形成及肥料利用率的关系。 【结果】 机插早、晚稻基肥∶分蘖肥∶穗肥比例分别为 6∶2∶2 和 5∶2∶3 处理水稻高产的群体结构最合理,有效穗、穗粒数、结实率与千粒重的乘积最大,协调产量的各因子达最佳值。同时发现,机插早、晚稻穗肥比例与有效穗数呈极显著负相关,与穗粒数呈正相关,与结实率呈抛物线关系。施氮处理机插早、晚稻的籽粒和秸秆氮含量及氮素累积量较 CK 处理均有所增加,其中随着穗肥比例的增大,早、晚稻的籽粒和秸秆氮含量均呈现增加的趋势,而氮素累积量均呈先增后减的趋势。无论机插早稻（施氮量为 180 kg/hm2）还是晚稻试验（施氮量为 195 kg/hm2）,随着穗肥比例的增大,氮肥贡献率（NCR）、氮肥农学利用率（NAE）、氮肥吸收利用率（NRE）、氮肥偏生产力（PFP_N）以及经济效益均呈先增后减的趋势,其中早稻 N_6∶2∶2 处理 NCR、NAE、NRE、PFP_N 和经济效率均达最大值,晚稻 N_5∶2∶3 处理均达最大值;而早、晚稻氮肥生理利用率（NPE）随着穗肥比例的增大均呈现逐渐减少的趋势。 【结论】 在施氮量和分蘖肥比例相同的条件下,机插早、晚稻施基蘖肥与穗肥比例分别为 6∶2∶2 和 5∶2∶3 时,有利于水稻高产和氮肥高效,是较为理想的施肥模式。      

基蘖肥氮量与寒地水稻产量和氮效率的关系

在固定穗肥氮量(35 kg·hm~(-2))的条件下,研究基蘖肥氮量与寒地水稻产量和氮效率的关系。2011~2012年,设置基蘖肥氮量分别为30、65、85和115 kg·hm~(-2)的处理,并以不施氮为对照。测定了主要生育期水稻干物质、氮积累、产量和氮效率。结果表明:随着基蘖肥氮量的增加,水稻抽穗期前或拔节前的干物质积累量和氮积累量也相应增加,两者为显著的正相关;成熟期干物质积累量、氮积累与基蘖肥氮量呈显著的二次曲线关系,基蘖肥氮量太高反而不利于后期干物质和氮素积累;水稻产量和基蘖肥氮量呈二次曲线关系,收获指数亦随氮肥用量增加呈先增加后减小的趋势;氮素吸收效率、氮肥偏生产力和基蘖肥氮量呈显著负相关关系。2012年温度较高,因此产量和总氮积累均高于2011年。在试验的土壤条件下,平均基蘖肥氮量为64 kg·hm~(-2)较为适宜,基蘖肥用量增加虽没有造成减产,却使氮素大量损失,使氮效率降低,适宜的基蘖肥氮量是水稻高产和氮素高效利用的关键。     

Potato yield response to foliar application of phosphorus as affected by soil moisture and available soil phosphorus

Abstract

Foliar application of phosphorus (P) may be a supplementary treatment to sustain adequate P-status of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.). However, the prediction of the potential benefits of foliar P supply is difficult, since several factors, such as weather conditions and plant P-status influence the effects. We determined the impact of soil moisture and soil P-supply on the responsiveness to foliar P-application under controlled environmental conditions. Plant dry matter yields, P-accumulation and phosphorus use efficiency (PUE) with or without foliar application were determined at five soil P-levels in combination with two soil moisture levels. The results suggest that water status is of importance for the responsiveness to foliar P-application and may be related to diffusion of P through the leaf cells, which require a good water status. The PUE was significantly improved with irrigation while adding P to the soil decreased the PUE.     

不同生态稻作区氮肥增产效应及其利用率

在4个典型生态粳稻区,以广适性的5个品种为材料,研究氮肥对不同稻区产量影响,并分析氮肥利用率及其不同稻区施氮效果的差异。结果表明:氮肥施用显著提高不同稻区产量,施氮增产率及其贡献率大小顺序为温暖粳稻区寒冷粳稻区籼粳交错区冷凉粳稻区,寒冷粳稻区产量提高主要是有效穗数和千粒重的增加,而其它3个稻区产量的提高主要是有效穗数和每穗粒数的增加所致。生产等量的稻谷氮肥需要量的大小顺序为寒冷粳稻区冷凉粳稻区籼粳交错区温暖粳稻区。不同稻区对氮肥的利用效率存在差异,氮肥农学利用率大小顺序为温暖粳稻区籼粳交错区冷凉粳稻区寒冷粳稻区,氮肥吸收利用率大小顺序为籼粳交错区温暖粳稻区冷凉粳稻区寒冷粳稻区,4个稻作区的土壤氮素贡献率在61.10%~66.09%之间,说明各稻作区吸收的氮肥主要来自土壤,通过培肥地力,维持较高的地力水平对稻谷的超高产、高效具有重要意义。     

Added nitrogen interaction as affected by soil nitrogen pool size and fertilization – significance of displacement of fixed ammonium

Displacement of NH₄⁺ fixed in clay minerals by fertilizer ¹⁵NH₄⁺ is seen as one mechanism of apparent added nitrogen interactions (ANI), which may cause errors in ¹⁵N tracer studies. Pot and incubation experiments were carried out for a study of displacement of fixed NH₄⁺ by ¹⁵N‐labeled fertilizer (ammonium sulfate and urea). A typical ANI was observed when ¹⁵N‐labeled urea was applied to wheat grown on soils with different N reserves that resulted from their long‐term fertilization history: Plants took up more soil N when receiving fertilizer. Furthermore, an increased uptake of ¹⁵N‐labeled fertilizer, induced by increasing unlabeled soil nitrogen supply, was found. This ANI‐like effect was in the same order of magnitude as the observed ANI. All causes of apparent or real ANI can be excluded as explanation for this effect. Plant N uptake‐related processes beyond current concepts of ANI may be responsible. NH₄⁺ fixation of fertilizer ¹⁵NH₄⁺ in sterilized or non‐sterile, moist soil was immediate and strongly dependent on the rate of fertilizer added. But for the tested range of 20 to 160 mg ¹⁵NH₄⁺‐N kg^–1, the NH₄⁺ fixation rate was low, accounting for only up to 1.3 % of fertilizer N added. For sterilized soil, no re‐mobilization of fixed ¹⁵NH₄⁺ was observed, while in non‐sterile, biologically active soil, 50 % of the initially fixed ¹⁵NH₄⁺ was released up to day 35. Re‐mobilization of ¹⁵NH₄⁺ from the pool of fixed NH₄⁺ started after complete nitrification of all extractable NH₄⁺. Our results indicate that in most cases, experimental error from apparent ANI caused by displacement of fixed NH₄⁺ in clay is unlikely. In addition to the low percentage of only 1.3 % of applied ¹⁵N, present in the pool of fixed NH₄⁺ after 35 days, there were no indications for a real exchange (displacement) of fixed NH₄⁺ by ¹⁵N.