土壤氮素供应状况的研究 Ⅰ.土壤碱解时氨的释放速率作为预测植稻土壤氮素供应状况的指标

一般说来,耕作土壤在作物生长期间的氮素供应状况是影响产量的最活泼因素之一。在土壤肥力不高、氮肥供应不足的情况下,增加氮肥用量,作物产量也随之相应的增加。过去关于氮肥施用效果的研究多偏重于施肥量与增产的关系,或不同土壤上施用氮肥的效果,在这方面长期以来集中了不少农业化学工作者的注意力。在研究方法方面,除了大量的田间及盆栽试验外,常用的是室内培养法,即测定土壤氮素供应能力或可矿化氮量。     

Organic Matter and Mineralizable Nitrogen Relationships in Wetland Rice Soils

Abstract

Soil nitrogen (N) supply plays a dominant role in the N nutrition of wetland rice. Organic matter has been proposed as an index of soil N availability to wetland rice. This is based on the finding that mineralizable N produced under waterlogged conditions is related to soil organic carbon (C) and total N. The relationship between organic matter and mineralizable N is a prerequisite for determining the N requirement of wetland rice. However, no critical analysis of recent literature on organic matter–mineralizable N relationships has been made. This article evaluates current literature on the relationships of mineralizable N or ammonium N production with soil organic C in wetland rice soils. A number of studies with diverse wetland rice soils demonstrate a close relationship of N mineralized (ammonium‐N) under anaerobic conditions with organic C or total N. However, a few recent studies made on sites under long‐term intensive wetland rice cropping showed that strong positive relationships of mineralizable N with organic C or total N do not hold. Clearly, both quantity and quality of organic matter affect N mineralization in wetland rice soils. Future research is needed to clarify the role of quality of organic matter, especially its chemistry, as modified by the chemical environment of submerged soils, on the mineralization of organic N in wetland rice soils.     

SOIL POTENTIALLY MINERALIZABLE NITROGEN AND ITS RELATION TO RICE PRODUCTION AND NITROGEN NEEDS IN TWO PADDY RICE SOILS OF CHILE

Rice is an important food in the world population's diet. As nitrogen (N) is the principal nutrient associated with the yield and its mineralization from the soil contribute to plant-available N, the use of biological or chemical methods are necessary for its estimation. Two paddy rice soils types of Chile were used for laboratory (anaerobic incubation) and field experiments: Quella (Vertisol) and Quilmen (Inceptisol), fertilized with three N rates - ureas of 0, 80 and 160 kg ha^?1. The mineralized inorganic N was measured and potentially mineralizable N (N₀) was calculated based on the first-order kinetic model. N mineralization was positively affected by N fertilization, but only affected grain yield in the Quilmen soil with a negative effect on the crop N recovery. Furthermore, crop N uptake was related with the incubation time at 14 and 21 days for the Quilmen and Quella soils respectively. Finally an N optimization model for those soils was proposed.     

有机质、全氮和可矿化氮在反映土壤供氮能力方面的意义

用 2 5个表层土壤样品和 6个土壤 3 6个不同层次的土壤样品研究了可矿化氮与有机质、全氮的关系。可矿化氮由通气培养法测定。研究结果表明 ,不论表层土壤或不同层次剖面土壤中的可矿化氮都与有机质、全氮高度正相关。但是由于可矿化氮与有机质、全氮有自相关存在 ,他们之间的相关有一定的不真实性。而且 ,土壤的可矿化氮并不与全氮或有机质成正比 ,可矿化氮与有机质或全氮的比值因土壤而不同 ,差别很大。特别重要的是 ,可矿化氮对有机质或全氮的比率几乎在一条直线上 ,它们之间的相关性明显高于可矿化氮与有机质或全氮的关系。这些结果显示 ,矿化氮的数量取决于有机质和全氮中的可矿化部分 ,而不是其总量。土壤剖面中累积的硝态氮数量低时 ,作物的吸氮量与可矿化氮的关系远较与有机质或全氮的关系密切 ,更证明了测定可矿化氮有其特定意义 ,有机质、全氮的测定并不能代替可矿化氮的测定。     

Rapid and Inexpensive Steam Distillation Method for Routine Analysis of Inorganic Nitrogen in Alkaline Calcareous Soils

Determination of inorganic nitrogen (N) in soil is important in making N fertilizer recommendations for crops. To find a rapid, reliable, and economical method for the estimation of inorganic N in alkaline calcareous soils of Pakistan, three steam distillation methods were compared using soils varying in ammonium (NH₄) and nitrate (NO₃) N contents and other physicochemical properties. In the standard method, the soil sample is shaken with 2 N potassium chloride (KCl) for 1 h, and the extract is then analyzed by steam distillation. In the other two methods, the soil sample is distilled directly with either 2 N KCl or distilled/deionized water. Based on the results of the present work, a method that involves steam distillation with only distilled/deionized water and that requires half the quantity of magnesium oxide (MgO) of the standard method has been proposed, as all the three methods yielded identical results for NH₄- and NO₃-N contents. Being economical, the proposed method for inorganic N estimation by direct distillation of soil with distilled/deionized water deserves consideration for adoption by soil-testing laboratories.     

Arylamidase Activity as an Index of Nitrogen Mineralization in Soils

Abstract

The enzyme arylamidase [EC 3.4.11.2] catalyzes the hydrolysis of N‐terminal amino acids from arylamides. Because it has been proposed that this enzyme may play a major role in nitrogen (N) mineralization in soils, studies were carried out using short‐term laboratory incubations under aerobic and anaerobic conditions and chemical hydrolysis of soil organic N to assess the N mineralization in a range of 51 soils from six agroecological zones of the North Central region of the United States. The enzyme activity was assayed at its optimal pH value. With the exception of the values obtained for field‐moist soils incubated under anaerobic conditions, the amounts of N mineralized by all the biological and chemical methods studied were significantly correlated with arylamidase activity, with r values of 0.54*** for the amounts of inorganic N produced under aerobic incubation, of 0.44** for anaerobic incubation of air‐dried soils, of 0.53*** and 0.55*** for the amounts of ammonium (NH₄ ⁺)‐N released by steam distillation with PO₄‐B₄O₇ for 4 and 8 min, respectively; and of 0.49*** and 0.53*** for the amounts of NH₄ ⁺‐N released by steam distillation with disodium tetraborate (Na₂B₄O₇) for 4 min or 8 min, respectively. The amounts of N extractable with hot potassium chloride (KCl) were most significantly correlated with arylamidase activity (r=0.56***). Arylamidase activity was significantly correlated with organic carbon (C) (r=0.49***), organic N (r=0.55***), and fixed ammonium (NH₄ ⁺)‐N (r =0.42**).     

Winter cover cropping influence on nitrogen mineralization,presidedress soil nitrate test,and corn yields

The mineralization and availability of cover crop N to the succeeding crop are critical components in the management of soil N to reduce N leaching. The effects of several leguminous and non-leguminous cover crops on soil N availability, N mineralization potential, and corn (Zea mays L.) yield were examined. The cover crops had variable effects on soil N availability and corn yield and N uptake. Because of the rapid mineralization of the cover crops following incorporation, the inorganic N levels in the soil sampled in mid-May 1992 (4 weeks after incorporation of cover crops), rather than the potentially mineralizable N, rate constants, initial potential mineralization rate, or cumulative N mineralized over 14 weeks, correlated well with N concentrations, C:N ratios, or the N added in the cover crops. However, the inclusion of potentially mineralizable N with inorganic N in a multiple regression improved the variability in the corn yield and the N uptake accounted for. Since extensive mineralization had occurred before the 21 May sampling, the potentially mineralizable N was affected more by the soil organic N and C than by the N concentrations of the cover crops. The presidedress NO₃ ^--N test levels were well predicted by the inorganic and potentially mineralizable N (R ²=0.89, P<0.01), although the test levels were better in predicting corn yield and N uptake. If the available soil N test needs to be made earlier than recommended by the presidedress NO₃ ^--N test, both inorganic and potentially mineralizable N are needed to better predict the corn yield and N uptake in the soils.     

Microbial and soil parameters in relation to N mineralization in soils of diverse genesis under differing management systems

 Oregon soils from various management and genetic histories were used in a greenhouse study to determine the relationships between soil chemical and biological parameters and the uptake of soil mineralized nitrogen (N) by ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.). The soils were tested for asparaginase, amidase, urease, β-glucosidase, and dipeptidase activities and fluorescein diacetate hydrolysis. Microbial biomass carbon (C) and N as well as metabolic diversity using Biolog GN plates were measured, as were total soil N and C, pH, and absorbance of soil extracts at 270 nm and 210 nm. Potentially mineralizable N (N₀) and the mineralization rate constant (k) were calculated using a first order nonlinear regression model and these coefficients were used to calculate the initial potential rate of N mineralization (N₀ k). Except for Biolog GN plates, the other parameters were highly correlated to mineralized N uptake and each other. A model using total soil N and β-glucosidase as parameters provided the best predictor of mineralized N uptake by ryegrass (R ² =0.83). Chemical and biological parameters of soils with the same history of formation but under different management systems differed significantly from each other in most cases. The calculated values of the initial potential rate of mineralization in some cases revealed management differences within the same soil types. The results showed that management of soils is readily reflected in certain soil chemical and biological indicators and that some biological tests may be useful in predicting N mineralization in soils. Received: 31 January 1997     

Chemical estimation of nitrogen mineralization in paddy rice soils: I. Comparison to laboratory indices

Abstract

A reliable, rapid procedure for estimating native soil nitrogen (N) mineralization potential in paddy rice (Orysa sativa L.) has eluded researchers. While several have been proposed, no technique has been sufficiently reproducible to be implemented in any soil testing program. Therefore, the objective was to develop a chemical extraction procedure as an index to estimate N mineralization in silt.loam rice soils of the Southern United States Rice Belt. Samples of silt loam soils were collected from strategic locations throughout the rice‐growing region of Arkansas during 1990 and 1991. Anaerobic incubations were performed as an index of potentially mineralisable N. Extraction with acidified potassium permanganate (KMnO₄), acidified potassium dichromate (K₂Cr₂O₇), hydrochloric acid (HCl), and oxalic acid [(COOH)₂], were evaluated at extractant:soil ratios ranging from 5:1 to 1:1. Also, distillation of centrifuged extracts (SUP) was compared to distilling the entire soil‐solution suspension (TOT). The acidified KMnO₄ and acidified K₂CnO₇ extractions gave the best overall indices of N availability. The acidifed KMnO₄ and acidified K₂Cr₂O₇ sucessfully predicted N mineralization at all ratios evaluated. A significant relationship with anaerobic incubation was observed for all HCl TOT ratios evaluated, except the 3:1 in 1991. The HCl SUP methods were not significant for all soils evaluated. The oxalic acid TOT extractable ammonium‐nitrogen (NH₄+‐N) was significantly related to anaerobic incubation. More N was extracted with the TOT methods than SUP methods, probably due to alkaline hydrolysis during distillation of TOT methods. Oxidation with KMnO₄ released the most N, while HCl and oxalic acid extracted the least.     

石灰性土壤起始NO3——N对土壤供氮能力测定方法的影响

在陕西省的澄城、永寿、杨陵 3地区选取有机质、全N、硝态N含量差异较大的 17个石灰性土壤 ,分别在淋洗与未淋洗土壤起始NO3--N后 ,利用盆栽试验探讨土壤NO3--N淋洗前、后 ,不同方法测定的已矿化N和可矿化N与小麦吸N量之间的相关性。结果表明 ,未淋洗土壤起始NO3--N ,用KCl直接浸取、KCl煮沸法所浸取以及通气培养前CaCl2 所淋洗的起始NO3--N均与小麦吸N量密切相关 ,相关系数 (r)分别为 0.934 ,0.856和 0.862 ,均达1%显著水准。与此相反 ,通气培养、淹水培养、沸水煮沸、碱性高锰酸钾、酸性高锰酸钾及碱解扩散等方法所提取的可矿化N与小麦吸N量间无显著相关。淋洗土壤起始NO3--N后 ,用KCl直接浸取、KCl煮沸法浸取以及通气培养前CaCl2 所淋洗的起始NO3--N与小麦吸N量之间的相关系数明显降低 ,达不到 5%的显著水准。而通气培养、淹水培养、沸水煮沸、碱性高锰酸钾、酸性高锰酸钾及碱解扩散等方法所提取的可矿化N与小麦吸N量之间相关系数却明显提高 ,都达到 5%或 1%的显著水平。其中变化最明显的是淹水培养 1周矿化出的NH4+-N、通气正式培养 2周矿化出的NO3--N及碱解扩散出的NH4+-N ,其与小麦地上部吸N量之间的相关系数 (r)分别由淋洗前的0.443,0.119,0.259增加到淋洗后的 0.866 ,0.767,0.763。说明可矿化N反映土壤供N能力不佳是因为受起始NO3--N的干扰和影响，在土壤NO3--N含量较高的情况下，要正确评价可矿化N测定方法必须考虑NO3--N的作用。     

长期施肥条件下水稻土有机氮组分及矿化特性研究

为探明长期定位试验条件下不同施肥处理和地下水位对水稻土有机氮组分及其矿化特性的影响,采用Keeney和Bremer酸解法对土壤有机氮进行分组研究,并利用改进后的Warning淹水培养-间歇淋洗法研究水稻土有机氮矿化特性。结果表明,不同处理土壤酸解氮占全氮的61.2%～64.4%,其中酸解未知氮,氨基酸态氮,氨态氮和氨基糖态氮分别占全氮26.9%～34.0%,13.0%～18.0%,12.6%～14.3%和2.3%～4.7%。恒温淹水培养106d后,以酸解未知氮降幅最大,且酸解未知氮与土壤氮矿化势之间有显著的正相关关系(r=0.865*),表明酸解未知氮是土壤可矿化态氮的主要贡献者。有机肥处理土壤矿化氮累积量及氮矿化势显著高于化肥处理,表明长期施用有机肥是提高土壤供氮潜力的有效手段。此外,低水位土壤矿化氮累积量及氮矿化势略高于高水位土壤。     

Phosphorus mineralization in subarctic agricultural and forest soils

Summary Potential P and C mineralization rates were determined in a 12-week laboratory incubation study on subarctic forest and agricultural soil samples with and without N fertilizer added. There was no significant difference in net inorganic P produced between N fertilized and unfertilized soils. The forest soil surface horizons had the highest net inorganic P mineralized, 32 mg P kg^-1 soil for the Oie and 17 mg P kg^-1 soil for the Oa. In the cropped soils net inorganic P immobilization started after 4 weeks and lasted through 12 weeks of incubation. Cumulative CO₂–C evolution rates differed significantly among soils, and between fertilizer treatments, with the N-fertilized soils evolving lower rates of CO₂–C than the unfertilized soils. Soils from the surface horizons in the forest evolved the highest rates of CO₂–C (127.6 and 89.4 mg g^-1 soil for the Oie and Oa horizons, respectively) followed by the cleared uncropped soil (42.8 mg g^-1 soil C), and the cropped soils (25.4 and 29.0 mg g^-1 soil C). In vitro soil respiration rates, or potential soil organic matter decomposition rates, decreased with increasing time after clearing and in accord with the degree of disturbance. Only soils with high potential C mineralization rates and high organic P to total P ratios, mineralized P by the end of the study. Mineralizable P appeared to be associated with readily mineralizable organic C.     

Comparison of Chemical Methods for Assessing Nitrogen Mineralization in Two Calcareous Soils Treated with Organic Materials

Reliable and quick methods for measuring nitrogen (N)–supplying capacities of soils (NSC) are a prerequisite for using N fertilizers. This study was conducted to develop a routine method for estimation of mineralizable N in two calcareous soils (sandy loam and clay soils) treated with municipal waste compost or sheep manure. The methods used were anaerobic biological N mineralization, mineral N released by 2 M potassium chloride (KCl), ammonium (NH₄ ⁺) N extracted by 1 N sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄), NH₄ ⁺-N extracted by acid potassium permanganate (KMnO₄), and NH₄ ⁺-N released by oxidation of soil organic matter using acidified potassium permanganate. The results showed that oxidizable N extracted by acid permanganate, a simple and rapid measure of soil N availability, was correlated with results of the anaerobic method. Oxidative 0.05 N KMnO₄ was the best method, accounting for 78.4% of variation in NSC. Also, the amount of mineralized N increased with increasing level of organic materials and was greater in clay soil than sandy loam soil.     

Comparison of chemical methods of assessing potentially available organic nitrogen in soil

Abstract

We recently developed two rapid and precise chemical methods of assessing potentially available organic N in soils. One method involves determination of the ammonia‐N produced by steam distillation of the soil sample with pH 11.2 phosphate‐borate buffer solution for 8 min. The other involves determination of the ammonium‐N produced by treatment of the soil sample with 2M KCl solution at 100°C for 4 hours. Studies using 33 Brazilian soils showed that the results obtained by these methods were highly correlated with those obtained by anaerobic and aerobic incubation methods of assessing potentially available organic N in soil.

The two methods were further evaluated by applying them to 30 Iowa soils and by comparing their results and those obtained by other chemical methods with the results of the incubation methods considered to be the best laboratory methods currently available for assessment of potentially available organic N in soil. The chemical methods used included the acid KMnO₄ method, the alkaline KMnO₄ method, the CaCl₂‐autoclave method, and the NaHCO₃ UV method. The incubation methods used involved determination of the ammonium‐N produced by incubation of the soil sample under anaerobic conditions for 1 week or determination of the (ammonium + nitrate + nitrite)‐N produced by incubation of the sample under aerobic conditions for 2 and 12 weeks. The data obtained showed that the results of the two chemical methods evaluated were highly correlated with those obtained by the incubation techniques used for comparison and that the correlations observed with these two methods were higher than those observed with the previously proposed chemical methods. It is concluded that these two rapid and simple methods are the best chemical methods thus far developed for laboratory assessment of potentially available organic N in soil.     

Prediction of mineralizable nitrogen in soils on the basis of an analysis of extractable organic N

Most of the nitrogen (N) in agricultural soils is organically bound, while the N uptake by plants and also the N losses from the soil-plant system into the environment are as inorganic N. The electro-ultrafiltration (EUF) method and the extraction by a CaCl₂ solution extract an organic N fraction (Norg) that is thought to provide information about the amount of rapidly mineralizable N in soils. This paper aims to illustrate various aspects regarding the biological meaning of the Norgfractions extracted by these two extraction methods and also the opportunities and limitations for predicting the mineralizable N based on an Norg analysis. From an evaluation of numerous data on EUF and CaCl₂ extract-able Norg fractions we concluded that these methods extract N compounds which can be used as indices for easily mineralizable soil N. However, both methods extract only some of the rapidly mineralizable N in soils, and some of the Norg ecxtracted appears to be from the more recalcitrant soil organic N. This was particularly true for the EUF-method. It may therefore be desirable to improve both the extractability and the selectivity of the extraction methods. This may be achieved by measuring extractable amino-N compounds instead of the total extractable Norg. Evaluating the numerous field experiments done during the last decade shows that the calibration factors obtained for extractable Norg were not the same for different growing seasons, geographical regions and management practices. Theoretically, for each combination of these factors separate calibrations would be necessary. It is this inflexibility which appears to be the most serious drawback for the use of extractable Norg fractions in practice. A possible solution may be to combine the flexibility of a simulation model with additional information obtained by the analysis of extract-able soil organic N. Further work in this direction may be desirable.     

对间隙淋洗长期通气培养条件下黄土高原土壤供氮能力的评价

采用间隙淋洗长期通气培养法,通过对黄土高原物理化学性质差异较大的10种农田土样起始矿质氮、起始提取态总氮、起始可溶性有机氮,以及培养期间淋洗矿质氮、淋洗总氮、可溶性有机氮含量及其与作物吸氮量关系的研究,分析并评价黄土高原主要农田土壤氮素矿化能力以及包括和不包括培养淋洗可溶性有机氮对土壤供氮能力的影响。结果表明,供试土样起始可溶性有机氮平均为N 23.9 mg/kg,是起始提取态总氮的28.8%,土壤全氮的2.4%。在通气培养淋洗总氮中,可溶性有机氮所占比例不高,经过217 d通气培养,淋洗出的可溶性有机氮平均为N 28.8mg/kg,占淋洗总氮量的19.8%。相关分析表明,淋洗可溶性有机氮量与第1季作物吸氮量相关不显著,但与连续2季作物总吸氮量显著相关。淋洗矿质氮、淋洗总氮与两季作物总吸氮量的相关系数明显高于与第一季作物吸氮量的相关系数;与第一季作物吸氮量达显著相关水平,与连续两季作物吸氮量达极显著相关水平。总体上看,可溶性有机氮和土壤全氮、土壤微生物氮不能作为反映短期可矿化氮的指标;间隙淋洗通气培养淋洗液中淋洗矿质氮、淋洗总氮是评价可矿化氮的较好指标,不仅适宜于第一季作物,而且也适用于对连续两季作物土壤供氮能力的评价。     

Influence of inorganic fertilizers and organic amendments on soil organic matter and soil microbial properties under tropical conditions

 Soil organic matter level, mineralizable C and N, microbial biomass C and dehydrogenase, urease and alkaline phosphatase activities were studied in soils from a field experiment under a pearl millet-wheat cropping sequence receiving inorganic fertilizers and a combination of inorganic fertilizers and organic amendments for the last 11 years. The amounts of soil organic matter and mineralizable C and N increased with the application of inorganic fertilizers. However, there were greater increases of these parameters when farmyard manure, wheat straw or Sesbania bispinosa green manure was applied along with inorganic fertilizers. Microbial biomass C increased from 147 mg kg^–1 soil in unfertilized soil to 423 mg kg^–1 soil in soil amended with wheat straw and inorganic fertilizers. The urease and alkaline phosphatase activities of soils increased significantly with a combination of inorganic fertilizers and organic amendments. The results indicate that soil organic matter level and soil microbial activities, vital for the nutrient turnover and long-term productivity of the soil, are enhanced by use of organic amendments along with inorganic fertilizers. Received: 6 May 1998     

STUDIES ON THE DECOMPOSITION OF PLANT MATERIAL IN SOIL

The organic matter in soils containing decomposing ¹⁴C-labelled ryegrass was fractionated chemically. Earlier work on these soils had shown that they contained a small fraction, heavily labelled relative to the rest of the soil organic matter, that was mineralized when the partially sterilized soils were incubated. Reagents effective in extracting heavily labelled-C included cold o.in HC1, boiling saturated CaSO₄ solution, and o.in Ba(OH)₂, but neither these nor any other reagent tested could extract material as heavily labelled as that mineralized when partially sterilized soil was incubated. Reagents that extract heavily labelled-C are poor extractants for humified material and are not strongly hydrolytic: the more vigorous the hydrolysis the smaller the proportion of labelled-C in the hydrolysate. The amounts of labelled-C dissolved by Ba(OH)₂ from soils sampled after different periods in the field were directly proportional to the amounts of labelled-C mineralized by those soils when partially sterilized (by exposure to CHC1₃ vapour), inoculated and incubated. Balance sheets are presented for the distribution of labelled and unlabelled-C in fractions separated by hydrolysis with 6N HC1, by NaOH extraction, by neutral pyrophosphate extraction, and by oxidation with H₂O₂. The fraction remaining after hydrolysis with 6N HC1 was the most lightly labelled and had the widest C/N ratio. The percentage of labelled-C in the material dissolved by alkali or by pyrophosphate was little more than in the material not dissolved, despite the presence in the soil of fractions differing at least twenty-fold in intensity of labelling.     

Extractable nitrogen using hot potassium chloride as a mineralization potential index

Inorganic nitrogen (N) in soils is a primary component of soil‐plant N buffering. This study was conducted to determine if non‐exchangeable ammonium‐nitrogen (NH₄‐N) could serve as an index of potentially mineralizable organic N which is an important sink in N buffering. Four long‐term winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) experiments that had received annual fertilizer N at 0 to 272 kg N ha^‐1 were used. Soils from these experiments were extracted by four 10 mL portions of 2M potassium chloride (KC1) at room temperature followed by extraction with 20 mL of 2M hot KC1. Extraction at 100°C for four hours using 3 g soil and 20 mL 2M KC1 was found to be the most effective. Hot KC1‐extractable NH₄‐N minus room temperature KCl‐extractable NH₄‐N was considered non‐exchangeable NH₄‐N. Non‐exchangeable NH₄‐N was correlated with the long‐term N rates, and believed to be a reliable index of potentially mineralizable organic N. The relationship was linear for NH₄‐N where the lowest N rate had the lowest extractable N. The mean non‐exchangeable NH₄‐N concentration ranged from 8.42 to 16.34 mg kg^‐1; whereas, nitrate‐nitrogen (NO₃‐N) ranged from 0.07 to 1.87 mg kg¹. Total inorganic N extracted was similar to that mineralized in a 42‐day aerobic water saturated incubation. In addition, using a linear‐plateau model, extractable NH₄‐N was highly correlated with long‐term average yield (R²=0.92). For the soils evaluated, this method provided a rapid measure of potentially mineralizable N.     

Carbon mineralization kinetics as influenced by soil properties

In a short-term laboratory study C mineralization potentials were determined on soil samples obtained from some representative agricultural soils in Tuscany, Italy. All the kinetic models tested to describe the mineralization process provided a good fit to the experimental data. A modified first-order model best described C mineralization in the soil. Both potentially mineralizable C and the mineralization rate (k) varied considerably among soils, reflecting the differences in soil properties. Potentially mineralizable C was positively related to C evolved as CO₂ and to the exchange capacity. Normalized values (potentially mineralizable C divided by organic C), representing on average about 2% of the total soil C, was positively correlated to soil pH and negatively to the soil C pool, the soil N pool, and total microbial activity. Values for k ranged between 0.050 and 0.104 day^-1, being higher in fine-textured soils and in soils with a large free Fe content. A low C:N ratio was indicative of a high k value. Turnover times for mineralized C were relatively rapid, ranging from 10 to 20 days.