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**).     

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.     

Estimation of Plant‐Available Nitrogen in Soils using Rapid Chemical and Biological Methods

The relationships between potential laboratory indices for plant‐available nitrogen (N) and the plant N uptake in a pot experiment with ryegrass were assessed for 13 mineral soils and 2 peat soils. The methods included aerobic soil incubation, soil incubation in a bioreactor, hot potassium chloride (KCl)–extractable mineral N, 0.01 M calcium chloride (CaCl₂)–extractable N, and N loss at heating. The indices for total plant‐available N accounted for 63–93% of the variance in N uptake in a statistical analysis with all soils (n = 15) and 27–89% for the mineral soils (n = 13). Most indices were not a direct quantitative measure of the plant N uptake. The N mineralization indices accounted for 57–86% of the variance in N mineralization for all soils and 5–50% for the mineral soils. Hot KCl‐extractable mineral N and 0.01 M CaCl₂–extractable N were the most promising rapid indices for plant‐available N.     

Boiling Potassium Chloride–Extractable Nitrogen as an Index of Potentially Mineralizable and Plant‐Available Nitrogen in Soil

Abstract

Mineralization of soil organic nitrogen (N) and its contribution toward crop N uptake is central to developing efficient N‐management practices. Because biological incubation methods are time consuming and do not fit into the batch‐analysis techniques of soil‐testing laboratories, an analytical procedure that can provide an estimate of the mineralizable N would be useful as a soil‐test method for predicting plant‐available N in soil. In the present studies, the ability of boiling potassium chloride (KCl) to extract potentially mineralizable and plant‐available N in arable soils of semi‐arid India was tested against results from biological incubations and uptake of N by wheat in a pot experiment. Mineralization of organic N in soils was studied in the laboratory by conducting aerobic incubations for 112 days at 32°C and 33 KPa of moisture. Cumulative N mineralization in different soils ranged from 8.2 to 75.6 mg N kg^?1 soil that constituted 2.7 to 8.8% of organic N. The amount of mineral N extracted by KCl increased with increase in length of boiling from 0.5 to 2 h. Boiling for 0.5, 1, 1.5, and 2 h resulted in an increase in mineral‐N extraction by 9.3, 12.7, 19.6, and 26.1%, respectively, as compared to mineral N extracted at room temperature. The boiling‐KCl‐hydrolyzable N (ΔN_i) was directly dependent upon soil organic N content, but the presence of clay retarded hydrolysis for boiling lengths of 0.5 and 1 h. However, for boiling lengths of 1.5, and 2 h, the negative effect of clay was not apparent. The ΔN _i was significantly (P=0.05) correlated to cumulative N mineralized and N‐mineralization potential (N₀). The relationship between N₀ and ΔN _i was curvilinear and was best described by a power function. Boiling length of 2 h accounted for 78% of the variability in N₀. Results of the pot experiment showed that at 21‐ and 63‐day growth stages, dry‐matter yield and N uptake by wheat were significantly correlated to boiling‐KCl‐extractable mineral N. Thus, boiling KCl could be used to predict potentially mineralizable and plant‐available N in these soils, and a boiling time of 2 h was most suitable to avoid the negatively affected estimates of boiling‐KCl‐hydrolyzable N in the presence of clay. The results have implications for selecting length of boiling in soils varying widely in clay content, and this may explain why, in earlier studies, longer boiling times (viz. 2 or 4 h) were better predictors of N availability as compared to 0.5 and 1 h.     

Evaluation of biological and chemical nitrogen indices for predicting nitrogen-supplying capacity of paddy soils in the Taihu Lake region,China

Simple and rapid chemical indices of soil nitrogen (N)-supplying capacity are necessary for fertilizer recommendations. In this study, pot experiment involving rice, anaerobic incubation, and chemical analysis were conducted for paddy soils collected from nine locations in the Taihu Lake region of China. The paddy soils showed large variability in N-supplying capacity as indicated by the total N uptake (TNU) by rice plants in a pot experiment, which ranged from 639.7 to 1,046.2 mg N pot⁻¹ at maturity stage, representing 5.8% of the total soil N on average. Anaerobic incubation for 3, 14, 28, and 112 days all resulted in a significant (P < 0.01) correlation between cumulative mineral NH₄⁺-N and TNU, but generally better correlations were obtained with increasing incubation time. Soil organic C, total soil N, microbial C, and ultraviolet absorbance of NaHCO₃ extract at 205 and 260 nm revealed no clear relationship with TNU or cumulative mineral NH₄⁺-N. Soil C/N ratio, acid KMnO₄-NH₄⁺-N, alkaline KMnO₄-NH₄⁺-N, phosphate–borate buffer extractable NH₄⁺-N (PB-NH₄⁺-N), phosphate–borate buffer hydrolyzable NH₄⁺-N (PB_HYDR-NH₄⁺-N) and hot KCl extractable NH₄⁺-N (H_KCl−NH₄⁺-N) were all significantly (P < 0.05) related to TNU and cumulative mineral NH₄⁺-N of long-term incubation (>28 days). However, the best chemical index of soil N-supplying capacity was the soil C/N ratio, which showed the highest correlation with TNU at maturity stage (R = −0.929, P < 0.001) and cumulative mineral NH₄⁺-N (R = −0.971, P < 0.001). Acid KMnO₄-NH₄⁺-N plus native soil NH₄⁺-N produced similar, but slightly worse predictions of soil N-supplying capacity than the soil C/N ratio.     

Contributions of Organic Nitrogen Forms to Mineralized Nitrogen during Incubation Experiments of the Soils on the Loess Plateau

Interval leaching long‐term water‐logged incubation and interval leaching long‐term aerobic incubation were carried out to study the changes of different soil organic nitrogen (N) forms and their contributions to mineralized N during N‐mineralization process on 10 kinds of farmland soils with markedly different physical and chemical properties on the Loess Plateau. The results showed that the N‐mineralization capability and capacity using the two incubation methods were evidently different. After 217 days, cumulative mineralized N, the decreased amounts of total acid‐hydrolyzable N, acid‐hydrolyzable ammonia N, and acid‐hydrolyzable amino acid N in the water‐logged incubation were about twice those in the aerobic incubation. Soluble organic N leached in the aerobic incubation was four times that in the water‐logged incubation, which implied that organic N in the aerobic incubation mineralized more thoroughly than that in the water‐logged incubation. The correlation analysis of the changes of soil organic N forms with crop N uptake showed that the reduced amount of total acid‐hydrolyzable N in the water‐logged incubation was closely associated with total N uptake by two successive‐season crops (winter wheat and summer maize), and the decreased amounts of total acid‐hydrolyzable N and amino acid N in the aerobic incubation were highly significantly related to the N uptake of both the first season crop (winter wheat) and successive‐season maize. Multiple regression analysis, path analysis, and partial correlation analysis of the changes of soil organic N forms with mineralized N indicated that ammonia N was a main contribution to mineralized N in the water‐logged incubation, whereas both acid‐hydrolyzable amino acid and ammonia N were main contributions to mineralized N in the aerobic incubation. These results suggested that acid‐hydrolyzable ammonia was the primary contribution to mineralized N during N mineralization process with the two incubation methods.     

Simultaneous determination of soil aluminum,ammonium‐ and nitrate‐nitrogen using 1 M potassium chloride extraction

Abstract

Determination of soil aluminum (Al), ammonium‐nitrogen (NH₄‐N), and nitrate‐nitrogen (NO₃‐N) is often needed from the same soil samples for lime and fertilizer recommendations, but Al has to be extracted and quantified separately from NH₄‐N and NO₃‐N according to present methods. The objective of this study was to develop a reliable method for simultaneous analyses of soil Al, NH₄‐N and NO₃‐N using a Flow Injection Autoanalyzer. Thirty‐five soil samples from different locations with wide ranges of extractable Al, NH₄‐N and NO₃‐N were selected for this study. Aluminum, NH₄‐N and NO₃‐N were extracted by both 1 M and 2 M potassium chloride (KCl), and quantified using a LACHAT Flow Injection Autoanalyzer simultaneously and separately. One molar KCl was found to be a suitable extractant for all three compounds when compared to 2 M KCl. The 1 M KCl extract proposed could aid in decreasing the costs associated with simultaneous NH₄‐N, NO₃‐N, and Al analyses. Results of those three compounds analyzed simultaneously were not statistically different from those analyzed separately in 1 M KCl solution. This new procedure of simultaneous determination of NH₄‐N, NO₃‐N, and Al increases efficiency and reduces cost for soil test laboratories and laboratory users.     

Quantifying soil nitrogen mineralization to improve fertilizer nitrogen management of sugarcane

Intensive use of synthetic nitrogen (N) fertilizers for sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) production presents environmental challenges for water and air quality as well as impacts profitability for producers. Central to these concerns is a widespread reliance on yield-based recommendations that invoke generic models of crop N response but lack any means to account for variations in soil N-supplying power, a critical determinant of fertilizer N need for cereal, fiber, and tuber crops. The work reported herein was designed to ascertain the impact of soil N mineralization on sugarcane response to N fertilization and was carried out in conjunction with eight N-response trials conducted between 2006 and 2010 at field sites in the largest sugarcane-cultivated area in Brazil. Soil samples were utilized in categorizing the sites as highly responsive, moderately responsive, or nonresponsive to fertilizer N, based on two chemical indices of soil N availability, the Illinois Soil Nitrogen Test (ISNT) and direct steam distillation (DSD), and assessments of (1) net mineralization during aerobic incubation for 12 weeks and (2) incubation-induced changes in soil N fractions obtained by acid (total hydrolyzable N, hydrolyzable NH₄ ⁺-N, amino sugar N, and amino acid N) or alkaline (ISNT-N) hydrolysis. Sugarcane varied widely in response to N fertilization, indicating that yield-based recommendations would often under- or overestimate N requirement and thus adversely impact sustainability of sugarcane-based ethanol production. In studies to evaluate feasibility of soil N testing to improve fertilizer N recommendations, mineral N production upon aerobic incubation was accompanied by significant decreases in hydrolyzable NH₄ ⁺-N and ISNT-N, indicating that both fractions were liberating mineralizable forms of soil N. Test values by the ISNT and DSD were highly correlated, and both showed promise for differentiating soil responsiveness to fertilizer N.     

Exchangeable cations and CEC determinations of some highly weathered soils

Abstract

Eight methods to determine exchangeable cations and cation exchange capacity (CEC) were compared for some highly weathered benchmark soils of Alabama. The methods were: (1) 1N NH₄OAc at pH 7.0 by replacement (for CEC only), (2) 1N NH₄OAc at pH 7.0 (summation of basic cations plus 1N KCl extractable Al), (3) 1N NH₄OAc at pH 7.0 (summation of basic cations plus exchangeable H⁺), (4) 0.1M BaCl₂ (summation of basic cations plus exchangeable Mn, Fe and Al), (5) Mehlich 1 (summation of basic cations plus 1N KCl extractable Al), (6) Mehlich 1 (summation of basic cations plus exchangeable H⁺), (7) Mehlich 3 (summation of basic cations plus 1N KCl extractable Al), and (8) Mehlich 3 (summation of basic cations plus exchangeable H⁺). The 0.1M BaCl₂ was chosen as the standard method for the highly weathered soils and the other methods compared to it. The results indicated that the 1N NH₄OAc replacement method gave significantly higher CEC values compared to the summation methods. This was probably due to the overestimation of the field CEC caused by measurement of pH dependent cation exchange sites in these soils. There was, however, close agreement between the BaCl₂ method and the summation methods that included extractable Al. The generally good agreement between these summation methods suggests that the Mehlich 1 and Mehlich 3 extractants, commonly used to determine available nutrients in the southeastem USA, may also be used to measure effective CEC of some acid‐rich sesquioxide benchmark soils of Alabama. However, 1N KCl extractable Al as opposed to exchangeable H⁺ should be included in the computation.     

Ammonium accumulation in soil: the long‐term effects of tillage,rotation and N rate in a Mediterranean Vertisol

Plant nutrition requires organic nitrogen to be mineralized before roots can absorb it. A 13‐year field study was conducted on typical rain‐fed Mediterranean Vertisol to determine the effects of tillage system, crop rotation and N fertilizer rate on the long‐term NH₄⁺–N content in the soil profile (0–90 cm). The experiment was designed as a randomized complete block with a split–split plot arrangement and three replications. The main plots tested the effects from the tillage system (no‐tillage and conventional tillage); the subplots tested crop rotation with 2‐year rotations (wheat–wheat, wheat–fallow, wheat–chickpea, wheat–faba bean and wheat–sunflower) and the sub‐subplots examined the N fertilizer rate (0, 50, 100 and 150 kg N/ha). Soil NH₄⁺–N content was greatest in the rainiest years and greater under the no‐tillage (NT) system than the conventional tillage (CT) system (57 and 48 kg/ha, respectively). The deepest soil (30–60 and 60–90 cm) contained a greater NH₄⁺–N content (21.0 and 21.4 kg/ha, respectively) than the shallowest soil (19.5 kg/ha in 0–30 cm). This observation may be related to Vertisol characteristics, especially crack formation that allows greater mineralization in the deepest layers by displacing organic matter.     

Chemical and biochemical properties as potential indicators of disturbances

 The response of a series of soil microbial, chemical, and enzymatic chacacteristics to two different tillage systems (conventional and no-tillage) and two crop rotations (continuous corn and soybean–corn) was evaluated in a long-term field experiment in the Rolling Pampas Region, Marcos Juárez, Córdoba, Argentina. The parameters studied included: oxidizable, soluble and respiration C, total and hydrolyzable N, microbial activity, ammonifiers, nitrifiers, cellulolytic and total microflora, protease and urease activities. After 15 years, oxidizable C, total N and hydrolyzable N showed no differences regarding no-tillage systems. However, differences were found regarding control soil. While soluble C did not exhibit any significant differences, respiration C and microbial activity were indicators sensitive to different treatments. Enzymatic activities, protease in particular, did reflect changes due to management. Fluctuation in microbial population counts were more related to plant residues than to tillage systems. Received: 29 May 1999     

Nitrogen‐Supplying Capacity of Soils for Rice and Wheat and Nitrogen Availability Indices in Soils of Northwest India

Abstract

Quantitative assessment of soil nitrogen (N) that will become available is important for determining fertilizer needs of crops. Nitrogen‐supplying capacity of soil to rice and wheat was quantified by establishing zero‐N plots at on‐farm locations to which all nutrients except N were adequately supplied. Nitrogen uptake in zero‐N plots ranged from 41.4 to 110.3 kg N ha^?1 for rice and 33.7 to 123.4 kg N ha^?1 for wheat. Availability of soil N was also studied using oxidative, hydrolytic, and autoclaving indices, salt‐extraction indices, light‐absorption indices, and aerobic and anaerobic incubation indices. These were correlated with yield and N uptake by rice and wheat in zero‐N plots. Nitrogen extracted by alkaline KMnO₄ and phosphate borate buffer and nitrogen mineralized under aerobic incubation were satisfactory indices of soil N supply. For rice, 2 M KCl and alkaline KMnO₄ were the best N‐availability indices. Thus, alkaline KMnO₄ should prove a quick and reliable indicator of indigenous soil N supply in soils under a rice–wheat cropping system.     

Dynamic of different C and N fractions in a Cambisol under five year succession fallow in Saxony (Germany)

The dynamic of different soil C and N fractions in a Cambisol under succession fallow was investigated from June 1996 until May 2001. Mineral soil samples (0 – 10 and 10 – 30 cm) were analyzed for their concentrations of organic C (C_org), total N (N_t), hot water extractable C and N (HWC and HWN), and KCl extractable C and N (C_org(KCl), N_org(KCl), NH₄⁺‐N, NO₃^–‐N). The values of all C and N fractions revealed a distinct depth gradient. While the concentrations of C_org increased after set aside significantly from 7.7 to 8.9 g kg^–1 at 0 – 10 cm, those at 10 – 30 cm depth decreased from 7.2 to 6.1 g kg^–1. N_t remained rather constant throughout the whole observation period. The HWC concentrations increased from 0.33 to 0.49 g kg^–1, while HWN decreased slightly at 0 – 10 cm with time. In contrast, both HWC and HWN increased at 10 – 30 cm soil depth. HWC showed close significant correlations to C_org, and HWN to N_t as well as to NH₄⁺‐N and NO₃^–‐N, respectively. In comparison to hot water‐extractable C and N, C_org(KCl) and N_org(KCl) accounted only about one tenth of those and showed a decreasing trend with time of succession. C : N ratio of the KCl fraction was in the same order of magnitude as the HWC : HWN ratio, except the last phase of the experiment where hot water extract values increased above 10.     

Nitrogen supplying capacity of lowland rice soils in southern India

Abstract

Effective indigenous nitrogen (N) supply (EINS) was estimated in ‐N plots (no fertilizer N addition) of a multi‐location field experiment with irrigated rice conducted in India. Dynamic soil tests, namely anaerobic incubation without (AI) or with K⁺‐saturated cation exchange resin (AIR) and N release to a mixed‐bed ion‐exchange resin capsule (PST), were used and compared with total soil N, organic carbon (C), initial NH₄‐N and alkaline KMnO₄‐N as predictors for EINS. The pattern of net N mineralization was similar in all soils of 10 sites and fitted the two‐pool first and zero order model: a rapid early phase from 0–14 d, a transition phase from 14–35 d and a slow, nearly linear phase from 35–56 d. In the rapid phase, average net NH₄‐N release with K‐resin was 125% greater than the net NH₄‐N without K‐resin. Static soil N tests were significantly correlated with net NH₄‐N of AIR only up to rapid and transition phases and also with the cumulative NH₄‐N adsorption measured by PST. Grain yield in the ‐N plots ranged from 1094 to 5707 kg‐ha° while EINS estimated by crop N uptake at first flowering (FF) varied from 24 to 107 kg ha^‐1 of N. All soil N tests were significantly correlated with N uptake at active tillering, panicle initiation (PI) and FF of rice, but none of the soil tests was correlated with average N uptake rates between PI and FF. Static soil N tests and short‐term anaerobic incubation procedures did not provide enough information about soil N release rates during the reproductive growth period of rice. Only the late phase N between (35–56 d) measured by AIR was correlated with grain yield (r=0.67, P<0.01). Implications for use of soil tests in practical N management are discussed.     

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.     

The effect of soil pH manipulation on chemical properties of an agricultural soil from northern Idaho

Abstract

Selected chemical properties of an artificially acidified agricultural soil from northern Idaho were evaluated in a laboratory study. Elemental S and Ca(OH)₂were used to manipulate the soil pH of a Latahco silt loam (fine‐silty, mixed, frigid Argiaquic Xeric Argialboll), which had an initial pH of 5.7. A 100 day incubation period resulted in a soil pH manipulation range of 3.3 to 7.0. Chemical properties evaluated included: N mineralization rate, extractable P, AI, Mn, Ca, Mg and K and CEC. N mineralization rate (assessed by anaerobic incubation) decreased with decreasing soil pH. Nitrification rate also decreased as NH₄ ⁺‐N accumulated under acid soil conditions. Sodium acetate extractable P was positively linearly correlated (R²= 0.87) with soil pH over the entire pH range evaluated. Potassium chloride extractable Al was less than 1.3 mg kg^‐1of soil at pH values higher than 4.4. Consequently, potential Al toxicity problems in these soils are minimal. Extractable Mn increased with decreasing soil pH. Soil CEC, extractable Mg, and extractable K all decreased with increasing soil pH from 3.3 to 7.0. Extractable Ca levels were largely unaffected by changing soil pH. It is likely that the availability of N and P would be the most adversely affected parameters by soil acidification     

Ammonium fixation by soil and pure clay minerals

Abstract

Fixation of the ammonium ion (NH₄ ⁺) by clay minerals is an alternate way of building the nitrogen (N) pool in soil to optimize N crop recovery and minimize losses. Clay minerals (illite, montmorillonite, and vermiculite) and an illitic Portnoeuf soil were used to compare NH₄ ⁺ fixation abilities. Total N determination and X‐ray diffraction analysis were performed on each of the minerals and the Portnoeuf soil controls, and NH₄ ⁺ saturated batches were subsequently desorbed by potassium chloride (KCl) after 4096 hours. Total N was determined for each employing either Kjeldahl digestion only, or pretreating with hydrofluoric‐hydrochloric acid (HF‐HCl) before the Kjeldahl digestion. The total N for the soil was 38% more after pretreatment with HF‐HCl. The total N determined after pretreatment with HF‐HCl for the NH₄ ⁺ saturated and subsequently KCl desorbed minerals was found to be highest in vermiculite. The cation exchange acapacity (CEC) of each of the minerals was determined, and highest CEC was found in montmorillonite [83.07 cmol(+)/kg]. X‐ray diffraction analysis revealed collapse of the vermiculitic clay lattice from an initial d‐spacing of 13.1 angstrom to 10.4 angstrom after desorprion by KCl. This suggested the existence of sequestered NH₄ ⁺ between the 2: 1 vermiculitic clay interlayer lattice.     

Aspartase Activity of Soils Under Different Management Systems

Abstract

Recent interest in soil tillage, cropping systems, and residue management has focused on low‐input sustainable agriculture. This study was carried out to evaluate the effects of various management systems on aspartase activity in soils. This enzyme [L‐aspartate ammonia‐lyase, EC 4.3.1.1] catalyzes the hydrolysis of L‐aspartate to fumarate and NH₃. It may play a significant role in the mineralization of organic N in soils. The management systems consisted of three cropping systems [continuous corn (Zea mays L.) (CCCC); corn‐soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.]‐corn‐soybean (CSCS); and corn‐oat (Avena sativa L.)‐meadow‐meadow (COMM) {meadow was a mixture of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) and red clover (Trifolium pratense L.)] at three long‐term field experiments initiated in 1954, 1957, and 1978 in Iowa and sampled in June 1987. The plots received 0 or 180 (or 200) kg ha^?1 before corn and an annual application of 20 kg P and 56 kg K ha^?1. The tillage systems (no‐tillage, chisel plow, and moldboard plow) were initiated in 1981 in Wisconsin and sampled in May 1991. The crop residue treatments were: bare, normal, mulch, and double (2×) mulch. The residue in the study was corn stalks. Results showed that, in general, crop rotation in combination with N fertilizer treatments affected aspartase activity in the following order: COMM>CSCS>CCCC. Because of nitrification of the NH₄ ⁺ or NH₄ ⁺‐forming fertilizers, which resulted in decreasing the pH values, N fertilizer application, in general, decreased the aspartase activity in soils in the order: CCCC>CSCS>COMM. The effect of tillage and residue management practices on aspartase activity in soils showed a very wide variation. The trend was as follows: no‐till/2× mulch>chisel plow/mulch>moldboard plow/mulch>no‐till normal>chisel plow/normal>no‐till bare>moldboard plow/normal. Aspartase activity decreased with increasing depth in the plow layer (0–15 cm) of the no‐till/2× mulch. The decreased activity was accompanied by decreasing organic C and pH with depth. Statistical analyses using pooled data (28 samples) showed that aspartase activity was significantly, linearly correlated with organic C (r=0.78^***) and exponentially with soil pH (r=0.53**). The variation in the patterns and magnitudes of activity distribution among the profiles of the four replicated plots was probably due to the spatial variability in soils.     

Nitrogen balance in a soil‐wheat system under plow‐ and no‐tillage in the argentine humid pampa

Abstract

Changing conventional tillage to conservation tillage systems affects nitrogen (N) cycling in agroecosystems. Our objective was to evaluate the role of soil organic pools, specially plant residues, as sources‐sinks of nitrogen in an humid and warm temperate environment cropped to wheat, under plow‐ and no‐tillage. The experimental site was in the Argentine Pampa on a Typic Hapludoll. A balance‐sheet method was used: Nupt+Nres=Nsow+Nmin, where Nupt=N uptake by the crop at harvest; Nsow=soil mineral N as NH₄ and NO₃ at 0–90 cm depth, one month before sowing, plus N added as fertilizer; Nres=residual soil mineral N as NH₄ and NO₃ at 0–90 cm depth, at harvest; Nmin=N mineralized from humus and plant residues during wheat growing period. Nupt did not differ between tillage systems. Nitrogen supply by the mineral N pool, estimated by the difference Nsow‐Nres, was ca. 150 kg N ha^‐1 in both tillage systems. Plant residues decomposed and released N under both treatments. This organic N pool decreased 77% along the crop cycle. Nmin, calculated using the balance equation was 83 kg N ha^‐1, and did not differ between tillage managements, representing 35% of Nupt. This results highlight the importance of the organic pools as sources of N for wheat in the Humid Pampa. They also brink our attention on the importance for evaluate residue decomposition and humus mineralization in warm‐temperate regions when fertilizer requirements are determined, in order to minimize environmental hazard and economic losses by overfertilization.     

Response of field‐grown soybeans to lime

Abstract

Studies were conducted to; (1) measure the detrimental effects of manganese toxicity on vegetative and reproductive growth of soybeans, and (2) measure the influence of liming on the availability and uptake of manganese.

The data suggests that the cultivar Forrest may be more sensitive than either Bragg or Lee 68 to manganese concentrations but this is not reflected in foliar levels. Liming the soil to pH 5.5 or above significantly reduced the concentration of extractable soil manganese, decreased foliar concentrations and eliminated the toxic effects, and increased the yields.

Soybean yields and foliar manganese concentrations correlated better with NH₄OAc‐ or CaCl₂‐extractable manganese than with water‐soluble manganese.