Nitrification Inhibitor,Fertilizer Rate,and Temperature Effects on Nitrous Oxide Emission and Nitrogen Transformation in Loamy Sand Soil

An incubation study investigated the effects of nitrification inhibitors (NIs), dicyandiamide (DCD), and neem oil on the nitrification process in loamy sand soil under different temperatures and fertilizer rates. Results showed that NIs decreased soil nitrification by slowing the conversion of soil ammonium (NH₄⁺)-nitrogen (N) and maintaining soil NH₄⁺-N and nitrate (NO₃^?)-N throughout the incubation time. DCD and neem oil decreased soil nitrous oxide (N₂O) emission by up to 30.9 and 18.8%, respectively. The effectiveness of DCD on reducing cumulative soil N₂O emission and retaining soil NH₄⁺-N was inconsistently greater than that of neem oil, but the NI rate was less obvious than temperature. Fertilizer rate had a stronger positive effect on soil nitrification than temperature, indicating that adding N into low-fertility soil had a greater influence on soil nitrification. DCD and neem oil would be a potential tool for slowing N fertilizer loss in a low-fertility soil under warm to hot climatic conditions.     

Dynamics and Model Fitting of Nitrogen Transformations in Pig Slurry Amended Soils

Abstract

To optimize the efficient use of nutrients in pig slurry by crops and to reduce the pollution risks to surface and groundwater, a full knowledge of the fate of nitrogen (N) in amended soils is needed. A 120 day laboratory incubation experiment was conducted to study the effects of pig slurry application on soil N transformations. Pig slurry was added at the rates of 50 and 100 g kg^?1. A nonamended soil was used as a control treatment. Soil samples were taken after 0, 7, 14, 30, 45, 60, and 120 days of incubation and analyzed for NH₄ ⁺‐N and NO₃ ^?‐N. Initially, the application of pig slurry produced significant increases in NH₄ ⁺‐N, especially at the highest application rate, whereas NO₃ ^?‐N content was not affected. Nitrification processes were active during the entire incubation time in the three treatments. In the control soil, the net N mineralization rate was highest during the 1st week (5.7 mg kg^?1 d^?1), followed by a low‐steady phase. Initially, net N mineralization rate was slower in soil with the lowest slurry rate (2.7 mg kg^?1 d^?1), whereas in the treatment with the highest slurry rate, a net N immobilization was observed during the 1st week (4.8 mg kg^?1 d^?1). Mineral‐N concentrations after 120 days were 180, 310, and 475 mg kg^?1 in soils amended with 0, 50, and 100 g kg^?1 of pig slurry, respectively. However, when results were expressed as net mineralized N, the opposite trend was observed: 74, 65, and 44 mg kg^?1. Of the six kinetic models tested to describe the mineralization process, a two‐component, first exponential model (double model) offered the best results for all treatments.     

The effect of dicyandiamide and neem cake on the nitrification of urea-derived ammonium under field conditions

Summary Dicyandiamide (DCD) and neem cake were evaluated for their efficiency in inhibiting nitrification of prilled urea-derived NH ₄ ⁺ –N in a wheat field. Prilled urea was blended with 10% and 20% DCD-N or 10% and 20% neem cake and incorporated into the soil just before the wheat was sown. Both DCD and neem cake partially inhibited nitrification of prilled urea-derived NH ₄ ⁺ ; DCD was better than neem cake. The nitrification-inhibiting effects of DCD lasted for 45 days, while that of neem cake lasted for only 30 days. Blending the prilled urea with DCD (20% on N basis) was most effective in inhibiting the nitrification of urea-derived NH ₄ ⁺ , both in terms of intensity and duration, and maintained substantially more NH ₄ ⁺ –N than the prilled urea alone and 20% neem-cake-blended urea for a period of 60 days.     

Nitrification Inhibitor Effects on Nitrous Oxide Emission,Nitrogen Transformation,and Maize (Zea mays L.) Yield in Loamy Sand Soil in Thailand

The nitrification inhibitors (NIs) effects on soil nitrogen (N) fates and maize yields were investigated in a loamy-sand soil in Thailand. The treatments were chemical fertilizer (CF) and CF with dicyandiamide (DCD) or neem oil at two rates of 5% and 10%. Compared to the CF plot, DCD and neem oil reduced the cumulative nitrous oxide (N₂O) emission by the equivalent of 26% and 10%, respectively (P < 0.05). DCD and neem oil had a positive effect in slowing ammonium (NH₄⁺)-conversion and prolonging NH₄⁺-N in the soil with a maximum efficiency of 45% and 30%, respectively. NO₃^–N was higher in the NI plots (P < 0.05), but the effect was less pronounced later in the growing season. Adding the NIs increased maize yields and N uptake, but was only significant (P < 0.10) for neem oil. Results indicate that applying NIs is an effective method to mitigate soil N losses and enhancing N use efficiency in a tropical, agricultural field.     

Nationally Coordinated Evaluation of Soil Nitrogen Mineralization Rate using a Standardized Aerobic Incubation Protocol

Abstract

Aerobic incubation methods have been widely used to assess soil nitrogen (N) mineralization, but standardized protocols are lacking. A single silt loam soil (Catlin silt loam; fine‐silty, mixed, superactive, mesic, Oxyaquic Arguidoll) was subjected to aerobic incubation at six USDA‐ARS locations using a standardized protocol. Incubations were conducted at multiple temperatures, which were combined based on degree days (DD). Soil water was maintained at 60% water‐filled pore space (WFPS; constant) or allowed to fluctuate between 60 and 30% WFPS (cycle). Soil subsamples were removed periodically and extracted in 2 M potassium chloride (KCl); nitrate (NO₃) and ammonium (NH₄) concentrations in extracts were determined colorimetrically. For each location, the rate of soil organic‐matter N (SOMN) mineralization was estimated by regressing soil inorganic N (N_i) concentration on DD, using a linear (zero‐order) model. When all data were included, the mineralization rate from four datasets was not statistically different, with a rate equivalent to 0.5 mg N kg^?1 soil day^?1. Soil incubated at two locations exhibited significantly higher SOMN mineralization rates. To assess whether this may have been due to pre‐incubation conditions, time‐zero data were excluded and regression analysis was conducted again. Using this data subset, SOMN mineralization from five (of six) datasets was not significantly different. Fluctuating soil water reduced N‐mineralization rate at two (of four) locations by an average of 50%; fluctuating soil water content also substantially increased variability. This composite dataset demonstrates that standardization of aerobic incubation methodology is possible.     

Effect of Chloride and Sulfate Salinity on Micronutrients Release and Uptake from Different Composts Applied on Total Phosphorus Basis

Generation of different biowastes is increasing day by day, and ultimate load on agricultural lands has increased. Concerns over increased phosphorus (P) application with nitrogen (N)–based compost application shifted the trend to P‐based applications. But focus on only one or two nutritional elements will not serve the goals of sustainable agriculture. Full insight into nutrient availability from different composts is necessary. The need to understand the nutrient release and uptake from different composts has increased because of the use of saline irrigation water in the recent scenario of fresh water shortage. Therefore, current greenhouse studies were designed to evaluate the bioavailability and leachability of some micronutrients [calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), and zinc (Zn)] from different biocomposts under chloride (Cl^?) and sulfate (SO₄ ^?2) saline environment. In the first pot experiment, soil was amended with livestock compost (AC), poultry compost (PC), and composted sludge (SC) at the rate of 200 kg P ha^?1 equivalent bases. Pots were irrigated with artificial saline water of sodium chloride (NaCl) or sodium sulfate (Na₂SO₄; 60 mmol_c L^?1), and leachates were collected for Ca and Mg analysis. As composts were applied on total P bases, which left varying amounts of nutrients in each treatment, it was observed that nutrient uptake and release differed greatly regardless of the total amount applied with each compost type. Amount of Ca applied with PC (3.9 g pot^?1) was greater, but Ca concentration in leachate was greater under AC‐amended treatments. Magnesium concentration also varied greatly under compost types. Among the saline irrigation, Ca and Mg concentration in leachate increased under both saline irrigations compared to nonsaline treatment, and SO₄ ^?2 had relatively greater ionic strength to replace cations than Cl^?. Calcium, Mg, and Zn uptake by maize stem and leaves were greater from SC‐amended pots followed by PC, SC, and control. Irrespective of the salt types, Ca and Mg uptake reduced under both saline irrigations, whereas Zn uptake increased as compared to nonsaline treatment. Among the salt types, it was observed that plant growth and nutrient uptake was more influenced by Cl^? than SO₄ ^?2 saline irrigation. In the second experiment, soil was saturated with NaCl and NaSO₄ (75 mmol_c L^?1) and amended with AC. The trend of nutrient uptake under both salt types was similar to first experiment, and the results of AC amendments have been discussed. It can be inferred from the results that regardless of the total amount applied, nutrient uptake greatly varies under different composts and their availability depends upon the source rather than total amount applied. Analogously, sulfate‐dominated irrigation water can increase the leaching of Ca and Mg from root zone more than chloride.     

Differential Soil Acidity Tolerance of Tropical Legume Cover Crops

In tropical regions, soil acidity and low soil fertility are the most important yield‐limiting factors for sustainable crop production. Using legume cover crops as mulch is an important strategy not only to protect the soil loss from erosion but also to ameliorate soil fertility. Information is limited regarding tolerances of tropical legume cover crops to acid soils. A greenhouse experiment was conducted to determine the differential tolerance of 14 tropical legume cover crops to soil acidity. The acidity treatments were high (0 g lime kg^?1 soil), medium (3.3 g lime kg^?1 soil), and low (8.3 g lime kg^?1 soil). Shoot dry weight of cover crops were significantly affected by acidity treatments. Maximum shoot dry weight was produced at high acidity. Jack bean, black mucuna, and gray mucuna bean species were most tolerant to soil acidity, whereas Brazilian lucern and tropical kudzu were most susceptible to soil acidity. Overall, optimal soil acidity indices were pH 5.5, hydrogen (H)+ aluminum (Al) 6.8 cmol_c kg^?1, base saturation 25%, and acidity saturation 74.7%. Species with higher seed weight had higher tolerance to soil acidity than those with lower seed weight. Hence, seed weight was associated with acidity tolerance in tropical legume species.     

Initial results from long-term field studies at three sites on the effects of heavy metal-amended liquid sludges on soil microbial activity

In a long‐term study of the effects on soil fertility and microbial activity of heavy metals contained in sewage sludges, metal‐amended liquid sludges each with elevated Zn, Cu or Cd concentrations were applied over a 3‐year period (1995–1997) to three sites in England. The experiments were sited adjacent to experimental plots receiving metal‐rich sludge cakes enabling comparisons to be made between the effects of heavy metal additions in metal‐amended liquid sludges and sludge cakes. The liquid sludge additions were regarded as ‘worst case’ treatments in terms of likely metal availability, akin to a long‐term situation following sewage sludge additions where organic matter levels had declined and stabilised. The aim was to establish individual Zn (50–425 mg kg^?1), Cu (15–195 mg kg^?1) and Cd (0.3–4.0 mg kg^?1) metal dose–response treatments at each site, but with significantly smaller levels of organic matter addition than the corresponding sludge cake experiments. There were no differences (P > 0.05) in soil respiration rates, biomass carbon concentrations or most probable numbers of clover Rhizobium between the treatments at any of the sites at the end of the liquid sludge application programme. Soil heavy metal extractability differed between the metal‐amended liquid sludge and metal‐rich sludge cake treatments; Zn and Cd extractabilities were higher from the liquid sludge additions, whereas Cu extractability was higher from the sludge cake application. These differences in metal extractability in the treated soil samples reflected the contrasting NH₄NO₃ extractable metal contents of the metal‐amended liquid sludges and sludge cakes that were originally applied.     

通过施用碱性矿渣和作物残茬生物炭以促进酸性老成土中盐基饱并降低土壤酸度

This investigation was conducted by using alkaline slag and crop straw biochars to reduce acidity of an acidic Ultisol through incubation and pot experiments with lime as a comparison. The soil was amended with different liming materials： lime（1 g kg^-1）,alkaline slag（2 and 4 g kg^-1）, peanut straw biochar（10 and 20 g kg^-1）, canola straw biochar（10 and 20 g kg^-1） and combinations of alkaline slag（2 g kg^-1） and biochars（10 g kg^-1） in the incubation study. A pot experiment was also conducted to observe the soybean growth responses to the above treatments. The results showed that all the liming materials increased soil p H and decreased soil exchangeable acidity. The higher the rates of alkaline slag, biochars, and alkaline slag combined with biochars, the greater the increase in soil p H and the reduction in soil exchangeable acidity. All the amendments increased the levels of one or more soil exchangeable base cations. The lime treatment increased soil exchangeable Ca^2＋, the alkaline slag treatment increased exchangeable Ca^2＋ and Mg^2＋ levels, and the biochars and combined applications of alkaline slag with biochars increased soil exchangeable Ca^2＋, Mg^2＋ and K^＋ and soil available P. The amendments enhanced the uptake of one or more nutrients of N, P, K, Ca and Mg by soybean in the pot experiment. Of the different amendments, the combined application of alkaline slag with crop straw biochars was the best choice for increasing base saturation and reducing soil acidity of the acidic Ultisol. The combined application of alkaline slag with biochars led to the greatest reduction in soil acidity, increased soil Ca, Mg, K and P levels, and enhanced the uptake of Ca, Mg, K and P by soybean plants.     

Soil‐microbial response to sugarcane filter cake and biogenic waste compost

An incubation experiment was carried out to examine the N‐immobilizing effect of sugarcane filter cake (C : N = 12.4) and to prove whether mixing it with compost (C : N = 10.5) has any synergistic effects on C and N mineralization after incorporation into the soil. Approximately 19% of the compost‐C added and 37% of the filter cake–C were evolved as CO₂, assuming that the amendments had no effects on the decomposition of soil organic C. However, only 28% of the added filter cake was lost according to the total‐C and δ¹³C values. Filter cake and compost contained initially significant concentrations of inorganic N, which was nearly completely immobilized between day 7 and 14 of the incubation in most cases. After day 14, N remineralization occurred at an average rate of 0.73 µg N (g soil)^–1 d^–1 in most amendment treatments, paralleling the N mineralization rate of the nonamended control without significant difference. No significant net N mineralization from the amendment N occurred in any of the amendment treatments in comparison to the control. The addition of compost and filter cake resulted in a linear increase in microbial biomass C with increasing amounts of C added. This increase was not affected by differences in substrate quality, especially the three times larger content of K₂SO₄‐extractable organic C in the sugarcane filter cake. In most amendment treatments, microbial biomass C and biomass N increased until the end of the incubation. No synergistic effects could be observed in the mixture treatments of compost and sugarcane filter cake.     

Leaf litter C and N cycling from a deciduous permanent crop

Our understanding of leaf litter carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) cycling and its effects on N management of deciduous permanent crops is limited. In a 30-day laboratory incubation, we compared soil respiration and changes in mineral N [ammonium (NH₄⁺-N) + nitrate (NO₃^–-N)], microbial biomass nitrogen (MBN), total organic carbon (TOC) and total non-extractable organic nitrogen (TON) between a control soil at ¹⁵N natural abundance (δ¹⁵N = 1.08‰) without leaf litter and a treatment with the same soil, but with almond (Prunus dulcis (Mill.) D.A. Webb) leaf litter that was also enriched in ¹⁵N (δ¹⁵N = 213‰). Furthermore, a two-end member isotope mixing model was used to identify the source of N in mineral N, MBN and TON pools as either soil or leaf litter. Over 30 d, control and treatment TOC pools decreased while the TON pool increased for the treatment and decreased for the control. Greater soil respiration and significantly lower (p < 0.05) mineral N from 3 to 15 d and significantly greater MBN from 10 to 30 d were observed for the treatment compared to the control. After 30 d, soil-sourced mineral N was significantly greater for the treatment compared to the control. Combined mineral N and MBN pools derived from leaf litter followed a positive linear trend (R² = 0.75) at a rate of 1.39 μg N g^?1 soil day^?1. These results suggest early-stage decomposition of leaf litter leads to N immobilization followed by greater N mineralization during later stages of decomposition. Direct observations of leaf litter C and N cycling assists with quantifying soil N retention and availability in orchard N budgets.     

Influence of Long‐Term Sodic‐Water Irrigation,Gypsum, and Organic Amendments on Soil Properties and Nitrogen Mineralization Kinetics under Rice–Wheat System

Abstract

Influence of long‐term sodic‐water (SW) irrigation with or without gypsum and organic amendments [green manure (GM), farmyard manure (FYM), and rice straw (RS)] on soil properties and nitrogen (N) mineralization kinetics was studied after 12 years of rice–wheat cropping in a sandy loam soil in northwest India. Long‐term SW irrigation increased soil pH, exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP), and sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) and decreased organic carbon (OC) and total N content. On the other hand, application of gypsum and organic amendments resulted in significant improvement in all these soil properties. Mineralization of soil N ranged from 54 to 111 mg N kg^?1 soil in different treatments. Irrigation with SW depressed N mineralization. In SW‐irrigated plots, two flushes of N mineralization were observed; the first during 0 to 7 d and the second after 28 d. Amending SW irrigated plots with GM and FYM enhanced mineralization of soil N. Gypsum application along with SW irrigation reduced cumulative N mineralization at 56 days in RS‐amended plots but increased it under GM‐treated, FYM‐treated, or unamended plots. Nitrogen mineralization potential (N_o) ranged from 62 to 543 mg N kg^?1 soil. In the first‐order zero‐order model (FOZO), the easily decomposable fraction ranged from 5.4 to 42 mg N kg^?1 soil. Compared to the first‐order single compartment model, the FOZO model could better explain the variations in N mineralization in different treatments. Variations in N_o were influenced more by changes in pH, SAR, and ESP induced by long‐term SW irrigations and amendments rather than by soil OC.     

Coating of essential oils onto prilled urea retards its nitrification in soil

Increased use of nitrogenous fertilizers in agriculture has led to the increased pollution of ground water and atmosphere. Certain plant products can be used as coating materials onto urea to reduce the N losses. We evaluated the effectiveness of citronella and palmarosa grass oils as nitrification inhibitors in a soil incubation study. The treatments (14) were combinations of 4 N sources (neem, citronella and palmarosa oil coated prilled ureas, and uncoated prilled urea), 2 coating thicknesses of oils (500 and 1000 mg kg^?1) and 2 N levels (75 and 150 kg N ha^?1), replicated thrice in a randomized block design. N levels at 75 and 150 kg ha^?1 were equivalent to 34 and 68 mg N kg^?1 soil, respectively. Results showed that N sources citronella (CCPU₁₀₀₀) and neem oil (NCPU₁₀₀₀) coated prilled ureas at 1000 mg kg^?1 coating thickness with 75 kg ha^?1 released similar amount of ammonical-N to uncoated prilled urea at 150 kg N ha^?1, suggesting the beneficial effect of coated ureas. The highest nitrification inhibition (%) was recorded with NCPU₁₀₀₀, the reference nitrification inhibitor, which was significantly greater to all the other N sources at 7 days after incubation (DAI), and at par to CCPU₁₀₀₀ at 14 and 21 DAI.     

Limitations when quantifying microbial carbon and nitrogen by fumigation‐extraction in rooted soils

Soil microbial C and N (C_mic, N_mic) estimation by the chloroform fumigation‐extraction method is erroneous in densely rooted soils due to CHCl₃‐labile C and N compounds. The effect of a pre‐extraction with 50 mM K₂SO₄ and a pre‐incubation (conditioning at 25 °C for 7 days) on the flush in extractable, CHCl₃‐labile C (C‐flush) and N (N‐flush) was tested with reference to rooting density (0.3—75 mg root dry matter g^—1) in one arable and 3 grassland soils. In the arable soil and in the second horizon (10—20 cm) of a grassland soil, C‐flush values were not affected by the pre‐extraction. However, the pre‐extraction considerably reduced C‐flush values in the top soils of the grassland (above 10 cm). Only about 42 % was found in the pre‐extracted roots and the rest was lost during the pre‐extraction. The estimated concentrations of N_mic decreased due to pre‐extraction of soil samples with low root biomass. Clearly, the concentrations of N_mic were underestimated by introducing the pre‐extraction. Soil pre‐incubation reduced C‐flush values only slightly, whereas N‐flush values were not affected. It can be concluded that (1) CHCl₃‐labile root C and N is partly extracted with K₂SO₄ after pre‐incubation and (2) CHCl₃‐labile C and N removed with the roots during pre‐extraction is partly derived from microbial biomass. Soils with low rooting density (arable soils, grassland soils below approximately 10 cm depth) should therefore be fumigated and extracted without pre‐extraction. In densely rooted soils, fumigation extraction with and without pre‐extraction probably gives estimates for the minimum and maximum of C_mic and N_mic.     

Nitrogen transformation from three soil organic amendments in a sandy soil

Abstract

A sandy soil was amended with various rates (20 – 320 g air-dry weight basis of the amendments per kg of air-dry soil) of chicken manure (CM), sewage sludge (SS), and incinerated sewage sludge (ISS) and incubated for 100 days in a greenhouse at 15% (wt/wt) soil water content. At the beginning of incubation, NH₄-N concentrations varied from 50 – 280 mg kg^?1 in the CM amended soil with negligible amounts of NO₃-N. Subsequently, the concentration of NH₄-N decreased while that of NO₃-N increased rapidly. In soil amended with SS at 20 – 80 g kg^?1 rates, the NO₃-N concentration increased sharply during the first 20 days, followed by a slow rate of increase over the rest of the incubation period. However, at a 160 g kg^?1 SS rate, there were three distinct phases of NO₃-N release which lasted for160 days. In the ISS amended soil, the nitrification process was completed during the initial 30 days, and the concentrations of NH₄-N and NO₃-N were lower than those for the other treatments. The mineralized N across different rates accounted for 20 – 36%, 16 – 40%, and 26 – 50% of the total N applied as CM, SS, and ISS, respectively.     

Nitrogen flux patterns through Oxisols and Ultisols in tropical forests of Cameroon,Central Africa

We lack an understanding of nitrogen (N) cycles in tropical forests of Africa, although the environmental conditions in this region, such as soil type, vegetation, and climate, are distinct when compared with other tropical forests. Herein, we simultaneously quantified N fluxes through precipitation, throughfall, and 0-, 15-, and 30-cm soil solutions, as well as litterfall, in two forests with different soil acidity (Ultisols at the MV village (exchangeable Al³⁺ in 0–30 cm, 126 kmol_c ha^–1) and Oxisols at the AD village (exchangeable Al³⁺ in 0–30 cm, 59.8 kmol_c ha^–1)) over 2 years in Cameroon. The N fluxes to the O horizon via litterfall plus throughfall were similar for both sites (MV and AD, 243 and 273 kg N ha^–1 yr^–1, respectively). Those values were remarkably large relative to other tropical forests, reflecting the dominance of legumes in this region. The total dissolved N flux from the O horizon at the MV was 28 kg N ha^–1 yr^–1, while it was 127 kg N ha^–1 yr^–1 mainly as NO₃^–-N (~80%) at the AD. The distinctly different pattern of N cycles could be caused by stronger soil acidity at the MV, which was considered to promote a superficial root mat formation in the O horizon despite the marked dry season (fine root biomass in the O horizon and its proportion to the 1-m-soil profile: 1.5 Mg ha^–1 and 31% at the MV; 0.3 Mg ha^–1 and 9% at the AD). Combined with the published data for N fluxes in tropical forests, we have shown that Oxisols, in combination with N-fixing species, have large N fluxes from the O horizon; meanwhile, Ultisols do not have large fluxes because of plant uptake through the root mat in the O horizon. Consequently, our results suggest that soil type can be a major factor influencing the pattern of N fluxes from the O horizon via the effects of soil acidity, thereby determining the contrasting plant–soil N cycles in the tropical forests of Africa.     

Organic fertilizers derived from plant materials Part I: Turnover in soil at low and moderate temperatures

The aim was to investigate different organic fertilizers derived from plant materials with respect to their nitrogen and carbon turnover in soil in comparison with organic fertilizers derived from animal‐waste products. In a 64‐day incubation study at 5°C and 15°C, the following fertilizers were used: coarse faba bean–seed meal (Vicia faba L.), coarse meals of yellow and white lupin seeds (Lupinus albus L. and Lupinus luteus L.), Phytoperls^® (waste products of maize [Zea mays L.] processing), coarse meal of castor cake (Ricinus communis L.) as a widely used organic fertilizer, and horn meal as a reference fertilizer‐derived from animal waste products. At 15°C, horn meal showed the highest apparent net N mineralization of fertilizer‐derived N, followed by castor cake and the two lupin meals. At 5°C, apparent net N mineralization of fertilizer‐derived N from horn meal and coarse meal of yellow lupin seeds was nearly identical, followed by castor‐cake meal. Net N mineralization from legume‐seed meals showed no or even a negative temperature response, at least temporarily. In contrast, the other fertilizers showed a positive temperature response of net N mineralization. The content in recalcitrant structural components and the decoupling of decomposition of N‐rich and C‐rich tissue components in time are discussed as controlling factors of fertilizer‐N turnover at low temperature. Microbial residues seem to be an important temporary sink of fertilizer‐derived C and N. Legume‐seed meals induced considerable N‐priming effects. Temperature induced differences in the decomposition of total fertilizer C, indicated by changes in the sum of cumulative CO₂‐C evolution, total K₂SO₄‐soluble organic C and microbial‐biomass C were much smaller than indicated by cumulative CO₂‐C evolution alone. Our results indicate that legume‐seed meals have the potential to replace horn meal and castor‐cake meal in organic vegetable production, especially when soil temperatures in early spring are still low.     

Rehabilitation of saline soil with biogas digestate,humic acid,calcium humate and their amalgamations

ABSTRACT

Amelioration of saline soil is a requisite in order to increase crop productivity. A soil incubation study was performed for 60 days using digestate, humic acid, calcium humate and their combinations to investigate the influence on physical, chemical, microbial and enzyme activities of saline soil. Overall, digestate combined with calcium humate followed by humic acid treatments have shown their potency in decreasing the soil pH, electrical conductivity (EC), and sodium ion (Na⁺) concentration, and increase in potassium ion (K ⁺), calcium ion (Ca ²⁺), magnesium ion (Mg ²⁺), mean weight diameter (MWD), soil enzyme activities, microbial biomass carbon (MBC), MBC: microbial biomass nitrogen (MBN) and soil respiration than control. The digestate, humic acid individually and their amalgamation evidenced greater MBN among all the treatments. The digestate alone efficiently improved the soil properties than humic acid and calcium humate individual groups except for the MWD where it is pronounced more in the latter groups. The greater metabolic quotient (qCO₂) was observed in control than organic matter amended treatments indicating the stress conditions. The increase in water-extractable organic matter (WEOM) with minimal aromaticity (specific ultraviolet absorbance at 254 nm-Suva ₂₅₄) in integrated amendments comprising groups, laid the ground reason to improve the properties of saline soil. Therefore, this study concludes that the fusion of fresh and humified substrates could facilitate reclamation.     

Coniferous afforestation increases soil carbon in maritime sand dunes

Afforestation of grasslands can increase C sequestration and provide additional economic and environmental benefits. Pine plantations, however, have often been found to deplete soil organic C and trigger detrimental effects on soils. We examined soil characteristics under a 45-year-old Pinus radiata stand and under adjacent grassland on maritime dunes in temperate Argentina. Soil under the pine plantation had greater soil organic C (+93%), total N (+55%) and available P (+100%) concentrations than under grassland. Carbon was stored under the pinestand at an estimated mean accretion rate of 0.64 Mg ha^?1 y^?1. At 0- to 25-cm depth, soil C amounted to 61 Mg ha^?1 under pine and 27 Mg ha^?1 under grassland. Soil C accumulated more on dune slopes (35 Mg ha^?1 y^?1) than on ridges(29 Mg ha^?1 y^?1) and bottoms (12 Mg ha^?1 y^?1). Compared with the grassland, soil acidity, cation-exchange capacity, base losses (K > Ca = Mg) and C/N ratio increased under pine. Spatial heterogeneity in soil characteristics was greater under pine than under grassland. Such variability was non-systematic and did not support the ‘single-tree influence circle’ concept. Afforestation increased C in soil, forest floor and tree biomass in dunes with ustic climate regime.     

Evaluation of three incubation designs for mineralization kinetics of organic materials in soil

Abstract

Carbon (C) mineralization was assessed during incubations of a Mediterranean sandy soil amended with various organic by‐products covering a wide range of C and nitrogen (N) contents. The laboratory incubation systems consist in measuring continuously the soil respiration (as CO₂‐C) in closed chambers, or less current, in pre‐storing soil containers in semi‐open chambers until transferred and measured for CO₂‐C evolved in closed ‘measuring‐jars’. The latest were improved, the new designs permitting to test a much greater number of by‐products with a minimum handling. No significant differences were found between the results obtained by the different incubation systems. The storage systems using pre‐storage of soils gave reproducible cumulative CO₂‐C curves. Results obtained with the pre‐storage systems could be compared confidently to C mineralization data from studies using permanent closed chambers. One of them was specially reliable and can thus be recommended for long‐term incubation experiments.