Alkaline Hydrolyzable Organic Nitrogen as an Index of Nitrogen Mineralization in Soils: Relationship with Activities of Arylamidase and Amidohydrolases

ABSTRACT

This study investigated the relationship between a recently proposed alkaline hydrolysis method for estimating the chemical index of nitrogen (N) mineralization potential of soils and the activities of arylamidase and four amidohydrolases involved in hydrolysis of organic N (ON) in soils. Nitrogen mineralization was studied in 13 soils from uncultivated fields in Iowa, USA, by direct steam distillation of 1 g field-most soil treated with 1 M KOH or 1 M NaOH. The distillate was collected in boric acids, which was changed every 5 min for a total of 40 min. The NH₄ ⁺-N in the distillate was determined by titration with 0.005 M H₂SO₄. The cumulative amounts of N hydrolyzed were fitted to the first-order exponential equation to determine the “potentially hydrolyzable N (N_max )” for the soils. The activities of arylamidase, L-asparaginase, L-glutaminase, amidase, and L-aspartase were assayed at their optimal pH values. Results showed that estimated N_max values were strongly correlated with the activities of arylamidase and amidohydrolases. The activities of arylamidase and the amidohydrolases were significantly correlated, indicating that the activities of the two groups of enzymes are coupled in mineralization of ON in soils. Based on the specificity of enzyme reactions and the strong relationship between estimated N_max values and the activities of arylamidase and amidohydrolases, we concluded that similar amide-N bonds were susceptible to enzymatic and alkaline hydrolysis, and that alkaline hydrolyzable ON can be used as an index of N mineralization in soils.     

Significance of Enzyme Activities in Soil Nitrogen Mineralization

This study was undertaken to assess the relationship between nitrogen (N) mineralization in soils treated with eight lime application rates, with four field replications, and the activities of six amidohydrolases involved in N cycling and four glycosidases involved in carbon (C) cycling in soils. Nitrogen mineralization was studied at 20 or 30 °C for 20 weeks, and with the exception of N‐aceyl‐β‐D‐glucosaminidase (NAGase; EC 3.2.1.30) activity, which was assayed at both temperatures, the enzyme activities were assayed at 30 °C at their optimal pH values. Results showed that among the eight enzyme activities studied, NAGase activity was the most significantly correlated with the cumulative amounts of N mineralized in 32 soil samples at 20 °C (r = 0.87***) and at 30 °C (r = 0.95***). The cumulative amounts of N mineralized at 30 °C were also significantly correlated with arylamidase and L‐aspartase activities, with r values of 0.61*** and 0.52**, respectively. Because NAGase activity is involved in both N and C cycling, the cumulative amounts of N mineralized at 30 °C were also significantly correlated with the activities of β‐glucosidase (r = 0.80***) and β‐galactosidase (r = 0.58***). Activities of other N enzymes that were significantly correlated with the cumulative amounts of N mineralized at 30 °C in 20 weeks were those of L‐asparaginase (r = 0.61***), urease (r = 0.57***), amidase (r = 0.54**), and L‐glutaminase (r = 0.41*). It seems that the activity of NAGase can be used as an index of N mineralization in soils.     

Evaluation of Chemical Extraction Methods for Determining Plant-Available Potassium in Some Soils of West Bengal,India

The effectiveness of eight chemical extraction methods was evaluated on 15 Indian soils for the prediction of plant-available potassium (K⁺) to Sudan grass (Sorghum vulgare var. sudanensis) grown in modified Neubauer technique. Average amounts of soil K⁺ extracted were in descending order: Morgan’s reagent > 0.5 M sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO₃) > neutral 1N ammonium acetate (NH₄OAc) > 1N nitric acid (HNO₃) > 0.02 M calcium chloride (CaCl₂) > 0.1N HNO₃ > Bray and Kurtz No.1> distilled water. The highest simple correlation with plant K⁺ uptake was obtained with NH₄OAc-K⁺ (r = 0.866**) and the lowest with CaCl₂-K⁺ (r = 0.45*). To develop the predictive models using stepwise regression, plant K⁺ uptake was used as the dependent variable and the extractable soil K⁺, pH, sand, silt and organic carbon (C) contents as the independent variables. Based on the final R², the NH₄OAc model was found to be the best predictor of plant-available K⁺ in the soils when used along with sand and 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.     

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.     

Responses of phosphatases and arylsulfatase in soils to liming and tillage systems

This study was carried out to investigate the long‐term influence of lime application and tillage systems (no‐till, ridge‐till, and chisel plow) on the activities of phosphatases and arylsulfatase in soils at four research sites in Iowa, USA. The activities of the following enzymes were studied: acid and alkaline phosphatases, phosphodiesterase, and arylsulfatase at their optimal pH values. With the exception of acid phosphatase, which was significantly (P < 0.001) but negatively correlated with soil pH (r ranged from –0.65** to –0.98***), the activities of other enzymes were significantly (P < 0.001) and positively correlated with soil pH, with r values ranging from 0.65** to 0.99*** for alkaline phosphatase, from 0.79*** to 0.97*** for phosphodiesterase, and from 0.66*** to 0.97*** for arylsulfatase. The Δ activity/Δ pH values were calculated to determine the sensitivity of each enzyme to changes in soil pH. Acid phosphatase was the most sensitive and arylsulfatase the least sensitive to changes in soil pH. Activities of the enzymes were greater in the 0 – 5 cm depth samples than those in 0 – 15 cm samples under no‐till treatment. With the exception of acid phosphatase, enzyme activities were mostly significantly (P < 0.001) and positively correlated with microbial biomass C (C_mic), with r values ranging from 0.28 (not significant) to 0.83*** and with microbial biomass N (N_mic), with r values ranging from 0.31 (not significant) to 0.94***. Liming and tillage systems significantly affected the activities of some enzymes but not others, as was evident from the specific activity values (g of p‐nitrophenol released kg^–1 C_org h^–1).     

Distribution of nitrogen in soils of the southern Mississippi river alluvial plain

Abstract

Nitrogen (N) dynamics in the agriculturally important alluvial soils of the southern Mississippi Delta are not well understood, and little information is available regarding the amounts of various forms of N present in these soils. Profiles of nine alluvial soils were selected to represent the principal agricultural acreage in the southern Mississippi Delta. Soils were sampled by horizon to a depth of 150 cm and the distribution of various N fractions were characterized. Forty‐one additional chemical, physical and mineralogical properties were measured, and regression techniques were used to determine if these soil properties were related to N distribution in the highly heterogeneous soils typical of this region. These profiles contained 11.6 to 26.5 Mt N/ha (average 18.8 Mt N/ha). The surface 15 cm contained an average of 4.8 Mt N/ha and accounted for about 26% of the profile N. Most of N in the surface 15 cm was recovered as organic N (78.4–87.4%), and the balance recovered primarily as nonexchangeable ("clay‐fixed") NH₄+. In subsurface horizons, nonexchangeable NH₄ ⁺ represented a substantially larger fraction of total N (average 35.6 %). The amounts of exchangeable NH₄ ⁺ and NO₃‐ were very low in most samples and accounted for only 0.2–0.7% of surface N and 0.3–2.5% (average 0.7%) of the total N accumulated within horizons. The proportion of total N recovered as organic N was most closely related to organic carbon (C) content and the amounts of 2: 1 type of clay minerals present in the horizon. Even though subsurface horizons contained an appreciable portion of their N as inorganic nonexchangeable NH₄ ⁺, organic C content was the best single indicator of total N content (r²= 0.931) within the 52 horizons studied.     

Mobile and readily available C and N fractions and their relationship to microbial biomass and selected enzyme activities in a sandy soil under different management systems

Within different land‐use systems such as agriculture, forestry, and fallow, the different morphology and physiology of the plants, together with their specific management, lead to a system‐typical set of ecological conditions in the soil. The response of total, mobile, and easily available C and N fractions, microbial biomass, and enzyme activities involved in C and N cycling to different soil management was investigated in a sandy soil at a field study at Riesa, Northeastern Germany. The management systems included agricultural management (AM), succession fallow (SF), and forest management (FM). Samples of the mineral soil (0—5, 5—10, and 10—30 cm) were taken in spring 1999 and analyzed for their contents on organic C, total N, NH₄⁺‐N and NO₃^—‐N, KCl‐extractable organic C and N fractions (Corg_(KCl) and Norg_(KCl)), microbial biomass C and N, and activities of β‐glucosidase and L‐asparaginase. With the exception of Norg_(KCl), all investigated C and N pools showed a clear relationship to the land‐use system that was most pronounced in the 0—5 cm profile increment. SF resulted in greater contents of readily available C (Corg_(KCl)), NH₄⁺‐N, microbial biomass C and N, and enzyme activities in the uppermost 5 cm of the soil compared to all other systems studied. These differences were significant at P ≤ 0.05 to P ≤ 0.001. Comparably high C_mic:C_org ratios of 2.4 to 3.9 % in the SF plot imply a faster C and N turnover than in AM and FM plots. Forest management led to 1.5‐ to 2‐fold larger organic C contents compared to SF and AM plots, respectively. High organic C contents were coupled with low microbial biomass C (78 μg g^—1) and N contents (10.7 μg g^—1), extremely low C_mic : C_org ratios (0.2—0.6 %) and low β‐glucosidase (81 μg PN g^—1 h^—1) and L‐asparaginase (7.3 μg NH₄‐N g^—1 2 h^—1) activities. These results indicate a severe inhibition of mineralization processes in soils under locust stands. Under agricultural management, chemical and biological parameters expressed medium values with exception for NO₃^—‐N contents which were significantly higher than in SF and FM plots (P ≤ 0.005) and increased with increasing soil depth. Nevertheless, the depth gradient found for all studied parameters was most pronounced in soils under SF. Microbial biomass C and N were correlated to β‐glucosidase and L‐asparaginase activity (r ≥ 0.63; P ≤ 0.001). Furthermore, microbial biomass and enzyme activities were related to the amounts of readily mineralizable organic C (i.e. Corg_(KCl)) with r ≥ 0.41 (P ≤ 0.01), suggesting that (1) KCl‐extractable organic C compounds from field‐fresh prepared soils represent an important C source for soil microbial populations, and (2) that microbial biomass is an important source for enzymes in soil. The Norg_(KCl) pool is not necessarily related to the size of microbial biomass C and N and enzyme activities in soil.<?show $6#>     

Importance of organic nitrogen fractions in sandy soils,obtained by electro-ultrafiltration or CaCl2 extraction,for nitrogen mineralization and nitrogen uptake of rape

Summary Sandy soils have low reserves of mineral N in spring. Therefore organic-bound N is the most important pool available for crops. The objective of the present investigation was to study the importance of the organic-bound N extracted by electro-ultrafiltration and by a CaCl₂ solution for the supply of N to rape and for N mineralization. Mitscherlich-pot experiments carried out with 12 different sandy soils (Germany) showed a highly significant correlation between the organic N extracted (two fractions) and the N uptake by the rape (electroultrafiltration extract: r=0.76^***; CaCl₂ extract: r=0.76^***). Organic N extracted by both methods before the application of N fertilizer was also significantly correlated with N mineralization (electro-ultrafiltration extract: r=0.75^***; CaCl₂ extract: r=0.79^***). N uptake by the rape and the mineralization of organic N increased with soil pH and decreased with an increasing C:N ratio and an increasing proportion of sand in the soils. Ninety-eight percent of the variation in N uptake by the rape was determined by the differences in net mineralization of organic N. This show that in sandy soils with low mineral N reserves (NO _inf3 ^sup- -N, NH ₄ ⁺ -N) the organic soil N extracted by electro-ultrafiltration or CaCl₂ solutions indicates the variance in plant-available N. Total soil N was not related to the N uptake by plants nor to N mineralization.     

Assessment of N Mineralization and N Leaching in Soil Using a New in situ Incubation Method

Field incubations have been pointed out as the more realistic method to provide estimates of nitrogen (N) mineralization. The aim of this study is to evaluate the quality of the results obtained in a field incubation using an open reactor to estimate net N mineralization and N leaching. The incubation experiment was initiated with 24 reactors. At each date, the reactors were destructed and mineral N in the soil and adsorbed on the exchange resins was determined. Net N mineralization and N leaching were estimated as 23.3 and 18.0 mg/kg, respectively. The results revealed an acceptable repeatability, with coefficient of variation (CV) of 9.0%, a significant adjustment (r² = 0.991), and a low root mean square error (S_yx = 4.2) for the regression model used. The use of this type of reactor may be considered as a reliable alternative to assess N mineralization kinetics from native organic matter and probably for organic residues applied to soils in field studies.     

Leaching Methods Can Underestimate Mineralization Potential of Soils

Aerobic incubations to estimate net nitrogen (N) mineralization typically involve periodic leaching of soil with 0.01 M calcium chloride (CaCl₂), so as to remove mineral N that would otherwise be subject to immobilization. A study was conducted to evaluate the accuracy of leaching for analysis of exchangeable ammonium (NH₄⁺)-N and nitrate + nitrite (NO₃^?+ NO₂^–)-N, relative to conventional extractions using 2 M potassium chloride (KCl). Ten air-dried soils were used, five each from Illinois and Brazil, that had been amended with NH₄⁺-N (1 g kg^?1) and NO₃^–-N (0.6 g kg^?1). Both methods were in good agreement for inorganic N analysis of the Brazilian Oxisols, whereas leaching was significantly lower by 12–48% in recovering exchangeable NH₄⁺-N from Illinois Alfisols, Mollisols, and Histosols. The potential for underestimating net N mineralization was confirmed by a 12-wk incubation experiment showing 9–86% of mineral N recoveries from three temperate soils as exchangeable NH₄⁺.     

Short‐Term Recovery of Ammonium‐15Nitrogen Applied to a Temperate Forest Inceptisol and Ultisol in East Tennessee,USA

Abstract

The short‐term fate and retention of ammonium (NH₄)‐¹⁵nitrogen (N) applied to two types of forest soils in east Tennessee was investigated. Four ridgetop forests, predominantly oak (Quercus spp.), were studied. Five applications of NH₄‐¹⁵N tracer were made to the forest floor at 2‐ to 4‐week intervals over a 14‐week period in 2004. Nitrogen‐15 recovery in the forest floor, fine roots (<2 mm), and the mineral soil (0–20 cm) was calculated at 6, 21, and 42 weeks after the last application. Most of the ¹⁵N was retained in the forest floor and the mineral soil, with only small amounts (≤2%) found in roots from both soil layers. Recovery of NH₄‐¹⁵N was greater in Inceptisols, which had a wider carbon (C)‐to‐N ratio than Ultisols. For both soil types, higher NH₄‐¹⁵N recoveries and long retention times (half‐lives>100 weeks) indicated the forest floor is an effective filter for atmospheric N inputs.     

Impact of addition of different rates of rice-residue biochar on C and N dynamics in texturally diverse soils

Impacts of crop residue biochar on soil C and N dynamics have been found to be subtly inconsistent in diverse soils. In the present study, three soils differing in texture (loamy sand, sandy clay loam and clay) were amended with different rates (0%, 0.5%, 1%, 2% and 4%) of rice-residue biochar and incubated at 25°C for 60 days. Soil respiration was measured throughout the incubation period whereas, microbial biomass C (MBC), dissolved organic C (DOC), NH₄⁺-N and NO₃^–N were analysed after 2, 7, 14, 28 and 60 days of incubation. Carbon mineralization differed significantly between the soils with loamy sand evolving the greatest CO₂ followed by sandy clay loam and clay. Likewise, irrespective of the sampling period, MBC, DOC, NH₄⁺-N and NO₃^–N increased significantly with increasing rate of biochar addition, with consistently higher values in loamy sand than the other two soils. Furthermore, regardless of the biochar rates, NO₃^–-N concentration increased significantly with increasing period of incubation, but in contrast, NH₄⁺-N temporarily increased and thereafter, decreased until day 60 in all soils. It is concluded that C and N mineralization in the biochar amended soils varied with the texture and native organic C status of the soils.     

Evaluation of some chemical extractants for determination of exchangeable ammonium in tropical rice soils

Abstract

Seven rice soils varying in texture, pH, organic matter and total nitrogen content were extracted with 1N and 2N KCl, 1N and 2N Nacl, 10% Nacl at pH 2.5, N CH₃ CooNa at pH 3.0, and Morgan's reagent using a soil: solution ratio of 1:10. The ammonium in the extracts was determined by steam distillation with MgO.

The normality of KCl or Nacl had no significant effect on the amount of NH₄ ⁺ ‐N extracted but KCl proved a better extractant than Nacl. However, Nacl at pH 2.5 generally extracted significantly higher amounts of NH₄ ⁺ ‐N as compared to the neutral salt solution. N CH₃ CooNa at pH 3.0 did not extract more NH₄ ⁺ than Morgan's reagent. Overall, KCl appeared to be better than Nacl; Nacl at pH 2.5 N CH₃ CooNa and Morgan's reagent were either equally effective or better for some of the soils as compared to KCl. However, when recovery of the known amount of NH₄ ⁺‐N applied to soils was used as a criterion, the efficiency of these chemicals were in the following descending order: KCl > NaCl, pH 2.5 > NaCl > CH₃CooNa, pH 3.0 > Morgan's reagent.     

Evaluation of sodium tetraphenylboron (NaBPh4) as a soil test of potassium availability

Non-exchangeable potassium (K_nex) contributes to soil K availability and several extractants are used to access its contribution. This study evaluated sodium tetraphenylboron (NaBPh₄) as a soil test of K availability in 20 soils from Northern Greece. Winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L. var. ‘Yecora’) was sown in a greenhouse pot experiment and five cropping cycles were carried out until K-depletion. Soils were analyzed with NH₄OAc and NaBPh₄ (1 and 5 min incubation periods). Critical levels of K ranged between 130–140 and 330–340 mg K kg^?1 of soil for NH₄OAc and NaBPh₄ (1 min incubation period), respectively, and between 32 and 35 g K kg^?1 of wheat dry matter. NaBPh₄-K (1 min) related better with K concentration and uptake compared to NH₄OAc for each cropping cycle (r² = 0.45–0.83 and 0.44–0.89) and for all soils (r² = 0.58 and 0.51). Similar results obtained in soils low in exchangeable K (r² = 0.41 and 0.39). Correlation between NH₄Oac- and NaBPh₄-extractable K was weaker among soils below the critical level (r = 0.70) compared to those above (r = 0.93). Inclusion of illitic K and cation exchange capacity in a multiple linear regression between NH₄OAc- and NaBPh₄-extractable K showed that they significantly contributed to NaBPh₄-extractable K.     

Effect of pH on ammonium adsorption by natural Zeolite clinoptilolite

Abstract

Clinoptilolite, a zeolite mineral with a high cation exchange capacity and surface area, has ion‐exchange properties that can be utilized to adsorb NH₄ ⁺, protecting it from losses during composting of N‐rich animal manures. Ammonium adsorption by the natural zeolite clinoptilolite was studied to ascertain the effectiveness of the zeolite as an NH₄ ⁺ adsorbent at pH 4, 5, 6, and 7. The NH₄ ⁺ adsorption data were fitted to the one‐ and two‐surface Langmuir, Freundlich, and Temkin isotherms. All models described the NH₄ ⁺adsorption data successfully (r²≥0.939). The one‐surface Langmuir, Freundlich, and Temkin were converted to pH‐dependent forms. The amount of NH₄ ⁺ adsorbed increased as pH and initial NH₄ ⁺concentration increased. From the one‐surface Langmuir isotherm, the NH₄ ⁺adsorption capacity (X_m) of the zeolite increased linearly with pH (r²=0.994), and was estimated to be 9,660 mg N kg^‐1 at pH4, 11,220 mg N kg^‐1 at pH 5, 12,720 mg N kg^‐1 at pH 6, and 13,830 mg N kg^‐1 at pH 7. The adsorption of higher amounts of NH₄ ⁺with increasing pH and initial NH₄ ⁺concentration is an important characteristic of the zeolite that can be beneficial to minimizing N‐losses via NH₃volatilization during composting of N‐rich animal manures.     

Effect of crop residue C:N ratio on N2O emissions from Gray Lowland soil in Mikasa,Hokkaido, Japan

Abstract

We studied the effect of crop residues with various C:N ratios on N₂O emissions from soil. We set up five experimental plots with four types of crop residues, onion leaf (OL), soybean stem and leaf (SSL), rice straw (RS) and wheat straw (WS), and no residue (NR) on Gray Lowland soil in Mikasa, Hokkaido, Japan. The C:N ratios of these crop residues were 11.6, 14.5, 62.3, and 110, respectively. Based on the results of a questionnaire survey of farmer practices, we determined appropriate application rates: 108, 168, 110, 141 and 0 g C m^?2 and 9.3, 11.6, 1.76, 1.28 and 0 g N m^?2, respectively. We measured N₂O, CO₂ and NO fluxes using a closed chamber method. At the same time, we measured soil temperature at a depth of 5 cm, water-filled pore space (WFPS), and the concentrations of soil NH⁺ ₄-N, NO^? ₃-N and water-soluble organic carbon (WSOC). Significant peaks of N₂O and CO₂ emissions came from OL and SSL just after application, but there were no emissions from RS, WS or NR. There was a significant relationship between N₂O and CO₂ emissions in each treatment except WS, and correlations between CO₂ flux and temperature in RS, soil NH⁺ ₄-N and N₂O flux in SSL and NR, soil NH⁺ ₄-N and CO₂ flux in SSL, and WSOC and CO₂ flux in WS. The ratio of N₂O-N/NO-N increased to approximately 100 in OL and SSL as N₂O emissions increased. Cumulative N₂O and CO₂ emissions increased as the C:N ratio decreased, but not significantly. The ratio of N₂O emission to applied N ranged from ?0.43% to 0.86%, and was significantly correlated with C:N ratio (y = ?0.59 ln [x] + 2.30, r ² = 0.99, P < 0.01). The ratio of CO₂ emissions to applied C ranged from ?5.8% to 45% and was also correlated with C:N ratio, but not significantly (r ² = 0.78, P = 0.11).     

Changes in 15N abundance and amounts of biologically active soil nitrogen

 Estimation of the capacity of soils to supply N for crop growth requires estimates of the complex interactions among organic and inorganic N components as a function of soil properties. Identification and measurement of active soil N forms could help to quantify estimates of N supply to crops. Isotopic dilution during incubation of soils with added ¹⁵NH₄ ⁺ compounds could identify active N components. Dilution of ¹⁵N in KCl extracts of mineral and total N, non-exchangeable NH4₄ ⁺, and N in K₂SO₄ extracts of fumigated and non-fumigated soil was measured during 7-week incubation. Samples from four soils varying in clay content from 60 to 710 g kg^–1 were used. A constant level of ¹⁵N enrichment within KCl and K₂SO₄ extracted components was found at the end of the incubation period. Total N, microbial biomass C and non-exchangeable NH₄ ⁺ contents of the soils were positively related to the clay contents. The mineralized N was positively related to the silt plus clay contents. The active soil N (ASN) contained 28–36% mineral N, 29–44% microbial biomass N, 0.3–5% non-exchangeable NH₄ ⁺ with approximately one third of the ASN unidentified. Assuming that absolute amounts of active N are related to N availability, increasing clay content was related to increased N reserve for crop production but a slower turnover. Received: 7 July 1998     

Ammonium (15N) metabolism in cotton under salt stress

Plant growth and metabolism is impaired under stress conditions, resulting in decreased crop yields. The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the NaCl stress effects on NH⁺ ₄ metabolism in cotton plants at vegetative and reproductive stages of growth.

Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) plants grown in normal (control) and NaCl treated Hoagland solutions were analyzed for distribution of N¹⁵ in NH⁺ ₄ plus amide‐N, free α‐amino‐N, total soluble‐N and protein‐N after the plants were provided ¹⁵NH₄NO₃ in nutrient solutions for 6, 12 and 24 h. The concentration of protein‐¹⁵N was enhanced under a low level of NaCl (‐0.4 MPa osmotic potential) at the vegetative growth stage. The difference between the protein‐¹⁵N concentration of the moderately salinized (‐0.8 MPa) plants and the controls was not significant. A high level of NaCl (‐1.2 MPa) significantly decreased protein‐N content of plants compared with the controls and any other level of salinity. The NaCl increased accumulation of NH₄ ⁺ plus amide‐N, free (α‐amino‐N, and total soluble‐N in cotton shoots, at both stages of growth. Low osmotic potential (high osmotic pressure) of the nutrient solution induced by excessive amounts of NaCl in nutrient solution inhibited NH⁺ ₄ metabolism and decreased protein synthesis, thus resulting in accumulation of soluble N‐compounds. The ionic effect probably contributed also to inhibition of protein synthesis.     

Sodium Hydroxide Direct Distillation: A Method for Estimating Total Nitrogen in Soil

Soil total nitrogen (N) concentration is commonly measured by Kjeldahl and combustion methods. In this study, a method based on determination of ammonium (NH₄)‐N produced by steam distillation of the soil sample with sodium hydroxide solution (NaOH‐DD) is developed and evaluated for estimating soil total N concentration. The method was evaluated using two sample sets: (A) 44 samples collected from contrasting land uses in central Iran and (B) 344 samples collected from contrasting arable soils across Canada and Maine, USA. Based on this experiment, 10‐min distillation of 5.0 g soil with 20 mL 12.5 M NaOH were selected as the optimum conditions. The NH₄‐N released by the NaOH‐DD method was highly correlated with total N concentration in the sample sets A and B (r = 0.79 and 0.94, respectively). The NaOH‐DD method provides a simple, rapid means of analysis with reduced measurement cost and better health and safety precautions than the traditional Kjeldahl method. Current address for Mehdi Sharifi: Nova Scotia Agricultural College, Department of Plant and Animal Science, Truro, Canada.