Errors in the measurement of extractable soil inorganic nitrogen caused by impurities in the extracting solution

Abstract

The potassium salts used as extracting solutions to determine soil inorganic nitrogen contain nitrogen impurities which could introduce a small error into the analysis. Ammonium nitrogen can be removed from the extracting solutions by raising the pH of the solution to pH 11.0 by the addition of 1 Molar potassium hydroxide and then boiling and stirring for a period of 15 minutes to expel all the ammonia. The pH can be readjusted to 6.0 with an appropriate dilute acid depending on the potassium salt being purified. As there is no simple method for the removal of nitrate it is suggested that the potassium salts are tested and a batch with a low level of nitrate selected for use where soil nitrate levels are expected to be low.     

施氮量对植烟土壤不同土层无机氮质量含量的调控

为研究不同施氮量对土壤各层次和烤烟各生长期土壤中无机氮质量含量的影响,大田试验中设置5个氮肥施用量并分配在基肥、苗肥和追肥时期施用,烟苗移栽后第5周开始分7次钻取3个土层样,样品冷藏贮存并用流动注射分析仪测定硝态氮和铵态氮质量含量。结果表明：各施氮处理在移栽后第6周前0～20 cm土壤中硝态氮质量含量大于铵态氮,施用氮肥越多,土壤中无机氮质量含量提高幅度越大,施氮肥对0～20 cm土壤中无机氮质量含量的影响在烟株生育前期要远大于对20～40 cm土壤中无机氮质量含量的影响,同一时期不同深度比较,0～20 cm土层中硝态氮质量含量略大于20～40 cm和40～60 cm土层的硝态氮质量含量;烟株移栽7周后,0～20 cm土层中硝态氮被极大耗竭。各施氮量在各土层铵态氮质量含量变化幅度远大于硝态氮,铵态氮质量含量从第6周即开始上下波动,并在50 mg/kg附近上下变动,第8周土壤各层铵态氮质量含量有一个上升峰,而硝态氮质量含量在第7周停止快速下降后进入0～100 mg/kg范围的较平稳波动阶段。认为：不同施氮量对于生育前期和0～20 cm土层硝态氮质量含量影响深刻,但促进烤烟打顶前足量吸收并形成健壮烟株的合适施氮量还需结合烟草产量与品质而定;铵态氮调控是调节后期氮供应的关键。     

Determination of nitrogen by microdiffusion in mason Jars. I. inorganic nitrogen in soil extracts

Abstract

Simple microdiffusion methods are described for determination of NH₄ ⁺, NO₃ ^‐, and NO₂ ^‐ in soil extracts. These methods involve diffusion of NH₃ in a 473‐mL (1‐pint) wide‐mouth Mason jar, the diffused NH₃‐N being collected in 3 mL of boric acid‐indicator solution in a 60 mm (dia.) Petri dish suspended from the Mason jar lid, for quantitative determination by titrimetry (0.0025 M H₂SO₄). Magnesium oxide is used to liberate NH₄ ⁺; Devarda's alloy is used to reduce NO₃‐ and NO₂ ^‐ to NH₄ ⁺; and sulfamic acid is used to eliminate NO₂ ^‐. Depending upon the volume of soil extract (10–50 mL), diffusion at room temperature (a20°C) was complete in 18–72 h with orbital shaking, and in 24–86 h without shaking. The methods gave quantitative recovery of NH₄ ⁺, NO₃ ^‐, and NO₂ ^‐added to soil extracts. A potential source of interference in the methods involving use of Devarda's alloy is the liberation of NH₄ ⁺‐N from alkali‐labile organic‐N compounds.     

不同形态氮肥对玉米产量和土壤浸提性有机质的影响

田间条件下,研究了不同形态氮肥(尿素、NH4+-N和NO3--N)对玉米产量、根际和非根际土壤氮和浸提性有机质的影响.结果表明,施氮处理的产量和吸氮量明显高于不施肥处理;施氮处理中,NO3--N和尿素处理开花前吸氮量显著高于NH4+-N处理,产量也略高于NH4+-N处理,但未达到显著水平;不同氮形态处理之间的土壤NH4+-N、NO3--N和浸提性有机碳(EOC)、氮(EON)没有差异;抽雄期EOC最高,与根系生长发育一致,而EON苗期相对最高.可见,在基础肥力较高的黑土上,不同形态氮肥对玉米产量、土壤养分影响不明显.     

Dynamics of soil extractable carbon and nitrogen under different cover crop residues

Purpose

Cover crop residue is generally applied to improve soil quality and crop productivity. Improved understanding of dynamics of soil extractable organic carbon (EOC) and nitrogen (EON) under cover crops is useful for developing effective agronomic management and nitrogen (N) fertilization strategies.

Materials and methods

Dynamics of soil extractable inorganic and organic carbon (C) and N pools were investigated under six cover crop treatments, which included two legume crops (capello woolly pod vetch and field pea), three non-legume crops (wheat, Saia oat and Indian mustard), and a nil-crop control (CK) in southeastern Australia. Cover crops at anthesis were crimp-rolled onto the soil surface in October 2009. Soil and crop residue samples were taken over the periods October?CDecember (2009) and March?CMay (2010), respectively, to examine remaining crop residue biomass, soil NH₄ ⁺?N and NO₃ ^??CN as well as EOC and EON concentrations using extraction methods of 2?M KCl and hot water. Additionally, soil net N mineralization rates were measured for soil samples collected in May 2010.

Results and discussion

The CK treatment had the highest soil inorganic N (NH₄ ⁺?N?+?NO₃ ^??CN) at the sampling time in December 2009 but decreased greatly with sampling time. The cover crop treatments had greater soil EOC and EON concentrations than the CK treatment. However, no significant differences in soil NH₄ ⁺?N, NO₃ ^??CN, EOC, EON, and ratios of EOC to EON were found between the legume and non-legume cover crop treatments across the sampling times, which were supported by the similar results of soil net N mineralization rates among the treatments. Stepwise multiple regression analyses indicated that soil EOC in the hot water extracts was mainly affected by soil total C (R ²?=?0.654, P?<?0.001), while the crop residue biomass determined soil EON in the hot water extracts (R ²?=?0.591, P?<?0.001).

Conclusions

The cover crop treatments had lower loss of soil inorganic N compared with the CK treatment across the sampling times. The legume and non-legume cover crop treatments did not significantly differ in soil EOC and EON pools across the sampling times. In addition, the decomposition of cover crop residues had more influence on soil EON than the decomposition of soil organic matter (SOM), which indicated less N fertilization under cover crop residues. On the other hand, the decomposition of SOM exerted more influence on soil EOC across the sampling times among the treatments, implying different C and N cycling under cover crops.     

Evaluation of methods for soil inorganic nitrogen analysis

Abstract

This study determined the effects of soil preservation methods on inorganic nitrogen (N) analysis and evaluated methods of soil inorganic N analysis. Soils were preserved by oven‐drying at 55'C, air‐drying at 27°C, and freezing at ‐ 7°C. Inorganic N results were compared with initial N levels prior to imposing preservation treatments. Soil preservation effects on ammonium‐nitrogen (NH₄ ⁺‐N) were not consistent across soil types. Soil nitrate‐nitrogen (NO₃ ^‐‐N) levels after air‐drying and freezing compared most favorably with initial levels indicating that both are acceptable methods of soil inorganic‐N preservation. Levels of NH₄ ⁺‐N averaged across soils were 3.9 mg/kg for steam distillation, 4.2 mg/kg for sodium salicylate‐hypochlorite, and 3.7 mg/kg for indophenol blue. When compared with steam distillation averaged across soils, NO₃ ^‐‐N for cadmium‐copper (Cd‐Cu) reduction was 4 mg/kg greater, followed by nitrate electrode at 3 mg/kg, and salicylic acid at 2 mg/kg. Recovery of added N ranged from 83.3 to 94.8% for the NH4+‐N methods and from 74.8 to 112.4% for the NO₃ ^‐‐N methods with the nitrate electrode averaging 98.3%.     

Microscale determination of inorganic nitrogen in water and soil extracts

Abstract

Rapid, sensitive analysis of NH₄ ^‐ NO₃ ^‐, and NO₂ ^‐ in 1–150 μL of soil extract or water was achieved using a modified indophenol blue technique adapted to microtiter plate format. The microplate technique was similar to conventional steam distillation in accuracy and precision. By varying aliquot volume, a wide linear dynamic range (0.05 to 1000 mg of NH₄ ⁺‐ or NO₃ ^‐‐NL^‐1) was achieved without the need for sample dilution or concentration. High sample throughput (250–500 NH₄ ⁺ analyses d^‐1) was accomplished manually, but could be significantly increased by automation. Of considerable importance was the very low waste stream produced by the method. All equipment and supplies required are commercially available and need no modifications for this use. The microtiter plate format could be used for other soil colorimetric analyses with little or no down time for equipment setup, a major consideration for commercial soil‐testing laboratories. The method and equipment used are well suited to quality control and quality assurance programs, as required under FIFRA Good Laboratory Practices.     

Dynamics of dissolved and extractable organic nitrogen upon soil amendment with crop residues

Dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) is increasingly recognized as a pivotal pool in the soil nitrogen (N) cycle. Numerous devices and sampling procedures have been used to estimate its size, varying from in situ collection of soil solution to extraction of dried soil with salt solutions. Extractable organic N (EON) not only consists of DON but contains also compounds released from soil biomass and desorbed organic matter. There is no consensus whether DON or EON primarily regulates N mineralisation in soil, and their contribution to N mineralisation has not been quantified simultaneously. We evaluated three sampling procedures on their ability to determine the dynamic of dissolved organic N pools. The three procedures were the determination of DON in 1) soil solution collected by centrifugation, and the determination of EON in 2) a 0.01 M CaCl₂ extract of field moist or 3) dried soil. We added unlabeled leek and ¹⁵N-labeled ryegrass residues to a loamy sandy soil to create a temporarily increase in DON and EON, to stimulate microbial activity, and to test whether the source and dynamics of the three pools differ. We also tested whether the flow of N through DON or EON was associated with the production of inorganic N using ¹⁵N isotope tracing. Sampling procedures significantly affected the amount, but not the dynamics and origin of the three organic N pools. DON and EON (determined on field-moist and dried soils) showed all a significant increase upon crop amendment and returned to their background concentrations within 10 to 30 days. The fraction of DON and EON originating from the crop residue slightly decreased over 138 days and was not different for DON and EON. Field moist extraction of a loamy sandy soil with 0.01 M CaCl₂ gave a reliable estimate of the concentration of in situ dissolved organic N. In contrast, extraction of dried soil significantly increased EON compared to DON. The agreement in dynamics, ¹⁵N enrichment and C-to-N ratio’s indicate that dissolved and extracted organic N have a similar role in N mineralisation. Our results also suggest that they make a minor contribution to N mineralisation; changes in the turnover rate of EON were not associated with changes in the net N mineralisation rate.     

Impact of inorganic nitrogen additions on microbes in biological soil crusts

Many studies have shown that changes in nitrogen (N) availability affect the diversity and composition of soil microbial community in a variety of terrestrial systems, but less is known about the responses of microbes specific to biological soil crusts (BSCs) to increasing N additions. After seven years of field experiment, the bacterial diversity in lichen-dominated crusts decreased linearly with increasing inorganic N additions (ambient N deposition; low N addition, 3.5 g N m⁻² y⁻¹; medium N addition, 7.0 g N m⁻² y⁻¹; high N addition, 14.0 g N m⁻² y⁻¹), whereas the fungal diversity exhibited a distinctive pattern, with the low N-added crust containing a higher diversity than the other crusts. Pyrosequencing data revealed that the bacterial community shifted to more Cyanobacteria with modest N additions (low N and medium N) and to more Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria and much less Cyanobacteria with excess N addition (high N). Our results suggest that soil pH, together with soil organic carbon (C), structures the bacterial communities with N additions. Among the fungal communities, the relative abundance of Ascomycota increased with modest N but decreased with excess N. However, increasing N additions favored Basidiomycota, which may be ascribed to increases in substrate availability with low lignin and high cellulose contents under elevated N conditions. Bacteria/fungi ratios were higher in the N-added samples than in the control, suggesting that the bacterial biomass tends to dominate over that of fungi in lichen-dominated crusts after N additions, which is especially evident in the excess N condition. Because bacteria and fungi are important components and important decomposers in BSCs, the alterations of the bacterial and fungal communities may have implications in the formation and persistence of BSCs and the cycling and storage of C in desert ecosystems.     

Manure increase the leaching risk of soil extractable organic nitrogen in intensively irrigated greenhouse vegetable cropping systems

Soil extractable organic nitrogen plays an important role in nitrogen transformation and migration in many ecosystems. However, it is generally ignored due to its low content in agricultural soils. The objective of this study was to evaluate the leaching risk of soil extractable organic nitrogen affected by manure application in an intensively irrigated greenhouse vegetable cropping system through investigating its spatial (vertical profile) and temporal dynamics. Results showed that extractable organic nitrogen was present in appreciable quantities, despite that nitrate was the main soluble nitrogen form in 0–60 cm soil profile. Both the extractable organic and inorganic nitrogen were enriched in the surface and subsurface soils, and showed a high temporal variability throughout the cucumber growing season. Manure application increased the stocks of extractable organic nitrogen significantly in the soil profile. Average extractable organic nitrogen reserves in 0–60 cm layer were 47, 71, and 131 kg ha^?1 for the treatments of 0, 20, and 30 t dry chicken-manure application ha^?1, respectively, during the cucumber growing season. As a result, while extractable organic nitrogen only accounted for a small part of total extractable nitrogen, its high contents and large temporal variation demonstrated its leaching risk in intensively irrigated vegetable cropping systems. Soil extractable organic nitrogen should be taken into account when an advanced environment management strategy is to be developed in greenhouse vegetable planting practice.     

Effects of contrasting biochars on the leaching of inorganic nitrogen from soil

Journal of Soils and Sediments - The use of excessive nitrogen (N) fertilizers usually causes soil N leaching, eutrophication, and water pollution. Nevertheless, biochars may play an important role...     

Soil solution and extractable soil nitrogen response to climate change in two boreal forest ecosystems

Several studies show that increases in soil temperature result in higher N mineralization rates in soils. It is, however, unclear if additional N is taken up by the vegetation or accumulates in the soil. To address this question two small, forested catchments in southern Norway were experimentally manipulated by increasing air temperature (+3°C in summer to +5°C in winter) and CO₂ concentrations (+200 ppmv) in one catchment (CO₂T-T) and soil temperature (+3°C in summer to +5°C in winter) using heating cables in a second catchment (T-T). During the first treatment year, the climate treatments caused significant increases in soil extractable NH₄ under Vaccinium in CO₂T-T. In the second treatment year extractable NH₄ in CO₂T-T and NO₃ in T-T significantly increased. Soil solution NH₄ concentrations did not follow patterns in extractable NH₄ but changes in soil NO₃ pools were reflected by changes in dissolved NO₃. The anomalous behavior of soil solution NH₄ compared to NO₃ was most likely due to the higher NH₄ adsorption capacity of the soil. The data from this study showed that after 2 years of treatment soil inorganic N pools increased indicating that increases in mineralization, as observed in previous studies, exceeded plant demand and leaching losses.     

有机氮与无机氮不同配比对设施菜地次生盐渍化土壤改良效果

通过设施菜地小区试验,研究有机氮与无机氮不同比例配合施用对土壤次生盐渍化的改良效果以及对番茄产量、品质的影响。结果表明:有机氮与无机氮配合施用可以明显降低土壤中全盐含量与电导率,显著降低了土壤中硝态氮的过量积累,尤其有机氮与无机氮比例为2∶1时,效果最好;同时有机氮与无机氮配合施用,达到改善土壤有机质平衡及调控的作用,有机质从16. 8 g/kg增加到21. 7 g/kg;有机氮、无机氮2∶1配施可以明显降低番茄中硝酸盐的含量,显著提高番茄中可溶性总糖和还原型Vc的含量,达到提高番茄产量和提升果实品质的效果。从改良设施土壤次生盐渍化和优质施肥管理两方面综合考虑,建议设施大棚采用有机氮与无机氮配合施用,土壤全盐含量3. 54 g/kg条件下以有机氮与无机氮2∶1配施有机肥与化肥效果最佳。     

Mineralization and immobilization of nitrogen in fumigated soil and the measurement of microbial biomass nitrogen

Immobilization of N was measured in a fumigated and in an unfumigated soil by adding (¹⁵NH₄)₂SO₄ and following the disappearance of inorganic label from the soil solution and its simultaneous conversion to soil organic N. Calculations based on the measurement of organically-bound ¹⁵N gave more consistent values for immobilization than did calculations based on the measurement of the disappearance of label from solution. The fumigated soil immobilized 6.6 μg N g^?1 N g^?1 soil in 10 days at 25°C, the unfumigated control 4.8 μg. The corresponding gross mineralization rates were 34.9 and 5.6 μg N g^?1 soil in 10 days.Addition of 58 μg N as (¹⁵NH₄)₂SO₄ to the fumigated soil increased the quantity of the ynlabelled NH₄-N extracted at the end of 10 days from 33.8 to 37.8 μg Ng^?1 soil, i.e. there was a positive Added Nitrogen Interaction (ANI). The added labelled N produced this ANI, not by increasing the rate of mineralization of organic N, but by standing proxy for unlabelled N that otherwise would have been immobilized.A procedure for calculating biomass N from the size of the flush of mineral N caused by fumigation is proposed. Biomass N (B_N) is calculated from the relationship B_N = F'_N/0.68 where F'_N is [(N in fumigated soil incubated for 10 days — (N in unfumigated soil incubated for 10 days)].     

Effects of vertical distribution of soil inorganic nitrogen on root growth and subsequent nitrogen uptake by field vegetable crops

Information is needed about root growth and N uptake of crops under different soil conditions to increase nitrogen use efficiency in horticultural production. The purpose of this study was to investigate if differences in vertical distribution of soil nitrogen (N_inorg) affected root growth and N uptake of a variety of horticultural crops. Two field experiments were performed each over 2 years with shallow or deep placement of soil N_inorg obtained by management of cover crops. Vegetable crops of leek, potato, Chinese cabbage, beetroot, summer squash and white cabbage reached root depths of 0.5, 0.7, 1.3, 1.9, 1.9 and more than 2.4 m, respectively, at harvest, and showed rates of root depth penetration from 0.2 to 1.5 mm day^?1 °C^?1. Shallow placement of soil N_inorg resulted in greater N uptake in the shallow‐rooted leek and potato. Deep placement of soil N_inorg resulted in greater rates of root depth penetration in the deep‐rooted Chinese cabbage, summer squash and white cabbage, which increased their depth by 0.2–0.4 m. The root frequency was decreased in shallow soil layers (white cabbage) and increased in deep soil layers (Chinese cabbage, summer squash and white cabbage). The influence of vertical distribution of soil N_inorg on root distribution and capacity for depletion of soil N_inorg was much less than the effect of inherent differences between species. Thus, knowledge about differences in root growth between species should be used when designing crop rotations with high N use efficiency.     

土壤无机纳米微粒对土壤中N素的淋失与迁移作用的影响

采用室内土柱淋洗实验,研究纳米微粒对土壤中的N素在土壤中运移的影响。其结果表明,纳米微粒以胶体的形式进入土壤后,无论任何容重土壤条件下,加入纳米微粒后对土壤中的氮起到了保持和减少淋失的作用,因此,加入纳米微粒能够增加土壤的保肥作用,从而提高N肥的利用率。     

改性尿素施用对氨挥发量及无机氮变化的影响

采用室内土壤培养和玉米幼苗盆栽试验的方法,研究了改性尿素施用后的氨挥发量及其对土壤无机氮和pH值的影响。结果表明:(1)表施改性尿素比表施普通尿素的氨挥发量显著减少,从而降低氮素的损失;在一定范围内,土壤含水量越大,氨挥发量越低。(2)硝化抑制剂双氰胺(DCD)能够抑制土壤硝化作用,使NH+4-N能较长时间存在土壤中,从而减少NO-3-N的损失;在一定范围内,DCD施用浓度越大,抑制效果越好。(3)土壤pH值与铵态氮呈极显著指数正相关,与硝态氮呈极显著线性负相关,与无机氮呈多项式相关。因此,改性尿素能够显著减少氨挥发量,抑制土壤硝化作用,从而降低尿素的氮素损失。     

膨润土-腐植酸与氮肥配施对科尔沁沙地土壤无机氮淋溶和生物有效性的影响

利用改进提取方法(温度由25℃升至60℃,振荡时间由1 h提高至2 h)和离子交换膜法,设置3种改良剂水平和3种氮肥水平,研究了膨润土-腐植酸改良剂与氮肥配施对西辽河平原沙质土壤氮素淋溶和养分有效性的影响。结果表明,不施氮肥只施膨润土-腐植酸改良剂对春玉米产量和土壤无机氮残留量无显著影响。20t·hm-2膨润土-腐植酸改良剂与120 kg·hm-2氮肥配施效果最好,玉米籽粒产量和地上生物量分别提高了19.1%和18.5%,土壤NO3--N残留量减少14.5%;施用240 kg·hm-2氮肥不仅对玉米产量无显著影响,还增加了氮素淋溶的风险。在同一处理下,与标准提取方法相比,改进方法对土壤NH4+-N含量影响较小,还提高了土壤NO3--N提取量。施用膨润土-腐植酸改良剂可吸附滞留在土壤中的NO3--N,这不仅降低淋溶风险,同时也降低生物有效性。20 t·hm-2膨润土-腐植酸改良剂与120 kg·hm-2氮肥配施是一种既能提高土壤氮素有效性又能减少氮素淋溶的最佳组合。     

Effect of different soil cultivation systems,including no-tillage,on electro-ultrafiltration extractable organic nitrogen

The effect of different long-term soil-cultivation systems (ploughing, two types of cultivator, notillage) on organic N, extracted with the electroultrafiltration (EUF) technique, was studied in two arable soils, a Luvic Phaeozem derived from loess and a Eutric Cambisol. A modified EUF extraction procedure (the 80°C fraction extended from 5 to 90 min) was used to investigate the release of organic N from the ploughing and no-tillage treatment, and the content of hydrolysable N was measured in the combined filtrates. No-tillage and the two non-turning cultivation systems led to an accumulation of EUF organic N in the 0- to 10-cm depth compared to the ploughing treatment. In the lower horizon (15–25 cm) the reverse pattern was found in the loamy soil, with higher concentrations after ploughing than after reduced tillage. However, in the sandy soil all four cultivation treatments showed similar values in the 15- to 25-cm depth. During the time of investigation (May 1987 to February 1989) an EUF organic N accumulation occurred, which was about twice as high in the loamy as in the sandy soil. Therefore we conclude that in the sandy soil the mineralization of organic N was faster, and that reduced tillage retarded its degradation. In the total 0- to 25-cm depth, this delay was not observed in the loamy soil. The N release rates were much lower in the sandy than in the loamy soil and they were higher for the notillage than for the ploughing treatment. Only 30–40% of the total organic N desorbed was hydrolysable and the amino acid composition indicates that part of it originated from microbial Cells. The overall evaluation showed clearly that EUF-extractable organic N is a sitespecific factor.     

Fluctuations in the abundance of ammonia oxidizers and the contents of inorganic nitrogen in solarized soil

Solarization makes a great impact on the abundance of ammonia oxidizers and nitrifying activity in soil. To elucidate fluctuations in the abundance of ammonia oxidizers and nitrification in solarized soil, copy numbers of amoA gene of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) and archaea (AOA), viable number of ammonia oxidizers and inorganic nitrogen contents were investigated in greenhouse experiments. The copy number of amoA gene and the viable number of ammonia oxidizers were determined by the quantitative polymerase chain reaction and most probable number methods, respectively. Abundance of AOB based on the estimation of amoA gene copy numbers and viable counts of ammonia oxidizers was decreased by the solarization treatment and increased during the tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) cultivation period following the solarization. Effect of solarization on the copy number of amoA gene of AOA was less evident than that on AOB. The proportion of nitrate in inorganic nitrogen contents was declined by the solarization and increased during the tomato cultivation period following the solarization. Positive correlations were found between the proportion of nitrate in inorganic nitrogen content and the copy number of bacterial or archaeal amoA gene or the viable number of ammonia oxidizers; the copy number of bacterial amoA gene showed a strong correlation with the viable number of ammonia oxidizers. The present study revealed influences of solarization on the fluctuation in the abundance of ammonia oxidizers and dynamics of inorganic nitrogen contents in soil and the results indicate that the determination of amoA gene of AOB is possibly a quick and useful diagnostic technique for evaluating suppression and restoration of nitrification following solarization.