灌溉施用氮肥后氮素在土壤中的转化及淋失状况: 土柱模拟研究

A soil column method was used to compare the effect of drip fertigation (the application of fertilizer through drip irrigation systems, DFI) on the leaching loss and transformation of urea-N in soil with that of surface fertilization combined with flood irrigation (SFI), and to study the leaching loss and transformation of three kinds of nitrogen fertilizers (nitrate fertilizer, ammonium fertilizer, and urea fertilizer) in two contrasting soils after the fertigation. In comparison to SFI, DFI decreased leaching loss of urea-N from the soil and increased the mineral N (NH₄⁺-N + NO₃^--N) in the soil. The N leached from a clay loam soil ranged from 5.7% to 9.6% of the total N added as fertilizer, whereas for a sandy loam soil they ranged between 16.2% and 30.4%. Leaching losses of mineral N were higher when nitrate fertilizer was used compared to urea or ammonium fertilizer. Compared to the control (without urea addition), on the first day when soils were fertigated with urea, there were increases in NH₄⁺-N in the soils. This confirmed the rapid hydrolysis of urea in soil during fertigation. NH₄⁺-N in soils reached a peak about 5 days after fertigation, and due to nitrification it began to decrease at day 10. After applying NH₄⁺-N fertilizer and urea and during the incubation period, the mineral nitrogen in the soil decreased. This may be related to the occurrence of NH₄⁺-N fixation or volatilization in the soil during the fertigation process.     

Corn (Zea mays L.) Grain and Stover Yield as Affected by Soil Residual Mineral Nitrogen

Evaluation of nitrogen (N) dynamic in soil using regression equations is important for proper determination of N fertilization. A 3-year field experiment was conducted to (1) develop the best-fitted regression model relating corn grain and stover yield to soil residual ammonium (NH₄)-N and nitrate (NO₃)-N for corn yield prediction and (2) evaluate how such a model can be beneficial to the health of ecosystem by predicting the appropriate rates of N fertilization for corn production. Soil NH₄-N and NO₃-N were determined at corn harvest at the depths of 0–30 and 30–60 cm. Nitrogen fertilizer rates and soil mineral N accounted for a maximum of 93% variation in corn grain yield. Soil mineral N enhanced corn yield more than N fertilizer. Totals of 63.1 and 14.1 kg/ha of soil residual NO₃-N and NH₄-N were found in the 0- to 60-cm depth, indicating the importance of performing soil N tests.     

Nitrogen Fertilizer Replacement Value of the Liquid Fraction of Separated Livestock Slurries Applied to Potatoes and Silage Maize

Separation of livestock slurries followed by reverse osmosis yields mineral concentrates (MCs) in which almost all nitrogen (N) is ammonium (NH₄)-N. The ability of MCs to substitute calcium ammonium nitrate (CAN), a common conventional mineral N fertilizer, was tested in two trials on a silty loam soil (ware potatoes, 2009 and 2010) and four trials on sandy soils (starch potatoes, 2009 and 2010; silage maize in 2010 and 2011). The N fertilizer replacement value (NFRV) of spring-injected MCs ranged from 72 to 84%, slightly less than their share of ammonium-N (90–100%). The fate of N that was apparently unavailable to crops was not fully disclosed, but there were indications that ammonia loss may have played a role.     

不同灌溉施肥方式下尿素态氮在土壤中迁移转化特性的研究

采用室内土柱模拟试验方法 ,研究了不同灌溉施肥方式下尿素态氮在土壤中的迁移、淋溶和转化特征。结果表明 ,灌水量及水肥供应方式是决定尿素态氮在土壤中迁移、转化和淋失的关键因素。氮素淋溶量随灌水量的增加而增加 ;与浇灌施肥相比 ,滴灌施肥显著地降低了氮素的淋溶损失。在淋失的氮素形态中 ,以尿素态氮为主 ,其次为硝态氮 ,铵态氮的淋失量最低。灌水量低时 ,滴灌施肥铵态氮在土壤上层明显累积 ;灌水量增加后 ,这种累积作用减弱。灌水量低时 ,灌溉施肥的土壤硝态氮变化呈上低下高 ,增加灌水量降低了土壤中硝态氮含量 ;滴灌施肥显著地减少了尿素态氮的淋溶损失 ,增加了土壤中有效态氮的含量。     

Effects of 4-amino 1,2,4-triazole, dicyandiamide and encapsulated calcium carbide on nitrification inhibition in a subtropical soil under upland and flooded conditions

 Nitrification inhibition of soil and applied fertilizer N is desirable as the accumulation of nitrates in soils in excess of plant needs leads to enhanced N losses and reduced fertilizer N-use efficiency. In a growth chamber experiment, we studied the effects of two commercial nitrification inhibitors (NIs), 4-amino 1,2,4-triazole (ATC) and dicyandiamide (DCD), and a commonly available and economical material, encapsulated calcium carbide (CaC₂) (ECC) on the nitrification of soil and applied NH₄ ⁺-N in a semiarid subtropical Tolewal sandy loam soil under upland [60% water-filled pore space (WFPS)] and flooded conditions (120% WFPS). Nitrification of the applied 100 mg NH₄ ⁺-N kg^–1 soil under upland conditions was retarded most effectively (93%) by ECC for up to 10 days of incubation, whereas for longer periods, ATC was more effective. After 20 days, only 16% of applied NH₄ ⁺-N was nitrified with ATC as compared to 37% with DCD and 98% with ECC. Under flooded soil conditions, nitrates resulting from nitrification quickly disappeared due to denitrification, resulting in a tremendous loss of fertilizer N (up to 70% of N applied without a NI). Based on four indicators of inhibitor effectiveness, namely, concentration of NH₄ ⁺-N and NO₃ ^–-N, percent nitrification inhibition, ratio of NH₄ ⁺-N/NO₃ ^–-N, and total mineral N, ECC showed the highest relative efficiency throughout the 20-day incubation under flooded soil conditions. At the end of the 20-day incubation, 96%, 58% and 38% of applied NH₄ ⁺-N was still present in the soil where ECC, ATC and DCD were used, respectively. Consequently, nitrification inhibition of applied fertilizer N in both arable crops and flooded rice systems could tremendously minimize N losses and help enhance fertilizer N-use efficiency. These results suggest that for reducing the nitrification rate and resultant N losses in flooded soil systems (e.g. rice lowlands), ECC is more effective than costly commercial NIs. Received: 25 May 2000     

Nitrogen mineralization and CO2 and N2O emissions in a sandy soil amended with original or acidified pig slurries or with the relative fractions

The following six pig slurries obtained after acidification and/or solid/liquid separation were used in the research: original (S) and acidified (AS) pig slurry, nonacidified (LF) and acidified (ALF) pig slurry liquid fraction, and nonacidified (SF) and acidified (ASF) pig slurry solid fraction. Laboratory incubations were performed to assess the effect of the application of these slurries on N mineralization and CO₂ and N₂O emissions from a sandy soil. Acidification maintained higher NH₄ ⁺-N contents in soil particularly in the ALF-treated soil where NH₄ ⁺-N contents were two times higher than in LF-treated soil during the 55–171-day interval. At the end of the incubation (171 days), 32.9 and 24.2 mg N kg⁻¹ dry soil were mineralized in the ASF- and SF-treated soils, respectively, but no mineralization occurred in LF- and S-treated soils, although acidification decreased N immobilization in ALF- (−25.3 mg N kg⁻¹ soil) and AS- (−12.7 mg N kg⁻¹ soil) compared to LF- (−34.4 mg N kg⁻¹ soil) and S-treated (−18.6 mg N kg⁻¹ soil) soils, respectively. Most of the dissolved CO₂ was lost during the acidification process. More than 90% of the applied C in the LF-treated soil was lost during the incubation, indicating a high availability of the added organic compounds. Nitrous oxide emissions occurred only after day 12 and at a lower rate in soils treated with acidified than nonacidified slurries. However, during the first 61 days of incubation, 1,157 μg N kg⁻¹ soil was lost as N₂O in the AS-treated soil and only 937 in the S-treated soil.     

Mineralization of nitrogen in Danish soils,as affected by short-, medium- and long-term annual inputs of animal slurries

At four sites across Denmark with varying medium- and long-term histories of annual slurry applications, N turnover rates and crop N use efficiencies were measured in 2000. No significant effect of medium-term (in this study, 3 years) annual slurry applications on gross N turnover was observed. However, a significant effect of long-term (in this study, >25 years) annual slurry applications was observed. At one site in Denmark with short-term (4 days before measurement) slurry application, N turnover was measured in 2001. Gross N turnover was 4–5 times higher in the slurry-amended soil compared to the unamended soil. In both years, net N turnover was unaffected by the slurry application. Generally, the crops had higher use efficiency of slurry NH₄ ⁺-N than of mineral fertilizer-N, indicating that the crops were able to extract slurry organic-N, independently of the net mineralization. The measured net N mineralization rate was generally higher than the difference between gross rates. The application of ¹⁵NH₄ ⁺ to soil (a prerequisite for the determination of N mineralization and N immobilization turnover), probably stimulated the gross N immobilization rate in soil with little native NH₄ ⁺, since NH₄ ⁺ is the substrate for immobilization. The results suggest that gross immobilization estimates should be interpreted with caution.     

DEVELOPMENT OF A SOIL N TEST FOR FERTILIZER REQUIREMENTS FOR WHEAT

Optimal fertilizer nitrogen (N) rates result in economic yield levels and reduced pollution. A soil test for determining optimal fertilizer N rates for wheat has not been developed for Quebec, Canada, or many other parts of the world. Therefore, the objectives were to determine: 1) the relationship among soil nitrate (NO^? ₃)- N, soil ammonium (NH ⁺ ₄)- N and N fertilizer on wheat yields; and 2) the soil sampling times and depths most highly correlated with yield response to soil NO^? ₃-N and NH ⁺ ₄-N. In a three year research work, wet and dried soil samples of 0- to 30- and 30- to 60-cm depths from 20 wheat fields that received four rates of N fertilizer at seeding and postseeding (plants 15 cm tall) were analyzed for NH ⁺ ₄-N and NO^? ₃ -N using a quick-test (N-Trak) and a standard laboratory method. Wheat yield response to N fertilizer was limited, but strong to soil NO^? ₃-N.     

Effects of storage time and straw content of cattle slurry on the mineralization of nitrogen and carbon in soil

 Animal slurries are stored for a variable period of time before application in the field. The effect of cattle slurry storage time and temperature on the subsequent mineralization of C and N in soil was studied under laboratory conditions. Urine and faeces from a dairy cow were sampled separately and mixed to a slurry. After 4 weeks of storage under anaerobic conditions at 15  °C, the NH₄ ⁺ N content exceeded the original urinary N content of the slurry; the NH₄ ⁺ content increased only slightly during the following 16 weeks of storage. After 4 weeks of storage, the proportion of slurry C in volatile fatty acids (VFA) amounted to 10% and increased to 15% after 20 weeks. Straw addition to the slurry caused an increase of VFA-C in stored slurry, but had a negligible influence on the proportion of slurry N in the form of NH₄ ⁺. Slurries subjected to different storage conditions were added to a sandy and a sandy loam soil. After 1 week, the preceding storage period (0–20 weeks) and temperature (5  °C or 15  °C) had no significant effect on the net release of inorganic N from the slurry in soil. Thus, the increased NH₄ ⁺ content in the slurry after storage was followed by increased net N immobilization in soil. Additional straw in the slurry caused increased net N immobilization only in the sandy loam soil. Following anaerobic storage, 8–14% of slurry C was released in gaseous form, and the net mineralization of slurry C after 12 weeks in soil amounted to 54–63%. The extra net mineralization of C in soil due to straw in slurry was equivalent to 76% of straw C, suggesting that the straw accelerated the mineralization of C derived from faeces, urine and/or soil. Received: 25 August 1997     

Analysis of manure and soil nitrogen mineralization during incubation

Understanding the N-cycling processes that ensue after manuring soil is essential in order to estimate the value of manure as an N fertilizer. A laboratory incubation of manured soil was carried out in order to study N mineralization, gas fluxes, denitrification, and microbial N immobilization after manure application. Four different manures were enclosed in mesh bags to allow for the separate analysis of manure and soil. The soils received 0.15 mg manure N g^–1 soil, and the microcosms were incubated aerobically and sampled throughout a 10-week period. Manure addition resulted in initial NH₄-N concentrations of 22.1 to 36.6 mg kg^–1 in the microcosms. All manured microcosms had net declines in soil mineral N. Denitrification resulted in the loss of 14.7 to 39.2% of the added manure N, and the largest N losses occurred in manures with high NH₄-N content. Increased soil microbial biomass N amounted to 6.0 to 8.6% of the added manure N. While the microcosms as a whole had negative N mineralization, all microcosms had positive net nitrification within the manure bags. Gas fluxes of N₂O and CO₂ increased in all manured soils relative to the controls. Our results show that measurement of microbial biomass N and denitrification is important to understand the fate of manure N upon soil application.     

不同浸提剂以及保存方法对土壤矿质氮测定的影响

为探明影响土壤矿质氮测定的因素,从棕壤、潮土和黄棕壤3种类型土壤中各采集10个经不同施肥处理的土样,用连续流动注射分析仪测定经不同浸提剂以及不同保存方法处理后土样的NO3-N和NH4-N含量。结果表明:不论是棕壤、潮土还是黄棕壤,2 mol.L?1 KCl提取硝态氮的数量与0.01 mol.L?1 CaCl2提取的数量相关性均达到P<0.01水平;3种土壤各个土样硝态氮含量的测定值多表现为新鲜土<冷冻土<风干土;将鲜样浸提后作短时间的冷冻处理,其效果与鲜样24 h内的测定结果较接近;土样不同保存方式以及浸提液的保存时间对3种土壤NH4-N测定结果的影响规律不及NO3-N明显。     

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.     

Codigested dairy slurry as a phosphorus and nitrogen source for Zea mays L. and Amaranthus cruentus L.

Residues from biogas production contain essential plant nutrients such as nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) but also organic matter, and should be recycled in crop production. For efficient re‐use as fertilizers, the availability of nutrients for crops and the effect of the residues on soil fertility need to be evaluated. Focusing on the element P, we compared effects of codigested slurry with dairy slurry, highly soluble mineral NPK fertilizer, and a control without any P supply (NK). Codigested slurry used in this experiment was based on anaerobic digestion of dairy slurry, maize silage, and wheat grain. The fertilizing effects were tested in an 8‐week pot experiment on a sandy and a loamy soil using two crop species (Zea mays L., Amaranthus cruentus L.). The plant P uptake was up to 64% greater in the slurry treatments than in the treatment without P. The effect of codigested slurry on P uptake was comparable to that of dairy slurry and mineral P. Plant N uptake from codigested slurry was lower than that from mineral N (NK, NPK), but tended to be higher than from dairy slurry. The water‐soluble and double lactate–soluble P content of the soil was lower in the slurry treatments than in the mineral‐P treatments and accompanied by higher contents of microbial‐bound P. Differences between both organic fertilizers were detected for dehydrogenase activity which was up to 32% lower in soils fertilized with codigested slurry than it was in soils fertilized with dairy slurry. Our results indicate that codigestion of slurries in biogas plants does not substantially alter their fertilizer value as P and N sources for crops.     

Biodegradation of an oily waste as influenced by nitrogen forms and sources

Biodegradation rates of oily waste in soil can be limited by mineral nutrients, particularly N and P. A laboratory incubation experiment was carried out to investigate the influence of N forms, nitrate (NO^? ₃-N) vs ammonium nitrogen (NH⁺ ₄-N), and sources, i.e., the conjugate cations/anions, on C mineralization rate (CMR) was determined daily by measuring the CO₂ evolved using gas chromatography. The CMR and the cumulative C mineralized (CCM) varied with the form and/or the source of N applied. The greatest enhancement in CMR occurred in the NO^? ₃-treatments in which the source conjugate cation was Ca⁺². The addition of P fertilizer further enhanced C mineralization rates irrespective of the form and/or the source of N added. The results show that up to 45% of the added oily waste mineralized as CO₂-C in 28 d. The residual P and N (NO^? ₃-N plus NH⁺ ₄-N) data showed that approximately 90% of the added P and N were utilized for oil decomposition. The amount of residual NO^? ₃-N appeared to have an inverse relationship with CCM. The NO^? ₃-N utilization occurred at the expense of NH⁺ ₄-N and this was particularly high in the treatments which received P.     

不同肥料结构对红壤稻田氮素迁移的影响

不同肥料结构对红壤稻田淹水层、不同深度渗漏水、外排水和土壤剖面中氮素的含量、形态及其动态变化的影响研究结果表明 ,各处理淹水层、外排水和渗漏水中NH4+-N含量明显高于NO3--N。淹水层中N的含量 ,水稻生育前期以单施化肥的高 ,约相当于配施有机肥的 1.18～ 1.20倍 ,而水稻生育后期 ,后者为前者的 1.11～ 1.2 1倍。各处理外排水中N素的输出量均以苗期最高 ,单施化肥明显大于配施有机肥。土壤剖面中NH4+-N向下迁移比碱解N更为明显 ,且配施有机肥的远高于单施化肥的 ,而NO3--N则相反。不同深度渗漏水中NO3--N的比例 ,上层 (30cm)低于下层 (50cm) ,随水逸出的N量各处理渗漏水均小于外排水 ;随水输入的N量远低于随水输出的N量 ,且以单施化肥的N亏损最大。水稻未利用的N量也以单施化肥的最大 ,约为配施有机肥的 1.0 9倍。     

The fate of ammonium nitrogen applied to flooded rice as affected by zeolite addition

High rice (Oryza sativa L.) yields are closely related to plant absorption of a large amount of nitrogen (N). However, there is little information on the fate of N applied at the middle growth stages of rice. Labeled ¹⁵N ammonium sulfate was applied at the panicle formation stage in Experiment I, and 10 d after heading in Experiment II. Zeolite was also added at the concentration of 0, 0.01, and 0.1 kg kg^-1 to increase the cation exchange capacity (CEC) of the soil. The amount of ¹⁵N fertilizer in the soil surface water decreased exponentially and the fertilizer disappeared within 2 d after application. The soil that received zeolite at 0.1 kg kg^-1 exhibited significantly less ¹⁵NH₄ ⁺-N in the surface water and in the soil solution than the soil without the zeolite amendment. A significantly larger amount of exchangeable ¹⁵NH₄ ⁺-N was observed in the high zeolite-treatment of soil compared to the low zeolite-treatment of soil. The amount of exchangeable ¹⁵NH₄ ⁺-N increased initially, and thereafter decreased to traces 4 d after application in Experiment I, while 6 or 9 d after application in Experiment II. The disappearance of exchangeable ¹⁵NH₄ ⁺-N could be attributed mainly to the uptake by plants. The zeolite amendment or the time of N application did not significantly affect the amount of immobilized N. The rate of N adsorption was inhibited with increasing zeolite application. Moreover, zeolite application did not increase the recovery percentage of ammonium sulfate by rice plants. The total recovery of applied N ranged from 65 to 75%, irrespective of the zeolite treatments or the time of N application.     

Short-term effects of single or combined application of mineral N fertilizer and cattle slurry on the fluxes of radiatively active trace gases from grassland soil

After implementation of legislative measures for the reduction of environmental hazards from nitrate leaching and ammonia volatilisation when using organic manures and fertilizers in Europe, much attention is now paid to the specific effects of these fertilizers on the dynamics of global warming-relevant trace gases in soil. Particularly nitrogen fertilizers and slurry from animal husbandry are known to play a key role for the CH₄ and N₂O fluxes from soils. Here we report on a short-term evaluation of trace gas fluxes in grassland as affected by single or combined application of mineral fertilizer and organic manure in early spring. Methane fluxes were characterised by a short methane emission event immediately after application of cattle slurry. Within the same day methane fluxes returned to negative, and on average over the 4-day period after slurry application, only a small but insignificant trend to reduced methane oxidation was found. Nitrous oxide emissions showed a pronounced effect of combined slurry and mineral fertilizer application. In particular fresh cattle slurry combined with calcium ammonium nitrate (CAN) mineral fertilizer induced an increase in mean N₂O flux during the first 4 days after application from 10 to 300 μg N₂O-N m⁻² h⁻¹. ¹⁵N analysis of emitted N₂O from ¹⁵N-labelled fertilizer or manure indicated that easily decomposable slurry C compounds induced a pronounced promotion of N₂O-N emission derived from mineral CAN fertilizer. Fluxes after application of either mineral fertilizer or slurry alone showed an increase of less than 5-fold. The NO_x sink strength of the soil was in the range of −6 to −10 μg NO_x-N m⁻² h⁻¹ and after fertilization it showed a tendency to be reduced by no more than 2 μg NO_x-N m⁻² h⁻¹, which was a result of both, increased NO emission and slightly increased NO₂ deposition. Associated determination of the N₂O:N₂ emission ratio revealed that after mineral N application (CAN) a large proportion (c. 50%) was emitted as N₂O, while after application of slurry with easily decomposable C and predominantly -N serving as N-source, the N₂O:N₂ emission ratio was 1:14, i.e. was changed in favour of N₂. Our work provides evidence that particularly the combination of slurry and nitrate-containing N fertilizers gives rise to considerable N₂O emissions from mineral fertilizer N pool.     

Development of a Soil N Test for Fertilizer Requirements for Corn Production in Quebec

Corn requires high nitrogen (N) fertilizer use, but no soil N test for fertilizer N requirement is yet available in Quebec. Objectives of this research were (1) to determine the effects of soil nitrate (NO₃ ^?)-N, soil ammonium (NH₄ ⁺)-N, and N fertilizer rates on corn yields and (2) to determine soil sampling times and depths most highly correlated with yields and fertilizer N response under Quebec conditions. Soil samples were taken from 0- to 30-cm and 30- to 60-cm depths at seeding and postseeding (when corn height reached 20 cm) to determine soil NH₄ ⁺ and NO₃ ^? in 44 continuous corn sites fertilized with four rates of N in two replications using a quick test (N-Trak) and a laboratory method. The N-Trak method overestimated soil NO₃ ^?-N in comparison with the laboratory method. Greater coefficients of determination were observed for soil NO₃ ^?-N analyses at postseeding compared with seeding.     

Effects of Temperature and Soil Type on Ammonia Volatilization from Slow-Release Nitrogen Fertilizers

Ammonia (NH₃) volatilization is the major pathway for mineral nitrogen (N) loss from N sources applied to soils. The information on NH₃ volatilization from slow-release N fertilizers is limited. Ammonia volatilization, over a 78-d period, from four slow-release N fertilizers with different proportions of urea and urea polymer [Nitamin 30L (liquid) (L30), Nitamin RUAG 521G30 (liquid) (G30), Nitamin 42G (granular) (N42), and Nitroform (granular) (NF)] applied to a sandy loamy soil was evaluated. An increase in temperature from 20 to 30 °C increased cumulative NH₃ volatilization loss in the sandy soil by 1.4-, 1.7-, and 1.8-fold for N42, L30, and G30, respectively. Increasing the proportion of urea in the slow-release fertilizer increased NH₃ volatilization loss. At 30 °C, the cumulative NH₃ volatilization over 78 d from a sandy soil accounted for 45.6%, 43.9%, 22.4%, and <1% of total N applied as N42, L30, G30, and NF, respectively. The corresponding losses in a loamy soil were 9.2%, 3.1%, and 1.7%. There was a significantly positive correlation between NH₃ volatilization rate and concentration of NH₄-N released from all fertilizers, except for NF (n = 132; r = 0.359, P = 0.017 for N42; r = 0.410, P = 0.006 for L30; and r = 0.377, P < 0.012 for G30). Lower cumulative NH₃ volatilization from a loamy soil as compared to that from a sandy soil appeared to be related to rapid nitrification of NH₄-N in the former soil than that in the latter soil. These results indicate the composition of slow-release fertilizer, soil temperature, and soil type are main factors to dominate NH₃ volatilization from slow- release fertilizers.     

Influence of the nitrification inhibitor DMPP on the community composition of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria at microsites with increasing distance from the fertilizer zone

The effect of the nitrification inhibitor 3,4-dimethylpyrazole phosphate (DMPP) on N transformations and composition of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) communities was investigated at the centimeter scale in a microcosm experiment under laboratory conditions. After 28 days, samples were collected from soil treated with urea or urea and DMPP at increasing distance from the fertilizer zone; this distance ranged from 0 to 5 cm in both horizontal and vertical directions. The results showed that DMPP application significantly increased soil pH and NH ₄ ⁺ -N and mineral N (NH ₄ ⁺ -N, NO ₃ ^? -N, and NO ₂ ^? -N) concentrations but decreased (NO ₃ ^? + NO ₂ ^? )-N concentration, and such effect was decreased by increasing the distance from the fertilizer zone. Fingerprint profiles of denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis showed that the number of bands decreased by increasing the distance from the fertilizer zone due to decreasing NH ₄ ⁺ -N concentrations in the urea treatment. Compared to urea applied alone, DMPP application increased NH ₄ ⁺ -N concentrations and decreased AOB diversity from 0 to 3 cm but promoted diversity from 3 to 5 cm distance from the fertilizer zone. A phylogenetic analysis showed that AOB communities were dominated by Nitrosospira cluster 3. Therefore, the nitrification inhibitor DMPP modified the composition of AOB communities by increasing the distance from the fertilizer zone and this probably was related to the changes in soil pH and inorganic N concentration.