不同氮肥在石灰性潮土中的转化及ATS对尿素氮转化的调控效应

根据氮肥施入土壤后的转化特性进行氮肥的高效调控和管理是提高氮肥利用效率、缓解氮肥污染的重要措施。为探究不同氮肥在石灰性潮土中的转化特性差异及硫代硫酸铵（ammonium thiosulfate，ATS）作为氮肥调控剂对尿素氮转化的影响，该研究采用室内土壤培养（土壤水分含量为田间持水量的60%，温度25 ℃）试验方法，以尿素、硫酸铵、氯化铵和ATS作为供试肥料，比较4种氮肥施入石灰性潮土后的转化特性差异，并以ATS作为氮素调控剂，以单施尿素作为对照，探究尿素配施不同用量ATS对尿素氮转化的影响。结果表明，4种供试氮肥在石灰性潮土中的转化过程明显不同。尿素在石灰性潮土中的水解速率最快，硝化作用强度也最高，硫酸铵其次；氯化铵由于Cl^-的硝化抑制作用，土壤表观硝化率在7～21 d显著低于尿素和硫酸铵（P＜0.05）；ATS施入土壤后，NH₄⁺-N转化为NO₂^--N的速率最高，而NO₂^--N转化为NO₃^--N的速率最低，NH₄⁺-N在土壤中的存留时间最长，出现峰值之后也一直保持最高的含量，表观硝化率最低。将ATS作为氮素调控剂与尿素配合施用，当其用量在60 mg/kg（含S量）以上时，既表现出了明显的抑制尿素水解的作用效果，也表现出了显著的硝化抑制作用（ P <0.05），且随着ATS用量的增加，抑制效应明显增强。这对于减少氮素损失，提高氮肥利用效率具有积极意义。但供试4种氮肥施入土壤后均出现了亚硝酸盐的累积，其中ATS处理的累积量显著高于尿素、硫酸铵和氯化铵（P＜0.05），累积持续时间也最长。ATS作为氮素调控剂调控氮素转化，也出现了类似的结果，且随着ATS用量增加，亚硝酸盐在土壤中存留时间明显延长，含量和峰值明显提高，出现峰值的时间也明显延后。     

Nutrient distribution across wheat rhizosphere with oxamide and ammonium sulfate as N source

Analysis of the behavior of slow releasing nitrogen fertilizers in the rhizosphere soil of agricultural crops is essential for their effective use. This work presents a comparative study of the effects of oxamide and ammonium sulfate as different N sources on the relative mobility of some nutritionally important anions and cations and their relevance to plant growth, root development, and pH distribution pattern in the rhizosphere of wheat (Triticum aestivum cv. Nourin No. 61). Experiment was conducted on a Japanese upland alluvial soil through a rhizobox approach. In the central compartment (CC) of the oxamide and ammonium sulfate treated rhizoboxes, four uncontaminated and homogeneous wheat seedlings germinated on a sterile petridish were grown for nearly two months. During the growing period plant height was recorded weekly. After the growing period, rhizoboxes were dismantled for soil sampling and photography of roots. Soil samples from each compartment of the two rhizoboxes were used for the analysis of CI^-, N0₃ ^-, SO₄ ^2-, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, K⁺, NH₄ ⁺-N, N0₃ ^--N and measurement of pH. Compared with ammonium sulfate, the distribution of anions and cations from the distant compartments to the central ones over a distance of 3–5 mm along with a better plant growth, high rooting density, and high pH confirmed that oxamide was an efficient nitrogen fertilizer.     

烤烟钾素库源关系生理调控措施研究

在大田生产条件下 ,采用单株挂牌设置处理的研究方法 ,研究涂抹生长素与其它不同生长调节剂和烟株顶端调控等措施对烤烟钾吸收及其在库源中再分配的影响。结果表明 ,现蕾后不打顶或打顶结合生长素处理茎断面均有利于不同部位叶片含钾量的提高 ,以打顶结合涂抹生长素效果更好 ;内源生长素和外源生长素都有利于烟株体内的钾素向叶片中分配 ,其中外源生长素的活性更强 ,能更有效地提高烟株叶片的含钾量 ,且涂抹 2次比涂抹 1次的效果好 ,但涂抹次数间差异不显著。     

模拟土柱条件下黑土中肥料氮素的迁移转化特征

为明确肥料氮素在土壤中的迁移转化动态特征,利用模拟土柱方法,研究了3倍常规施肥量条件下不同肥料处理(尿素、硫铵)黑土的矿质氮变化。结果表明:不同氮肥处理的氮素养分迁移转化特征有明显差异。对照处理(不施肥)土柱内各层次间NH4+-N和NO3--N含量差异不明显;施用尿素或硫铵后,表层0~50mm土层的NH4+-N和NO3--N含量比不施肥对照分别升高100.8~3408.1mg·kg-1、113.4~388.0mg·kg-1和126.7~4671.1mg·kg-1、51.4~63.3mg·kg-1,且在培养前14d内变化最大。在整个培养期内,施用硫铵处理各层次NH4+-N平均含量比尿素处理高2.54~1423.7mg·kg-1,NO3--N平均含量低4.38~335.1mg·kg-1;而尿素处理各层次的硝化率是硫铵处理的0.79~9.12倍。表明肥料氮素的迁移与转化集中在0~50mm土层内,尿素处理的氮素转化速率较硫铵处理高。     

氮素形态对巨峰葡萄果实品质的影响

为了探讨氮素形态对巨峰葡萄果实品质性状的影响,设置了尿素T1(酰胺态)、全硝T2(硝铵比为100/0)、混合氮T3、T4、T5(硝铵比为70/30、50/50、30/70)及全铵处理T6(硝铵比为0/100)和清水对照CK,于生长季节进行叶面喷施试验。结果表明,不同处理均提高了果实的营养品质,喷尿素的总糖量、糖酸比最大,其次是混合氮处理,全铵处理最小;果实的Vc含量以混合氮处理较高,全铵处理的最低;果实中花青素的含量顺序为:全硝尿素混合氮全铵CK。果实硝酸盐含量从高到低依次为:全硝混合氮全铵尿素CK;硝态氮促进了果实生长,各处理平均单果重为全硝混合氮全铵尿素CK。综上结果,尿素及适当的硝态氮配比有利于巨峰葡萄果实品质的提高。     

Effect of nitrogen forms on reduction of manganese oxides in an Oxisol by plant root exudates

Reductive dissolution of soil manganese (Mn) oxides increases potential toxicity of Mn²⁺ to plants. In order to examine the effect of nitrogen forms on reduction of Mn oxides in rhizosphere soil, a rhizobox experiment was employed to investigate the reduction of Mn oxides due to the growth of soybean and maize in an Oxisol with various contents of NO₃^–-N and NH₄⁺-N and a total N of 200 mg kg^?1. The results showed that exchangeable Mn²⁺ in rhizosphere soil was 9.6–32.7 mg kg^?1 higher than that in bulk soil after cultivation of soybean and maize for 80 days, which suggested that plant root exudates increased reduction of soil Mn oxides. Application of ammonium-N promoted reduction of Mn oxides in rhizosphere soil compared to application of nitrate and nitrate together with ammonium. Soybean cultivation led to a higher reduction in soil Mn oxides than maize cultivation. Application of single ammonium enhanced Mn uptake by the plants and led to more Mn accumulating in plant leaves, especially for soybean. Therefore, application of ammonium-based fertilizer can promote reduction of soil Mn oxides, while application of nitrate-based fertilizer can inhibit reduction of soil Mn oxides and thus reduce Mn²⁺ toxicity to plants.     

Exchangeable ammonium and nitrate from different nitrogen fertilizer preparations in polyacrylamide-treated and untreated agricultural soils

 High molecular weight, anionic polyacrylamide (PAM) is currently being used as an irrigation water additive to significantly reduce soil erosion associated with furrow irrigation. PAM contains amide-N, and PAM application to soils has been correlated with increased activity of soil enzymes, such as urease and amidase, involved in N cycling. Therefore we investigated potential impacts of PAM treatment on the rate at which fertilizer N is transformed into NH₄ ⁺ and NO₃ ^– in soil. PAM-treated and untreated soil microcosms were amended with a variety of fertilizers, ranging from common rapid-release forms, such as ammonium sulfate [(NH₄)₂SO₄] and urea, to a variety of slow-release formulations, including polymerized urea and polymer-encapsulated urea. Ammonium sulfate was also tested together with the nitrification inhibitor dicyandiamide (DCD). The fertilizers were applied at a concentration of 1.0 mg g^–1, which is comparable to 100 lb acre^–l, or 112 kg ha^–1. Potassium chloride-extractable NH₄ ⁺-N and NO₃ ^–-N were quantified periodically during 2–4 week incubations. PAM treatment had no significant effect on NH₄ ⁺ release rates for any of the fertilizers tested and did not alter the efficacy of DCD as a nitrification inhibitor. However, the nitrification rate of urea and encapsulated urea-derived NH₄ ⁺-N was slightly accelerated in the PAM-treated soil. Received: 16 January 1998     

Amount and speciation of N leached from a sandy soil fertilized with urea,liquid digestate,struvite and NH4-enriched chabazite zeolite-tuff

The large use and the bad management of fertilizers that are applied to soil for improving crop production have dramatically impaired soil, water, and air quality. To meet the requirements to reduce nitrogen (N) losses and all the related negative impacts on the environment and food production, it is mandatory to substitute or at least partially substitute the use of inefficient and unsustainable fertilizers with more efficient alternatives. The aim of this paper was to address the amount and speciation of the N released by a sandy soil fertilized with “slow-release fertilizers” and traditional fertilizers (urea and liquid digestate) by means of a series of column leaching experiments. The slow-release alternatives were represented by NH₄-enriched zeolitic tuff and struvite, both obtained by recovering the N from liquid digestate. The treatments consisted of sandy soil fertilized with (i) urea (U) (ii) liquid digestate (LD), (iii) NH₄-enriched zeolitic tuff (N-CHA) and (iv) struvite (STRV). Eight different flushing events were performed over 38 days, leachates were collected and analysed for total Kjeldahl N, organic-N, NH₄⁺-N, NO₃⁻-N, NO₂⁻-N and pH. U and LD lost the majority of N within the first 2 flushing events as organic N and NH₄⁺-N, respectively. On the other hand, STRV and N-CHA lost less N over the whole course of the experiment and with more balanced speciation. The mass balance outlined that after the experiment, native soil N was mined in U and LD treatments while in N-CHA and STRV a fraction of N from the fertilizers was still present. The results showed a slow release of N which can be used more efficiently in agricultural applications, minimizing the N losses.     

Study the N Turnover of Legume Seed Meals for Designing a Slow-Release Nitrogen Fertilizer

To mitigate environmental problems and synchronize releasing nitrogen (N) with crop demand, slow-release N fertilizers can be a solution. In this research, the mechanism of the N immobilization in stable sources (not unstable sources such as microbial biomass and extractable organic N) for finding an appropriate compound in designing a slow-release N fertilizer was investigated. The experiments were carried out in a randomized complete block design using an incubation chamber to study the N mineralization in coarse and fine fractions of yellow lupin, blue lupin, and faba bean. The results showed that the major N immobilization occurred at 10 to 17 days after incubation. At this phase, only the polyphenols had a significant correlation coefficient with the N immobilization (r = 0.80). At 17 to 31 and 31 to 61 days after incubation, the N immobilization had significant relationship with cellulose (r = 0.96) and hemicellulose (r = 0.89), respectively. It seems that with advancing incubation time, cellulose and hemicellulose were released from cell walls, and similarly to polyphenol were bound to nitrate N (NO₃^?-N), ammonium N (NH₄⁺-N), or extractable organic N through different interactions. Although the main mechanisms of N immobilization in soil after adding plant materials with a high carbon (C)/N ratio are described in the literature, the available data do not yet present an appropriate composition of targeted, innovative, and slow-release N fertilizers. According to the obtained results, tests are suggested to find the optimum nitrification inhibitor using the powder of plant residues with different ratios of these compounds incorporated with inorganic fertilizers.     

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.     

氮肥对镉在土壤-芥菜系统中迁移转化的影响

以芥菜为研究对象, 采用盆栽试验, 探讨了不同用量的5种氮肥对污染农田土壤中镉(Cd)在土壤–根系–地上部迁移累积的影响。结果表明: 5种氮肥均促进了芥菜根系对Cd的吸收, 且根系Cd含量随施氮量的增加而增加; 但根系吸收转运Cd的能力随氮肥施用量的增加呈先降后增的变化趋势。在≤200 mg(N)·kg^-1(土)的施氮水平下, CO(NH₂)₂和Ca(NO₃)₂处理能显著降低芥菜地上部Cd含量, 降低幅度分别为13%~29%和24%~30%。在施氮量相同的条件下, NH₄Cl和(NH₄)₂SO₄显著降低了土壤pH, 增加了土壤DTPA-Cd含量, 促进了芥菜对Cd的吸收。本试验条件下, 200 mg(N)·kg^-1(土)的CO(NH₂)₂在增加芥菜产量和降低芥菜地上部Cd含量等方面优于其他氮肥处理。     

Effects of enhanced supplies of nitrogen and sulphur on rhizosphere and soil chemistry in a Norway spruce stand in SW Sweden

Rhizophere and bulk soil chemistry were investigated in a Norway spruce stand in SW Sweden. The rhizosphere and bulk soil chemistry in water extracts in control plots (C) and plots repeatedly treated with ammonium sulphate (NS) were compared. Treatment regime was started in 1988. Cylindrical core samples of the LFH-layer and mineral soil layers were collected in 1992 and used for water extract analyses. Samples of soil from LFH-layer and mineral soil layers were taken in 1991 and 1993 for determination of CEC and base saturation. Soil pH and NH₄-N, NO₃-N and SO₄-S, Al, Ca, K and Mg concentrations in water extracts were measured for rhizosphere and bulk soils. The pH-values of bulk and rhizosphere soils in NS plots decreased compared with those in control plots, whereas concentrations of NH₄-N, NO₃-N, SO₄-S, base cations and Al in water extract increased. In both bulk and rhizosphere soils the concentration of NH₄-N was much higher than that of NO₃-N. A significant difference in the pH and Mg concentration of bulk and rhizosphere soil between the treated and control plots was found only in the 0–10 cm layer. For all layers, there was a significant difference in NH₄-N concentrations in the bulk and rhizosphere soil between the NS treatment and control plots. Concentrations of exchangeable base cations and the base saturation level in the LFH-layer decreased in the NS plots. The concentration of extractable SO₄-S increased in the NS plots. The NS treatment enhanced the amount of litter in L-layer, owing to increases in needle biomass and litterfall but led to losses of base cations, mainly K and Mg, from LFH-layer. It was concluded that the NS treatment displaced cations from exchangeable sites in the LFH-layer leading to higher concentrations of these elements in both rhizosphere and bulk soil.     

肥液浓度对不同形态氮素在土壤中运移转化特性的影响

为揭示肥液(尿素)浓度影响下土壤湿润体中不同形态氮素的运移转化规律,选取黏壤土和砂壤土作为肥液入渗试验供试土壤,量化分析肥液浓度对土壤累积入渗量和不同形态氮素在分布和再分布过程中运移转化特性的影响。结果表明:相同入渗时间内土壤累积入渗量随肥液浓度的增大而增加,Kostiakov公式的入渗系数与肥液浓度呈现线性关系,建立并验证了考虑肥液浓度影响的土壤累积入渗量估算公式,模拟值与实测值具有较高的一致性,两者间的相对误差绝对值均值均8.0%;入渗结束时,土壤湿润体相同位置处的尿素态氮、铵态氮(NH_4~+-N)和硝态氮(NO_3~--N)含量均随肥液浓度的增大而增加;NH_4~+-N主要分布在土壤湿润体深度20 cm以上,尿素态氮和NO_3~--N含量随着湿润体深度的增大呈现下降趋势;再分布过程中,土壤湿润体中尿素态氮含量随再分布时间的增加整体呈现减小趋势,且黏壤土和砂壤土湿润体中的尿素态氮分别在再分布5,3天时基本水解完成;NH_4~+-N含量呈现先增加后减小的趋势,黏壤土湿润体中的峰值约出现在再分布3～5天,而砂壤土约在再分布3天;黏壤土湿润体中NO_3~--N含量呈现先增加后减小的趋势,其峰值约在5～10天,而砂壤土中NO_3~--N含量在再分布10天时,始终保持在较高水平。研究结果为农田灌溉施肥系统的设计和管理提供理论基础和技术支撑。     

Microbial distribution and function across wheat rhizosphere with oxamide and ammonium sulfate as N sources

Analysis of the effect of slow-releasing N fertilizers on microbial parameters of the rhizosphere soil is essential for their effective use. This investigation revealed the comparative effects of oxamide and ammonium sulfate as different N sources on some selected microbial parameters as well as the pH in the rhizosphere of wheat (Triticum aestivum cv. Nourin No. 61). The study was conducted on a Japanese upland alluvial soil using a rhizobox system. In the central compartment (CC) of the rhizoboxes treated with oxamide and ammonium sulfate, four wheat seedlings were grown for 53 d. In either of the treatments, the pH of the rhizosphere soil increased with the increase in the distance from the CC. In contrast, nitrate production, bacterial and fungal numbers, microbial biomass nitrogen, and β-acetylglucosaminidase activity decreased with the increase in the distance, with the highest values of the respective parameters being recorded in the CC. However, remarkable changes of these microbial parameters were found within a distance of 1–2 mm from the CC to the distant compartments. Thus the results indicated that pH, bacterial number, and nitrate production were high in the oxamide treatment. In contrast, higher fungal number, microbial biomass N, and .B-acetylglucosaminidase activity were associated with the ammonium sulfate treatment. It was assumed that the significant (p<O.05) effect of the rhizosphere on microbial activities varied with the treatments.     

Does the potential ammonium fixation of soils have an impact on the optimum nitrogen fertilizer rate?

Field experiments were conducted to determine the effect of nitrogen (N) fertilizer forms and doses on wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) on three soils differing in their ammonium (NH₄) fixation capacity [high = 161 mg fixed NH₄-N kg^?1 soil, medium = 31.5 mg fixed NH₄-N kg^?1 soil and no = nearly no fixed NH₄-N kg^?1 soil]. On high NH₄⁺ fixing soil, 80 kg N ha^?1 Urea+ ammonium nitrate [NH₄NO₃] or 240 kg N ha^?1 ammonium sulfate [(NH₄)₂SO₄]+(NH₄)₂SO₄, was required to obtain the maximum yield. Urea + NH₄NO₃ generally showed the highest significance in respect to the agronomic efficiency of N fertilizers. In the non NH₄⁺ fixing soil, 80 kg N ha^?1 urea+NH₄NO₃ was enough to obtain high grain yield. The agronomic efficiency of N fertilizers was generally higher in the non NH₄⁺ fixing soil than in the others. Grain protein was highly affected by NH₄⁺ fixation capacities and N doses. Harvest index was affected by the NH₄⁺ fixation capacity at the 1% significance level.     

间伐对杉木人工林土壤碳氮及其组分特征的影响

为探究不同间伐强度对杉木人工林土壤碳氮及其组分特征的影响,以福建省三明市官庄国有林场11年生杉木(Cunninghamia lanceolata)人工林为研究对象,采用弱度间伐(LIT)、中度间伐(MIT)、强度间伐(HIT)等3种间伐强度,研究不同间伐强度林分0—10,10—20,20—40,40—60,60—80,80—100 cm土层总有机碳(SOC)、全氮(TN)及易氧化有机碳(ROC)、硝态氮(NO_3~--N)、铵态氮(NH_4~+-N)、微生物量碳(MBC)、微生物量氮(MBN)、微生物熵碳(qMBC)、微生物熵氮(qMBN)的变化特征,以探讨不同间伐强度对杉木人工林土壤碳氮及其组分特征的影响。结果表明:间伐降低了土壤SOC和TN的含量,降低幅度分别为1.4%～36.9%,3.1%～45.7%。间伐增加了土壤MBC、NO_3~--N的含量,而对ROC、NH_4~+-N和MBN的程度在不同土层有差异,qMBC和qMBN随着间伐强度的增加而增大。相关性分析表明,土壤SOC分别与TN、qMBC、ROC、NH_4~+-N、MBC、MBN呈极显著正相关(P0.01);TN与qMBN、ROC、NH_4~+-N、MBC、MBN呈极显著正相关(P0.01)。杉木人工林间伐处理降低了土壤表层SOC和TN含量,增加了土壤SMBC和qMBC、qMBN,同时也增加了土壤表层(0—10 cm)SMBN。抚育间伐导致土壤SOC和TN含量降低主要是由于活性碳、氮含量的增加,提高土壤中有机质分解速率,最终导致土壤SOC和TN含量降低。     

冬小麦-夏玉米轮作体系中不同施氮水平对玉米生长及其根际土壤氮的影响

在河北衡水潮土上进行田间试验,以当地习惯高氮用量(小麦季施N 300 kg/hm2,玉米季施N 240 kg/hm2)为对照,研究冬小麦-夏玉米轮作体系中减少氮肥用量对玉米季植株生长、氮素吸收及根际土壤中无机氮与微生物量氮的影响。结果表明,两季作物氮肥施用量减少25%和40%,对玉米产量、生物量及植株体内氮累积量未产生明显影响,氮肥利用率提高。不同氮肥施用量对根际和非根际土壤铵态氮含量的影响不显著;减少氮肥施用量,对玉米根际土壤硝态氮含量也没有明显影响。在玉米苗期、抽雄期和成熟期,习惯高施氮量处理的非根际土壤硝态氮含量较高,其中抽雄期,非根际土壤硝态氮含量较氮肥减施40%用量处理高出近一倍,但非根际土壤微生物量氮水平含量明显降低。氮肥减施未影响根际土壤微生物量碳、氮含量,反而增加了非根际土壤微生物量碳、氮水平。在高肥力的潮土上,冬小麦/夏玉米轮作体系中适当减施氮肥并未影响玉米根际土壤氮素水平,可保证玉米稳产,实现减氮增效。     

闽江福州下游段水体N含量季节变化及对湿地土壤N含量的影响

选取闽江福州下游段水体及河口短叶茳芏湿地土壤水作为研究对象,采用SAN++连续流动分析仪测试样品中NO-3—N,NO-2—N和NH+4—N含量,以揭示河流水体N含量的季节差异和对土壤水N含量的影响。研究结果表明:(1)闽江福州下游段秋季河流水NH+4—N和NO-3—N含量高于春季,NO-2—N含量低于春季;秋季短叶茳芏湿地土壤水NH+4—N和NO-2—N含量也明显高于春季,土壤水NO-3—N含量低于春季;春、秋季土壤水NH+4—N含量皆高于河流水,而NO-3—N和NO-2—N含量皆明显低于河流水。(2)河流水的浸淹对土壤N含量影响较大,说明河流水是湿地土壤的主要N源。(3)闽江福州下游段河流水3种形态的N含量表现为秋季大于春季,存在较明显的季节差异。(4)与2007—2008年的观测值相比较,闽江河口河流水体N含量呈大幅上升趋势,水体富营养化加剧。     

Effects of substituting chemical fertilizers with manure on rice yield and soil labile nitrogen in paddy fields of China: A meta-analysis

Substituting chemical fertilizers with manure is an important method for efficient nutrient management in rice cropping systems of China.Labile nitrogen(N) is the most active component of the soil N pool and plays an essential role in soil fertility.However,the effects of manure substitution on soil labile N in rice cropping systems and their relationships with soil properties,fertilization practices,and climatic conditions remain unclear and should be systematically quantified.Here,we investiga...     

Phosphorus uptake of maize as affected by ammonium and nitrate nitrogen - Measurements and model calculations -

Phosphorus uptake is often enhanced by ammonium compared to nitrate nitrogen nutrition of plants. A decrease of pH at the soil-root interface is generally assumed as the cause. However, an alteration of root growth and the mobilization of P by processes other than net release of protons induced by the source of nitrogen may also be considered. To study these alternatives a pot experiment was conducted with maize using a fossil Oxisol high in Fe/Al-P with low soil solution P concentration. Three levels of phosphate (0, 50, 200 mg P kg^?1) in combination with either ammonium or nitrate nitrogen (100 mg N kg^?1) were applied. Plants were harvested 7 and 21 d after sowing, P uptake measured and root and shoot growth determined. To assess the importance of factors involved in the P transfer from soil into plants, calculations were made using a model of Barber and Claassen. In the treatments with no and low P supply NH₄-N compared to NO₃-N nutrition increased the growth of the plants by 25 % and their shoot P content by 38 % while their root growth increased by 6 % only. The rhizosphere pH decreased in the NH₄-N treatments by 0.1 to 0.6 units as compared to the bulk soil while in the NO₃-N treatments it increased by 0.1 to 0.5 units. These pH changes had a minor influence on P uptake only, as was demonstrated by artificially altering the soil pH to 4.7 and 6.3 respectively. At the same rhizosphere pH, however, P influx was doubled by the application of NH₄-compared to NO₃-N. It is concluded that in this soil the enhancement of P uptake of maize plants after ammonium application cannot be attributed to the acidification of the rhizosphere but to effects mobilizing soil phosphate or increasing P uptake efficiency of roots. Model calculation showed that these effects accounted for 53 % of the P influx per unit root length in the NO₃-N and 72 % in the NH₄-N supplied plants if no P was applied. With high P application the respective figures were only 18 and 19%.