Leaching of dissolved organic and inorganic nitrogen from legume-based grasslands

Leaching of dissolved inorganic N (DIN) and dissolved organic N (DON) is a considerable loss pathway in grassland soils. We investigated the white clover (Trifolium repens) contribution to N transport and temporal N dynamics in soil solution under a pure stand of white clover and white clover-ryegrass (Lolium perenne) mixed stand. The temporal white clover contribution to N leaching was analysed by ¹⁵N incorporation into DIN and DON in percolating soil solution collected at 25-cm depth following white clover ¹⁵N leaf labelling that was applied at different times during the growing season. The white clover contribution to N transport in the soil profile was investigated over 2 years by analysing ¹⁵N in DIN and DON in percolating soil solution collected at 25-, 45- and 80-cm depth following ¹⁵N leaf labelling of white clover. The results showed that clover was a source of both DIN and DON. White clover autumn deposition contributed the most to N leaching. The leaching of DIN from the white clover in pure stand exceeded that of the mixed stand and confirmed that leaching of DIN is a function of N loadings and N demand. The DON leaching was unaffected by the presence of a companion grass, suggesting that the DON leaching from our grassland derived from the lysis of soil microbial biomass living on recent white clover deposits. White clover contributed to the leaching of DIN and DON at all depths, and the fact that the contents of DI ¹⁵N and DO ¹⁵N did not change with depth indicated that surplus of DIN and DON, formed in the uppermost soil layer, was transported in the soil profile.     

Root size fractions of ryegrass and clover contribute differently to C and N inclusion in SOM

Grass-clover mixtures are essential in many low-N-input cropping systems, but the importance of various root fractions for the below-ground N dynamics are not well understood. This may be due to the difficulties of studying root longevity and turnover in situ in mixtures. The present field study, investigated (1) the development in root biomass over two growing seasons and (2) the turnover of dual ¹⁵N- and ¹⁴C-labelled ryegrass and white clover root material. Litter bags containing various dual-labelled plant materials were incubated in cylinders inserted in the topsoil of a young ryegrass-clover ley. Disappearance of ¹⁴C and ¹⁵N from the litter bag material were studied for 1 year following incubation. Four times during two growing seasons, roots were divided into two classes: large roots, retained on a 1-cm sieve, and small roots, passing a 1-cm sieve but retained on a 100-µm sieve. Large root biomass increased during the two growing seasons, and small root biomass increased during the growing seasons but decreased during autumn and winter. White clover roots lost ¹⁴C and ¹⁵N almost twice as fast as ryegrass roots. The disappearance pattern of ¹⁴C and ¹⁵N from dual-labelled ryegrass and white clover roots and the C and N contents of the recovered root material indicate that large roots are determining soil C pool build-up, whereas small roots determine soil N pool build-up.     

Fate of N and C from labelled plant material: Recovery in perennial ryegrass–clover mixtures and in pore water of the sward

The belowground C and N dynamics leading to organic and inorganic N leaching from perennial ryegrass–clover mixtures are not well understood. Based on the hypothesis that four different plant materials would degrade differently, a 16 months field experiment was conducted to determine (i) the source strength of labelled plant residues in dissolved inorganic N (DIN) and dissolved organic N (DON) in pore water from the plough layer, and (ii) the plant uptake of organically bound N. Litterbags containing ¹⁴C- and ¹⁵N-labelled ryegrass or clover roots or leaves were inserted into the sward of a ryegrass–clover mixture in early spring. The fate of the released ¹⁴C and ¹⁵N was monitored in harvested biomass, roots, soil, and pore water percolating from the plough layer. No evidence of plant uptake of dual-labelled organic compounds from the dual-labelled residues could be observed. N in pore water from the plough layer during autumn and winter had a constant content of dissolved organic N (DON) and an increasing content of dissolved inorganic N (DIN). A positive correlation between aboveground clover biomass harvested in the growth season and total-N in pore water indicated that decaying roots from the living clover could be a major source of the 10 kg N ha⁻¹ being lost with pore water during autumn and winter. The presence of ¹⁵N in pore water shifted from the DON fraction in autumn to the DIN fraction in late winter, with strong indications that ¹⁵N originated from the living ryegrass. However, ¹⁵N in pore water originating from plant residues only constituted 1.5% of the total dissolved N from the plough layer.     

Influence of fallow, wheat and subterranean clover on pH within an initially mixed surface soil in the field

 To ascertain the cause of the decrease in pH with depth through the surface 15 cm of moderately acidic soils, pH was monitored in layers of an initially mixed surface soil (to a nominal depth of 10 cm) during two consecutive seasons under fallow, wheat, and subterranean-clover plots. Variation of pH-influencing processes within soil layers to 15 cm depth was measured during the first season. Initially, soil pH was relatively uniform within the surface 7.5 cm, although there was an average 0.53 unit decrease of pH from 0–2.5 cm to 10–15 cm depth. Under all plots, residual lime reaction, net organic anion association and oxidation, net manganese oxidation and reduction, and particularly net N mineralisation and subsequent nitrification, tended to decrease with depth through the surface 15 cm of soil. In wheat and subterranean-clover plots, the alkalinity added with the return of 3.9–4.7 t ha^–1 of plant residue dry matter was predominantly released within the surface 2.5 cm of soil. The dominant pH-influencing processes were net N mineralisation and subsequent nitrification, and the return of alkaline plant residues. In the fallow plots, the surface 10 cm of soil tended to acidify due to nitrification. However in wheat and clover plots, alkalinity added to the surface 2.5 cm of soil from plant residues exceeded acidification resulting from nitrification at this depth. The magnitude of the pH gradient through 0–15 cm depth was therefore maintained under wheat, increased under clover, and decreased under fallow. Received: 11 October 1999     

Fate of 15N after combined application of rabbit manure and inorganic N fertilizers in a rice–wheat rotation system

The present study was carried out on pot experiments with rice (Oryza sativa L. cv. Wuyujing 7) and winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv. Yangmai 6) rotation in a sandy and a clayey soil fertilized with ¹⁵N-labeled ammonium sulfate (AS) and ¹⁵N-labeled rabbit feces so as to study the mechanisms of reduction of fertilizer N loss by organic fertilizers. The treatments included: (1) control without any N fertilizer application; (2) fertilization with ¹⁵N-labeled AS (IF); (3) fertilization with labeled rabbit feces (OF); (4) fertilization with either 40% ¹⁵N-labeled rabbit feces and 60% unlabeled AS (IOF1) or (5) 40% unlabeled rabbit feces and 60% ¹⁵N-labeled AS (IOF2). In the rice season, the IOF treatments compared to the IF treatment decreased the percentage of lost fertilizer N from the sandy and clayey soils, whereas it increased the percentage of fertilizer N, present as mineral N and microbial biomass N (MBN). During the second season, when soils were cropped to winter wheat, the IOF treatments in comparison with the IF or OF treatment increased mineral N and MBN contents of soils sampled at tillering, jointing, and heading stages, and such increases were derived from the organic N fertilizer in the sandy soil and from the inorganic N fertilizer in the clayey soil. The increased MBN in the IOF treatments was derived from inorganic fertilizers applied both soils. Therefore, in the IOF treatment, during the rice season, the organic N increased the immobilization of inorganic N in MBN, while the inorganic N fertilizer applied to both soils stimulated the uptake of organic N and the organic N fertilizer increased the uptake of inorganic N by winter wheat; the inorganic N increased the recovery of organic N in the plant-soil system after harvesting the winter wheat.     

施用有机、无机肥后土壤微生物量、固定态铵的变化及其有效性研究

利用¹⁵N示踪技术和盆栽试验研究了施用有机、无机肥料后，土壤微生物量C、N和土壤固定态铵的变化及其生物有效性。结果表明:土壤微生物量C在小麦三叶期时较高，之后随着外界温度的下降，生物量C逐渐下降;小麦返青后又上升，至开花前后达到最高值，为554.9～794.4mg／kg。并以施用稻草和猪粪处理的最高，单施硫铵的最低，以后逐渐降低直至收获。土壤微生物量N的变化与C的变化不太一致，土壤微生物量N在小麦三叶期最高，为40.8～79.0mg／kg，并以施猪粪和稻草处理的最高，对照处理中最低;随着小麦的生长逐渐下降，到小麦开花前后下降到最低点，但至成熟时又有所上升。土壤固定态铵的变化趋势与土壤微生物N的变化趋势相似。施肥后被固定在微生物体内和粘土矿物中的N，在小麦生长期间有很大部分仍能被小麦吸收利用。被固定在微生物体内的硫铵N、稻草N和猪粪N的最大释放率分别为64.7％～84.3％、60.4％～77.1％、59.3％～685％;被固定在粘土矿物中硫铵N的最大释放率为59.5％～76.2％。     

Nmin−Gehalt im Boden,mineralische N-Düngung und N-Entzug von Winterweizen im Internationalen Organischen Stickstoffdauerdüngungsversuch (IOSDV) Berlin-Dahlem

N_mim content in the soil, N-fertilization and N uptake of winter wheat in the international organic nitrogen long-term fertilization experiment (IOSDV) Berlin-Dahlem During the 9th and 10th year of the long-term IOSDV field experiment micro plots were put in three treatments. Labelled¹⁵ N (160 resp. 110 kg/ha N as ammonium sulfate) was fertilized to winter wheat subdivided into three portions. N_min in soil was determined five times during the season, plant biomass was harvested at different growth stages and N uptake was calculated. Using the¹⁵ N-technique permitted a discrimination between fertilizer-N and soil-N. Preferential uptake of fertilizer-N by the wheat crop but also immobilisation in soil were observed until June. Subsequently the immobilized N was remineralized and assimilated by wheat. But the native N_min of soil was minimaly utilized during the initial growth of wheat. Therefore the absolute amount of soluble N temporarily increased caused by a mineralisation of the organic matter.     

Distribution and fate of 13C-labeled root and straw residues from ryegrass and crimson clover in soil under western Oregon field conditions

Annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) and crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum L.) were pulse-labeled with ¹³C-CO₂ in the field between the initiation of late winter growth (mid-February) and through flowering and seed formation (late May). Straw was harvested after seed maturation (July), and soil containing ¹³C-labeled roots and root-derived C was left in the field until September. ¹³C-enriched and ¹³C-unenriched straw residues of each species were mixed in factorial combinations with soil containing either ¹³C-enriched or ¹³C-unenriched root-derived C and incubated in the field for 10 months. The contributions of C derived from straw, roots, and soil were measured in soil microbial biomass C, respired C, and soil C on five occasions after residue incorporation (September, October, November, April, and June). At straw incorporation (September), 25–30% of soil microbial biomass C was derived from root C in both ryegrass and clover treatments, and this value was sustained in the ryegrass treatment from September to April but declined in the clover treatment. By October, between 20 and 30% of soil microbial biomass C was derived from straw, with the percentage contribution from clover straw generally exceeding that from ryegrass straw throughout the incubation. By June, ryegrass root-derived C contributed 5.5% of the soil C pool, which was significantly greater than the contributions from any of the three other residue types (about 1.5%). This work has provided a framework for more studies of finer scale that should focus on the interactions between residue quality, soil organic matter C, and specific members of the soil microbial community.     

水氮调控对冬小麦根冠比和水分利用效率的影响研究

通过田间和桶栽试验研究了水、氮调控对冬小麦根冠比和水分利用效率的影响。田间试验结果显示,土壤水分条件对冬小麦根冠生长影响显著。当冬小麦生育期60 cm土层土壤水分维持在田间持水量的60%以上时,根冠比维持稳定状态,不随灌溉次数的增加而变化;当冬小T麦生育期60 cm土层土壤水分低于田间持水量的60%时,土壤越干旱,根冠比越大。桶栽试验结果显示,氮素水平对冬小麦根冠比影响显著,而水氮互作效应对根冠比影响不显著。在所有水分处理条件下,随着施氮量增加,冬小麦根量减少。施氮对冬小麦地上部分和地下部分的影响不同。在水分亏缺条件下,随着氮用量增加,冬小麦经济产量呈增加趋势,水分利用效率与施氮量存在明显正相关关系;而在充分灌溉条件下,产量随着施氮量的增加表现出先增加后降低的趋势,存在一个氮肥用量阈值。因此,水氮通过调控地上地下干物质分配而影响作物产量和水分利用效率,在水分供应受限制条件下,增施氮肥会降低根冠比,更利于地上干物质的积累和经济产量形成。田间试验和桶栽试验均表明,冬小麦根冠比与水分利用效率呈负相关,根冠比大不利于地上部分干物质的积累和作物产量的形成,导致水分利用效率降低。     

秸秆还田对土壤氮素转化的影响

利用原状土柱田间培养法 ,测定了冬小麦、夏玉米农田土壤氮 (N)素的年净矿化量 ;利用氯仿熏蒸浸提茚三酮反应氮法测定了土壤微生物量氮的数量 ;利用连续流动分析仪测定了土壤表层无机氮的含量。结果表明 ,在冬小麦秸秆覆盖、夏玉米秸秆翻埋的土壤中 ,第 1年土壤氮净矿化量为N 210kg/hm2,第 2年为 179kg/hm2,2年的净矿化量均基本与同期施氮量相当。在秸秆不还田的土壤中 ,第 1年土壤氮净矿化量为N 164kg/hm2,第 2年为248kg/hm2,年际变化较大。翻埋玉米秸秆导致小麦季土壤表层无机氮数量增加 ,引发土壤氮矿化的正激发效应 ;表层覆盖小麦秸秆对玉米季土壤表层无机氮的影响不明显。秸秆还田后 ,每个生育期开始时 ,土壤微生物量氮比不还田土壤的增加 72 %～ 2.34% ,每个生育期结束时增加 34%～ 72%。在实施秸秆还田的最初 2年内 ,土壤微生物量但氮处于动态调整阶段 ,尚未达到新的稳定状态     

The influence of two agricultural biostimulants on nitrogen transformations, microbial activity, and plant growth in soil microcosms

The influence of two experimental soil treatments, Z93 and W91, on nitrogen transformations, microbial activity and plant growth was investigated in soil microcosms. These compounds are commercially marketed fermentation products (Agspectrum) that are sold to be added to field soils in small amounts to promote nitrogen and other nutrient uptake by crops in USA. In laboratory microcosm experiments, soils were amended with finely ground alfalfa-leaves or wheat straw, or left unamended, in an attempt to alter patterns of soil nitrogen mineralization and immobilization. Soils were treated in the microcosms with Z93 and W91 at rates equivalent to the recommended field application rates, that range from 0.2 to 1.1 l ha⁻¹, (0.005-0.03 μl g⁻¹ soil). We measured their effects on soil microbial activity (substrate-induced respiration (SIR), dehydrogenase activity (DHA) and acid phosphatase activity (PHOS)), soil nitrogen pools (microbial biomass N, mineral N, dissolved organic N), and transformations (net N mineralization and nitrification, ¹⁵N dilution of the mineral N pool, and accumulation of mineral N on ion-exchange resins), and on wheat plant germination and growth (shoot and root biomass, shoot length, N uptake and ¹⁵N enrichment of shoot tissues), for up to 56 days after treatment. To follow the movement of nitrogen from inorganic fertilizer into plant biomass we used a ¹⁵N isotopic tracer. Most of the soil and plant responses to treatment with Z93 or W91 differed according to the type of organic amendment that was used. Soil treatment with either Z93 or W91 influenced phosphatase activity strongly but did not have much effect on SIR or DHA. Both chemicals altered the rates of decomposition and mineralization of organic materials in the soil, which was evidenced by significant increases in the rates of the decomposition of buried wheat straw, and by the acceleration of net, rates of N mineralization, relative to those of the controls. Soil nitrate availability increased at the end of the experiment in response to both chemical treatments. In alfalfa-amended soils, the final plant biomass was decreased significantly by treatment with W91. Increased plant growth and N-use efficiency in straw-amended soil, resulting from treatments with Z93 or W91, was linked to increased rates of N mineralization from indigenous soil organic materials. This supports the marketing of these compounds as promoters of N uptake at these low dosage inputs.     

Why do cereal–legume intercrops support large earthworm populations?

The relative importance of reduced soil disturbance and increased food supply in supporting large earthworm populations in cereal–legume intercropping systems was investigated in two replicated field experiments over a 3-year period. In the first experiment, the effects of the absence of tillage and the presence of a permanent white clover understorey on earthworm populations were assessed in three winter wheat cropping systems. The mean earthworm abundance as assessed by electrical extraction in conventional wheat, direct drilled wheat and direct-drilled wheat–clover intercrops was 211, 280 and 572 individuals m⁻² and the corresponding earthworm biomass was 62, 92 and 203 g m⁻². In the second experiment, the effects of dairy cattle slurry and mineral fertilizer applications on earthworm populations in wheat–clover intercropping systems were assessed. Neither the input of additional organic matter (as slurry) nor mineral N fertilization increased earthworm population levels which were already remarkably high, averaging 1097 individuals m⁻² and 266 g biomass m^–2 in the third year of the experiment. These results suggest that while the absence of ploughing alone had only a modest effect, the combination of absence of ploughing and presence of a clover understorey increased earthworm populations greatly. It is concluded that cereal–legume intercrops support large earthworm populations primarily because the organic matter input from such systems is favourable for earthworms in terms of quantity, quality and continuity of food supply throughout the year.     

Comparison of postharvest practices used for cereal straw decomposition in a clay loam soil

ABSTRACT

During 2008–2011, model field experiments were carried out at the Joni?k?lis Experimental Station of Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry on a clay loam Endocalcaric Endogleyic Cambisol. The study was aimed to establish the comparison of various postharvest practices (mineral nitrogen fertiliser alone or together with a bioactivator Penergetic k, livestock slurry, red clover biomass and straw incorporation in the soil by a stubble cultivator at a 10 cm depth) on the acceleration of the initial (nine-month period) decomposition of winter wheat straw. During this period, straw mass decomposition intensity was 20.7–29.1%, carbon (C) concentration decreased by 6.5–22.8%, while an increase in nitrogen (N) by 1.1–2.2 times was observed. The highest straw decomposition rate was recorded when after straw incorporation autumn was warm and humid. That year straw mass C to N ratio (C/N) was 38–46. Under less-favourable autumn conditions, the highest decomposition of straw was achieved, having applied mineral N (with and without Penergetic) and livestock slurry and having incorporated the straw in the soil (C/N = 40–55). A slower decomposition rate was observed for the straw spread on the soil surface with mineral N addition or on undersown red clover.     

Nitrogen availability to grain sorghum from organic and inorganic sources on sandy and clayey soil surfaces in a greenhouse pot study

In a greenhouse pot study, we examined the availability of N to grain sorghum from organic and inorganic N sources. The treatments were¹⁵N-labeled clover residues, wheat residues, and fertilizer placed on a sandy clay loam and loamy sand soil surface for an 8-week period. Soil aggregates formed under each soil texture were measured after 8 weeks for each treatment. Significantly greater ¹⁵N was taken up and recovered by grain sorghum in sandy clay loam pots compared with loamy sand pots. Greater ¹⁵N recovery was consistently observed with the inorganic source than the organic sources regardless of soil texture or time. Microbial biomass C and N were significantly greater for sandy clay loam soil compared with the loamy sand. Microbial biomass ¹⁵N was also significantly greater in the sandy clay loam treatment compared to the loamy sand. The fertilizer treatment initially had the greatest pool of microbial biomass ¹⁵N but decreased with time. The crop residue treatments generally had less microbial biomass ¹⁵N with time. The crop residues and soil texture had a significant effect on the water-stable aggregates formed after 8 weeks of treatments. Significantly greater water-stable aggregates were formed in the sandy clay loam than the loamy sand. Approximately 20% greater water-stable aggregates were formed under the crop residue treatments compared to the fertilizer only treatment. Soil texture seemed to be one of the most important factors affecting the availability of N from organic or inorganic N sources in these soils.Contribution from the MissouriAgricultural Experiment Station, Journal Series No.12131     

Untersuchungen zur Stickstoff-Immobilisation in mineralisch gedüngten Ackerböden aus Löß während der Vegetationszeit von Winter-Weizen

Experiments on nitrogen immobilization in minerally fertilized soils from loess during the growing season of winter wheat The nitrogen regime has been simulated during the growing period of winter wheat 1984/85 on a stagnigleyic cambisol using a simple, functional computer model. The model includes N mineralization from soil organic matter, transport of water and nitrate as well as growth of wheat and N uptake by the crop. Simulation starts at harvest of the previous crop. Simulated and measured N supply (soil mineral nitrogen plus N uptake by the plant) were in good agreement between september and december 1984. On this loess plot as well as on 10 other ones an over-estimation of mineral nitrogen in the soil up to 40 kg/ha was observed with beginning of december/january 1984/85 reflecting a seasonal trend. Experiments with ¹⁵N enriched Ca-nitrate 1984/85 on microplots of the same field point to a non-consideration of nitrogen immobilization. Fertilizer-N-immobilization amounted up to 35 kg/ha in the soil and to further 15 kg/ha in the straw material. The pool of fixed ammonium was of no importance with respect to the mobilization-immobilization-turn-over of fertilizer nitrogen. Experiments 1988/89 on microplots of a colluvial loess soil indicate a change of biomass nitrogen being responsible for the seasonal N-immobilization. An increase of biomass-N of about 30 kg/ha was observed under the growing wheat crop. An additional N-immobilization of nearly 40 kg/ha was observed with straw incorporation. A similar increase of microbial biomass nitrogen under winter wheat has been observed during the growing period 1987/88.     

Nitrogen immobilization and mineralization during initial decomposition of15N-labelled pea and barley residues

The immobilization and mineralization of N following plant residue incorporation were studied in a sandy loam soil using¹⁵N-labelled field pea (Pisum sativum L.) and spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) straw. Both crop residues caused a net immobilization of soil-derived inorganic N during the complete incubation period of 84 days. The maximum rate of N immobilization was found to 12 and 18 mg soil-derived N g^–1 added C after incorporation of pea and barley residues, respectively. After 7 days of incubation, 21% of the pea and 17% of the barley residue N were assimilated by the soil microbial biomass. A comparison of the¹⁵N enrichments of the soil organic N and the newly formed biomass N pools indicated that either residue N may have been assimilated directly by the microbial biomass without entering the soil inorganic N pool or the biomass had a higher preference for mineralized ammonium than for soil-derived nitrate already present in the soil. In the barley residue treatment, the microbial biomass N was apparently stabilized to a higher degree than the biomass N in the pea residue treatment, which declined during the incubation period. This was probably due to N-deficiency delaying the decomposition of the barley residue. The net mineralization of residue-derived N was 2% in the barley and 22% in the pea residue treatment after 84 days of incubation. The results demonstrated that even if crop residues have a relative low C/N ratio (15), transient immobilization of soil N in the microbial biomass may contribute to improved conservation of soil N sources.     

Nitrogen immobilization and mineralization during initial decomposition of15N-labelled pea and barley residues

The immobilization and mineralization of N following plant residue incorporation were studied in a sandy loam soil using¹⁵N-labelled field pea (Pisum sativum L.) and spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) straw. Both crop residues caused a net immobilization of soil-derived inorganic N during the complete incubation period of 84 days. The maximum rate of N immobilization was found to 12 and 18 mg soil-derived N g^?1 added C after incorporation of pea and barley residues, respectively. After 7 days of incubation, 21% of the pea and 17% of the barley residue N were assimilated by the soil microbial biomass. A comparison of the¹⁵N enrichments of the soil organic N and the newly formed biomass N pools indicated that either residue N may have been assimilated directly by the microbial biomass without entering the soil inorganic N pool or the biomass had a higher preference for mineralized ammonium than for soil-derived nitrate already present in the soil. In the barley residue treatment, the microbial biomass N was apparently stabilized to a higher degree than the biomass N in the pea residue treatment, which declined during the incubation period. This was probably due to N-deficiency delaying the decomposition of the barley residue. The net mineralization of residue-derived N was 2% in the barley and 22% in the pea residue treatment after 84 days of incubation. The results demonstrated that even if crop residues have a relative low C/N ratio (15), transient immobilization of soil N in the microbial biomass may contribute to improved conservation of soil N sources.     

Changes in Grain Production,Mechanisms for Sale of Grain and Possible Effects on Grain Quality in Lithuania in the Period 1990-1999

The main objective was to compare the response of grain yield to fertiliser N in a winter wheat-white clover intercropping system with the response in wheat alone. Clover was undersown in spring barley and remained established in two consecutive crops of wheat in two field experiments. Clover reduced grain yield in the first crop of wheat and increased it in the second. There was more inorganic N in the soil and a higher concentration of N in the grains in the intercropping system. The grain and N yield response to fertiliser N was equal or less with intercropped than with wheat alone. The reduction of clover biomass with a herbicide increased grain yield of the first crop of wheat without reducing the clover biomass or the positive residual effect in the second wheat crop. It was concluded that in order to produce large grain yields, competition from clover needs to be kept small when wheat is at the tillering stage.     

Distribution and recovery of nitrogen from legume residues decomposing in soils sown to wheat in the field

Unground ¹⁵N-labelled medic material (Medicago littoralis) was mixed with topsoils at 3 field sites in South Australia, allowed to decompose for about 8 months before sowing wheat, and then for a further 7 months until crop maturity. The site locations were chosen to permit comparisons of recoveries and distribution of ¹⁵N in soils (organic N and inorganic N to 90 cm depth) and wheat (grain, straw and roots to 20 cm depth) in areas where rainfall (and wheat yields) differed greatly. Soils differed also in their texture and organic matter contents. Recoveries of applied ¹⁵N in wheat plus soil were 93.1% from a sandy loam (Caliph) and 92.3% from a sandy soil (Roseworthy) despite differences in rainfall and extent of leaching of the ¹⁵NO₃^? formed from the decomposing medic residues. From a heavy clay soil (Northfield), which received the highest rainfall, the ¹⁵N recovery was 87.7%. The loss of ¹⁵N at this site was not due to leaching, as judged by ¹⁵NO₃^? distribution in the soil profile at seeding and crop maturity.Wheat plants took up only 10.9–17.3% of the ¹⁵N added as legume material. Percentage uptakes of ¹⁵N were not related to grain yields. The proportions of wheat N derived from decomposing medic residues were 9.2% at Caliph (input medic, N, 38 kg N ha^?1), 10.5% at Roseworthy (input medic N, 57 kg N ha^?1), and only 4.6% at Northfield (input medic N, 57 kg N ha^?1). Most (51–70%) of the ¹⁵N recovered in wheat was accounted for in the grain. Inorganic ¹⁵N in the soil profiles was depleted during the cropping phase, and at wheat harvest represented from 0.6 to 3.1% only of ¹⁵N inputs. The major ¹⁵N pool was soil organic ¹⁵N accounting for 71.9–77.7% of ¹⁵N inputs.We conclude that, in the context of N supply from decomposing medic tissues to wheat crops, the main value of the legume is long-term, i.e. in maintaining soil organic N concentrations to ensure adequate delivery of N to future cereal crops.The N of the wheat was not uniformly labelled, root N being generally of the highest atom% enrichmensts, and straw N of the lowest. Nevertheless, at the Roseworthy site, the enrichments of wheat N were similar to those of NO₃^? N in the profile at seeding, indicating that the proportions of ¹⁴N and ¹⁵N in the inorganic N pool did not change appreciably during the cropping period. By assuming equilibrium at this site, we calculate that during 15 months decomposition the soil plus legume delivered about 189 kg N ha^?1, of which 93.2 kg ha^?1 (49.3%) was taken up by the wheat, 37.2 kg ha^?1 (19.7%) was immobilized or remained as fine root residues, and 17.3 kg ha^?1 (9.2%) remained as inorganic N in the soil profile; 41.7 kg ha^?1 (22.1%) was unaccounted for in the soil-plant system, and was probably lost via inorganic N. Thus about 6.5 kg inorganic N ha^?1 was supplied by the soil plus medic residues per 100 kg dry matter ha^?1 removed as wheat grain.     

长期不同施氮处理玉米根茬的田间分解特性

以7年氮肥定位试验地玉米根茬为研究对象,通过把玉米根茬按2%比例与15 cm和45 cm土层深度的土壤混合后田间埋袋的方法,研究长期不同施氮量处理[分别为0 kg(N)?hm?2、120 kg(N)?hm?2和240 kg(N)?hm?2]的玉米根茬(分别用R0、R120、R240表示),在陕西省长武黑垆土中埋藏分解1 a后对土壤碳、氮组分的影响及根茬有机碳的分解特性。与未添加玉米根茬的对照土壤相比,玉米根茬加入能够显著增加各层土壤的微生物量碳、可溶性有机碳和矿质态氮含量,3种施氮量处理间差异不显著。随着分解时间延长,土壤可溶性有机物中结构相对复杂的芳香类化合物比例逐渐增加。分解1 a后,R0、R120和R240根茬的有机碳残留率在15 cm土层中分别为44.4%、35.3%和34.9%,在45 cm土层中分别为53.3%、44.3%和42.5%。R0根茬的碳残留率显著高于R120和R240;玉米根茬在15 cm土层的碳分解率和分解速率常数显著高于45 cm土层。采用一级动力学方程拟合玉米根茬碳残留率变化结果显示,R0、R120和R240根茬有机碳分解95%所需要的时间在45 cm土层比15cm土层分别长3.2 a、2.3 a和1.9 a。氮肥施用量影响玉米根茬在土壤中的分解特性,在评价农田氮肥施用与土壤固碳时,应考虑不同氮肥用量下残茬养分组成及其在土壤中分解的差异。