Organic nitrogen stimulates the heterotrophic nitrification rate in an acidic forest soil

Many previous studies have demonstrated that heterotrophic nitrification processes play an important role in the production of NO₃⁻ in acidic soils. However, it is not clear whether a low concentration of nitrogenous organic compounds support heterotrophic nitrification processes in natural soils. In this study, we performed an ¹⁵N tracer experiment with a glycine concentration gradient (20, 40, 80, and 160 mg N kg⁻¹) to investigate the effect of the organic nitrogen concentration on the heterotrophic nitrification rate and its relative contribution to the total nitrification of the studied acidic forest soil. This experiment demonstrated that ¹⁵N–NO₃⁻ accumulated over time with all nitrogen treatments in the presence of acetylene, confirming that heterotrophic nitrification occurred even at a low organic nitrogen concentration (20 mg kg⁻¹) in the studied acidic forest soil. In the presence of acetylene, the ¹⁵N–NO₃⁻ concentration in the 20 and 40 mg kg⁻¹ glycine-N treatments was significantly lower than in the 80 and 160 mg kg⁻¹ glycine-N treatments (p < 0.05), indicating that a high organic nitrogen concentration stimulated the heterotrophic nitrification rate. There was no significant difference in the average contribution of heterotrophic nitrification to total nitrification among the different nitrogen treatments, suggesting that the organic nitrogen concentration did not affect the relative contribution of heterotrophic nitrification to total nitrification in the studied acidic soil. Our results confirmed that a low concentration of organic N (20 mg kg⁻¹) supported heterotrophic nitrification in the studied soil. The organic nitrogen concentration stimulates the heterotrophic nitrification rate, but does not affect the relative contribution of heterotrophic nitrification to total nitrification in the studied acidic soil.     

Tea plantation destroys soil retention of NO3− and increases N2O emissions in subtropical China

The intensive conversion from woodland to tea plantation in subtropical China might significantly change the potential supply processes and cycling of inorganic Nitrogen (N). However, few studies have been conducted to investigate the internal N transformations involved in the production and consumption of inorganic N and N₂O emissions in subtropical soils under tea plantations. In a ¹⁵N tracing experiment, nine tea fields with different plantation ages (1-y, 5-y and 30-y) and three adjacent woodlands were sampled to investigate changes in soil gross N transformation rates in humid subtropical China. Conversion of woodland to tea plantation significantly altered soil gross N transformation rates. The mineralization rate (M_Norg) was much lower in soils under tea plantation (0.53–0.75 mg N kg⁻¹ d⁻¹) than in soil sampled from woodland (1.71 mg N kg⁻¹ d⁻¹), while the biological inorganic N supply (INS), defined as the sum of organic N mineralized into NH₄⁺ (M_Norg) and heterotrophic nitrification (O_Nrec), was not significantly different between soils under woodland and tea plantation, apart from soil under 30-y tea plantation which had the largest INS. Interestingly, the contribution of O_Nrec to INS increased from 19.6% in soil under woodland to 65.0–82.4% in tea-planted soils, suggesting O_Nrec is the dominant process producing inorganic N in tea-planted soils. Meanwhile, the conversion from woodland to tea plantation destroyed soil NO₃⁻ retention by increasing O_Nrec, autotrophic nitrification (O_NH4) and abiotic release of stored NO₃⁻ while decreasing microbial NO₃⁻ immobilization (I_NO3), resulting in greater NO₃⁻ production in soil. In addition, long-term tea plantation significantly enhanced the potential release of N₂O. Soil C/N was positively correlated with M_Norg and I_NO3, suggesting that an increase in soil C/N from added organic materials (e.g. rice hull) is likely to reduce the increased production of NO₃⁻ in the soils under tea plantation.     

Contributions of ammonia-oxidizing archaea and bacteria to nitrification in Oregon forest soils

Ammonia oxidation, the first step of nitrification, is mediated by both ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) and bacteria (AOB); however, the relative contributions of AOA and AOB to soil nitrification are not well understood. In this study we used 1-octyne to discriminate between AOA- and AOB-supported nitrification determined both in soil-water slurries and in unsaturated whole soil at field moisture. Soils were collected from stands of red alder (Alnus rubra Bong.) and Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii Mirb. Franco) at three sites (Cascade Head, the H.J. Andrews, and McDonald Forest) on acidic soils (pH 3.9–5.7) in Oregon, USA. The abundances of AOA and AOB were measured using quantitative PCR by targeting the amoA gene, which encodes subunit A of ammonia monooxygenase. Total and AOA-specific (octyne-resistant) nitrification activities in soil slurries were significantly higher at Cascade Head (the most acidic soils, pH < 5) than at either the H.J. Andrews or McDonald Forest, and greater in red alder compared with Douglas-fir soils. The fraction of octyne-resistant nitrification varied among sites (21–74%) and was highest at Cascade Head than at the other two locations. Net nitrification rates of whole soil without NH₄⁺ amendment ranged from 0.4 to 3.3 mg N kg⁻¹ soil d⁻¹. Overall, net nitrification rates of whole soil were stimulated 2- to 8-fold by addition of 140 mg NH₄⁺-N kg⁻¹ soil; this was significant for red alder at Cascade Head and the H.J. Andrews. Red alder at Cascade Head was unique in that the majority of NH₄⁺-stimulated nitrifying activity was octyne-resistant (73%). At all other sites, NH₄⁺-stimulated nitrification was octyne-sensitive (68–90%). The octyne-sensitive activity—presumably AOB—was affected more by soil pH whereas the octyne-resistant (AOA) activity was more strongly related to N availability.     

Plant material addition affects soil nitrous oxide production differently between aerobic and oxygen-limited conditions

It is a common agricultural practice for crop residues to be plowed into the soil or left on the soil surface. Soil addition of crop residues can considerably modify soil microbial activity and net N mineralization, and in general such modifications are negatively related to the C:N ratios of crop residues. Yet, little is known on the impacts of crop residues of different C:N ratios on soil nitrous oxide (N₂O) production under different aeration conditions via nitrification and denitrification. In this study, an 84-day laboratory incubation was conducted under aerobic and O₂-limited conditions and soil N₂O production was measured every 3 days after the addition of plant materials with a wide range of C:N ratios from 14 to 297. Two aerobic conditions were created by adjusting the water content of soil at a bulk density of 1.1 g cm⁻³ to 30% water-filled pore space (WFPS) and 60% WFPS, and two O₂-limited conditions were made by 90% WFPS and fluctuation between 90% and 30% WFPS. Each fluctuation cycle lasted 9 days and soil water content was readjusted to 90% WFPS at the end of each cycle. We also measured microbial respiration activity and net N mineralization periodically (i.e., 3, 7, 14, 28, 42, 56, 70, and 84 days) during the incubation and microbial biomass C at the end of incubation. At aerobic conditions, soil amendments of plant materials, regardless of their C:N ratios, all enhanced soil N₂O production. However, net N mineralization was dependent on plant material C:N ratios, being significantly higher or lower than the control for C:N ratios ∼15 and C:N ratios ≥44, respectively. Such inconsistent responses indicated that nitrifiers mediating nitrification and therefore byproduct N₂O production could strongly compete with heterotrophic microbes for NH₄⁺ and therefore net N mineralization was not a good predictor for nitrification-associated N₂O production. Interestingly, plant material additions reduced soil N₂O production by up to ∼95% at O₂-limited conditions, perhaps due to NO₃⁻ limitation. Soil NO₃⁻ production via nitrification could be low at O₂-limited conditions, and soil NO₃⁻ availability could be further reduced due to increases in microbial biomass and thus microbial N assimilation after plant material additions. This NO₃⁻ limitation might enhance N₂O reduction to N₂, by which denitrifiers could harvest more energy from the consumption of limited NO₃⁻. Nonetheless, our results revealed contrasting differences in N₂O production between aerobic and O₂-limited conditions following soil amendments of plant materials.     

Effects of decreasing water potential on gross ammonification and nitrification in an acid coniferous forest soil

Changes in the soil water regime, predicted as a consequence of global climate change, might influence the N cycle in temperate forest soils. We investigated the effect of decreasing soil water potentials on gross ammonification and nitrification in different soil horizons of a Norway spruce forest and tested the hypotheses that i) gross rates are more sensitive to desiccation in the Oa and EA horizon as compared to the uppermost Oi/Oe horizon and ii) that gross nitrification is more sensitive than gross ammonification. Soil samples were adjusted by air drying to water potentials from about field capacity to around −1.0 MPa, a range that is often observed under field conditions at our site. Gross rates were measured using the ¹⁵N pool dilution technique. To ensure that the addition of solute label to dry soils and the local rewetting does not affect the results by re-mineralization or preferential consumption of ¹⁵N, we compared different extraction and incubation times.T₀ times ranging from 10 to 300 min and incubation times of 48 h and 72 h did not influence the rates of gross ammonification and nitrification. Even small changes of water potential decreased gross ammonification and nitrification in the O horizon. In the EA horizon, gross nitrification was below detection limit and the response of the generally low rates of gross ammonification to decreasing water potentials was minor. In the Oi/Oe horizon gross ammonification and nitrification decreased from 37.5 to 18.3 mg N kg⁻¹ soil d⁻¹ and from 15.4 to 5.6 mg N kg⁻¹ soil d⁻¹ when the water potential decreased from field capacity to −0.8 MPa. In the Oa horizon gross ammonification decreased from 7.4 to 4.0 mg N kg⁻¹ soil d⁻¹ when the water potential reached −0.6 MPa. At such water potential nitrification almost ceased, while in the Oi/Oe horizon nitrification continued at a rather high level. Hence, only in the Oa horizon nitrification was more sensitive to desiccation than ammonification. Extended drought periods that might result from climate change will cause a reduction in gross N turnover rates in forest soils even at moderate levels of soil desiccation.     

Mechanisms behind soil N dynamics following cover restoration in degraded land in subtropical China

Purpose

Nitrogen (N) is an important nutrient for re-vegetation during ecosystem restoration, but the effects of cover restoration on soil N transformations are not fully understood. This study was conducted to investigate N transformations in soils with different cover restoration ages in Eastern China.

Materials and methods

Soil samples were collected from four degraded and subsequently restored lands with restoration ages of 7, 17, 23, and 35 years along with an adjacent control of degraded land. A ¹⁵N tracing technique was used to quantify gross N transformation rates.

Results and discussion

Compared with degraded land, soil organic carbon (SOC) and total N (TN) increased by 1.60–3.97 and 2.49–5.36 times in restoration land. Cover restoration increased ammonium and nitrate immobilization, and dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium (DNRA) by 0.56–0.96, 0.34–2.10, and 0.79–3.45 times, respectively, indicating that restoration was beneficial for N retention. There were positive correlations between SOC content and ammonium and nitrate immobilization and DNRA, indicating that the increase in soil N retention capacity may be ascribed to increasing SOC concentrations. The stimulating effect of SOC on ammonium immobilization was greater than its effect on organic N mineralization, so while SOC and TN increased, inorganic N supply did not increase. Autotrophic and heterotrophic nitrification increased with increasing SOC and TN concentrations. Notably, heterotrophic nitrification was an important source of NO₃^??N production, accounting for 47–67% of NO₃^??N production among all restoration ages.

Conclusions

The capacity of N retention was improved by cover restoration, leading to an increase in soil organic carbon and total N over time, but inorganic N supply capacity did not change with cover restoration age.

     

Effect of labile and recalcitrant carbon on heterotrophic nitrification in a subtropical forest soil

Carbon (C) is an important factor controlling heterotrophic nitrification in soil, but the effect of individual C components (e.g., labile and recalcitrant C) is largely unclear. We carried out a C amendment experiment in which either labile C (glucose) or a recalcitrant C (cellulose and biochar) was added to a subtropical forest soil. A ¹⁵N-, ¹³C-tracing and MiSeq sequencing study was performed to investigate soil gross heterotrophic nitrification rates, carbon utilization for soil respiration and microbial biomass production and microbial composition, respectively. After 2 days, results showed a significant increase of gross heterotrophic nitrification rate in glucose (GLU) (on average 3.34 mg N kg⁻¹ day⁻¹), cellulose (CEL) (on average 0.21 mg N kg⁻¹ day⁻¹) and biochar (BIO) (on average 0.13 mg N kg⁻¹ day⁻¹) amendment in comparison with the unamended soil (CK) (on average 0.01 mg N kg⁻¹ day⁻¹; p < 0.05). The contribution of heterotrophic nitrification to total soil nitrification was significantly larger in GLU (average 85.86%), CEL (average 98.52%) and BIO (average 81.25%) treatments compared with CK (average 33.33%; p < 0.01). After 2-month amendment, the gross rates remarkably decreased in GLU (average 0.02 mg N kg⁻¹ day⁻¹), and the contribution to total nitrification (average 8.73%) were significantly lower than that in CK (p < 0.05). A decrease in the proportion of heterotrophic nitrification to total nitrification in soil was also observed in CEL (average 38.40%) and BIO (6.74%) treatments. Nevertheless, BIO amendment (compared to CK, GLU and CEL) showed the highest gross heterotrophic nitrification rate, accompanied by a notably higher abundance of specific heterotrophic nitrifiers, i.e. Trichoderma, Aspergillus and Penicillium. These results point to a stimulatory effect of C addition on soil heterotrophic nitrification in the short term, while the stimulatory impact of C amendment diminishes with the decline in easily available C. In addition, a shift of the microbial composition in the long term can possibly be sustained for longer if additional recalcitrant C is available to heterotrophic nitrifiers. The dynamic response of heterotrophic nitrification to labile and recalcitrant C in this study offered an explanation for the positive effect of plantation and plant root exudation on the process.     

Efficiency of nitrification inhibitor DMPP to reduce nitrous oxide emissions under different temperature and moisture conditions

Agricultural intensification has led to the use of very high inputs of nitrogen fertilizers into cultivated land. As a consequence of this, nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions have increased significantly. Nowadays, the challenge is to mitigate these emissions in order to reduce global warming. Addition of nitrification inhibitors (NI) to fertilizers can reduce the losses of N₂O to the atmosphere, but field studies have shown that their efficiency varies depending greatly on the environmental conditions. Soil water content and temperature are key factors controlling N₂O emissions from soils and they seem to be also key parameters responsible for the variation in nitrification inhibitors efficiency. We present a laboratory study aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of the nitrification inhibitor 3,4-dimethylpyrazol phosphate (DMPP) at three different temperatures (10, 15 and 20 °C) and three soil water contents (40%, 60% and 80% of WFPS) on N₂O emissions following the application of 1.2 mg N kg⁻¹ dry soil (equivalent to 140 kg N ha⁻¹). Also the CO₂ and CH₄ emissions were followed to see the possible side effects of DMPP on the overall microbial activities. Nitrogen was applied either as ammonium sulfate nitrate (ASN) or as ENTEC 26 (ASN + DMPP). The application of ENTEC 26 was effective reducing N₂O losses up to the levels of an unfertilized control treatment in all conditions. Nevertheless, the percentage of reduction induced by DMPP in the ENTEC treatment with respect to the ASN varied from 3% to 45% depending on temperature and soil water content conditions. At 40% of WFPS, when nitrification is expected to be the main process producing N₂O, the increase of N₂O emissions in ASN together with temperature provoked an increase in DMPP efficiency reducing these emissions from 17% up to 42%. Contrarily, at 80% of WFPS, when denitrification is expected to be the main source of N₂O, emissions after ASN application decreased with temperature, which induced a decrease from 45% to 23% in the efficiency of DMPP reducing N₂O losses. Overall, the results obtained in this study suggest that DMPP performance regarding N₂O emissions reduction would be the best in cold and wet conditions. Neither CO₂ emissions nor CH₄ emissions were affected by the use of DMPP at the different soil water contents and temperatures.     

亚热带松林中强酸性土壤自养和异养硝化作用的研究

The occurrence of nitrification in some acidic forest soils is still a subject of debate. Identification of main nitrification pathways in acidic forest soils is still largely unknown. Acidic yellow soil (Oxisol) samples were selected to test whether nitrification can occur or not in acidic subtropical pine forest ecosystems. Relative contributions of autotrophs and heterotrophs to nitrification were studied by adding selective nitrification inhibitor nitrapyrin. Soil NH₄⁺-N concentrations decreased, but NO₃^--N concentrations increased significantly for the no-nitrapyrin control during the first week of incubation, indicating that nitrification did occur in the acidic subtropical soil. The calculated net nitrification rate was 0.49 mg N kg^-1 d^-1 for the no-nitrapyrin control during the first week of incubation. Nitrapyrin amendment resulted in a significant reduction of NO₃^--N concentration. Autotrophic nitrification rate averaged 0.28 mg N kg^-1 d^-1 and the heterotrophic nitrification rate was 0.21 mg N kg^-1 d^-1 in the first week. Ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) abundance increased slightly during incubation, but nitrapyrin amendment significantly decreased AOB amoA gene copy numbers by about 80%. However, the ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) abundance showed significant increases only in the last 2 weeks of incubation and it was also decreased by nitrapyrin amendment. Our results indicated that nitrification did occur in the present acidic subtropical pine forest soil, and autotrophic nitrification was the main nitrification pathway. Both AOA and AOB were the active biotic agents responsible for autotrophic nitrification in the acidic subtropical pine forest soil.     

Crop residues and fertilizer nitrogen influence residue decomposition and nitrous oxide emission from a Vertisol

Crop residues with high C/N ratio immobilize N released during decomposition in soil, thus reducing N losses through leaching, denitrification, and nitrous oxide (N₂O) emission. A laboratory incubation experiment was conducted for 84 days under controlled conditions (24°C and moisture content 55% of water-holding capacity) to study the influence of sugarcane, maize, sorghum, cotton and lucerne residues, and mineral N addition, on N mineralization–immobilization and N₂O emission. Residues were added at the rate of 3 t C ha⁻¹ to soil with, and without, 150 kg urea N ha⁻¹. The addition of sugarcane, maize, and sorghum residues without N fertilizer resulted in a significant immobilization of soil N. Amended soil had significantly (P < 0.05) lower NO₃⁻–N, which reached minimum values of 2.8 mg N kg⁻¹ for sugarcane (at day 28), 10.3 mg N kg⁻¹ for maize (day 7), and 5.9 mg N kg⁻¹ for sorghum (day 7), compared to 22.7 mg N kg⁻¹ for the unamended soil (day 7). During 84 days of incubation, the total mineral N in the residues + N treatments were decreased by 45 mg N kg⁻¹ in sugarcane, 34 mg kg⁻¹ in maize, 29 mg kg⁻¹ in sorghum, and 16 mg kg⁻¹ in cotton amended soil compared to soil + N fertilizer, although soil NO₃⁻–N increased by 7 mg kg⁻¹ in lucerne amended soil. The addition of residues also significantly increased amended soil microbial biomass C and N. Maximum emissions of N₂O from crop residue amended soils occurred in the first 4–5 days of incubation. Overall, after 84 days of incubation, the cumulative N₂O emission was 25% lower with cotton + N fertilizer, compared to soil + N fertilizer. The cumulative N₂O emission was significantly and positively correlated with NO₃⁻–N (r = 0.92, P < 0.01) and total mineral N (r = 0.93, P < 0.01) after 84 days of incubation, and had a weak but significant positive correlation with cumulative CO₂ in the first 3 and 5 days of incubation (r = 0.59, P < 0.05).     

Processes responsible for the nitrous oxide emission from a Costa Rican Andosol under a coffee agroforestry plantation

We used the inhibitor acetylene (C₂H₂) at partial pressures of 10 Pa and 10 kPa to inhibit autotrophic nitrification and the reduction of nitrous oxide (N₂O) to N₂, respectively. Soils (Andosol) from a Coffea arabica plantation shaded by Inga densiflora in Costa Rica were adjusted to 39, 58, 76 and 87% water-filled pore space (WFPS) and incubated for 6 days in the absence or presence of C₂H₂. Soil respiration, nitrification rates and N₂O emissions by both processes were measured in relation to soil moisture conditions. At all WFPS studied, rates of N₂O and N₂ productions were small (4.8; 14.7; 23 and 239.6 ng N–N₂O g⁻¹ d.w. d⁻¹ at 39, 58, 76 and 87% WFPS, respectively), and despite a low soil pH (4.7), N₂O was mainly produced by nitrification, which was responsible for 85, 91, 84 and 87% of the total N₂O emissions at 39, 58, 76 and 87% WFPS, respectively. At the three smaller values of WFPS, a linear relationship was established between WFPS, soil respiration, nitrification and N₂O released by nitrification; no N₂ was produced by denitrification. At more anaerobic conditions achieved by a WFPS of 87%, a large rate of N₂O production was measured during nitrification, and N₂ production accounted for 84% of the gaseous N fluxes caused by denitrification.     

Dinitrogen and N2O emissions in arable soils: Effect of tillage, N source and soil moisture

A laboratory investigation was performed to compare the fluxes of dinitrogen (N₂), N₂O and carbon dioxide (CO₂) from no-till (NT) and conventional till (CT) soils under the same water, mineral nitrogen and temperature status. Intact soil cores (0-10 cm) were incubated for 2 weeks at 25 °C at either 75% or 60% water-filled pore space (WFPS) with ¹⁵N-labeled fertilizers (100 mg N kg⁻¹ soil). Gas and soil samples were collected at 1-4 day intervals during the incubation period. The N₂O and CO₂ fluxes were measured by a gas chromatography (GC) system while total N₂ and N₂O losses and their ¹⁵N mole fractions in the soil mineral N pool were determined by a mass spectrometer. The daily accumulative fluxes of N₂ and N₂O were significantly affected by tillage, N source and soil moisture. We observed higher (P<0.05) fluxes of N₂+N₂O, N₂O and CO₂ from the NT soils than from the CT soils. Compared with the addition of nitrate (NO₃⁻), the addition of ammonium (NH₄⁺) enhanced the emissions of these N and C gases in the CT and NT soils, but the effect of NH₄⁺ on the N₂ and/or N₂O fluxes was evident only at 60% WFPS, indicating that nitrification and subsequent denitrification contributed largely to the gaseous N losses and N₂O emission under the lower moisture condition. Total and fertilizer-induced emissions of N₂ and/or N₂O were higher (P<0.05) at 75% WFPS than with 60% WFPS, while CO₂ fluxes were not influenced by the two moisture levels. These laboratory results indicate that there is greater potential for N₂O loss from NT soils than CT soils. Avoiding wet soil conditions (>60% WFPS) and applying a NO₃⁻ form of N fertilizer would reduce potential N₂O emissions from arable soils.     

Isotopomer signatures of soil-emitted N2O under different moisture conditions—A microcosm study with arable loess soil

Soils represent the major source of the atmospheric greenhouse gas nitrous oxide (N₂O) and there is a need to better constrain the total global flux and the relative contribution of the microbial source processes. The aim of our study was to evaluate isotopomer analysis of N₂O (intramolecular distribution of ¹⁵N) as well as conventional nitrogen and oxygen isotope ratios (i) as a tool to identify N₂O production processes in soils and (ii) to constrain the isotopic fingerprint of soil-derived N₂O. We conducted a microcosm study with arable loess soil fertilized with 20 mg N kg⁻¹ of ¹⁵NO₃⁻-labeled or non-labeled ammonium nitrate. Soils were incubated for 16 d at varying moisture (55%, 75% and 85% water-filled pore space (WFPS)) in order to establish different levels of nitrification and denitrification. Dual isotope and isotopomer ratios of emitted N₂O were determined by mass spectrometric analysis of δ¹⁸O, average δ¹⁵N (δ¹⁵N^bulk) and ¹⁵N site preference (SP=difference in δ¹⁵N between the central and peripheral N-positions of the asymmetric N₂O molecule). Total rates and N₂O emission of denitrification and nitrification were determined by ¹⁵N analysis of headspace gases and soil extracts of the ¹⁵NO₃⁻ treatment. N₂O emission and denitrification increased with moisture whereas gross nitrification was almost constant. In the 55% WFPS treatment, more than half of the N₂O flux was derived from nitrification, whereas denitrification was the dominant N₂O source in the 75% WFPS and 85% WFPS treatments. Moisture conditions were reflected by the isotopic signatures since highly significant differences were observed for average δ¹⁵N^bulk, SP and δ¹⁸O. Experiment means of the 75% WFPS and 85% WFPS treatments gave negative δ¹⁵N^bulk (−18.0‰ and −34.8‰, respectively) and positive SP (8.6‰ and 15.3‰, respectively), which we explained by the fractionation during N₂O production and partial reduction to N₂. In the 55% WFPS treatment, mean SP was relatively low (1.9‰), which suggests that nitrification produced N₂O with low or negative SP. The observed influence of process condition on isotopomer signatures suggests that the isotopomer approach might be suitable for identifying N₂O source processes. However, more research is needed to determine the impact from process rates and microbial community structure. Isotopomer signatures were within the range reported from previous soil studies which supports the assumption that SP of soil-derived N₂O is lower than SP of tropospheric N₂O.     

Annual emissions of nitrous oxide and nitric oxide from a wheat–maize cropping system on a silt loam calcareous soil in the North China Plain

Nitrogen amendment followed by flooding irrigation is a general management practice for a wheat–maize rotation in the North China Plain, which may favor nitrification and denitrification. Consequently, high emissions of nitrous oxide (N₂O) and nitric oxide (NO) are hypothesized to occur. To test this hypothesis, we performed year-round field measurements of N₂O and NO fluxes from irrigated wheat–maize fields on a calcareous soil applied with all crop residues using a static, opaque chamber measuring system. To interpret the field data, laboratory experiments using intact soil cores with added carbon (glucose) and nitrogen (nitrate, ammonium) substrates were performed. Our field measurements showed that pulse emissions after fertilization and irrigation/rainfall contributed to 73% and 88% of the annual N₂O and NO emissions, respectively. Soil moisture and mineral nitrogen contents significantly affected the emissions of both gases. Annual emissions from fields fertilized at the conventional rate (600 kg N ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹) totaled 4.0 ± 0.2 and 3.0 ± 0.2 kg N ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ for N₂O and NO, respectively, while those from unfertilized fields were much lower (0.5 ± 0.02 kg N ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ and 0.4 ± 0.05 kg N ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹, respectively). Direct emission factors (EF_ds) of N₂O and NO for the fertilizer nitrogen were estimated to be 0.59 ± 0.04% and 0.44 ± 0.04%, respectively. By summarizing the results of our study and others, we recommended specific EF_ds (N₂O: 0.54 ± 0.09%; NO: 0.45 ± 0.04%) for estimating emissions from irrigated croplands on calcareous soils with organic carbon ranging from 5 to 16 g kg⁻¹. Nitrification dominated the processes driving the emissions of both gases following fertilization. It was evident that insufficient available carbon limited microbial denitrification and thus N₂O emission. This implicates that efforts to enhance carbon sink in calcareous soils likely increase their N₂O emissions.     

Changes in soil organic carbon dynamics in an Eastern Chinese coastal wetland following invasion by a C4 plant Spartina alterniflora

The exotic C₄ grass Spartina alterniflora was intentionally introduced to tidal coastal wetlands in Jiangsu province of China in 1982. Since then it has rapidly replaced the native C₃ plant Suaeda salsa, becoming one of the dominant vegetation types in the coastal wetlands of China. Although plant invasion can change soil organic carbon (SOC) storage, little is known about how plant invasion influences C storage within soil fractions. We investigated how S. alterniflora invasion across an 8, 12 and 14-year chronosequence affected SOC and soil nitrogen (N), using soil fractionation and stable δ¹³C isotope analyses. SOC and N concentrations at 0-10 cm depth in S. alterniflora soil increased during the S. alterniflora invasion chronosequence, ranging from 3.67 to 4.90 g C kg⁻¹ soil, and from 0.307 to 0.391 g N kg⁻¹ soil. These were significantly higher than the values in the Suaeda salsa community, by 27.0-69.6% for SOC, and 21.8-55.2% for total N. The S. alterniflora-derived SOC varied from 0.40 to 0.92 g C kg⁻¹ according to mixing calculations, assuming the two possible SOC sources of S. alterniflora and S. salsa, and accounted for 10.8-18.7% of total SOC in the colonized soils. The estimated accumulative rate of SOC from C₄ (S. alterniflora) was 64.1 C kg⁻¹ soil year⁻¹ and from C₃ sources was 78.1 mg C kg⁻¹. The concentration of S. alterniflora-derived SOC significantly decreased from coarse fraction to fine fraction, and linearly increased as the period of S. alterniflora invasion increased. The highest accumulative rate of SOC from a C₄ source occurred in macroaggregates, while the highest rate from C₃ was in microaggregates. The storage of SOC derived from S. alterniflora in the macroaggregates was 0.27-0.44 g C kg⁻¹ soil, accounting for 43.1-49.1% of the total C₄derived SOC in the soil. Our results suggest that S. alterniflora invasion in coastal wetlands could facilitate SOC storage, because of the high potential for accumulation of the C which has been newly derived from S. alterniflora litter and roots.     

Rewetting and litter addition influence mineralisation and microbial communities in soils from a semi-arid intermittent stream

Nitrogen (N) and carbon (C) mineralisation are triggered by pulses of water availability in arid and semi-arid systems. Intermittent streams and their associated riparian communities are obvious ‘hot spots’ for biogeochemical processes in arid landscapes where water and often C are limiting. Stream landscapes are characterized by highly heterogeneous soils that may respond variably to rewetting. We used a laboratory incubation to quantify how N and C mineralisation in rewetted soils and sediments from an intermittent stream in the semi-arid Pilbara region of north-west Australia varied with saturation level and substrate addition (as ground Eucalyptus litter). Full (100%) saturation was defined as the maximum gravimetric moisture content (%) achieved in free-draining soils and sediments after rewetting, with 50% saturation defined as half this value. We estimated rates and amounts of N mineralised from changes in inorganic N and microbial respiration as CO₂ efflux throughout the incubation. In soils and sediments subject to 50% saturation, >90% of N mineralised accumulated within the first 7 d of incubation, compared to only 48% when soils were fully saturated (100% saturation). Mineralisation rates and microbial respiration were similar in riparian and floodplain soils, and channel sediments. N mineralisation rates in litter-amended soils and sediments (0.73 mg N kg⁻¹ d⁻¹) were only one-third that of unamended samples (3.04 mg N kg⁻¹ d⁻¹), while cumulative microbial respiration was doubled in litter-amended soils, suggesting N was more rapidly immobilized. Landscape position was less important in controlling microbial activity than soil saturation when water-filled pore space (% WFPS) was greater than 40%. Our results suggest that large pulses of water availability resulting in full soil saturation cause a slower release of mineralisation products, compared to small pulse events that stimulate a rapid cycle of C and N mineralisation-immobilization.     

Contributions of nitrification and denitrification to N2O emissions from soils at different water-filled pore space

A combination of stable isotope and acetylene (0.01% v/v) inhibition techniques were used for the first time to determine N₂O production during denitrification, autotrophic nitrification and heterotrophic nitrification in a fertilised (200 kg N ha^–1) silt loam soil at contrasting (20–70%) water-filled pore space (WFPS). ¹⁵N-N₂O emissions from ¹⁴NH₄¹⁵NO₃ replicates were attributed to denitrification and ¹⁵N-N₂O from ¹⁵NH₄¹⁵NO₃ minus that from ¹⁴NH₄¹⁵NO₃ replicates was attributed to nitrification and heterotrophic nitrification in the presence of acetylene, as there was no dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium or immobilisation and remineralisation of ¹⁵N-NO₃^–. All of the N₂O emitted at 70% WFPS (31.6 mg N₂O-N m^–2 over 24 days; 1.12 g N₂O-N g dry soil^–1; 0.16% of N applied) was produced during denitrification, but at 35–60% WFPS nitrification was the main process producing N₂O, accounting for 81% of ¹⁵N-N₂O emitted at 60% WFPS, and 7.9 g ¹⁵N-N₂O m^–2 (0.28 ng ¹⁵N-N₂O g dry soil^–1) was estimated to be emitted over 7 days during heterotrophic nitrification in the 50% WFPS treatment and accounted for 20% of ¹⁵N-N₂O from this treatment. Denitrification was the predominant N₂O-producing process at 20% WFPS (2.6 g ¹⁵N-N₂O m^–2 over 7 days; 0.09 ng ¹⁵N-N₂O g dry soil^–1; 85% of ¹⁵N-N₂O from this treatment) and may have been due to the occurrence of aerobic denitrification at this WFPS. Our results demonstrate the usefulness of a combined stable isotope and acetylene approach to quantify N₂O emissions from different processes and to show that several processes may contribute to N₂O emission from agricultural soils depending on soil WFPS.     

Nitrapyrin effectiveness in reducing nitrous oxide emissions decreases at low doses of urea in an Andosol

In the tropics,frequent nitrogen(N)fertilization of grazing areas can potentially increase nitrous oxide(N₂O)emissions.The application of nitrification inhibitors has been reported as an effective management practice for potentially reducing N loss from the soil-plant system and improving N use efficiency(NUE).The aim of this study was to determine the effect of the co-application of nitrapyrin(a nitrification inhibitor,NI)and urea in a tropical Andosol on the behavior of N and the emissions of N₂O from autotrophic and heterotrophic nitrification.A greenhouse experiment was performed using a soil(pH 5.9,organic matter content 78 g kg^-1,and N 5.6 g kg^-1)sown with Cynodon nlemfuensis at 60%water-filled pore space to quantify total N₂O emissions,N₂O derived from fertilizer,soil ammonium(NH₄⁺)and nitrate(NO₃^-),and NUE.The study included treatments that received deionized water only(control,NI).No significant differences were observed in soil NH₄⁺content between the UR and UR+NI treatments,probably because of soil mineralization and NO₃^-produced by heterotrophic nitrification,which is not effectively inhibited by nitrapyrin.After 56 d,N₂O emissions in UR(0.51±0.12 mg N₂O-N concluded that the soil organic N mineralization and heterotrophic nitrification are the main processes of NH₄⁺and NO₃^-production.Additionally,it was found that N₂O emissions were partially a consequence of the direct oxidation of the soil's organic N via heterotrophic nitrification coupled to denitrification.Finally,the results suggest that nitrapyrin would likely exert significant mitigation on N₂O emissions only if a substantial N surplus exists in soils with high organic matter content.     

土壤温度、水分和NH4+-N浓度对土壤硝化反应速度及N2O排放的影响

硝化反应是土壤、特别是干旱半干旱地区农业土壤N2O产生的重要途径之一。但是,目前环境条件对硝化反应中N2O排放的影响研究较少,而在国内外通用的几个模型中均用固定比例估算硝化反应过程中N2O的排放。本文通过砂壤土培养试验,研究了土壤温度、水分和NH4+-N浓度对硝化反应速度及硝化反应中N2O排放的影响,并用数学模型定量表示了各因素对硝化反应的作用,用最小二乘法最优拟合求得该土壤的最大硝化反应速度及N2O最大排放比例。结果表明,随着温度升高,硝化反应速度呈指数增长;水分含量由20%充水孔隙度(WFPS)增加到40%WFPS时,反应速度增加,水分含量增加到60%WFPS时反应速度略有降低;NH4+-N浓度增加对硝化反应速度起抑制作用。用米氏方程描述该土壤的硝化反应过程,其最大硝化反应速度为6.67mg·kg?1·d?1。硝化反应中N2O排放比例随温度升高而降低;随NH4+-N浓度增加而略有增加;20%和40%WFPS水分含量时,硝化反应中N2O排放比例为0.43%～1.50%,最小二乘法求得的最大比例为3.03%,60%WFPS时可能由于反硝化作用,N2O排放比例急剧增加,还需进一步研究水分对硝化反应中N2O排放的影响。     

Cycloheximide inhibition of peptone-induced nitrate production across a soil moisture gradient

The antibiotic block technique is used to distinguish between fungal and bacterial induced activity. In the present study, the antibiotic inhibition of peptone-induced NO₃^– production was tested across a soil moisture gradient. Soil was incubated at 60, 80, 90 and 100% water-filled pore space (WFPS) and as a water slurry. Peptone was used as the substrate and cycloheximide and C₂H₂ (0.1% v/v) were added to inhibit fungal and autotrophic nitrification, respectively, the latter being considered mainly of bacterial origin. At all moisture contents is more than 80% of NO₃^– production was due to autotrophic nitrification. At increasing water contents the percentage of NO₃^– production inhibited by C₂H₂ increased, whereas the percentage inhibited by cycloheximide decreased from 26.4% at 60% WFPS to 4.6% in the water slurry, suggesting a different sensitivity of bacterial and fungal nitrification to soil moisture. Although no direct evidence of an alteration in the fungal population was produced in this experiment, data proved that water content influences the result of the test and hence care should be taken when comparing data using different test conditions.