Assessment of N Mineralization and N Leaching in Soil Using a New in situ Incubation Method

Field incubations have been pointed out as the more realistic method to provide estimates of nitrogen (N) mineralization. The aim of this study is to evaluate the quality of the results obtained in a field incubation using an open reactor to estimate net N mineralization and N leaching. The incubation experiment was initiated with 24 reactors. At each date, the reactors were destructed and mineral N in the soil and adsorbed on the exchange resins was determined. Net N mineralization and N leaching were estimated as 23.3 and 18.0 mg/kg, respectively. The results revealed an acceptable repeatability, with coefficient of variation (CV) of 9.0%, a significant adjustment (r² = 0.991), and a low root mean square error (S_yx = 4.2) for the regression model used. The use of this type of reactor may be considered as a reliable alternative to assess N mineralization kinetics from native organic matter and probably for organic residues applied to soils in field studies.     

Sensitivity of Nitrogen Mineralization Indicators to Crop and Soil Management

Abstract

Soil nitrogen (N) mineralization indicators are useful only if they are sensitive to management practices. The precision of measurement and the sensitivity of the following indicators to crop sequence, tillage, and liming effects were compared: (i) mineral N production during a 24‐day incubation under aerobic conditions, (ii) ammonium (NH₄)‐N production under waterlogged conditions, (iii and iv) hot potassium chloride (KCl)–extractable and hydrolyzable NH₄‐N (the latter obtained by subtracting initial NH₄‐N from extracted NH₄‐N), and (v) protease activity. The coefficients of variation decreased in this order: protease activity>KCl‐hydrolyzable NH₄‐N>aerobic incubation>KCl‐extractable NH₄‐N=anaerobic incubation. Most of the test results obtained using the indicators were correlated with each other. Mineralizable N measured by aerobic and anaerobic incubation was sensitive to tillage, liming, and crop sequences, especially when using soil 5‐cm deep. Hot KCl‐extractable NH₄‐N was influenced by tillage but not liming, and less sensitive than the incubation procedures to crop sequence. The protease assay produced no significant test. It was concluded that anaerobic incubation can provide a relatively sensitive assessment of management effects on soil mineralizable N.     

长期耕作和施肥对白浆土氮素矿化的影响

好气培养条件下,白浆土有机N矿化量随培养时间延长而增长,但增加速度趋于下降,两者之间的数量关系遵从化学反应一级方程式。不同处理之间N矿化位势值高低排列顺序为:有机肥(403.55mg/kg)>秸秆还田(365.36mg/kg)>化肥(335.25mg/kg)>免耕(328.05mg/kg)>深翻(324.74mg/kg)>CK(268.65mg/kg)。N矿化位势值在3种耕法中未表现出明显差异。有机N矿化半衰期与施肥有关,有机肥处理的矿化半衰期最长,CK处理最短,有机肥比CK处理多4.12周。各施肥处理之间N矿化速率常数相差不大。     

Influence of Long-term Tillage,Straw, and N Fertilizer Management on Crop Yield,N Uptake,and N Balance Sheet in Two Contrasting Soil Types

Field experiments (established in autumn 1979, with monoculture barley from 1980 to 1990 and barley/wheat–canola–triticale–pea rotation from 1991 to 2008) were conducted on two contrasting soil types (Gray Luvisol [Typic Haplocryalf] loam soil at Breton; Black Chernozem [Albic Agricryoll] silty clay loam soil at Ellerslie) in north-central Alberta, Canada, to determine the influence of tillage (zero tillage and conventional tillage), straw management (straw removed [S_Rem] and straw retained [S_Ret]), and N fertilizer rate (0, 50 and 100 kg N ha^?1in S_Ret, and only 0 kg N ha^?1in S_Rem plots) on seed yield, straw yield, total N uptake in seed + straw (1991–2008), and N balance sheet (1980–2008). The N fertilizer urea was midrow-banded under both tillage systems in the 1991 to 2008 period. There was a considerable increase in seed yield, straw yield, and total N uptake in seed + straw with increasing N rate up to 100 kg N ha^?1 under both tillage systems. On the average, conventional tillage produced greater seed yield (by 279 kg ha^?1), straw yield (by 252 kg ha^?1), and total N uptake in seed + straw (by 6.0 kg N ha^?1) than zero tillage, but the differences were greater at Breton than Ellerslie. Compared to straw removal treatment, seed yield, straw yield, and total N uptake in seed + straw tended to be greater with straw retained at the zero-N rate used in the study. The amounts of applied N unaccounted for over the 1980 to 2008 period ranged from 1114 to 1846 kg N ha^?1 at Breton and 845 to 1665 kg N ha^?1 at Ellerslie, suggesting a great potential for N loss from the soil-plant system through denitrification, and N immobilization from the soil mineral N pool. In conclusion, crop yield and N uptake were lower under zero tillage than conventional, and long-term retention of straw suggests some gradual improvement in soil productivity.     

Mineralization of Nitrogen in Soils Amended with Dairy Manure as Affected by Wetting/Drying Cycles

Abstract

Interest in manure management and its effects on nitrogen (N) mineralization has increased in recent years. The focus of this research was to investigate the N‐mineralization rates of different soil types in Coastal Plain soils and compare them to a soil from Illinois. Soils with and without dairy composted manure addition were subjected to different wetting/drying cycles [constant moisture at 60% water‐filled pore space (WFPS) and cycling moisture from 60 to 30% WFPS] under laboratory conditions at three different temperatures (11°C, 18°C, and 25°C). Samples were collected from three different soil types: Catlin (Mollisols), Bama (Ultisols), and Goldsboro (Utilsols). Soil chemical and physical properties were determined to help assess variations in N-mineralization rates. Addition of composted manure greatly impacted the amount of N mineralized. The amount of manure‐derived organic N mineralized to inorganic forms was mainly attributed to the soil series, with the Catlin (silt loam) producing the most inorganic N followed by the Goldsboro (loam) and then Bama (sandy loam). This was probably due to soil texture and the native climatic conditions of the soil. No significant differences were observed between the constant and cycling moisture regimens, suggesting that the imposed drying cycle may not have been sufficient to desiccate microbial cells and cause a flush in N mineralization upon rewetting. Nitrogen mineralization responded greatly to the influence of temperature, with the greatest N mineralization occurring at 25°C. The information acquired from this study may aid in predicting the impact of manure application to help increase N‐use efficiency when applied under different conditions (e.g., climate season) and soil types.     

长期施肥对黑土氮素矿化与硝化作用特征的影响

采用培养试验研究了长期施肥对黑土矿化与硝化作用特征的影响。结果表明,黑土的矿化作用和硝化作用都较强,长期施肥对黑土矿质态氮量有显著影响,施用化肥能够增加矿质态氮量,在施用NPK肥基础上增施有机肥,矿质态氮量进一步增加,表明在土壤管理上如果增加有机肥的施用,可以提高土壤的供氮能力。长期施肥黑土的硝化率与施N肥相关性较好,其次是施用PK肥。有机肥与无机肥配施可使土壤硝化率显著提高;硝化率高低取决于黑土可矿化态氮素含量和土壤pH。     

阶段培养法测定稻田氮素矿化量的效果评价

传统原位培养法测定的氮素矿化量与无氮区水稻吸氮相关性不高。为此对传统培养方法进行改进,以期为准确测定土壤供氮提供方法。传统培养方法是在插秧前取土,按水土比约1:1装入自封袋中于田间原位连续培养,每隔约30 d取样测定土壤无机氮含量。改进培养方法则采取阶段培养的方法,在插秧前取土,同上法装入自封袋,再将自封袋放入装满水的离心管中于田间培养,在下次取土样(约30 d后)的同时取出上次培养的土袋,并测定土壤无机氮含量。2013—2015年的试验结果表明,随着培养时间的延长,传统培养方法测定的矿化氮先增加后降低,与最高值相比,矿化氮下降了6.7%~28.6%;而改进的阶段原位培养法测定矿化氮未出现下降情况,因此传统方法测定的矿化氮较改进方法降低了30.0%~67.7%(p0.05)。培养时间对矿化氮量影响显著,土样在田间连续培养约40 d就有抑制氮素矿化的风险,因此,每次培养时间不宜过长。改进培养方法测定的矿化氮量与田间无氮区水稻吸氮量之间具有正相关关系,决定系数R~2为0.621(p0.01)。在测定稻田土壤矿化氮时,应采用阶段培养法,每次培养时间不宜超过40 d。该方法测定矿化氮量可以作为评价土壤供氮能力的指标。     

Nitrogen Mineralization of Two Manures as Influenced by Contrasting Application Methods under Laboratory Conditions

The decomposition and the associated nitrogen (N) dynamics of organic N sources are affected by their contact with soil. While several authors have examined the effect of surface application or incorporation of crop residues on their decomposition rate, less information is available about the relationship between the placement of animal manure and their N mineralization rate. This study investigated the influence of chicken manure and cattle manure placement on soil N mineralization. The manures were incorporated or surface applied at 175 mg N kg^?1, and N release was periodically determined over 56 days by measuring inorganic N [nitrate (NO₃ ^?) N and ammonium (NH₄ ⁺) N] in a 2 M potassium chloride (KCl) extract at a ratio of 1:10 (w/v). Results indicated that the control soil released a maximum of 64 mg N kg^?1 soil at day 21, a sixfold increase over the initial concentration, which indicates its substantial mineralization potential. Manure treatments showed an initial increase in net NO₃ ^?-N content at the start of the experiments (until day 7) before an extended period of immobilization, which ended at day 21 of the incubation. A small but positive net N mineralization of all manures was observed from 28 days of incubation. At each sampling time, the mean mineral N released from the control was significantly less (P < 0.01) than surface-applied chicken manure, incorporated chicken manure, and surface-applied cattle manure. Treatments exceptions were at days 21 and 28 where N immobilization was at its peak. In contrast, incorporation of cattle manure showed a different N-release pattern, whereby the mineral N amount was only significantly greater than the control soil at days 42 and 56 with 84 and 108 mg N kg^?1 soil respectively. Incorporation of chicken manure and cattle manure did not favor nitrification as much as surface application and cattle manure caused a much greater immobilization when incorporated than when surface applied.     

Short-Term Ion Uptake by Phalaenopsis as Affected by Concentration of the Solution

ABSTRACT

Nutrient uptake over a 72 h culture period by clonal micropropagules of Phalaenopsis Tanigawa × Yukimai Dream ‘KS 370’ and ‘KS 352’ were surveyed by Ichihashi's (1997) Ichihashi, S. 1997. “Orchid production and research in Japan”. In Orchid Biology, Reviews and Prospectives, Edited by: Arditti, J. and Pridgeon, A. M. 171–212. Dordrecht, , The Netherlands: Kluwer.  [Google Scholar] nutrient solution at the original ion strength and its half and quarter. Uptake of major anions [nitrate (NO₃ ^?), phosphate (H₂PO₄ ^?), and sulfate (SO₄ ^2?)] and cations [ammonium (NH₄ ⁺), potassium (K⁺), calcium (Ca²⁺), and magnesium (Mg²⁺)] measured with an ion chromatograph increased as the ionic strength of the solution increased in both cultivars. The final uptake rates of nutrients were 0.8, 2.0, 2.1, 1.2, 3.0, 2.0, and 1.6 me L^?1, respectively in the order of ions mentioned above. The ratios of the uptake rates between cations (mono or bivalent) were almost in proportion to the ratio of their initial ion strength. Therefore, no antagonistical absorption of cations was found in that ion strength. Leaf content of phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), and copper (Cu) increased as the ionic strength of the solution increased, but concentrations of iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), and zinc (Zn) were not affected significantly. Nitrogen (N) content of leaves in ‘KS 370’ after 72 h culture increased significantly by increasing the ionic strength of the solution. Root concentrations of P, K, Ca, Mg, and Fe increased as the ionic strength of the solution increased in both cultivars. The N concentrations of roots in either ‘KS 370’ or ‘KS 352’ had positive correlations with an increasing ionic strength of the solution, although they were constantly greater in ‘KS 370’ than in ‘KS 352’. The greatest fresh weight was obtained when the plants were cultured in a half strength solution. Whereas dry weight decreased in all treatments as the ionic strength of the solution decreased. These findings show that increased ion absorption affected plant dry weight. The obtained findings provide fundamental information for the closed hydroponic system of phalaenopsis cultivation.     

Availability of Microelements as Affected by Soil Reaction and Fertilization in Long-Term Field Experiments

Results presented in this paper come from two long-term fertilization experiments carried out in Skierniewice (since 1923) and _ yczyn (since 1960). The top layer of soil in Skierniewice contains a little more clay and silt (17%) than at _ yczyn (14%), but the climatic conditions are alike - the mean for many years shows the precipitation of 520mm and temperature 7,9°C. Soil samples for the determination of microelements were collected in the years 1999 and 2000 from the control plots (Ca) and from combinations corresponding to 3 fertilization systems: mineral (CaNPK), organic (Ca + FYM) and mixed organic-mineral (CaNPK + FYM). The contents of B, Cu, Zn, Mn were determined in 4 extract solutions: 0,01mol CaCl2, EDTA, 1mol HCl and HF (total contents). The paper presents average results for the last two years. The following amounts of microelements (%) in relation to the total contents in particular extract solutions were obtained: CaCl 2 m Cu 0,4< Zn 2,2< Mn 3,5 < B 5,0; EDTA - B 2,4 < Mn 5,7 < Zn 9,0 < Cu 13,9; HCl - B 7,8 < Cu 37,3 < Zn 37,6< Mn 72,5. The soil contents of readily soluble forms of Mn were significantly higher in non-limed than in limed soil, while the amounts of B, Cu and Zn were higher in limed soils as some amounts of Cu and Zn were present in lime fertilizers. In the system of mineral fertilization, some amounts of boron and zinc were introduced to the soil together with fertilizers, however, they were insufficient in view of nutritional requirements. On the other hand, in the organic-mineral system the amounts of introduced boron were adequate, copper and zinc twice higher and manganese four times higher. The use of mineral fertilization alone for 26 years, leads to soil depletion of zinc and copper and the use of manure alone enriches soil in those components.     

长期施肥对红壤有机碳矿化及微生物活性的影响?

为评价不同施肥条件下红壤有机碳矿化和微生物活性及两者之间的关系,对长期定位试验施有机肥（M）、施用氮、磷、钾化肥（NPK）、有机肥配合化肥（NPKM）、秸秆配合化肥（NPKS）和不施肥（CK）共5个处理的红壤进行室内培养,分析不同施肥处理下红壤有机碳矿化的CO2释放量﹑微生物数量及微生物碳源代谢特征。结果表明,不同施肥处理的土壤有机碳矿化释放CO2量差异显著,由一级反应动力学方程拟合计算出土壤潜在有机碳矿化释放CO2–C量的大小顺序：M > NPKM > NPK ≈NPKS > CK,其值分别为180.3﹑88.5﹑47.6﹑43.4和34.5 mg/kg 。培养初期微生物活性较弱时CO2的释放速率最高,微生物数量的增长落后于有机碳矿化速率变化,但培养14﹑35和69 d 时3种微生物数量大小顺序为M > NPKM > NPK≈NPKS≈ CK,处理间差异显著且与CO2释放量显著相关。不同施肥处理间微生物群落结构差异显著,其趋势与有机碳矿化相符合。说明长期施肥特别是长期施用有机肥能影响微生物的群落结构,提高红壤微生物活性,进而促进微生物对有机碳的矿化。     

施肥和耕作方式对棕壤微生物生物量碳氮的影响

以辽宁省昌图县主要粮食产区为研究对象,分析施肥(化肥、玉米秸秆和有机肥)和耕作方式(旋耕、深松和隔行深松)对棕壤微生物生物量碳、氮(SMB-C、-N)的影响。结果显示,与对照处理相比,施用化肥处理SMB-C、-N分别下降14.3%和13.3%,秸秆回田处理下降12.3%和12.2%,而施用有机肥则显著提高SMB-C、-N,幅度分别为31.7%和38.6%。说明施用化肥明显降低土壤微生物生物量,配施秸秆在短时期内无法缓解化肥施用对微生物生物量的抑制作用,而有机肥却能迅速缓解抑制作用,提高土壤微生物生物量。深松(行行)和隔行深松作为保护性土壤耕作方式,与常规耕作(NPK处理)相比,显著提高了SMB-C、-N,其中深松提高幅度为56.8%和77.0%,隔行深松则为27.7%和36.1%。试验伊始,有机肥处理SMB-C/SOC(土壤有机碳)最高,达到1.57,至实验结束,深松处理最高,为2.15,其次为隔行深松处理。有机肥处理SMB-N/TN(土壤全氮)受年际影响上下波动,深松和隔行深松处理呈现先下降后上升的态势。深松和隔行深松能有效保存土壤养分含量,特别是活性碳、氮库,是土壤肥力贫瘠地区推荐的土壤耕作方式,从人力和机械消耗角度而言,隔行深松更有利于我国农业可持续发展。     

不同比例有机肥替代化肥对水稻产量和氮素利用率的影响

在江西双季稻区进行30 a的田间定位试验,比较不施氮肥(CK)、施用化肥(NPK)、等养分条件下70%化肥配合施用30%有机肥(70F+30M)、50%化肥配合施用50%有机肥(50F+50M)、30%化肥配合施用70%有机肥(30F+70M)施肥条件下水稻产量、氮素吸收、氮素利用率的变化。结果表明:与等养分量NPK处理相比,有机无机肥配施处理能显著提高30 a双季稻平均产量(P<0.05),增产幅度在2.47%～5.73%,其中30F+70M处理产量最高,且不同比例有机无机肥配施处理之间有显著差异,30F+70M处理显著高于50F+50M处理(P<0.05)。在不同时间段,不同有机无机肥配施处理产量表现不同,低量有机肥配施处理在试验前期具有明显的增产优势,高量有机肥配施处理在试验中后期增产效果明显。与等养分量NPK处理相比,有机无机肥配施处理30 a平均吸氮量无显著差异,不同施肥处理每生产1 t籽粒对氮素的需求不同,有机无机肥配施处理(20.57～20.94 kg)低于NPK处理(21.77 kg),其中30F+70M、70F+30M处理具有较高的氮素生产效率。有机无机肥...     

Wheat Yield Differences between Two Cropping Systems in Permanent Raised-Beds as Affected by Components of Nitrogen Use Efficiency

Permanent raised-bed is an alternative planting system for wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in rain-fed areas. However, this system in monoculture conditions produces lower yields compared with wheat in rotation. Our objective was to estimate these yield differences as affected by nitrogen (N) use efficiency (NUE). Wheat in monoculture and in rotation with maize (Zea mays L.) was evaluated for eight years (2002–2009) with four N rates (0, 40, 80 or 120 kg ha^?1). Yield response to N in monoculture was consistently lower than for wheat in rotation. Yield reduction in monoculture at low and high N rate was 81 and 99% attributed to NUE out of which 70 and 82% was due to the uptake efficiency (UPE) and 30 and 19% to the utilization efficiency (UTE), respectively. Total N uptake proved to be the parameter that needs to be improved to enhance wheat yield in monoculture.

Abbreviations: NUE: nitrogen use efficiency; UPE: uptake efficiency; UTE: utilization efficiency; Ns: nitrogen supply; NDVI: normalized difference vegetation index     

长期施肥条件下水稻土有机氮组分及矿化特性研究

为探明长期定位试验条件下不同施肥处理和地下水位对水稻土有机氮组分及其矿化特性的影响,采用Keeney和Bremer酸解法对土壤有机氮进行分组研究,并利用改进后的Warning淹水培养-间歇淋洗法研究水稻土有机氮矿化特性。结果表明,不同处理土壤酸解氮占全氮的61.2%～64.4%,其中酸解未知氮,氨基酸态氮,氨态氮和氨基糖态氮分别占全氮26.9%～34.0%,13.0%～18.0%,12.6%～14.3%和2.3%～4.7%。恒温淹水培养106d后,以酸解未知氮降幅最大,且酸解未知氮与土壤氮矿化势之间有显著的正相关关系(r=0.865*),表明酸解未知氮是土壤可矿化态氮的主要贡献者。有机肥处理土壤矿化氮累积量及氮矿化势显著高于化肥处理,表明长期施用有机肥是提高土壤供氮潜力的有效手段。此外,低水位土壤矿化氮累积量及氮矿化势略高于高水位土壤。     

Nitrogen Mineralization from Five Manures as Influenced by Chemical Composition and Soil Type

The high cost of chemical fertilizers has forced farmers to switch to intensive use of locally available manures. Two laboratory incubation experiments were carried out in Sudan to study the effects of manure (chicken, farmyard, pigeon, and goat), chemical fertilizer, and four soil types (Ustert, Fluvent, Orthid, and Psamment) on nitrogen (N) mineralization. Net N mineralization in light soils (248, 529 mg N kg^?1) was significantly (P ≤ 0.02) greater than in heavy soils (44, 212 mg N kg^?1). Manure pH (R ² = 0.9, P ≤ 0.01), lignin content (R ² = 0.74, P ≤ 0.05), lignin / total nitrogen (TN; R ² = 0.72, P ≤ 0.05), polyphenols/TN (R ² = 0.75, P ≤ 0.05), and TN (R ² = 0.76, P ≤ 0.05) were found to be the best parameters to determine N mineralization from manures. These findings support earlier studies that N release from organic N of different sources depends on soil type and chemical composition of the manure.     

Yield,Nutrient Uptake,and Quality of Stevia as Affected by Organic Sources of Nutrient

A field experiment was conducted during 2008 and 2009 at the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology, Palampur, India, to study the effect of organic sources of nutrient on yield, nutrient uptake, fertility status of soil, and quality of stevia crop in the western Himalayan region. The experiment comprised eight different combinations of organic manure [farmyard manure (FYM), vermicompost (VC), and apple pomace manure (AP)]. Total leaf dry biomass increased by 149% over the control with application of VC 1.5 t ha^?1 + AP 5 t ha^?1. Application of organic manures enhanced organic carbon and available nutrient status of soil more than the control. Nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) content in stem were significantly affected by the application of organic manures over the control. Stevia plants supplied with FYM 10 t ha^?1 + AP 2.5 t ha^?1 recorded more total glycoside than other treatments. Stevioside yield (kg ha^?1) was greater with application of FYM 10 t ha^?1 + AP 2.5 t ha^?1.     

长期地膜覆盖及不同施肥处理对棕壤无机氮和氮素矿化率的影响

长期地膜覆盖对土壤许多理化性质产生较大影响，但对无机氮和氮素矿化率的影响却鲜有报道。本文重点研究沈阳农业大学棕壤定位实验站（1987年开始）内长期地膜覆盖及不同施肥处理下土壤无机氮和氮素矿化率在整个生长季内的变化情况。结果表明，长期的地膜覆盖可以增加NO2^--N的积累，并抑制NO3^--N的迁移，但对NH4^＋—N的含量则影响不大；而且覆膜促进了土壤有机氮索的矿化，从而加速了NH4^＋-N和NO3^--N的释放进释．研究结果同时表明有机肥与无机肥配合施用比单一施用有机肥更能促进土壤的N素矿化。     

施氮方式对玉米氮吸收及土壤养分、N2O排放的影响

通过3年定位试验,研究不施氮肥、农民传统施氮、比传统施氮减量20%、减氮20%配合秸秆还田、减氮20%施用包膜尿素处理对玉米年际产量、植株氮吸收、土壤养分变化及N2O排放的影响。结果表明:包膜尿素处理产量最高,比空白处理增产18.50%,比产量次高的秸秆还田处理仅增产0.51%,二个处理间产量差异不显著;包膜尿素处理和秸秆还田处理可增加植株氮的吸收固定;秸秆还田处理的肥料利用率和植株总氮积累量高于包膜尿素处理,但其氮收获指数最低,为0.606,从注重品质角度,包膜尿素处理的效果略好于秸秆还田处理;各施肥处理都比空白处理提高了土壤主要养分含量,但从有机质、全氮、有效磷和速效钾含量提升综合评价,包膜尿素处理和秸秆还田处理对土壤的培肥作用好于农民习惯施肥处理;秸秆还田处理的N2O-N季节排放总量和排放系数都最高,分别为N 1.50 kg·hm-2·季-1和0.27。因此,从保产稳产、培肥地力、提升品质、减少N2O排放综合考虑,建议推广比农民习惯施肥量减少氮量20%的包膜尿素一次性施入在玉米生产中的应用。     

Nitrogen Mineralization Potential as Influenced by Microbial Biomass,Cotton Residues and Temperature

Integrating information on nitrogen (N) mineralization potentials into a fertilization plan could lead to improved N use efficiency. A controlled incubation mineralization study examined microbial biomass dynamics and N mineralization rates for two soils receiving 56 and 168 kg N ha^?1 in a Panoche clay loam (Typic Haplocambid) and a Wasco sandy loam (Typic Torriorthent), incubated with and without cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) residues at 10 and 25°C for 203 days. Microbial biomass activity determined from mineralized carbon dioxide (CO₂) was higher in the sandy loam than in clay loam independent of incubation temperature, cotton residue addition and N treatment. In the absence of added cotton residue, N mineralization rates were higher in the sandy loam. Residue additions increased N immobilization in both soils, but were greater in clay loam. Microbial biomass and mineralization were significantly affected by soil type, residue addition and temperature but not by N level.