过量施用磷肥对红壤发育的水稻土化学性质的影响及其与水稻生长的关系

A filed experiment with an early rice-late rice rotation was carried out on a paddy soil derived from red soil in the southern part of Zhejing Province to elucidate the effect of excess P application on some important characteristics of soil properies and its relation to nutrient status and grain yields of rice crops.The experimental results indicated that adequate fertilizer P(15 kg P hm^-2)could increase the content of soil available P at the tillering stage of early rice,the contents of N,P and K in the shoots of early rice at primary growth stages,and the grain yield of early rice by increasing valid ears per hectare and weight per thousand grains,which,was mainly related to the higher contents of reduced,non-reduced and total sugar in the shoot at the heading stage, And early rice supplied with excessive P could not yield more than that applied with adequate, P de to the reduction in the valid grain percentage and weight per thousead grains. In addition,one-time excess P supply at a rate as high as 90 kg P hm^-2 could not improve the soil P fertility in case the soil available P content was lower than the initial(3.74mg kg^-1 soil) after an early rice-late rice rotaion,and made a decline in the grain yield increased by per kilogram fertilzer P.Thus,one-time excess P supply should not be adopted for soils with a large P fixation capacity like the paddy soils derived from red soils.     

用土壤全氮与有机质建立油菜测土施氮指标体系的研究

本文在汇总近年来浙江省多点油菜氮肥效应试验、氮肥用量试验的基础上,比较氮肥效应、经济施氮量与土壤全氮、土壤有机质之间的回归函数模型,筛选建立油菜测土施氮指标体系的可靠测定指标。回归分析结果表明,土壤有机质、土壤全氮与缺氮处理相对产量回归指数函数分别为Y=20.157e0.4413X（R2=0.5887**）和Y=10.882e0.045X（R2=0.3365**）,土壤有机质、土壤全氮与油菜经济施氮量对数函数分别为Y=-314.25LnX +1392.9（R2=0.6896**）和Y=-191.77LnX+427.81（R2=0.314**）。比较曲线函数的回归决定系数R2,土壤有机质与缺氮处理相对产量、经济施氮量的回归决定系数大于预测精度要求,可成为油菜种植田土壤供氮能力丰缺和推荐经济施氮量的指标,而全氮由于回归决定系数R2低于0.35,不适合成为土壤供氮能力和推荐经济施氮量的指标。通过回归方程划定不同土壤供氮水平下土壤有机质含量范围和相对应的推荐经济施氮量,构建浙江省油菜测土施氮指标体系。     

Soil management problems in multiply cropped paddy fields in China

Summary Multiple cropping of paddy fields has now been widely adopted in East China, in order to increase annual grain yields. The management practices recommended for these multiple cropped fields include the use of mineral fertilizers in combination with organic manure, to sustain a better soil nutrient balance, the adoption of rice-straw manuring, and use of zero or minimum tillage. This paper presents the results of a series of longterm experiments in multiple cropping and discusses the problems associated with these techniques.     

Kinetics of 15N -labelled nitrogen from co-compost made from cattle manure and chemical fertilizer in a paddy field

In order to produce an effective organic fertilizer, cattle manure was cocomposted with chemical fertilizer. And the kinetics of nitrogen uptake by rice plants from the co-compost was investigated using the ¹⁵N labelled co-composts on either cattle manure or chemical fertilizer. As a control, nitrogen kinetics from the mixture of cattle manure and chemical fertilizer without co-composting was investigated. At the early stage, rice growth may have been promoted by co-composting, while, it may have been promoted by the larger N-content of cattle manure at the harvesting stage. The ratios of nitrogen uptake by rice plants and residual nitrogen in soil from the cattle manure and chemical fertilizer were determined by measuring ¹⁵N -atom%. The N -uptake ratios by rice plants from the cattle manure in the co-composted plot were about 2–4 times higher than those from the cattle manure without co-composting. However, the N -uptake ratios from the chemical fertilizer in the co-composted plot were lower than those from the chemical fertilizer without co-composting. The N -content of the rice plants derived from chemical fertilizer without co-composting decreased consistently after 28 d. The nitrogen from chemical fertilizer in the co-compost was absorbed again in the latter period of rice growth. The total nitrogen uptake by rice plants from cattle manure and chemical fertilizer was similar regardless of co-composting. However, co-composting would be advantageous at least· in terms of the following aspects: increase of the N -uptake by rice plants from cattle manure, slow-release ability of nitrogen from chemical fertilizer, decrease of nitrogen loss by denitrification.     

Availability of soil and fertilizer nitrogen to wetland rice following wheat straw amendment

Summary A pot experiment was conducted to study the availability of soil and fertilizer N to wetland rice as influenced by wheat straw amendment (organic amendment) and to establish the relative significance of the two sources in affecting crop yield. Straw was incorporated in soil at 0.1, 0.2, and 0.3% before transplanting rice. Inorganic N as ¹⁵N-ammonium sulphate was applied at 30, 60, and 90 g g^-1 soil either alone or together with wheat straw in different combinations. After harvesting the rice, the plant and soil samples were analyzed for total N and ¹⁵N. Straw incorporation significantly decreased the dry matter and N yield of rice, the decrease being greater with higher rates of straw. The reduction in crop yield following the straw incorporation was attributed mainly to a decrease in the uptake of soil N rather than fertilizer N. The harmful effects of organic matter amendment were mitigated by higher levels of mineral N addition. The uptake of applied N increased and its losses decreased due to the straw incorporation. Mineral N applied alone or together with organic amendment substantially increased the uptake of unlabelled soil N. The increase was attributed to a real added N interaction.     

稻-麦轮作体系不同施肥模式对氮肥利用效率和土壤有效养分平衡的影响

土壤肥力和养分利用效率是保障可持续粮食生产的基础。通过田间试验研究了稻—麦轮作体系下不同施肥模式氮肥利用效率和土壤有效养分的变化,结果表明:在减少养分总投入量的条件下,有机肥部分替代化肥处理(RF-OM和RF-S处理)水稻地上部总生物量显著高于LRF处理(P<0.05),与FP处理差异不大;小麦秸秆生物量与FP和LRF处理差异均不显著,籽粒生物量及地上部总生物量与LRF处理相差不大。水稻收获期RF-OM处理地上部主要器官含氮量与LRF处理差异不显著,氮素积累总量显著高于LRF处理(P<0.05);小麦收获期RF-OM和RF-S处理秸秆、籽粒含氮量和氮素积累量与LRF处理均无显著差异。收获期RF-OM和RF-S处理水稻糙米和稻壳、小麦秸秆和籽粒含磷量及磷素积累量与FP和LRF处理差异都不大;水稻秸秆、稻壳及小麦秸秆含钾量和钾素积累量均显著高于FP和LRF处理(P<0.05)。有机肥部分替代化肥处理水稻、小麦氮肥农学利用率、氮肥表观回收率和氮肥偏生产力与FP和LRF处理相比均显著提高(P<0.05),氮素籽粒生产效率也高于FP和LRF处理,甚至达到显著水平(P<0.05)。试验表明,水稻、小麦收获期增钾处理(RF-OM和RF-S处理)土壤速效钾、缓效钾含量显著高于FP和LRF处理(P<0.05),水稻收获期土壤碱解氮和小麦收获期土壤有效磷含量与LRF处理差异不大,同时,经1个稻—麦轮作周期后,4个施肥处理土壤有效养分(碱解氮、有效磷、速效钾、缓效钾)含量均高于供试土壤。有机肥部分替代化肥能显著提高稻麦氮肥利用效率,有利于土壤有效养分平衡,并显著提高土壤速效钾和缓效钾养分含量,是适宜的稻麦化肥减量和稳产增效施用技术。     

有机质对红壤烤烟氮素累积分配特征的影响

利用15N示踪技术,研究了有机质含量对红壤烤烟氮累积分配特征的影响。结果表明,随着土壤有机质含量增加,烤烟氮素累积时期延长,且累积量增加。烤烟后期吸收的氮素,在低有机质含量红壤上来自土壤供氮,中有机质含量来自肥料供氮,高有机质含量来自肥料供氮与土壤供氮。烤烟吸收总氮量中29.07%~40.26%来自肥料供氮,59.74% ~70.93%来自土壤供氮,表明烤烟吸收氮素大部分来自土壤供氮。氮素在烟株不同部位分配量表现为:烟叶烟茎烟根;烟叶各部位中的分配量为:在低有机质含量的红壤,下、中、上3个部位分配量相等,中有机质含量和高有机质含量上则为上部叶中部叶下部叶。有机质含量对下部叶氮素分配量影响不大,其它部位均表现为有机质含量越高,氮素分配量越大。烤烟不同部位中肥料氮比例表现为下部叶中部叶烟根烟茎上部叶,土壤氮比例表现为上部叶烟茎烟根中部叶下部叶;并且土壤有机含量越高,各部位中土壤氮的比例越高,肥料氮的比例越低,上部叶受土壤供氮影响最大。红壤上烤烟氮肥利用率在25.42%~30.61%之间,低有机质含量土壤氮肥利用率较低,中、高有机质含量利用率相对较高。在施肥过程中,低有机质红壤上应在N 90 kg/hm2基础上适当增加氮肥施用量,中等有机质含量上保持不变,高有机质含量上应适当降低氮肥用量。     

Mineralization of soil organic nitrogen solubilized by aqua ammonia fertilizer

Organic N solubilized by NH_3(aq) was extracted from ¹⁵N-labelled or unlabelled soil, concentrated and added to non-extracted soil, which was incubated under aerobic conditions at 27±1°C. Gross N mineralization, gross N immobilization, and nitrification in soils with or without addition of unlabelled soluble organic N were estimated by models based on the dilution of the NH ₄ ⁺ or NO _inf3 ^sup- pools, which were labelled with ¹⁵N at the beginning of incubation. Mineralization of labelled organic N was measured by the appearance of label in the mineral N pool. Although gross N mineralization and gross N immobilization were increased in two soils between day 0 and day 7 following addition of unlabelled organic N solubilized by NH_3(aq), there was no increase in net N mineralization. Solubilization of ¹⁵N-labelled organic N increased and the ¹⁵N enrichment of the soluble organic N decereased as the concentration of NH_3(aq) added increased. A constant proportion of approximately one-quarter of the labelled organic N added at different rates to non-extracted soil was recovered in the mineral N pool after an incubation period of 14 days, and the availability ratios calculated from net N mineralization data were 1.1:1 and 2.1:1 for 111 and 186 mg added organic-N kg^-1 soil, respectively, indicating that the mineralization of organic N was increased by solubilization.     

两个品种水稻中硝酸盐吸收和利用率对氮素饥饿的响应特征

Ammonium（NH＋4） is the main nitrogen（N） form for rice crops, while NH＋4near the root surface can be oxidized to nitrate（NO-3）by NH＋4-oxidizing bacteria. Nitrate can be accumulated within rice tissues and reused when N supply is insufficient. We compared the remobilization of NO-3stored in the tissue and vacuolar between two rice（Oryza sativa L.） cultivars, Yangdao 6（YD6, indica）with a high N use efficiency（NUE） and Wuyujing 3（WYJ3, japonica） with a low NUE and measured the uptake of NO-3, expression of nitrate reductase（NR）, NO-3transporter genes（NRTs）, and NR activity after 4 d of N starvation following 7-d cultivation in a solution containing 2.86 mmol L-1NO-3. The results showed that both tissue NO-3concentration and vacuolar NO-3activity were higher in YD6 than WYJ3 under N starvation. YD6 showed a 2- to 3-fold higher expression of OsNRT2.1 in roots on the 1st and 4th day of N starvation and had significantly higher values of NO-3uptake（maximum uptake velocity, Vmax） than the cultivar WYJ3.Furthermore, YD6 had significantly higher leaf and root maximum NR activity（NRAmax） and actual NR activity（NRAact） as well as stronger root expression of the two NR genes after the 1st day of N starvation. There were no significant differences in NRAmax and NRAact between the two rice cultivars on the 4th day of N starvation. The results suggested that YD6 had stronger NRA under N starvation, which might result in better NO-3re-utilization from the vacuole, and higher capacity for NO-3uptake and use, potentially explaining the higher NUE of YD6 compared with WYJ3.     

Relative significance of soil and nitrogenous fertilizer in nitrogen nutrition and growth of wetland rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Summary A pot experiment was conducted to compare the yields from five commercially cultivated varieties (Bas-198, Bas-370, Bas-Pak, Bas-385, and IR-6) of rice (Oryza sativa L.) and to establish the relative significance of soil N and fertilizer N (¹⁵N-labelled ammonium sulphate) in affecting crop performance. Another aim was to study the interaction of fertilizer N and soil N as influenced by different rice varieties. Among the five varieties tested, Bas-Pak gave the maximum dry matter and N yield. The N-use efficiency (percentage of applied N taken up by the plants) of different varieties ranged between 33.7 and 43.7%, Bas-Pak being the most efficient. Significant losses of fertilizer N occurred from the soil-plant system. The maximum N loss (52.1% of applied N) was observed with IR-6 and the minimum loss (39.2%) with Bas-Pak. A substantial increase in the uptake of soil N following the application of fertilizer and an interaction between the two N sources were observed with all varieties except Bas-385. The interaction was attributed to greater root proliferation following the application of fertilizer. It was concluded that a varietey with greater potential to use soil N is likely to give a better yield and that, of the two N sources, the availability of soil N was more important in determining the yield performance of different varieties of rice.     

Nitrogen contribution to wetland rice by green manuring with Sesbania spp. in an alkaline soil

Summary Two annual species of Sesbania, S. aculeata and Sesbania sp. PL Se-17, were field evaluated as green manure for wetland rice in an alkaline soil. The two species were raised as a catch crop during summer in a wheat-rice rotation, and added as 24.7 and 20.8 t ha^–1 of green matter, 116 and 98 kg N ha^–1, respectively, after 45 days of growth. For the optimum green manuring effect on rice grain yield and N uptake, S. aculeata required 5 days of decomposition (after turning in and before rice transplantation), whereas no decomposition period was necessary for Sesbania sp. PL Se-17. The effect on grain yield and N uptake of rice was equivalent to an application of 122 and 78 kg ha^–1 of chemical N, for the two species, respectively. There was no residual effect of the green manuring on the soil N status after rice harvest.     

Influence of continuous plastic film mulching on yield, water use efficiency and soil properties of rice fields under non-flooding condition

Five field experiments were conducted to study the effects of continuous plastic film mulching on rice yield, water use efficiency and soil properties on different soils with great environmental variabilities in Zhejiang Province, China, under non-flooding condition. The experiment started in 2001 at five sites and ended in 2003 with one rice crop annually. Three treatments included plastic film mulching with no flooding (PM), no plastic film mulching and no flooding (UM), and traditional flooding management (TF). Soil samples were collected after the third year of the experimentation and were analyzed for soil properties. PM increased soil temperature, accelerated decomposition of organic carbon and root growth, there was a slight but statistically insignificant trend of decline in soil bulk density. PM produced the similar rice grain yield as TF at two sites, significantly higher grain yield (5.8% and 20.0% higher) at other two sites, but significantly lower (34.3% lower) yield at one site where no irrigation water was applied and rainfall was the sole water source for rice growth. PM increased water use efficiency by 69.6–106.0% and irrigation water use efficiency by 273.7–519.6%. Compared to TF, PM decreased soil organic matter content by 8.3–24.5%, soil total N by 5.2–22.0%, and available K by 9.6–50.4% at all sites. PM treatment also reduced soil available N by 8.5–26.5% at four sites. Soil total P content in PM treatments reduced by 13.5–27.8% at three sites, and increased by 6.6–8.2% at other two sites. However, PM increased soil available P by 20.9–64.7% at all sites. Systematic cluster analysis indicated the PM treatment distinctively clustered from the other treatment. These results suggested PM could gain higher yield under appropriate water condition and PM may change soil nutrient cycle.     

Yield response of corn to lime and urea application on an acidic tropical soil

Abstract

The effects of liming (7 500 kg CaCO₃/ha) and rate of urea application (0,50,100, and 200 kg N/ha) and its placement at the surface or at 5 cm depth on grain yield and nutrient uptake by corn grown on an acidic tropical soil (Fluventic Eutropept) were studied. Liming significantly increased grain yield, N uptake, and P and K uptake although Ca and Mg uptake, generally, were unaffected. Sub‐surface application of urea increased N uptake only. Yield response to applied N was observed up to 50 kg N/ha when limed but at all rates in the absence of liming. It therefore, reduced the fertilizer N requirement for optimum grain yield. Liming the acidic soil also reduced exchangeable Al but increased nitrification rate and available P in the soil profile (at least up to 0.6 m depth).     

Sugar yield,nitrogen uptake by sugar beet and optimal nitrogen fertilization in relation to nitrogen soil analyses and several additional factors

To test the relative usefulness of different methods of chemical analysis for soil nitrogen fractions in the assessment of the fertilizer nitrogen needs of sugar beet, different doses of nitrogen were applied in field experiments laid out during the years 1985–1991. The chemical methods used were N mineral (NO _– ³ +NH ₊ ⁴ ) analyses on soil samples taken in late winter, and extraction with 0.01 M CaCl₂ from soil samples taken the preceding autumn and in late winter. The results of the chemical methods were evaluated in models using estimated optimum nitrogen fertilization, nitrogen present in beets or beets+leaves at leaf maximum and sugar yield as variables. In addition, parameters such as estimates of possible rooting depth and mineralization capacity of the soil were also included in the model. All models for estimating nitrogen fertilization need showed low R ² values. The two methods of soil chemical analysis yielded similar R ² values for nitrogen uptake in plots both with and without nitrogen fertilization. The N mineral method was least useful in predicting sugar yield. Addition of the covariables rooting depth and mineralization capacity appreciably improved the explanatory value of the models with 0.01 M CaCl₂, especially when the analytical results of soil samples taken in autumn were used. For the N mineral method the addition of covariates was found to have far less influence.     

Denitrification losses from puddled rice soils in the tropics

Summary Although denitrification has long been considered a major loss mechanism for N fertilizer applied to lowland rice (Oryza sativa L.) soils, direct field measurements of denitrification losses from puddled rice soils in the tropics have only been made recently. This paper summarizes the results of direct measurement and indirect estimation of denitrification losses from puddled rice fields and reviews the status of research methodology for measurement of denitrification in rice fields. The direct recovery of (N₂+N₂O)-¹⁵N from ¹⁵N-enriched urea has recently been measured at sites in the Philippines, Thailand, and Indonesia. In all 12 studies, recoveries of (N₂+N₂O)-¹⁵N ranged from less than 0.1 to 2.2% of the applied N. Total gaseous N losses, estimated by the ¹⁵N-balance technique, were much greater, ranging from 10 to 56% of the applied urea-N. Denitrification was limited by the nitrate supply rather than by available C, as indicated by the values for water-soluble soil organic C, floodwater (nitrate+nitrite)-N, and evolved (N₂+N₂O)-¹⁵N from added nitrate. In the absence of runoff and leaching losses, the amount of (N₂+N₂O)-¹⁵N evolved from ¹⁵N-labeled nitrate was consistently less than the unrecovered ¹⁵N in ¹⁵N balances with labeled nitrate, which presumably represented total denitrification losses. This finding indicates that the measured recoveries of (N₂+N₂O)-¹⁵N had underestimated the denitrification losses from urea. Even with a probable two-or threefold underestimation, direct measurements of (N₂+N₂O)-¹⁵N failed to confirm the appreciable denitrification losses often estimated by the indirect difference method. This method, which determines denitrification losses by the difference between total ¹⁵N loss and determined ammonia loss, is prone to high variability. Measurements of nitrate disappearance and ¹⁵N-balance studies suggest that nitrification-denitrification occurs under alternate soil drying and wetting conditions both during the rice cropping period and between rice crops. Research is needed to determine the magnitude of denitrification losses when soils are flooded and puddled for production of rice.     

施氮和豌豆/玉米间作对土壤无机氮时空分布的影响

为探明甘肃河西走廊绿洲灌区豌豆/玉米间作体系土壤无机氮时空分布现状和过量施用氮肥对环境的影响,2011年在田间试验条件下,采用土钻法采集土壤剖面样品,采用Ca Cl2溶液浸提、流动分析仪测定土壤无机氮含量的方法,研究了不同氮水平[0 kg(N)·hm?2、75 kg(N)·hm?2、150 kg(N)·hm?2、300 kg(N)·hm?2、450 kg(N)·hm?2]下豌豆/玉米间作体系土壤无机氮时空分布规律。结果表明:作物整个生育期内,灌漠土无机氮以硝态氮为主,其含量是铵态氮的7.55倍。在玉米整个生育期内,与不施氮相比,75 kg(N)·hm?2、150 kg(N)·hm?2、300 kg(N)·hm?2和450 kg(N)·hm?2处理的土壤硝态氮含量分别增加29.7%、67.5%、88.2%和134.3%。与豌豆收获期相比,在玉米收获时土壤硝态氮含量平均降低44.2%。间作豌豆和间作玉米分别比对应的单作在0~120 cm土层硝态氮含量降低6.1%和5.1%。豌豆/玉米间作体系土壤无机氮累积量在不同施氮量和不同生育时期都是表层(0~20 cm)最高。豌豆收获后,0~60 cm土层土壤无机氮累积量间作豌豆和间作玉米分别比相应单作降低4.9%和1.9%,60~120 cm土层降低10.8%和9.2%;玉米收获后0~60 cm土层平均降低28.2%和9.4%,60~120 cm土层平均降低23.5%和12.5%。土壤无机氮残留量间作豌豆比单作豌豆在0~60 cm土层降低4.9%,60~120 cm降低10.9%。因此,施用氮肥显著增加了土壤无机氮含量和累积量,且主要影响土壤硝态氮。过量的氮肥投入会因作物不能及时全部吸收而被大水漫灌和降雨等途径淋洗到土壤深层,造成氮肥损失和农田环境污染。间作能显著降低土壤无机氮浓度和累积量,特别在作物生长后期对土壤无机氮累积的降低作用更加明显。     

苏丹草—黑麦草轮作中不同施肥措施对饲草产量及土壤性质的影响

在盆栽试验条件下研究了苏丹草—黑麦草轮作中不同施肥措施对饲草产量、养分吸收及土壤性质的影响。结果表明:各施肥处理均可显著提高饲草产量,整个轮作期,单施化肥（NPK）、石灰和化肥配施（NPK+Lime）、有机肥和化肥配施（NPK+OM）处理的鲜草产量分别比不施肥处理（CK）增加6.1倍、6.8倍和7.3倍;在化肥基础上配合施用石灰和有机肥,鲜草分别增产9.5%和17.2%。养分吸收结果显示,不同施肥处理明显提高饲草N、P、K含量并促进饲草对养分的吸收。土壤养分分析结果表明,与CK及NPK处理相比,增施石灰和有机肥提高酸性土壤pH值,促使其向中性靠近;在NPK基础上配合施用石灰,轮作结束时土壤有效钙含量比NPK处理提高了20.7%,有效铁和有效锰含量降低了26.5%和41.2%;在NPK基础上增施有机肥,能显著提高了土壤中的氮、磷、钾养分含量。     

Decomposition and distribution of N labelled mustard litter (Sinapis alba) in physical soil fractions of a cropland with high- and low-yield field areas

High-yield (HY) areas of an agricultural cropland were characterized by different positions on a slope and lower silt and clay contents, compared to low-yield (LY) areas, and this was associated with differences in water regime and C and N turnover. To understand differences in N flows of HY and LY areas, a combination of ¹⁵N tracer techniques and physical fractionation procedures was applied. Within 570 d after application of ¹⁵N labelled mustard litter to an agricultural cropland, the distribution of ¹⁵N was measured in particulate organic matter (POM) fractions and in fine mineral fractions (fine silt- and clay-sized fractions). After 570 d, only 2.5% of the initial ¹⁵N amount was found in POM fractions, with higher amounts in POM occluded in aggregates than in free POM. After this period, stabilization of the initial ¹⁵N in fine silt- and clay-sized fractions amounts to 10% in HY, but 20% in LY soils. 70% to 85% of the added ¹⁵N were lost. Initial decomposition of labelled material was faster in HY than in LY areas during the first year, but the remaining ¹⁵N amounts in POM fractions of the different areas were similar after 570 d. ¹⁵N amounts and concentrations in mineral-associated fractions increased within 160 d after application. From 160 to 570 d, HY and LY areas showed different ¹⁵N dynamics, resulting in a decline of ¹⁵N amounts in HY, but constant ¹⁵N amounts in LY soils. The results indicate faster decomposition processes in HY than in LY areas, due to different soil conditions, such as soil texture and water regime. The higher silt and clay contents of LY areas seem to promote N stabilization in fine mineral fractions. As a whole, N flows were higher in HY compared to LY areas, thus supporting higher yields and accelerated organic matter degradation due to higher N supply.     

Evolution of dinitrogen and nitrous oxide from the soil to the atmosphere through rice plants

Summary It is commonly assumed that a large fraction of fertilizer N applied to a rice (Oryza sativa L.) field is lost from the soil-water-plant system as a result of denitrification. Direct evidence to support this view, however, is limited. The few direct field, denitrification gas measurements that have been made indicate less N loss than that determined by ¹⁵N balance after the growing season. One explanation for this discrepancy is that the N₂ produced during denitrification in a flooded soil remains trapped in the soil system and does not evolve to the atmosphere until the soil dries or is otherwise disturbed. It seems likely, however, that N₂ produced in the soil uses the rice plants as a conduit to the atmosphere, as does methane. Methane evolution from a rice field has been demonstrated to occur almost exclusively through the rice plants themselves. A field study in Cuttack, India, and a greenhouse study in Fort Collins, Colorado, were conducted to determine the influence of rice plants on the transport of N₂ and N₂O from the soil to the atmosphere. In these studies, plots were fertilized with 75 or 99 atom % ¹⁵N-urea and ¹⁵N techniques were used to monitor the daily evolution of N₂ and N₂O. At weekly intervals the amount of N₂+N₂O trapped in the flooded soil and the total-N and fertilized-N content of the soil and plants were measured in the greenhouse plots. Direct measurement of N₂+N₂O emission from field and greenhouse plots indicated that the young rice plant facilitates the efflux of N₂ and N₂O from the soil to the atmosphere. Little N gas was trapped in the rice-planted soils while large quantities were trapped in the unplanted soils. N losses due to denitrification accounted for only up to 10% of the loss of added N in planted soils in the field or greenhouse. The major losses of fertilizer N from both the field and greenhouse soils appear to have been the result of NH₃ volatilization.