Fixed ammonium and potassium release from two soils

Abstract

Release of native and added K⁺ and NH⁺ ₄ from two soils was monitored during a 166 day incubation/leaching experiment. One soil (Brookston) represented a major soil series In Ontario whereas the other (Harriston) was suspected having a relatively large fixation capacity. Treatments were imposed involving addition of 50 μM g^‐1 soil of K⁺(KCl) or NH⁺ ₄ (NH₄Cl) only or one added after the other on successive days. The addition of either K⁺ or NH⁺ ₄ on day 2 tended to inhibit the release of the other added on day I. Also the addition of either K⁺ or NH⁺ ₄ on day 1 tended to inhibit the sorption or fixation of the other on day 2. The release rate of K⁺ during the 10 to 166 day period was almost constant and not affected by the addition of NH⁺ ₄. Alternatively, the addition of K⁺ on day 2 slowed the release rate of NH⁺ ₄ measured by NO^? ₃ appearance from day 10 to 40 but had no effect thereafter. At the end of the experiment considerably more K⁺ than NH⁺ ₄ was retained suggesting that K⁺ was more firmly fixed. However, the continuing nitrification of NH⁺ ₄ must be contrasted with periodic removal of K⁺ by leaching with 0.01 M CaCl₂ solution since the equilibrium between exchangeable and fixed ions was affected. There were no notable differences between the two soils inspite of a considerable difference in clay content.     

好氧条件下两种水稻土的氮素总转化速率比较

Although to date individual gross N transformations could be quantified by ~(15)N tracing method and models,studies are still limited in paddy soil.An incubation experiment was conducted using topsoil(0-20 cm) and subsoil(20-60 cm) of two paddy soils,alkaline and clay(AC) soil and neutral and silt loam(NSL) soil,to investigate gross N transformation rates.Soil samples were labeled with either ~(15)NH4_NO_3 or NH_4~(15)NO_3,and then incubated at 25 °C for 168 h at 60%water-holding capacity.The gross N mineralization(recalcitrant and labile organic N mineralization) rates in AC soil were 1.6 to 3.3 times higher than that in NSL soil,and the gross N nitrification(autotrophic and heterotrophic nitrification) rates in AC soil were 2.4 to 4.4 times higher than those in NSL soil.Although gross NO_3~- consumption(i.e.,NO_3~- immobilization and dissimilatory NO_3~- reduction to NH_4~+ rates increased with increasing gross nitrification rates,the measured net nitrification rate in AC soil was approximately 2.0 to 5.1 times higher than that in NSL soil.These showed that high NO_3~- production capacity of alkaline paddy soil should be a cause for concern because an accumulation of NO_3~- can increase the risk of NO_3~- loss through leaching and denitrification.     

Nutrient Solution and Nutrient Soil Solution Parameter Evolution in Tomato with Dynamic Fertigation under Saline Conditions

This trial was carried out to study the evolution of the nutrient parameters of the nutrient solution applied to tomato plants (Lycopersicum sculentum Mill. Forteza) cultivated in Mediterranean greenhouse conditions under different fertigation management models. The dynamic model is based on soil water content, which was measured by tensiometers, and on soil solutions obtained with suction cups (porous ceramic cup water samplers). The local traditional method consists of following technical recommendations, and the classical model requires the estimation of Crop Factor (Kc) and knowing the nutrient extraction. Nutrient solution and water applied are functions of the fertigation management criteria. The water used for fertigation was classified as C₄-S₃ according to the Riverside classification system. The cultivation period lasted from 15 August to 20 April. The nutrient parameters studied in nutrient and soil solution were pH, electrical conductivity (EC), nitrate (NO₃ ^?), phosphate (H₂PO₄ ^?), potassium (K⁺), calcium (Ca²⁺), magnesium (Mg²⁺), sodium (Na⁺), and chloride (Cl^?). The pH shows similar trends under the different treatments. Electrical conductivity is in the range of 2.8–4.5 dS m^?1. Chloride, sodium, magnesium, and sulfate are exclusively modified by the salt concentration in the irrigation water, so it can be assumed that the three treatments vary equally. Nitrate, potassium, phosphate, and calcium are modified depending on each fertigation management method. Soil solution is modified by the nutrient solution applied. Dynamic management allows low nutrient concentration in the nutrient solution to be maintained and keeps soil nutrient concentration low, reducing fertilizer losses and therefore aquifer contamination.     

CO2 efflux by rapid decomposition of low molecular organic substances in soils

Decomposition rates of the [2-¹⁴C]-glucose and [2-¹⁴C]-glycine in four different soils of the long-term field trial of Moscow were investigated in a 3-months laboratory experiment in which ¹⁴CO₂ respiration was measured. A model with three decomposition components and two distribution parameters was developed and validated with the data of the experiment. The decay rate constants of free [2-¹⁴C]-glucose (4–32 day^-1) were slower than those of [2-¹⁴C]-glycine (16–44 day^-1). The calculated use efficiency for microbial biosynthesis of the second carbon atom was 47% for glucose and 31% for glycine. The potential half-life of labelled carbon in the microbial soil biomass ranged from 0.6 to 4.4 days, depending on the soil type and the initial amount of added substrate. The calculated total utilisation of carbon by the soil biomass from glycine was about 2–5 times lower than that of glucose.The modelled ¹⁴C incorporation into the microbial soil biomass reached its maximum on the first day of the incubation experiment and did not exceed 22% of the ¹⁴C input. Both of the investigated substances decomposed most rapidly in the soil samples from sites that have not being fertilised with organic or mineral fertilisers during an 81-years period.     

The Langmuir parameters of orthophosphate and pyrophosphate sorption for ammoniated tropical soils

Abstract

The Langmuir parameters of orthophosphate (OP) and pyrophosphate (PP) sorption for the ammoniated tropical soils were determined. Positive linear relationships between OP and PP sorption maxima and amounts of anhydrous NH₃ added were noticed. Indexes of bonding energy of OP and PP increased exponentially as ammoniation level of the soils increased from 33 to 100% of ammonia retention capacity.     

土壤非交换态钾与结构态钾能够区分吗？

Nonexchangeable K (NEK) is the major portion of the reserve of available K in soil and a primary factor in determining soil K fertility. The questions of how much NEK is in soils and how to quantify total NEK in soils are so far still unclear due to the complicated effects of various minerals on K fixation. In this study, the NEK in 9 soils was extracted with sodium tetraphenylboron (NaBPh₄) for various time periods longer than 1 d. The results showed that the NEK extracted by NaBPh₄ gradually increased with time, but showed no more increase after the duration of extraction exceeded 10--20 d. As the temperature increased from 25 to 45 ^oC, the duration to obtain the maximum extraction of NEK was reduced from 20 to 10 d, and the maximum values of NEK released at both temperatures was almost the same for each soil. The maximum NEK (MNEK) of the 9 soils extracted by NaBPh4 varied from 3 074 to 10 081 mg kg^-1, accounting for 21%--56% of the total soil K. There was no significant correlation between MNEK released by NaBPh₄ and other forms of K, such as NH₄OAc-extracted K, HNO₃-extracted K and total K in soils, which indicates that NEK is a special form of K that has no inevitable relationship to the other forms of K in soils. The MNEK extraction by NaBPh₄ in this study indicated that the total NEK in the soils could be differentiated from soil structural K and quantified with the modified NaBPh₄ method. The high MNEK in soils made NEK much more important in the role of the plant-available K pool. How to fractionate NEK into different fractions and establish the methods to quantify each NEK fraction according to their bioavailability is of great importance for future research.     

阴离子对可变电荷土壤吸附铜离子的影响机理

根据NO-3、Cl-和SO24-对可变电荷土壤和恒电荷土壤吸附Cu2+的影响的比较,探讨了阴离子对可变电荷土壤吸附Cu2+的影响机理。结果表明,当3种阴离子的浓度相同时,在SO24-体系中铁质砖红壤对Cu2+的吸附率较在NO3-和Cl-体系中大得多,而在浓度相同的3种阴离子体系中,黄棕壤对Cu2+的吸附率相差不大。在离子强度相近的NaCl体系中,砖红壤对Cu2+的吸附率相近。在3种阴离子体系中,随着pH升高,砖红壤对Cu2+的吸附率均增大;但在NO-3体系和Cl-体系中Cu2+的吸附率相近;而在SO24-体系中Cu2+的吸附率最大。随着Na2SO4浓度的增大,铁质砖红壤和砖红壤对Cu2+的吸附率减小。但在0.005 mol L-1和0.05 mol L-1Na2SO4体系中,Cu2+的吸附率大于在不含Na2SO4的体系中者。而在0.5 mol L-1Na2SO4体系中,Cu2+吸附率小于在不含Na2SO4体系中者。在3种浓度的Na2SO4体系中,黄棕壤对Cu2+的吸附率均小于在不含Na2SO4体系中者。总之,阴离子可通过离子强度、专性吸附和形成离子对影响土壤对Cu2+的吸附。在可变电荷土壤中,阴离子对Cu2+吸附的影响机理较在恒电荷土壤中复杂得多。     

The effects of rice (Oryza sativa L. ssp. japonica) husk biochar on nitrogen dynamics during the decomposition of hairy vetch in two soils under high-soil moisture condition

ABSTRACT

Legumes, including hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth), are widely used as green manures. They fix nitrogen (N) and provide the N to other crops when they decompose, and thus are considered alternatives for chemical N fertilizers. However, N-rich plant residues, including hairy vetch, are also sources of soil nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions, a greenhouse gas. On one hand, rice (Oryza sativa L. ssp. japonica) husk biochar is widely used as a soil conditioner in Japan and has been reported as a tool to mitigate soil N₂O emissions. We conducted a soil core incubation experiment (1.5 months) to compare the N₂O emissions during the decomposition of surface-applied hairy vetch (0.8 kg dried hairy vetch m^?2 soil) under semi-saturated soil moisture conditions (~100% water-filled pore space (WFPS)), using two soil types, namely Andosol and Fluvisol. Throughout the incubation period, the use of biochar suppressed soil NH₄⁺-N concentrations in Andosol, whereas the effect of biochar on NH₄⁺-N was not clear in Fluvisol. Biochar increased the nitrate (NO₃^?-N) levels both in Andosol and Fluvisol, suggesting a negative influence on denitrification and/or a positive influence on nitrification. Biochar application did not influence the cumulative N₂O emissions. Our study suggests that rice husk biochar is not a good option to mitigate N₂O emissions during the decomposition of surface-applied hairy vetch, although this study was performed under laboratory conditions without plants. However, the trends of the inorganic-N concentration changes followed by the addition of hairy vetch and biochar were markedly different between the two soil types. Thus, factors behind the differences need to be further studied.     

不同性质铁铝土对砷酸根吸附特性的比较研究

采用批平衡法研究了8种不同性质铁铝土对砷酸根的吸附特性,分别运用Langmuir单表面方程和Langmuir双表面方程对等温吸附数据进行拟合,以较优拟合方程求出土壤对砷的最大吸附量,并采用简单线性相关分析法探讨土壤性质对砷吸附能力的影响。结果显示,铁铝土对砷吸附强烈,吸附等温线均为非线性。双表面方程对吸附等温线的拟合效果优于单表面方程。采用双表面方程预测的吸附量和实测值的决定系数(0.935～0.978)大于采用单表面方程预测获得的决定系数(0.989～0.998)。土壤的砷吸附能力可采用高能表面和低能表面两种吸附位点进行解释。采集于云南昆明的砂页岩母质发育的红壤具有最强的砷吸附能力,根据Langmuir双表面方程计算的最大吸附量为3 498 mg kg-1。土壤的砷吸附能力受到土壤中游离氧化铁、全铝、全铁、黏粒和全磷含量的显著影响,最大吸附量与这几种土壤组成与性质因子呈显著正相关关系。     

Effects of water content and N addition on potential greenhouse gas production from two differently textured soils under laboratory conditions

GHGs production and emission may vary depending on soil physical properties, water management and fertilization. Two paddy soils characterized by different texture were incubated to evaluate the impact of flooding (permanent or intermittent) and N addition on potential N₂O, CH₄ and CO₂ production and release into atmosphere and soil solution. Relationships with volumetric water content (VWC) and water filled pore space (WFPS) were evaluated. Overall, the finer clayey soil (CL) produced 58% more CH₄ than the coarser sandy soil (SA) and showed an earlier sink to source transition; the difference was lower with N addition. Permanent flooding favoured the amount of dissolved CH₄. SA produced more N₂O emissions than CL under permanent flooding (31.0 vs. 3.7%); an opposite pattern was observed for dissolved N₂O (16.4 vs. 52.7%). Fertilization increased N₂O emissions under dry conditions in CL and under flooding in SA.

Our findings showed that i) VWC had a larger influence on N₂O and CH₄ emissions than WFPS, ii) soil type influenced the gas release into atmosphere or soil solution and the timing of sink to source transition in CH₄ emissions. Further investigation on timing of fertilization and drainage are needed to improve climate change mitigation strategies.     

不同液土比和温度条件下塿土铵离子吸附

Effects of NH₄⁺ concentration, solution/soil ratio and temperature on NH₄⁺ adsorption were studied in a Eum-Orthic Anthrosol. The slopes of the soil NH₄⁺ adsorption isotherms and the fitted n, the coefficient for the adsorption intensity, and k, the coefficient related to adsorption capacity, of the Freundlich equation increased with increasing solution/soil ratio (SSR) and with decreasing temperature (T). For the range of experimental conditions, the value of ∂q/∂c, the rate of change of the amount of NH₄⁺ adsorbed in the soil solid phase (q) with respect to the equilibrium concentration of NH₄⁺ in soil solution (c), was 0.840, indicating that q increased with increasing c. From 2 to 45 ℃, ∂q/∂SSR, the rate of change of q with respect to SSR, decreased from 2.598 to 1.996, showing that q increased with increasing SSR, while its increasing rate decreased with temperature. From SSR 1:1 to 20:1, ∂q/∂T, the rate of change of q with respect to T, decreased from -0.095 to -0.361, indicating that q decreased with increasing temperature, and at the same time the negative effect of temperature became larger as SSR increased. Thus under the experimental conditions the order of importance in determining the amount of NH₄⁺ adsorbed in the soil solid phase was ∂q/∂SSR > ∂q/∂c > |∂q/∂T|, indicating that the greatest effect on the amount of NH₄⁺ adsorbed was with the solution/soil ratio; the equilibrium concentration of NH₄⁺ had a lesser effect; and temperature had the least effect.     

Heterotrophic and autotrophic nitrification in two acid pasture soils

Laboratory incubation experiments, using ¹⁵N-labeling techniques and simple analytical models, were conducted to measure heterotrophic and autotrophic nitrification rates in two acid soils (pH 4.8-5.3; 1/5 in H₂O) with high organic carbon contents (6.2-6.8% in top 5 cm soil). The soils were from pastures located near Maindample and Ruffy in the Northeast Victoria, Australia. Gross rates of N mineralization, nitrification and immobilization were measured. The gross rates of autotrophic nitrification were 0.157 and 0.119 μg N g⁻¹ h⁻¹ and heterotrophic nitrification rates were 0.036 and 0.009 μg N g⁻¹ h⁻¹ for the Maindample and Ruffy soils, respectively. Heterotrophic nitrification accounted for 19% and 7% of the total nitrification in the Maindample and Ruffy soils, respectively. The heterotrophic nitrifiers used organic N compounds and no as the substrate for nitrification.     

Nitrogen transformation in arable soils of North-West Germany during the cereal growing season

In 1991, field experiments on loess (with winter wheat) and sandy soils (with summer barley) were conducted to study N dynamics in the microbial biomass and non-exchangeable NH _inf4 ^sup+ . The measurements showed a mass change in microbial N, with a maximum increase of 100 kg N ha^-1 30 cm^-1 from March to July in the loess soil, and a change for only 1 month (May) in the sandy soil. Plots treated with conventional levels of N fertilizer (213 kg N ha^-1 on a loess soil to winter wheat and 130 kg ha^-1 on the sandy soil to summer barley), reduced levels of N (83% and 62% of the conventional N application), or no N showed no consistent fertilizer N effect on microbial biomass N. From March to July, non-exchangeable NH _inf4 ^sup+ in loess soils under winter wheat decreased by 110 kg N ha^-1 30 cm^-1 in conventionally fertilized plots and by 200 kg N ha^-1 30 cm^-1 in a plot with no N fertilizer. After harvest, the pool of non-exchangeable NH _inf4 ^sup+ increased due to increasing mineral N concentrations in the soil.     

Phosphate fixation by ando soils different in their clay mineral composition

The phosphate fixation capacity at pH 4.5 and an equilibrium concentration of 250 mM phosphate was measured. The soil samples were divided into five groups according to their clay mineralogical composition. The first group soils contain opaline silica and allophanelike constituents, and some unidentified minerals, the second opaline silica and crystalline layer .i1icates, the third opaline silica and crystalline layer silicates with additional allophanelike constituents or aluminarich gel-like materials, the fourth allophanelike constituents, allophane and imogolite and the fifth crystalline layer silicates, allophanelike constituents and alumina-rich gel-like materials, plus some halloysite-like minerals, respectively. The first group soils had phosphate fixation capacities of 3,000 to 8,000, the second group soils 1,000 to 3,000, the third group loib 2,000 to 13,000, the fourth group soils 8,000 to 15,000 and the fifth group soil. 5,000 to 12,000 mg P₂O₅/100 g oven-dry soil, respectively. The fourth group soils in which allophane and imogolite predominated showed the highest phosphate fixation capacity.

The fractions which dissolved from almost all soil samples by treatments with 6% H₂O₂ Na₂S₂O₄-NaHCO₂-Na citrate and 2% Na₂CO₃ were estimated to have very high phosphate fixation capacities (8,000 to 19,000 mg P₂O₅/100 g dry-matter), and there was not much difference among the soil samples examined. Iron and aluminum combined with humus, allophanelike constituents, alumina-rich gel-like materials and halloysite-like minerals in addition to allophane and imogolite contribute to the phosphate fixation of Ando soils.     

Nitrate removal from drained and reflooded fen soils affected by soil N transformation processes and plant uptake

Knowledge about nitrate transformation processes and how they are affected by different plants is essential in order to reduce the loss of valuable N fertiliser as well as to prevent environmental pollution due to nitrate leaching or N₂O emission after fertilisation or the reflooding of degraded fens with nitrate-containing municipal sewage. Therefore four microcosm ¹⁵N tracer experiments were performed to evaluate the effect of common wetland plants (Phalaris arundinacea, Phragmites australis) combined with different soil moisture conditions (from dry to reflooded) on nitrate turnover processes. At the end of experiment, the total formation of gaseous N compounds was calculated using the ¹⁵N balance method. In two experiments (wet and reflooded soil conditions) the N₂O and N₂ emissions were also directly determined.Our results show that in degraded fen soils, which process mainly takes place—denitrification or transformation into organic N compounds—is determined by the soil moisture conditions. Under dry soil moisture conditions (water filled pore space: 31%) up to 80% of the ¹⁵N nitrate added was transformed into organic N compounds. This transformation process is not affected by plant growth. Under reflooded conditions (water filled pore space: 100%), the total gaseous N losses were highest (77-95% of the ¹⁵N-nitrate added) and the transformation into organic N compounds was very low (1.8% of ¹⁵N nitrate added). Under almost all soil conditions plant growth reduced the N losses by 20-25% of the ¹⁵N nitrate added due to plant uptake. The N₂ emissions exceeded the N₂O emissions by a factor of 10-20 in planted soil, and as much as 30 in unplanted soil. In the treatments planted with Phragmites australis, N₂O emission was about two times higher than in the corresponding unplanted treatment. 15% of the N₂O and N₂ formed was transported via the Phragmites shoots from the soil into the atmosphere. By contrast, Phalaris arundinacea did not affect N₂O emissions and no emission via the shoots was observed.     

羟基磷灰石对铅锌矿区土壤吸附Zn2+、Cd2+的影响

为探究羟基磷灰石(HAP)对矿区土壤重金属的固化效果,采用吸附试验,研究施加HAP的铅锌矿区土壤对Cd~(2+)、Zn~(2+)的动力学吸附和等温吸附效果。结果表明:土壤对Cd~(2+)、Zn~(2+)的吸附量随Cd~(2+)、Zn~(2+)初始浓度的增加而增加;在酸性条件下,其吸附量随pH上升而上升;准二级动力学方程能很好地描述两者的吸附过程,土壤吸附能力随HAP的添加量增大而增强;在Zn—Cd共存体系中,当初始浓度为20mg/L时,土壤对Zn~(2+)、Cd~(2+)的吸附无明显差异,2种金属离子竞争力度小,随着初始浓度上升,竞争明显,对Zn~(2+)的最大吸附量能达到单一体系中的79%～87%,而Cd~(2+)的最大吸附量只有单一体系中的57%～72%,Zn~(2+)的竞争力优于Cd~(2+),Zn~(2+)对Cd~(2+)吸附产生严重的抑制。综上可知,HAP能提高矿区土壤的吸附性能,在Zn、Cd污染土壤中,更能提升土壤对Zn~(2+)的吸附固持能力。     

Changes in mineral nitrogen, phosphorus availability and salt-extractable aluminium following the application of green manure residues in two weathered soils of South Vietnam

Phosphorus deficiency and aluminium toxicity in weathered soils can be amended by applying organic residues. Nitrogen mineralization, changes in P-availability and changes in salt-extractable Al following the incorporation of residues of various green manures (Flemingia congesta, Mucuna pruriens, Pueraria phaseoloides, Tithonia diversifolia) were quantified in a field core incubation experiment. Dried residues were added at an application rate of 45 kg P ha⁻¹ to two soils representative for the main soil groups of the South Vietnamese uplands, set up in incubation cores in an experimental field near Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.Decomposition of the residues proceeded at high rates. Mineralized nitrogen from the residues was recovered mainly as ammonium during the first 2 weeks of incubation. Nitrogen release from Tithonia residues with the highest lignin content and lignin:N ratio occurred more gradually compared to the three legumes. Resin-extractable P was significantly increased by residue treatments. Largest and sustained increases in resin-extractable P (0.67 and 2.06 mg P kg⁻¹ in the two soils) were observed in samples amended with Tithonia, which was related to the large P-content (0.37%) and small C:P ratio (110) of the residues. The P-concentration in the residues, rather than the total amount of P applied through the residues, affected the increase in P-availability. The increase in resin-extractable P was correlated to the P-content (R=0.64) and C:P ratio (R=−0.65) of the residues. Salt-extractable Al-concentrations were considerably reduced by the organic amendments, up to 70 and 50% in the two soils. At the rate of 45 kg P ha⁻¹, no significant differences between the residue treatments to reduce soil acidity were observed.As such, the application of high quality residues that are rich in P, in particular T. diversifolia, may enhance crop production by creating favourable soil conditions during the initial stages of plant development of the main crop.     

Changes in some enzyme activities and the nicotinamide nucleotide coenzymes in barley seedlings during vernalization

Respiratory metabolism was investigated by determining the following enzyme activities and nicotinamide nucleotide coenzyme contents in barley shoots (Hordeum vulgare L., var. Akashinriki) during vernalization : glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, phosphoglucoisomerase, enolase, isocitrate dehydrogenase, malate dehydrogenase, and glutamic dehydrogenase. The activities of glucose-6-phosphate de hydrogenase and phosphoglucoisomerase in vernalized shoots were slightly lower than those in non-vernalized samples. Malate dehydrogenase activity increased gradually in vernalized shoots and was always higher than in non-vernalized shoots. Activation was found in enolase, isocitrate dehydrogenase and glutamic dehydrogenase after a long vernalization treatment.

The contents of total nicotinamide nucleotide coenzymes increased during the early germination stage in both treatments, then decreased gradually in the succeeding stage.     

Seasonal variation in extracted proteases and relationship to overall soil protease and exchangeable ammonia in paddy soils

In paddy fields treated with organic manure or chemical fertilizer or not treated, seasonal changes in soil protease [hydrolysis to benzyloxycarbonyl-l–phenyl-alanyl-l–leucine (z-FLase) or casein (caseinase)] extracted with phosphate buffer were investigated during the cultivation of rice. Both activities reached a maximum on July 21 (after irrigation), and gradually decreased, which was correlated with the soil water content. Increases in z-FLase and caseinase activity extracted coincided with increases in exchangeable NH ₄ ⁺ and the ninhydrin-reactive N content. The overall soil caseinase activity on August 16 (after midsummer drainage) was inhibited by metal chelators and p–chloromercuribenzoic acid and was similar to that extracted with 1.0 mol l^–1 phosphate buffer on June 9 (before irrigation), but different from that extracted by 0.1 mol l^–1 phosphate buffer on July 22. The overall soil z-FLase activity on August 16 was inhibited by p–chloromercuribenzoic acid and 1,10-phenanthroline, and was similar to that extracted with 0.1 mol l^–1 phosphate buffer on June 9, but differed from that extracted on July 22. The results indicate that the soil proteases extracted on July 22 had a high potential for ammonification and were short lived.     

The Leaching Behaviour and Balances of Nitrogen and Other Elements under Spring Wheat in Lysimeter Experiment 1985–92

Abstract

In a lysimeter study it was found that moderate rates of ammonium nitrate increased utilization percentages in spring wheat, and the leaching was 10% or less of added N. Over-optimal rates reduced utilization percentages and increased leaching to almost 50% of the highest doses. Late split application of calcium nitrate increased the percentage of N in grain. Furthermore, leaching of N was not reduced, but occurred somewhat later in the fall and winter seasons. Leaching of Cl^? was more rapid and that of SO₄ ^2- was delayed relative to the leaching of NO₃ ^?. Rather large negative N balances were obtained, also after over-optimal application rates, and total N content of the soil was reduced. Compared with the N₀ treatment, differences in soil N residues amounted to 15–25% of added N in seven years. Gaseous losses had apparently taken place both from the added N and from soil N according to the total-N analysis.