Distribution of nitrogen pools in the soil profile of undisturbed and reseeded grasslands

 This study evaluated the effect of cultivation and reseeding on the distribution and fate of soil mineral N (SMN), soluble organic N (SON) and potentially mineralisable N (PMN) in the soil profile of two long-term grasslands in the UK. Cultivation and reseeding significantly increased the total soluble N concentration (SMN plus SON) of the soil profile (0–90 cm), with over 50 mg SON kg^–1 observed. By contrast, the PMN pool was unaffected by cultivation and declined with increasing soil depth. The flush in SON and SMN observed in both soils disappeared within 1 year following cultivation. The fate of SON appeared to be dependent on soil type, with considerably more movement to deeper layers apparent in the profile of a silty clay loam (30% clay) than in a clay loam (49% clay). Mineralisation and/or immobilisation of SON in the topsoil probably accounted for the changes observed in the SON content of the clay loam. SON is an important N pool in grassland soils and cultivation has a significant impact on its release. Measurements of SON should therefore be included in studies of N cycling in agricultural cropping systems, so that full account may be taken of its potential as a source or sink of mobile N. Received: 17 February 1999     

An evaluation of plant-available soil nitrogen in selected sandy soils by electro-ultrafiltration, KCl, and CaCl2 extraction methods

 Improving the precision in estimating the nitrogen (N) requirement for citrus trees on sandy soils is important for increasing N efficiency by the trees and minimizing potential losses of N in commercial citrus production areas. In this study, representative Florida soils were sampled from major citrus production areas and the electro-ultrafiltration (EUF) technique was used to measure the concentrations of total EUF-extractable nitrogen (EUF-N_t), ammonium-N (EUF-NH₄ ⁺–N) and nitrate-N (EUF-NO₃ ^––N). Available organic N (N_org) was calculated as: EUF-N_t–(NH₄ ⁺–N+NO₃ ^––N). The N concentrations in the EUF extraction were greater than those by the KCl or CaCl₂ method. The N_org fraction, estimated by the EUF method, varied from 4.4 to 40.8 mg kg^–1 soil, equivalent to 10 to 91 kg N ha^–1 (for the top 15 cm depth soil) and was positively correlated with the total soil N determined by the Kjeldahl method. The presence of appreciable amounts of N_org in these soils indicates that these soils contain high proportions of the total soil N in easily mineralizable N_org forms. This study demonstrates that the EUF-extractable organic bound N must be considered in developing N fertilizer recommendations for citrus. Received: 13 January 1999     

The influence of nitrogen on atrazine and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid mineralization in grassland soils

The influence of fertilizer N on the mineralization of atrazine [2-chloro-4(ethylamino)-6(isopropylamino)-s-triazine] and 2,4-D (2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid) in soils was assessed in microcosms using radiometric techniques. N equivalent to 0, 250, and 500 kg N as NH₄NO₃ ha^-1 was added to three grassland soils. Compared to the control, the 250- and 500-kg treatments suppressed mineralization of atrazine by 75 and 54%, respectively, and inhibited mineralization of 2,4-D by 89 and 30%, respectively. Active fungal biomass responded to the N treatments in an opposite manner to herbicide mineralization. Compared to the control, the 250- and 500-kg treatments increased the active fungal biomass by more than 300 and 30%, respectively. These results agree with other observations that N can suppress the decomposition of resistant compounds but stimulate the primary growth of fungi. The degree of suppression was not related to the amount of N added nor to the inherent soil N levels before treatment. The interaction between the N additions and the active fungal biomass in affecting herbicide mineralization suggests that N may alter microbial processes and their use of C sources and thus influence rates of herbicide degradation in the field.     

Influence of soil phosphorus status and nitrogen addition on carbon mineralization from 14C-labelled glucose in pasture soils

 This study examines the effect of soil P status and N addition on the decomposition of ¹⁴C-labelled glucose to assess the consequences of reduced fertilizer inputs on the functioning of pastoral systems. A contrast in soil P fertility was obtained by selecting two hill pasture soils with different fertilizer history. At the two selected sites, representing low (LF) and high (HF) fertility status, total P concentrations were 640 and 820 mg kg^–1 and annual pasture production was 4,868 and 14,120 kg DM ha^–1 respectively. Soils were amended with ¹⁴C-labelled glucose (2,076 mg C kg^–1 soil), with and without the addition of N (207 mg kg^–1 soil), and incubated for 168 days. During incubation, the amounts of ¹⁴CO₂ respired, microbial biomass C and ¹⁴C, microbial biomass P, extractable inorganic P (P_i) and net N mineralization were determined periodically. Carbon turnover was greatly influenced by nutrient P availability. The amount of glucose-derived ¹⁴CO₂ production was high (72%) in the HF and low (67%) in the LF soil, as were microbial biomass C and P concentrations. The ¹⁴C that remained in the microbial biomass at the end of the 6-month incubation was higher in the LF soil (15%) than in the HF soil (11%). Fluctuations in P_i in the LF soil during incubation were small compared with those in HF soil, suggesting that P was cycling through microbial biomass. The concentrations of P_i were significantly greater in the HF samples throughout the incubation than in the LF samples. Net N mineralization and nitrification rates were also low in the LF soils, indicating a slow turnover of microorganisms under limited nutrient supply. Addition of N had little effect on biomass ¹⁴C and glucose utilization. This suggests that, at limiting P fertility, C turnover is retarded because microbial biomass becomes less efficient in the utilization of substrates. Received: 18 October 1999     

Glufosinate and ammonium sulfate inhibit atrazine degradation in adapted soils

The co-application of glufosinate with nitrogen fertilizers may alter atrazine cometabolism, thereby extending the herbicide’s residual weed control in adapted soils. The objective of this study was to assess the effects of glufosinate, ammonium sulfate, and the combination of glufosinate and ammonium sulfate on atrazine mineralization in a Dundee silt loam exhibiting enhanced atrazine degradation. Application of glufosinate at rates of 10 to 40 mg kg⁻¹ soil extended the lag phase 1 to 2 days and reduced the maximum degradation rate by 15% to 30%. However, cumulative atrazine mineralization averaged 85% 21 days after treatment and was independent of treatment. Maximum daily rates of atrazine mineralization were reduced from 41% to 55% by application of 1 to 8 g kg⁻¹ of ammonium sulfate. Similarly, cumulative atrazine mineralization was inversely correlated with ammonium sulfate rates ranging from 1.0 to 8 g kg⁻¹ soil. Under the conditions of this laboratory study, atrazine degradation was relatively insensitive to exogenous mineral nitrogen, in that 8 g (NH₄)₂SO₄ per kilogram soil repressed but did not completely inhibit atrazine mineralization. Moreover, an additive effect on reducing atrazine mineralization was observed when glufosinate was co-applied with ammonium sulfate. In addition, ammonium fertilization alters the partitioning of ¹⁴C-atrazine metabolite accumulation and nonextractable residues, indicating that ammonium represses cleavage of the triazine ring. Consequently, results indicate that the co-application of glufosinate with N may increase atrazine persistence under field conditions thereby extending atrazine residual weed control in adapted soils.     

Lumbricid macrofauna alter atrazine mineralization and sorption in a silt loam soil

Atrazine is a widely used herbicide and is often a contaminant in terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems. It is uncertain, however, how the activity of soil macrofauna affects atrazine fate and transport. Therefore, we investigated whether earthworms enhance atrazine biodegradation by stimulating herbicide degrading soil microflora, or if they increase atrazine persistence by facilitating herbicide sorption. Short (43 d) and medium term (86 d) effects of the earthworms Lumbricus terrestris and Aporrectodea caliginosa on mineralization, distribution, and sorption of U-ring-¹⁴C atrazine and on soil C mineralization was quantified in packed-soil microcosms using silt loam soil. A priming effect (stimulation of soil C mineralization) caused by atrazine supply was shown that likely lowered the earthworm net effect on soil C mineralization in atrazine-treated soil microcosms. Although earthworms significantly increased soil microbial activity, they reduced atrazine mineralization to ¹⁴CO₂-C from15.2 to 11.7% at 86 d. Earthworms facilitated formation of non-extractable atrazine residues within C-rich soil microsites that they created by burrowing and ingesting soil and organic matter. Atrazine sorption was highest in their gut contents and higher in casts than in burrow linings. Also, gut contents exhibited the highest formation of bound atrazine residues (non-extractable atrazine). Earthworms also promoted a deeper and patchier distribution of atrazine in the soil. This contributed to greater leaching losses of atrazine in microcosms amended with earthworms (3%) than in earthworm-free microcosms (0.003%), although these differences were not significant due to high variability in transport from earthworm-amended microcosms. Our results indicated that earthworms, mainly by casting activity, facilitated atrazine sorption, which increased atrazine persistence. As a consequence, this effect overrode any increase in atrazine biodegradation due to stimulation of microbial activity by earthworms. It is concluded that the affect of earthworms of atrazine mineralization is time-dependent, mineralization being slightly enhanced in the short term and subsequently reduced in the medium term.     

Microbial biomass and C mineralization in agricultural soils as affected by atrazine addition

This study examines the effects of atrazine on both microbial biomass C and C mineralization dynamics in two contrasting agricultural soils (organic C, texture, and atrazine application history) located at Galicia (NW Spain). Atrazine was added to soils, a Humic Cambisol (H) and a Gleyic Cambisol (G), at a recommended agronomic dose and C mineralization (CO₂ evolved), and microbial biomass measurements were made in non-treated and atrazine-treated samples at different time intervals during a 12-week aerobic incubation. The cumulative curves of CO₂–C evolved over time fit the simple first-order kinetic model [Ct = Co (1 − e ^−kt )], whose kinetic parameters were quantified. Differences in these parameters were observed between the two soils studied; the G soil, with a higher content in organic matter and microbial biomass C and lower atrazine application history, exhibited higher values of the total C mineralization and the potentially mineralizable labile C pool than those for the H soil. The addition of atrazine modified the kinetic parameters and increased notably the C mineralized; by the end of the incubation the cumulative CO₂–C values were 33–41% higher than those in the corresponding non-added soils. In contrast, a variable effect or even no effect was observed on the soil microbial biomass following atrazine addition. The data clearly showed that atrazine application at normal agricultural rates may have important implications in the C cycling of these two contrasting acid soils.     

Interactions between 14C-labelled atrazine and the soil microbial biomass in relation to herbicide degradation

A laboratory incubation experiment was set up to determine the effects of atrazine herbicide on the size and activity of the soil microbial biomass. This experiment was of a factorial design (0, 5, and 50 g g^–1 soil of non-labelled atrazine and 6.6×10³ Bq g^–1 soil of ¹⁴C-labelled atrazine) x (0, 20, and 100 g g^–1 soil of urea-N) x (pasture or arable soil with a previous history of atrazine application). Microbial biomass, measured by substrate-induced respiration and the fumigation-incubation method, basal respiration, incorporation of ¹⁴C into the microbial biomass, degradation of atrazine, and ¹⁴C remaining in soil were monitored over 81 days. The amount of microbial biomass was unaffected by atrazine although atrazine caused a significant enhancement of CO₂ release in the non-fumigated controls. Generally, the amounts of atrazine incorporated into the microbial biomass were negligible, indicating that microbial incorporation of C from atrazine is not an important mechanism of herbicide breakdown. Depending on the type of soil and the rate of atrazine application, 18–65% of atrazine was degraded by the end of the experiment. Although the pasture soil had twice the amount of microbial biomass as the arable soil, and the addition of urea approximately doubled the microbial biomass, this did not significantly enhance the degradation of atrazine. This suggests that degradation of atrazine is largely independent of the size of the microbial biomass and suggests that other factors (e.g., solubility, chemical hydrolysis) regulate atrazine breakdown. A separate experiment conducted to determine total amounts of ¹⁴C-labelled atrazine converted into CO₂ by pasture and arable soils showed that less than 25% of the added ¹⁴C-labelled atrazine was oxidised to ¹⁴CO₂ during a 15-week period. The rate of degradation was significantly greater in the arable soil at 24%, compared to 18% in the pasture soil. This indicates that soil microbes with previous exposure to atrazine can degrade the applied atrazine at a faster rate.     

竹炭固定化微生物对土壤中阿特拉津的降解研究

采用环境友好材料竹炭为主要载体,壳聚糖和海藻酸钠为辅助载体,固定从污泥中分离出的阿特拉津降解菌株,研究不同固定材料对降解菌生长的影响,以及固定化微生物对土壤中阿特拉津的降解效果.结果表明,竹炭对阿特拉津降解菌具有较强的吸附固定能力,且竹炭粒径越小,固定化效果越好.利用壳聚糖和海藻酸钠交联并加固阿特拉津降解菌,增大了固定化空间,显著增加了降解菌的生物量,并提高了阿特拉津的降解效率.1％壳聚糖+5％海藻酸钠+竹炭+降解菌颗粒对阿特拉津降解菌的固定化效果最佳,施用该微生物固定化颗粒28天后,砂姜黑土及红壤中阿特拉津残留率分别为48.07％和47.23％.     

Influence of nitrogen on atrazine and 2, 4 dichlorophenoxyacetic acid mineralization in blackwater and redwater forested wetland soils

 Microcosms were used to determine the influence of N additions on active bacterial and fungal biomass, atrazine and dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) mineralization at 5, 10 and 15 weeks in soils from blackwater and redwater wetland forest ecosystems in the northern Florida Panhandle. Active bacterial and fungal biomass was determined by staining techniques combined with direct microscopy. Atrazine and 2,4-D mineralization were measured radiometrically. Treatments were: soil type, (blackwater or redwater forested wetland soils) and N additions (soils amended with the equivalent of 0, 200 or 400 kg N ha^–1 as NH₄NO₃). Redwater soils contained higher concentrations of C, total N, P, K, Ca, Mn, Fe, B and Zn than blackwater soils. After N addition and 15 weeks of incubation, active bacterial biomass in redwater soils was lower when N was added. Active bacterial biomass in blackwater soils was lower when 400 kg N ha^–1, but not when 200 kg N ha^–1, was added. Active fungal biomass in blackwater soils was higher when 400 kg N ha^–1, but not when 200 kg N ha^–1, was added. Active fungal biomass in redwater soils was lower when 200 kg N ha^–1, but not when 400 kg N ha^–1, was added. After 15 weeks of incubation 2,4-D degradation was higher in redwater wetland soils than in blackwater soils. After 10 and 15 weeks of incubation the addition of 200 or 400 kg N ha^–1 decreased both atrazine and 2,4-D degradation in redwater soils. The addition of 400 kg N ha^–1 decreased 2,4-D degradation but not atrazine degradation in blackwater soils after 10 and 15 weeks of incubation. High concentrations of N in surface runoff and groundwater resulting from agricultural operations may have resulted in the accumulation of N in many wetland soils. Large amounts of N accumulating in wetlands may decrease mineralization of toxic agricultural pesticides. Received: 26 June 1998     

Microbial mineralization of atrazine and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid in riparian pasture and forest soils

Microbial biomass and mineralization of atrazine [2-chloro-4(ethylamino)-6(isopropylamino)s-triazine] and 2,4-D (2,4-dichlorphenoxyacetic acid) were examined in the top 10 cm of riparian pasture soils and in the litter layer and top 10 cm of mineral soils of riparian forest ecosystems. The riparian forest litter had higher levels of active and total fungal biomass than forest or pasture mineral soils in winter, spring, and fall. Active bacterial biomass was higher in forest litter than in forest and pasture mineral soils in spring and autumn, and higher in forest mineral soils than in pasture soils in summer. Total bacterial biomass was higher in forest mineral soils than in pasture soils during all seasons. In spring, it was also higher in forest litter than in pasture soils. Atrazie and 2,4-D mineralization in pasture soils was exceeded by that in forest litter in spring and autumn and by that in forest mineral soils in summer and autumn. There was no correlation between either active or total fungal and bacterial biomass with pesticide degradation.     

Effects of long-term litter manipulation on soil carbon,nitrogen, and phosphorus in a temperate deciduous forest

Changes in above-ground litterfall can influence below-ground biogeochemical processes in forests. In order to examine how above-ground litter inputs affect soil carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) in a temperate deciduous forest, we studied a 14-year-old small-scale litter manipulation experiment that included control, litter exclusion, and doubled litter addition at a mature Fagus sylvatica L. site. Total organic C (TOC), total N (TN) and total P (TP), total organic P (TOP), bioavailable inorganic P (Pi), microbial C, N and P, soil respiration and fine root biomass were analyzed in the A and in two B horizons. Our results showed that litter manipulation had no significant effect on TOC in the mineral soil. Litter addition increased the bioavailable Pi in the A horizon but had no significant effect on N in the mineral soil. Litter exclusion decreased TN and TP in the B horizon to a depth of 10 cm. In the A horizon of the litter exclusion treatment, TP, TOP and bioavailable Pi were increased, which is most likely due to the higher root biomass in this treatment. The high fine root biomass seems to have counteracted the effects of the excluded aboveground litter. In conclusion, our study indicates that aboveground litter is not an important source for C in the mineral soil and that P recycling from root litter might be more important than from above-ground litter.     

Soil organic nitrogen composition in Pinus forest acid soils: variability and bioavailability

 The total N content in the acid forest soils studied ranged between 0.41% and 1.43%, and in more than 98% was composed of organic N. Total hydrolysable organic N, hydrolysable unknown N (HUN) and α-aminoacidic N represented around 70%, 34% and 20% of the organic N, respectively, and varied in wide ranges. The percentages of amidic N and of the organic N compounds solubilised to NH₄ ⁺ were approximately 6% and 5%, respectively, and ranged in narrow intervals. Aminoglucidic N reached a maximum of 3.8% of the organic N and was undetectable in some of the samples analysed. Most of the hydrolysable N, HUN and α-aminoacidic N was solubilised with 1 N and 3 N HCl, while a high amount of the compounds recovered as NH₄ ⁺ (60%) was obtained with 6 N HCl. The distribution of aminoglucidic N in the four fractions of increasing hydrolytic intensity was very irregular. The organic N composition in the 0 to 5-cm and 5 to 10-cm layers was not significantly different. The variation among samples was determined mainly by the organic N compounds less resistant to acid hydrolysis (hydrolysable N and HUN less resistant to acid hydrolysis, amidic N and labile ammoniacal N) and by all α-aminoacidic N fractions. Aminoacidic N was positively correlated with electrical conductivity and negatively correlated with exchangeable Al. The net N mineralisation over 10 weeks of incubation was positive in all the soil samples analysed. The inorganic N content after the incubation and the microbial N content were positively correlated with other variables – mainly with amidic N and α-aminoacidic N, as well as with HUN and the hydrolysable N less resistant to hydrolysis. Received: 13 July 1999     

添加葡萄糖对不同肥力黑土氮素转化的影响

氮是作物生长必需的大量营养元素,增施化学氮肥,是农业生产采取的主要增产措施之一。我国的氮肥消费量已占世界总消费量的约30%,但我国农业中氮素的生产效率趋于下降,而带来的农业环境污染则趋于加重。提高氮素利用率,降低其对环境的负面影响,在保障粮食安全的同时兼顾生     

Collembolans feeding on soil affect carbon and nitrogen mineralization by their influence on microbial and nematode activities

We manipulated Collembola Folsomia candida Willem density and observed the density effect on carbon and nitrogen mineralization and on nematodes in microcosms filled with mineral soil. Collembolan densities were 0 (control), 25 (low), 100 (medium), and 400 (high) individuals per microcosm. The Collembola enhanced soil respiration and nitrogen mineralization rate in a density-dependent manner (P < 0.05). The correlation between collembolan density and the metabolic quotient of microbes, qCO₂, was weakly positive (r = 0.44, P < 0.05). Collembola did not affect microbial biomass. These results suggested that enhanced carbon and nitrogen mineralization was an indirect effect of Collembola mediated by increased microbial activity. Collembola changed the C_nema/C_mic ratio, but only when present at the low density. Thus, Collembola had both positive and negative effects on the nematode population. The positive impact probably depends on the enhancement of microbial activity due to Collembola grazing behavior, while the negative effect appears to result from predation of nematodes.     

Aggregate associated carbon, nitrogen and sulfur and their ratios in long-term fertilized soils

Farmyard manure (FYM) and fertilizer applications are important management practices used to improve nutrient status and organic matter in soils and thus to increase crop productivity and carbon (C) sequestration. However, the long-term effects of fertilization on C, nitrogen (N) and sulfur (S) associated with aggregates, especially on S are not fully understood. We investigated the effects of more than 80 years of FYM (medium level of 40 Mg ka⁻¹ and high level of 60 Mg ka⁻¹) and mineral fertilizer (NPKS and NK) on the concentrations and pools of C, N, and S and on their ratios in bulk soil, dry aggregates and water stable aggregates on an Aquic Eutrocryepts soil in South-eastern Norway. A high level of FYM and NPKS application increased the proportion of small dry aggregates (<0.6 mm) by 8%, compared with the control (without fertilizer). However, both medium and high level of FYM application increased the proportion of large water stable aggregates (>2 mm) compared with mineral fertilizer (NPKS and NK). The total C and N pools in bulk soils were also increased in FYM treatments but no such increase was seen with mineral fertilizer treatments. The increased total S pool was only found under high level of FYM application. Water stable macroaggregates (>2 and 1–2 mm) and microaggregates (<0.106 mm) contained higher concentrations of C, N and S than the other aggregate sizes, but due to their abundance, medium size water stable aggregates (0.5–1 mm) contained higher total pools of all three elements. High level of FYM application increased the C concentration in water stable aggregates >2, 0.5–1 and <0.106 mm, and increased the S concentration in most aggregates as compared with unfertilized soils. Higher C/N, C/S and N/S ratios were found both in large dry aggregates (>20 and 6–20 mm) and in the smallest aggregates (<0.6 mm) than in other aggregate sizes. In water stable aggregates, the C/N ratio generally increased with decreasing aggregate size. However, macroaggregates (>2 mm) showed higher N/S ratios than microaggregates (<0.106 mm). We can thus conclude, that long-term application of high amounts of FYM resulted in C, N and S accumulation in bulk soil, and C and S accumulation in most aggregates, but that the accumulation pattern was dependent on aggregate size and the element (C, N and S) considered.     

A rapid chloroform-fumigation extraction method for measuring soil microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen in flooded rice soils

 A chloroform-fumigation extraction method with fumigation at atmospheric pressure (CFAP, without vacuum) was developed for measuring microbial biomass C (C_BIO) and N (N_BIO) in water-saturated rice soils. The method was tested in a series of laboratory experiments and compared with the standard chloroform-fumigation extraction (CFE, with vacuum). For both methods, there was little interference from living rice roots or changing soil water content (0.44–0.55 kg kg^–1 wet soil). A comparison of the two techniques showed a highly significant correlation for both C_BIO and N_BIO (P<0.001) suggesting that the simple and rapid CFAP is a reliable alternative to the CFE. It appeared, however, that a small and relatively constant fraction of well-protected microbial biomass may only be lysed during fumigation under vacuum. Determinations of microbial C and N were highly reproducible for both methods, but neither fumigation technique generated N_BIO values which were positively correlated with C_BIO. The range of observed microbial C:N ratios of 4–15 was unexpectedly wide for anaerobic soil conditions. Evidence that this was related to inconsistencies in the release, degradation, and extractability of N_BIO rather than C_BIO came from the observation that increasing the fumigation time from 4 h to 48 h significantly increased N_BIO but not C_BIO. The release pattern of C_BIO indicated that the standard fumigation time of 24 h is applicable to water-saturated rice soils. To correct for the incomplete recovery of C_BIO, we suggest applying the k _C factor of 2.64, commonly used for aerobic soils (Vance et al. 1987), but caution is required when correcting N_BIO data. Until differences in fumigation efficiencies among CFE and CFAP are confirmed for a wider range of rice soils, we suggest applying the same correction factor for both methods. Received: 1 June 1999     

Response of rice to increasing nitrogen rates in five soils with different mineralizable nitrogen levels

Rice is one of the essential foods of the human diet and advances in agronomic crop management, such as nitrogen (N) rate management, can improve productivity and profitability and reduce adverse environmental impacts. Nitrogen fertilization rates in Chile are generally based on crop yield without considering the soil's capacity to supply it. Five rice soils of the Inceptisol, Alfisol, and Vertisol orders in central Chile were incubated at 20°C for 21 d in the 2011–2012 season, and their N mineralization capacity was determined before sowing the rice crop. These soils were cropped in field conditions with rice fertilized with 0, 80, and 160 kg N ha^?1; grain yield, harvest index, and grain sterility were determined. Mineralized N was associated with some chemical properties of each soil, and with the response to N rates in grain yield and grain sterility. Results indicated that the N rates to be used in rice must consider soil N mineralization capacity and crop yield potential. Finally, the best response to the N rates used in this study and the effect on both harvest index and grain sterility was achieved with 80 kg N ha^?1.     

Microbial degradation and resynthesis of proteins during incubation of beech leaf litter in the presence of mineral phases

 Organic N constitutes more than 90% of total N in surface soil horizons. Amino acids, peptides and proteins represent the most abundant N species. There are indications that clay minerals influence the degradation of proteins, but little is known about the effect of oxides and hydroxides on protein decay. We therefore conducted an incubation experiment with mixtures of beech leaf litter and Fe oxide, Al hydroxide, Mn oxide or quartz sand. The protein amounts (quantified as α-NH₂–N) during the 498-day experiment were recorded. During the first 90–239 days, plant-derived proteins were decomposed, resulting in a decline of protein amounts to about 60% of the initial value. Later in the experiment, the protein amounts increased again to between 70% and 90% of the initial amount, because microbial resynthesis of proteins outweighed decomposition. The change from dominating decomposition to prevailing microbial resynthesis occurred when the microorganisms had to adapt to less favourable conditions and therefore built new, protein-rich biomass. Although the mineral phases did not influence protein decomposition initially, Fe oxide and Al hydroxide stabilized plant-derived proteins. Al hydroxide reduced protein resynthesis in the second phase of the experiment, probably due to a reduction of microbial activity. Mn oxide increased protein decomposition and lowered microbial resynthesis due to its oxidative properties. The mineral phases therefore resulted in a shift of the relative intensities of protein decomposition and microbial resynthesis. Received: 26 August 1998     

pH regulation of carbon and nitrogen dynamics in two agricultural soils

Soil pH is often hypothesized to be a major factor regulating organic matter turnover and inorganic nitrogen production in agricultural soils. The aim of this study was to critically test the relationship between soil pH and rates of C and N cycling, and dissolved organic nitrogen (DON), in two long-term field experiments in which pH had been manipulated (Rothamsted silty clay loam, pH 3.5-6.8; Woburn sandy loam, pH 3.4-6.3). While alteration of pH for 37 years significantly affected crop production, it had no significant effect on total soil C and N or indigenous mineral N levels. This implies that at steady state, increased organic matter inputs to the soil are balanced by increased outputs of CO₂. This is supported by the positive correlation between both plant productivity and intrinsic microbial respiration with soil pH. In addition, soil microbial biomass C and N, and nitrification were also significantly positively correlated with soil pH. Measurements of respiration following addition of urea and amino acids showed a significant decline in CO₂ evolution with increasing soil acidity, whilst glucose mineralization showed no response to pH. In conclusion, it appears that changes in soil pH significantly affect soil microbial activity and the rate of soil C and N cycling. The evidence suggests that this response is partially indirect, being primarily linked to pH induced changes in net primary production and the availability of substrates. In addition, enhanced soil acidity may also act directly on the functioning of the microbial community itself.