Tillage and dicyandiamide influence on nitrogen fertilizer immobilization,remineralization, and utilization by maize (Zea mays L.)

Summary Both tillage and nitrification inhibitors such as dicyandiamide (DCD) have the potential to influence N availability and thus plant N uptake. A field experiment was conducted to investigate the impact of DCD and tillage (rototillage and no-tillage) on N immobilization and the subsequent impact of residual and fertilizer N on N availability to maize (Zea mays L.) ¹⁵N-labeled urea and urea-DCD were surface applied at the rate of 16 g N m^-2, in either 1987 or 1988, to small plots which had been planted to maize (Zea mays L.). Soil samples were collected four times during the 1988 growing season and analyzed for the ¹⁵N and ¹⁴N components of inorganic N, organic N, and hydrolyzable (6 M HCl) amino acid N, hydrolyzable NH _inf4 ^sup+ -N, and non-hydrolyzable N. Plant samples were collected three times during the 1988 growing season, and analyzed for the ¹⁵N and ¹⁴N components of total N. The total amount of NO _inf3 ^sup- percolating through the profile was less than 15 kg N ha^-1 in 1987 and 1988. N uptake by maize was reduced under notillage and when the urea was treated with DCD. The tillage treatments had no effect on the uptake of N fertilizer applied in 1988 or on N immobilization. However, no-till-age reduced the uptake of residual N fertilizer. The reduced use of N fertilizer was attributed to a reduction in the actual mineralization rates of immobilized residual N. DCD reduced the uptake of N fertilizer applied in 1988. The reduced uptake was attributed to increased N immobilization or to organic matter fixation.     

Seasonal pattern of denitrification under an irrigated wheat-maize cropping system fertilized with urea and farmyard manure in different combinations

Under semiarid subtropical field conditions, denitrification was measured from the arable soil layer of an irrigated wheat–maize cropping system fertilized with urea at 50 or 100 kg N ha^–1 year^–1 (U₅₀ and U₁₀₀, respectively), each applied in combination with 8 or 16 t ha^–1 year^–1 of farmyard manure (FYM) (F₈ and F₁₆, respectively). Denitrification was measured by acetylene inhibition/soil core incubation method, also taking into account the N₂O entrapped in soil cores. Denitrification loss ranged from 3.7 to 5.7 kg N ha^–1 during the growing season of wheat (150 days) and from 14.0 to 30.3 kg N ha^–1 during the maize season (60 days). Most (up to 61%) of the loss occurred in a relatively short spell, after the presowing irrigation to maize, when the soil temperature was high and a considerable NO₃^–-N had accumulated during the preceding 4-month fallow; during this irrigation cycle, the lowest denitrification rate was observed in the treatment receiving highest N input (U₁₀₀+F₁₆), mainly because of the lowest soil respiration rate. Data on soil respiration and denitrification potential revealed that by increasing the mineral N application rate, the organic matter decomposition was accelerated during the wheat-growing season, leaving a lower amount of available C during the following maize season. Denitrification was affected by soil moisture and by soil temperature, the influence of which was either direct, or indirect by controlling the NO₃^– availability and aerobic soil respiration. Results indicated a substantial denitrification loss from the irrigated wheat–maize cropping system under semiarid subtropical conditions, signifying the need of appropriate fertilizer management practices to reduce this loss.     

Sesbania rostrata as a green manure for lowland rice: Growth,N2 fixation,Azorhizobium sp. inoculation,and effects on succeeding crop yields and nitrogen balance

Summary Root and stem nodulation, nitrogen fixation (acetylene-reducing activity), growth and N accumulation bySesbania rostrata as affected by season and inoculation were studied in a pot experiment. The effects ofS. rostrata as a green manure on succeeding wet-season and dry-season rice yields and total N balance were also studied.S. rostrata grown during the wet season showed better growth, nodulation, and greater acetylene-reducing activity than that grown during the dry season. Inoculation withAzorhizobium caulinodans ORS 571 StrSpc® (resistant to streptomycin and spectinomycin) on the stem alone or on both root and stem significantly increased N₂ fixation by the plants. Soil and seed inoculation yielded active root nodules under flooded conditions. Plants that were not inoculated on the stem did not develop stem nodules. The nitrogenase activity of the root nodules was greater than that of the stem nodules in about 50-day-oldS. rostrata. S. rostrata incorporation, irrespective of inoculation, significantly increased the grain yield and N uptake of the succeeding wet season and dry season rice crops. The inoculated treatments produced a significantly greater N gain (873 mg N pot^–1) than the noinoculation (712 mg N pot^–1) treatment. About 80% of the N gained was transferred to the succeeding rice crops and about 20% remained in the soil. The soil N in the flooded fallow-rice treatment significantly declined (–140 mg N pot^–1) but significantly increased in bothS. rostrata-rice treatments (159 and 151 mg N pot^–1 in uninoculated and inoculated treatments respectively). The N-balance data gave extrapolated values of N₂ fixed per hectare at about 303 kg N ha^–1 per two crops forS. rostrata (uninoculated)-rice and 383 forS. rostrata (inoculated)-rice.     

Microbial biomass and mineralization-immobilization of nitrogen in some agricultural soils

Summary The chloroform fumigation-incubation method (CFIM) was used to measure the microbial biomass of 17 agricultural soils from Punjab Pakistan which represented different agricultural soil series. The biomass C was used to calculate biomass N and the changes occurring in NH₄ ⁺-N and NO₃ ^–-N content of soils were studied during the turnover of microbial biomass or added C source. Mineral N released in fumigated-incubated soils and biomass N calculated from biomass C was correlated with some N availability indexes.The soils contained 427–1240 kg C as biomass which represented 1.2%–6.9% of the total organic C in the soils studied. Calculations based on biomass C showed that the soils contained 64–186 kg N ha^–1 as microbial biomass. Immobilization of NCO₃ ^–-N was observed in different soils during the turnover of microbial biomass and any net increase in mineral N content of fumigated incubated soils was attributed entirely to NH₄ ⁺-N.Biomass N calculated from biomass C showed non-significant correlation with different N availability indexes whereas mineral N accumulated in fumigated-incubated soils showed highly significant correlations with other indexes including N uptake by plants.     

Utilization of waste office paper to reduce nitrate leaching into the Northern Guam aquifer

 Rapid nitrate leaching losses due to current agricultural N management practices under the humid tropical environmental conditions of the Pacific island of Guam may contaminate fresh and salt water resources. Potential environmental contamination of the Northern Guam aquifer, which is overlain by shallow limestone-derived soils, is a major public concern because the aquifer is the sole underground source of fresh water for the island. The objectives of this study were to examine the use of waste office paper as a possible management alternative for reducing nitrate leaching due to N fertilizer applications in northern Guam while also providing sufficient N for crop growth. In a laboratory study, increasing rates of waste paper application reduced NO₃ ^–-N leaching up to approximately 200 days after incorporation of N fertilizer and paper treatments. Subsequent mineralization of immobilized N from paper applications was also observed, although cumulative NO₃ ^–-N leaching at the highest rate of paper addition was lower than the control after 394 days of incubation. The effect of waste paper on N availability and NO₃ ^–-N leaching after application of N fertilizer at rates up to 500 kg N ha^–1 was also evaluated in two field experiments planted with sweet corn (Zea mays var. rugosa Bonaf.) during consecutive dry and wet periods. Leaching losses of NO₃ ^–-N were higher during the wet cropping season, leading to lower crop yields and crop N uptake. Combining paper with N fertilizer reduced NO₃ ^–-N leaching losses but also decreased crop ear yields up to N fertilizer application rates of 250 kg N ha^–1 during the dry cropping season and up to rates of 100 kg N ha^–1 during the wet period. Although combining waste paper with N fertilizer reduced NO₃ ^–-N leaching losses, no improvements in fertilizer N recovery were observed during the field experiments. This lack of crop response may be due to the importance of early season N availability for the short-season horticultural crops grown on Guam. We suggest that the application of waste paper may be a useful management practice to reduce NO₃ ^–-N leaching losses when high soil NO₃ ^–-N levels remain after cropping due either to crop failure or to over-application of N fertilizer. Received: 11 May 1999     

Simulation of soil freezing-thawing cycles under typical winter conditions: implications for nitrogen mineralization

Purpose

Seasonal freezing-thawing cycles (FTCs) are common phenomena in middle- and high-latitude regions that may have a strong effect on soil nitrogen (N) mineralization. As yet, little information is available about N mineralization of cultivated soils affected by FTCs, especially during non-growing seasons. It is proposed that N transformation of boreal farmland soil should be well responsive to FTCs because their microbial community and physiochemical characteristics are easily influenced by human agricultural activities. To examine this hypothesis, laboratory simulation experiments were carried out to investigate the effects of different amplitudes, frequencies, and moisture regimes of FCTs on soil N mineralization dynamics, to provide a better understanding of the mechanisms influencing the effect of FTCs on soil N availability during the non-growing season.

Materials and methods

In a laboratory simulation study, cultivated black soil (BL) and brown soil (BR) (Haplic Phaeozems and Haplic Luvisols, respectively; World Reference Base for Soil Resources 1988) were collected from two provincial experimental stations to assess the dynamics of N mineralization under four FTC factors (five levels for freezing temperature, two levels for thawing temperature, five levels for freezing-thawing frequency, and three levels for soil moisture regime).

Results and discussion

There were marked variations in inorganic N pools, microbial biomass N (MBN), and net N mineralization rate (NNMR) for both soils during the FTCs. In both soils, ammonium N (NH₄-N) and nitrate N (NO₃-N) concentrations, as well as NNMR, significantly increased with the decrease in freezing temperature, but the opposite was observed for MBN. However, fluctuating thawing temperature had no significant influence on the available N forms measured. As FTCs’ frequency increased, the NH₄-N, NO₃-N concentrations, and NNMR substantially decreased in both soils, while the MBN concentration initially increased and then declined, reaching the peak at the sixth FTC. The available N fractions in both soils had different response patterns as soil water content rose, showing a considerable increase of NH₄-N, a distinct decrease of NO₃-N, a steady increase for NNMR, and an initial increase followed by a decreasing trend for MBN.

Conclusions

This study has demonstrated that FTCs during the non-growing season in temperate regions can accelerate N mineralization via increases in freezing-thawing amplitude and freezing-thawing duration. Therefore, there is a potential risk of N losses over the early spring thawing period.

     

Dynamics of fine and coarse roots and nitrogen mineralization in a humid subtropical forest ecosystem of northeast India

The present study was carried out to understand whether fine root growth and N mineralization are synchronized in such a manner that helps to conserve N in the humid subtropical forest ecosystem, and to assess whether or not these processes are influenced by human disturbance. The study was conducted in two pairs of undisturbed and disturbed stands of subtropical humid forest in the Jaintia hill district of Meghalaya, northeast India. The amount of fine root (540–754 g m^–2) and coarse root (307–387 g m^–2) mass in the protected stands was higher than those recorded (fine root 422–466 g m^–2, coarse root 247–305 g m^–2) in the unprotected stands. The total annual root production was also higher in the protected stands (1,102–1,242 g m^–2) than the unprotected stands (890–940 g m^–2). The mean concentration of NH₄⁺–N and NO₃^––N was higher in the protected stands than in the unprotected stands. The inorganic-N (NH₄⁺–N and NO₃^––N) concentration was markedly high during the dry period and low during the wet period in all the stands. Inorganic-N concentration, nitrification and N mineralization rates were significantly (P<0.01) higher in the surface (0–10 cm) than the subsurface (10–20 cm) layer. The low and high N mineralization rates observed during the dry and wet periods, respectively, coincided with the lean and peak periods of fine root mass. Disturbance in the forests caused a reduction in fine root mass as well as in N mineralization.     

Soil nitrogen mineralization as affected by water and temperature interactions

Summary The hypothesis that water and temperature interact to influence the rate of soil N mineralization was studied in laboratory incubation experiments with two contrasting soils. Small sample rings (10 mm tall, 50 mm diameter) were packed to uniform bulk density with 1–2 mm aggregates of Plano silt loam and Wacousta silty clay loam. Samples were brought to five different water potentials (–0.1, –0.33, –0.5, –1.0, –3.0 bars) using pressure-plate techniques, and the undisturbed sample rings were then incubated at 10–35°C for 3, 10 or 14 days. The concentration of soil exchangeable NH₄ ⁺-N and NO₃ ^–-N was measured at the end of each incubation period on replicate samples. The Q₁₀ of N mineralization was approximately 2 for all tested water potentials. Soil N mineralization was linearly related to water content or log water potential, but no water-temperature interaction was evident. The Q₁₀ was constant with water content, and the scaled water content-N mineralization relationship was constant with temperature. We recommend the use of scaling approaches for assessing interactive effects between water and other environmental factors on N turnover in soils.     

Cover crop effects on nitrogen mineralization and availability in conservation tillage cotton

Understanding cover crop influences on N availability is important for developing N management strategies in conservation tillage systems. Two cover crops, cereal rye (Secale cereale L.) and crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum L.), were evaluated for effects on N availability to cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) in a Typic Kanhapludult soil at Watkinsville, Ga. Seed cotton yields following clover and rye were 882 kg ha^–1 and 1,205 kg ha^–1, respectively, in 1997 and were 1,561 kg ha^–1 and 2,352 kg ha^–1, respectively, in 1998. In 1997, cotton biomass, leaf area index, and N were greater on some dates following crimson clover than following rye but not in 1998. During 1997, net soil N mineralized increased with time in both systems, but a similar response was not observed in 1998. Net soil N mineralization rates following crimson clover and rye averaged, respectively, 0.58 kg and 0.34 kg N ha^–1 day^–1 in 1997 and 0.58 kg and 0.23 kg N ha^–1 day^–1 in 1998. Total soil N mineralized during the cotton growing season ranged from 60 kg ha^–1 to 80 kg ha^–1 following crimson clover and from 30 kg ha^–1 to 50 kg ha^–1 following rye. Soil N mineralization correlated positively with heat units and cumulative heat units. Net soil N mineralization rates were 0.023 kg ha^–1 heat unit^–1 once net mineralization began. Soil heat units appeared to be a useful tool for evaluating N mineralization potential. Nearly 40% of the rye and 60% of the clover biomass decomposed during the 6 weeks prior to cotton planting, with nearly 35 kg N ha^–1 mineralized from clover.     

长期施肥对土壤氮矿化的影响

Two field experiments were conducted in Jiashan and Yuhang towns of Zhejiang Province, China, to study the feasibility of predicting N status of rice using canopy spectral reflectance. The canopy spectral reflectance of rice grown with different levels of N inputs was determined at several important growth stages. Statistical analyses showed that as a result of the different levels of N supply, there were significant differences in the N concentrations of canopy leaves at different growth stages. Since spectral reflectance measurements showed that the N status of rice was related to reflectance in the visible and NIR （near-infrared） ranges, observations for rice in 1 nm bandwidths were then converted to bandwidths in the visible and NIR spectral regions with IKONOS （space imaging） bandwidths and vegetation indices being used to predict the N status of rice. The results indicated that canopy reflectance measurements converted to ratio vegetation index （RVI） and normalized difference vegetation index （NDVI） for simulated IKONOS bands provided a better prediction of rice N status than the reflectance measurements in the simulated IKONOS bands themselves. The precision of the developed regression models using RVI and NDVI proved to be very high with R2 ranging from 0.82 to 0.94, and when validated with experimental data from a different site, the results were satisfactory with R2 ranging from 0.55 to 0.70. Thus, the results showed that theoretically it should be possible to monitor N status using remotely sensed data.     

Tillage and cropping sequence impacts on nitrogen cycling in dryland farming in eastern Montana, USA

Information on N cycling in dryland crops and soils as influenced by long-term tillage and cropping sequence is needed to quantify soil N sequestration, mineralization, and N balance to reduce N fertilization rate and N losses through soil processes. The 21-yr effects of the combinations of tillage and cropping sequences was evaluated on dryland crop grain and biomass (stems + leaves) N, soil surface residue N, soil N fractions, and N balance at the 0–20 cm depth in Dooley sandy loam (fine-loamy, mixed, frigid, Typic Argiboroll) in eastern Montana, USA. Treatments were no-tilled continuous spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) (NTCW), spring-tilled continuous spring wheat (STCW), fall- and spring-tilled continuous spring wheat (FSTCW), fall- and spring-tilled spring wheat–barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) (1984–1999) followed by spring wheat–pea (Pisum sativum L.) (2000–2004) (FSTW-B/P), and spring-tilled spring wheat–fallow (STW-F). Nitrogen fractions were soil total N (STN), particulate organic N (PON), microbial biomass N (MBN), potential N mineralization (PNM), NH₄-N, and NO₃-N. Annualized crop grain and biomass N varied with treatments and years and mean grain and biomass N from 1984 to 2004 were 14.3–21.2 kg N ha⁻¹ greater in NTCW, STCW, FSTCW, and FSTW-B/P than in STW-F. Soil surface residue N was 9.1–15.2 kg N ha⁻¹ greater in other treatments than in STW-F in 2004. The STN at 0–20 cm was 0.39–0.96 Mg N ha⁻¹, PON 0.10–0.30 Mg N ha⁻¹, and PNM 4.6–9.4 kg N ha⁻¹ greater in other treatments than in STW-F. At 0–5 cm, STN, PON, and MBN were greater in STCW than in FSTW-B/P and STW-F. At 5–20 cm, STN and PON were greater in NTCW and STCW than in STW-F, PNM and MBN were greater in STCW than in NTCW and STW-F, and NO₃-N was greater in FSTW-B/P than in NTCW and FSTCW. Estimated N loss through leaching, volatilization, or denitrification at 0–20 cm depth increased with increasing tillage frequency or greater with fallow than with continuous cropping and ranged from 9 kg N ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ in NTCW to 46 kg N ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ in STW-F. Long-term no-till or spring till with continuous cropping increased dryland crop grain and biomass N, soil surface residue N, N storage, and potential N mineralization, and reduced N loss compared with the conventional system, such as STW-F, at the surface 20 cm layer. Greater tillage frequency, followed by pea inclusion in the last 5 out of 21 yr in FSTW-B/P, however, increased N availability at the subsurface layer in 2004.     

Effect of time of mulching on soil temperature and moisture regime and emergence, growth and yield of white yam in western Nigeria

Time of mulching can influence the growth environment and performance of white yam (Dioscorea rotundata Poir). An on-farm trial was conducted during the 1988–1989 and 1989–1990 seasons (October–August) in Nigeria to determine the effect of time of mulching (October–February) on the hydrothermal regime and emergence, growth and tuber yield of white yam. Application of 12.5 mg ha⁻¹ of dry Eupatorium odoratum L. (Syn. Chromolaena odorata L.) mulch on top of the mounds significantly improved soil moisture content of the 15 cm surface layer by 50–120 g kg⁻¹ and decreased the maximum soil temperature by 2–7°C at 15 cm depth in the early growing season (March–April). The emergence and development of yam seedlings were significantly lower in unmulched plots than in mulch-treated plots. Mulching significantly increased tuber yield by about 10–15 mg ha⁻¹ season⁻¹. Plots mulched in October–December were more moist by 20–60 g kg⁻¹ and cooler by 1–3°C, and had 27–44% greater emergence than those mulched in January or February. The number of leaves per plant, vine diameter and leaf area index were also significantly greater in plots mulched in October–December than plots mulched in January or February. Consequently, shoot dry weight was about 28–36% greater in yam mulched in October–December than in yam mulched in February. However, the time of mulching had no effect on soil moisture of the surface layer at the beginning of the rainy season (April), on yam emergence in May and on tuber yield and yield components. Although time of mulching did not significantly affect tuber yield, the increase (10–15%) in the tuber yield of yam mulched in December–February compared to the yam mulched in October or November was considerable. It was concluded that yam planted in October, just before the rain stops, can be mulched in January or February without detrimental effect on emergence, growth and tuber yield.     

Effects of plants on net mineralization of nitrogen in forest soil microcosms

Summary The effects of plant roots on net N mineralization were examined by comparing soil microcosms with and without plants. Additionally, inorganic N amendments were used to test for competition for N between plants and microorganisms. Daily watering and the application of suction to microcosms eliminated the effects of transpiration on soil moisture content. Monthly litter collections reduced the influence of the aboveground portions of plants. Plants decreased net N mineralization by 23% during days 0–114 and then increased net mineralization by the same amount during days 144–124. Root-free soil collected from with-plant microcosms on day 244 evolved 24% more CO₂ in laboratory incubations than soil from without-plant microcosms. This indicates that plants had increased substrate availability to soil microorganisms. Inorganic N amendments had no significant effects on the microcosms or on laboratory soil incubations. Evidence is most consistent with the hypothesis that plant roots increased microbial activity due to the increased substrate availability. Different net N mineralization rates probably resulted from changes in the substrate C : N ratio.     

Seasonal,annual, and treatment-induced variation in available nitrogen pools and nitrogen-cycling processes in soils of two Douglas-fir stands

Summary Forest-floor and 0–10 cm depth mineral soil horizons in two stands of Douglas fir were sampled for available NH₄ ⁺-N and NO₃ ^–-N, N-mineralization potentials, and nitrification potentials for 2 years. The plots in each stand were sampled for 1 year, treated with either ammonium sulfate, carbohydrate (sawdust-sucrose), irrigation, carbohydrate plus irrigation, or no treatment (control), and then sampled for 1 year following treatment. In general, the direction of change following the treatments was the same for both the forest-floor and the mineral soils. Fertilization increased the NH₄ ⁺-N and NO₃ ^–-N pools, nitrification potential, and N-mineralization potential, while treatment with carbohydrate decreased all of these characteristics. Irrigation generally increased NH₄ ⁺-N pools, nitrification potential, and N-mineralization potential, but decreased these characteristics in the soil at one site. Irrigation plus carbohydrate gave similar results to those of carbohydrate alone. Treatments altered pool sizes and/or potentials, but did not reduce within-year variance in any of these characteristics. Distinct seasonal patterns occurred in all measurements, suggesting that control of short-term variation in N-transformation processes is by factors which are dynamic in nature.     

Effect of bamboo harvest on dynamics of nutrient pools,N mineralization,and microbial biomass in soil

The effect of harvesting bamboo savanna on the dynamics of soil nutrient pools, N mineralization, and microbial biomass was examined. In the unharvested bamboo site NO _inf3 ^sup- -N in soil ranged from 0.37 to 3.11 mg kg^-1 soil and in the harvested site from 0.43 to 3.67 mg kg^-1. NaHCO₃-extractable inorganic P ranged from 0.55 to 3.58 mg kg^-1 in the unharvested site and from 1.01 to 4.22 mg kg^-1 in the harvested site. Over two annual cycles, the N mineralization range in the unharvested and harvested sites was 0–19.28 and 0–24.0 mg kg^-1 soil month^-1, respectively. The microbial C, N, and P ranges were 278–587, 28–64, and 12–26 mg kg^-1 soil, respectively, with the harvested site exhibiting higher values. Bamboo harvesting depleted soil organic C by 13% and total N by 20%. Harvesting increased N mineralization, resulting in 10 kg ha^-1 additional mineral N in the first 1st year and 5 kg ha^-1 in the 2nd year following the harvest. Microbial biomass C, N and P increased respectively by 10, 18, and 5% as a result of bamboo harvesting.     

Sulphur and nitrogen deposition in Norway,status and trends

The total deposition of sulphur (S) and nitrogen (N) components in Norway during the period 1988–1992 has been estimated on the basis of measurement data of air- and precipitation chemistry from the national monitoring network. There are large regional variations in depositions with highest values in the southwestern part of Norway. Time series analysis of annual mean concentrations of sulphur dioxide (SO₂) and sulphate (SO₄ ^––) in air, non marine SO₄ ^––, nitrate (NO₃ ^–) and ammonium (NH₄ ⁺) in precipitation, shows a significant reduction in the S concentrations both in air and precipitation. In precipitation the concentrations are reduced by 30–45 percent in Southern Norway and 45–55 percent in Central and Northern Norway. Even larger reductions are observed in air concentrations with 50–65 percent reduction in Southern Norway and 65–88 percent reduction further north. For N components there are generally no significant trends in concentration levels nor in precipitation or air. The observed trends are comparable with reported trends in emission.     

Effects of legume green-manuring on nitrogen mineralization and some microbiological properties in an acid rice soil

We studied N mineralization of legume green manures under laboratory and field conditions, and the effects of field green-manuring on the microbiological properties of an acid Alfisol soil. No significant differences were found in the mineralization rates of Sesbania (Sesbania cannabina), sunnhemp (Crotalaria juncea), and cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) green manure. Mineralization was higher in field-capacity moist soil than water-saturated soil. The decomposition of sunnhemp under field wetland conditions, in the absence of a rice crop, was a rapid as it was under in vitro conditions. The decomposition released considerable amounts of mineral N and the level of NH ₄ ⁺ -N was significantly higher than NO ₃ ^– -N. Significant improvements were observed in the microbial biomass, dehydrogenase activity, and bacterial populations in the field soil green-manured for rice for 3 years, compared with fertilized soil.     

Effect of earthworms on decomposition processes in raw humus forest soil: A microcosm study

Summary The earthworms Lumbricus rubellus (Hoffmeister) and Dendrobaena octaedra (Savigny) were studied in the laboratory to determine their effects on decomposition and nutrient cycling in coniferous forest soil. CO₂ evolution was monitored, and pH, PO ₄ ^3– –P, NH ₄ ⁺ –N, NO ₃ ^– –N, total N, and total C in the leaching waters were measured. After three destructive samplings, numbers of animals, mass loss, pH, and KCl-extractable nutrients were analysed.The earthworms clearly enhanced the mass loss of the substrate, especially that of litter. L. rubellus stimulated microbial respiration by 15–18%, whereas D. octaedra stimulated it only slightly. The worms significantly raised the pH of the leaching waters and the humus; L. rubellus raised the value by 0.2–0.6 pH units and D. octaedra by 0.1–0.4 units. Both worms increased N mineralization. Although the biomass of both worms decreased during the experiment, the N released from decomposing tissues did not explain the increase in N leached in the presence of earthworms. The worms influenced the level of PO ₄ ^3– –P only slightly.     

Green manure production of Azolla microphylla and Sesbania rostrata and their long-term effects on rice yields and soil fertility

Summary Azolla spp. and Sesbania spp. can be used as green manure crops for wetland rice. A long-term experiment was started in 1985 to determine the effects of organic and urea fertilizers on wetland rice yields and soil fertility. Results of 10 rice croppings are reported. Azolla sp. was grown for 1 month and then incorporated before transplanting the rice and 3–4 weeks after transplanting the rice. Sesbania rostrata was grown for 7–9 weeks and incorporated only before transplanting the rice. Sesbania sp. grew more poorly before dry season rice than before wet season rice. Aeschynomene afraspera, which was used in one dry season rice trial, produced a larger biomass than the Sesbania sp. The quantity of N produced by the Azolla sp. ranged from 70 to 110 kg N ha^-1. The Sesbania sp. produced 55–90 kg N ha^-1 in 46–62 days. Rice grain yield increases in response to the green manure were 1.8–3.9 t ha^-1, similar to or higher than that obtained in response to the application of 60 kg N ha^-1 as urea. Grain production per unit weight of absorbed N was lower in the green manure treatments than in the urea treatment. Without N fertilizer, N uptake by rice decreased as the number of rice crops increased. For similar N recoveries, Sesbania sp. required a lower N concentration than the Azolla sp. did. Continuous application of the green manure increased the organic N content in soil on a dry weight basis, but not on a area basis, because the application of green manure decreased soil bulk density. Residual effects in the grain yield and N uptake of rice after nine rice crops were found with a continuous application of green manure but not urea.     

Interacting effects of temperature, soil moisture and plant biomass production on ecosystem respiration in a northern temperate grassland

Chamber measurements of total ecosystem respiration (TER) in a native Canadian grassland ecosystem were made during two study years with different precipitation. The growing season (April–September) precipitation during 2001 was less than one-half of the 30-year mean (1971–2000), while 2002 received almost double the normal growing season precipitation. As a consequence soil moisture remained higher in 2002 than 2001 during most of the growing season and peak aboveground biomass production (253.9 g m⁻²) in 2002 was 60% higher than in 2001. Maximum respiration rates were approximately 9 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹ in 2002 while only approximately 5 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹ in 2001. Large diurnal variation in TER, which occurred during times of peak biomass and adequate soil moisture, was primarily controlled by changes in temperature. The temperature sensitivity coefficient (Q₁₀) for ecosystem respiration was on average 1.83 ± 0.08, and it declined in association with reductions in soil moisture. Approximately 94% of the seasonal and interannual variation in R₁₀ (standardized rate of respiration at 10 °C) data was explained by the interaction of changes in soil moisture and aboveground biomass, which suggested that plant aboveground biomass was good proxy for accounting for variations in both autotrophic and heterotrophic capacity for respiration. Soil moisture was the dominant environmental factor that controlled seasonal and interannual variation in TER in this grassland, when variation in temperature was held constant. We compared respiration rates measured with chambers and that determined from nighttime eddy covariance (EC) measurements. Respiration rates measured by both techniques showed very similar seasonal patterns of variation in both years. When TER was integrated over the entire growing season period, the chamber method produced slightly higher values than the EC method by approximately 4.5% and 13.6% during 2001 and 2002, respectively, much less than the estimated uncertainty for both measurement techniques. The two methods for calculating respiration had only minor effects on the seasonal-integrated estimates of net ecosystem CO₂ exchange and ecosystem gross photosynthesis.