Contribution of dissolved organic nitrogen deposition to nitrogen saturation in a forested mountainous watershed in Tsukui, Central Japan

Nitrogen (N) budget was estimated with dissolved inorganic N (DIN) and dissolved organic N (DON) in a forested mountainous watershed in Tsukui, Kanagawa Prefecture, about 50 km west of Tokyo in Central Japan. The forest vegetation in the watershed was dominant by Konara oak (Quercus serrata) and Korean hornbeam (Carpinus tschonoskii), and Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica). Nitrate (NO₃ ^?) concentration in the watershed streamwater was averagely high (98.0 ±± 19 (±± SD, n = 36) μmol L^?1) during 2001–2003. There was no seasonal and annual changes in the stream NO^? ₃ concentration even though the highest N uptake rate presumably occurred during the spring of plant growing season, a fact indicating that N availability was in excess of biotic demands. The DON deposition rates (DON input rates) in open area and forest area were estimated as one of the main N sources, accounting for about 32% of total dissolved N (TDN). It was estimated that a part of the DON input rate contributed to the excessive stream NO^? ₃ output rate under the condition of the rapid mineralization and nitrification rates, which annual DON deposition rates were positively correlated with the stream NO₃ ^? output rates. The DON retention rate in the DON budget had a potential capacity, which contributed to the excessive stream NO^? ₃ output rate without other N contributions (e.g. forest floor N or soil N).     

Indices of dissolved organic nitrogen, ammonium and nitrate across productivity gradients of boreal forests

Organic nitrogen (N) uptake, rather than solely inorganic N (DIN), is considered a significant pathway for plant nutrition, especially in arctic, alpine and boreal ecosystems. Assays of plant-available N in these ecosystems might therefore be improved with measures of dissolved organic N (DON). We examined DON and DIN abundance from an in situ 5-week incubation across plant associations that represent the widest range in site potential in southern boreal forests of British Columbia, Canada. The supply of N from forest floors and mineral soils (20 cm depth) was measured separately and then combined (kg ha⁻¹) to facilitate comparisons of sites. DON was the predominant form of extractable N, and was increasingly supplemented, rather than replaced, by NH₄⁺ and NO₃⁻ on productive sites. The amount of DIN produced in the soils was very low, perhaps too small to support forest needs, and the correlation of DIN to asymptotic stand height (a measure of site potential) was significant but nonlinear. The combined amount of DON+DIN was considered a more effective index of plant-available N because it was strongly significant as a linear correlation to stand height and more typical of annual forest N uptake. The relative shift in N forms, from a predominance of DON to progressively greater ratios of DIN:DON, was consistent with the current paradigm of N forms across gradients of N availability, although the actual amounts of DON increased, rather than decreased, with site potential. Based on this, we suggest organic N uptake has the potential to contribute to plant nutrition across the entire productivity gradient of soils in southern boreal forests. Although other N indices were effective in characterizing forest productivity, a combined assay of DON+DIN production could provide new insights into functional differences in plant-available N.     

Dry and wet atmospheric deposition of nitrogen, phosphorus and silicon in an agricultural region

We measured atmospheric nutrient deposition as wet deposition and dry deposition to dry and wet surfaces. Our analyses offer estimates of atmospheric transport of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and silicon (Si) in an agricultural region. Annual dry and wet deposition (ha^?1 year^?1) was 0.3 kg of P, 7.7 kg of N, and 6.1 kg of Si; lower than or similar to values seen in other landscapes. N:P and Si:N imply that atmospheric deposition enhances P and Si limitation. Most P and soluble reactive P (SRP) deposition occurred as dryfall and most dry-deposited P was SRP so would be more readily assimilable by plant life than rainfall P. Dry deposition of N to wet surfaces was several times greater than to dry surfaces, suggesting that ammonia (NH _x ) gas absorbtion by water associated with wet surfaces is an important N transport mechanism. Deposition of all nutrients peaked when agricultural planting and fertilization were active; ratios of NH _x :nitrate (NO _x ) hbox{reflected} the predominant use of NH _x fertilizer. Wet deposition estimates were consistent over hundreds of km, but dry deposition estimates were influenced by animal confinements and construction. Precipitation wash-out of atmospheric nutrients was substantial but larger rain events yielded higher rates of wet deposition. Methodological results showed that local dust contaminated wet deposition more than dry; insects, bird droppings and leaves may have biased past deposition estimates; and estimating dry deposition to dry plastic buckets may underestimate annual deposition of N, especially NH _x .     

山西省太原市旱作农区大气活性氮干湿沉降年度变化特征

鉴于大气氮素沉降对整个生态系统的重要影响,我国近年来陆续开展了不同尺度的大气氮素干、湿沉降的研究,但少有农业区多年连续监测的资料。本研究利用DELTA系统、被动采样器和雨量器在山西省太原市郊区阳曲县河村旱作农业区进行了4年的监测试验,观测大气氮素干、湿沉降的时间变异。结果表明:2011年4月—2015年3月,河村4年大气活性氮NH_3、HNO_3、NO_2、颗粒态NO_3~-(pNO_3~-)、颗粒态NH_4~+(pNH_4~+)平均沉降量分别为4.50 kg(N)·hm~(-2)·a~(-1)、3.54 kg(N)·hm~(-2)·a~(-1)、2.56 kg(N)·hm~(-2)·a~(-1)、1.62 kg(N)·hm~(-2)·a~(-1)、2.75 kg(N)·hm~(-2)·a~(-1),大气氮素干沉降总量为12.38~18.95 kg(N)·hm~(-2)·a~(-1),以2011年的氮干沉降量最高,2014年的最低。2011年4月—2015年3月各月氮干沉降量与氨气沉降量之间存在显著正相关,相关系数在0.809 8~0.937 1,由此可知,该地区活性氮沉降主要受农业氨气排放的影响。河村4年雨水中NO_3~-、NH_4~+平均浓度分别为3.20 mg(N)·L~(-1)和2.43 mg(N)·L~(-1),大气氮素湿沉降11.67~41.31 kg(N)·hm~(-2)·a~(-1)。年度间氮素湿沉降存在很大差异,以2012年氮素年湿沉降量最高,2014年最低,每年大气氮素湿沉降占氮总沉降量的份额超过50%。此外,4年湿沉降中不仅NO_3~--N和NH_4~+-N之间、且二者与降雨量也呈显著线性或二次相关关系,说明降雨量对NO_3~--N和NH_4~+-N的湿沉降影响较大。本研究表明太原市旱作农区不同年份间氮素湿沉降比干沉降差异更大,且总沉降数量较高。虽然是旱作区,该地区氮素干沉降略低于湿沉降。研究结果为该地区农田氮肥施用和氮素循环监测提供了理论依据。     

Effects of nitrogen deposition on growth and survival of montane Racomitrium lanuginosum heath

Montane heaths dominated by the moss Racomitrium lanuginosum are in decline, for which increased atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition may be partially responsible. To test this, field plots in northeast Scotland were treated with either low or high (10 or 40 kg N ha⁻¹year⁻¹) doses of nitrogen (as NO₃⁻ or NH₄⁺) for 2 years. Although Racomitrium tissue N increased after treatment, with greater response for low than high N application, activity of the enzyme nitrate reductase and Racomitrium growth were severely inhibited by increasing N addition. Racomitrium cover declined following N addition and graminoid cover increased, also with greatest effect at high doses. Of all measurements, only nitrate reductase showed a distinction between NO₃⁻ and NH₄⁺ application. The results demonstrate the detrimental effects of even low increases in nitrogen deposition on the moss heath, suggesting that loss of Racomitrium and its replacement by graminoids is strongly linked to increased levels of anthropogenic N pollution.     

Role of dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) in soil N cycling in grassland soils

Dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) represents a significant pool of soluble N in many soils and freshwaters. Further, the low molecular weight (LMW) component of DON represents an important source of N for microorganisms and can also be utilized directly by some plants. Our purpose was to determine which of the pathways in the decomposition and subsequent ammonification and nitrification of organic N represented a significant block in soil N supply in three agricultural grassland soils. The results indicate that the conversion of insoluble organic N to LMW-DON and not LMW-DON to NH₄⁺ or NH₄⁺ to NO₃⁻ represents a major constraint to N supply. We hypothesize that there are two distinct DON pools in soil. The first pool comprises mainly free amino acids and proteins and is turned over very rapidly by the microbial community, so it does not accumulate in soil. The second pool is a high molecular weight pool rich in humic substances, which turns over slowly and represents the major DON loss to freshwaters. The results also suggest that in NO₃⁻ rich soils the uptake of LMW-DON by soil microorganisms may primarily provide them with C to fuel respiration, rather than to satisfy their internal N demand.     

上海地区氮素湿沉降及其对农业生态系统的影响

试验研究上海地区N素湿沉降及其对农业生态系统的影响结果表明,上海地区湿沉降中N营养盐含量较高,其中NO3-为2.587mg/L,NH4 达2.155mg/L,TIN的含量均在4.000mg/L以上。湿沉降输入到上海地区农业生态系统N营养盐的年通量较高,其中NH4 平均为26.580kg/hm2,1999年达到38.930kg/hm2;NO3-平均为31.545kg/hm2;TIN平均为58.123kg/hm2,相当于124.549kg/hm2尿素或327.980kg/hm2碳酸氢铵,1999年TIN输入量为77.750kg/hm2,相当于166.607kg/hm2尿素或438.732kg/hm2碳酸氢铵,占1998年全国化肥(N)平均施用量的35%。湿沉降中N的输入对农业生产有重要影响。     

Leaching of dissolved organic and inorganic nitrogen from legume-based grasslands

Leaching of dissolved inorganic N (DIN) and dissolved organic N (DON) is a considerable loss pathway in grassland soils. We investigated the white clover (Trifolium repens) contribution to N transport and temporal N dynamics in soil solution under a pure stand of white clover and white clover-ryegrass (Lolium perenne) mixed stand. The temporal white clover contribution to N leaching was analysed by ¹⁵N incorporation into DIN and DON in percolating soil solution collected at 25-cm depth following white clover ¹⁵N leaf labelling that was applied at different times during the growing season. The white clover contribution to N transport in the soil profile was investigated over 2 years by analysing ¹⁵N in DIN and DON in percolating soil solution collected at 25-, 45- and 80-cm depth following ¹⁵N leaf labelling of white clover. The results showed that clover was a source of both DIN and DON. White clover autumn deposition contributed the most to N leaching. The leaching of DIN from the white clover in pure stand exceeded that of the mixed stand and confirmed that leaching of DIN is a function of N loadings and N demand. The DON leaching was unaffected by the presence of a companion grass, suggesting that the DON leaching from our grassland derived from the lysis of soil microbial biomass living on recent white clover deposits. White clover contributed to the leaching of DIN and DON at all depths, and the fact that the contents of DI ¹⁵N and DO ¹⁵N did not change with depth indicated that surplus of DIN and DON, formed in the uppermost soil layer, was transported in the soil profile.     

Microbial activity differentially regulates the vertical mobility of nitrogen compounds in soil

Alongside nitrate, dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) represents a significant N loss pathway in many agroecosystems. To better understand the factors controlling DON leaching in soil we followed the vertical movement of ¹⁵N-labeled NO₃⁻, NH₄⁺, alanine and trialanine in packed soil columns in response to a simulated rainfall event. We show that in autoclaved (sterile) soil where sorption is assumed to be the dominant regulating factor, leaching followed the series NO₃⁻ > trialanine > alanine > NH₄⁺. In the non-sterile packed soil columns, the rapid rate of NO₃⁻ leaching was unaffected whilst the movement of the amino acid, peptide and NH₄⁺ was almost completely prevented due to microbial immobilization. Our results support the view that (1) DON loss from agricultural soils occurs mainly in the form of recalcitrant compounds (e.g. humic DON) rather than in the form of labile low MW DON (e.g. oligopeptides and amino acids), and (2) that although nitrate was bioavailable, it was not a preferred N form for the C-limited microbial biomass.     

Seasonal fluctuation in microbial biomass and activity along a natural nitrogen gradient in a drained peatland

The effects of peat total N on the dissolved N and C concentrations and microbial biomass and activity and their range of seasonal fluctuation were studied in a drained peatland forest in Finland. Seasonal fluctuations in the concentrations of extractable dissolved organic (DON) and inorganic nitrogen (DIN) compounds and extractable dissolved organic carbon (DOC), microbial C and N, ergosterol, net and gross N mineralisation rates were investigated during two growing seasons along a natural peat N gradient in a drained peatland. Significant seasonal fluctuations in NH₄⁺ and DOC concentrations, microbial C and N, but not in ergosterol or microbial C-to-N ratios in the peat, were observed during the 1999 and 2000 growing seasons. The peat total N concentration affected extractable DON and DOC, but not DIN concentrations in the peat. A negative correlation was found between total N concentration in peat and microbial N and C, and a positive correlation between total N and ergosterol, in peat with N concentrations of up to 2%. Gross mineralisation rates did not show any correlation, whereas net mineralisation rates showed a significant positive correlation with the total N concentration of the peat in both 1999 and 2000.     

Influence of temperature and vegetation cover on soluble inorganic and organic nitrogen in a spodosol

In this study, the influence of temperature and vegetation cover on soluble inorganic and organic nitrogen in a spodosol from north east Scotland was investigated. Firstly, soil cores were incubated at 5, 10 and 15°C for up to 8 weeks. Net mineralisation was observed at all temperatures with larger rates observed at higher temperatures. In contrast, water extractable dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) displayed no clear trend with time and showed little response to temperature. Secondly, intact cores of the same soil, with and without vegetation, were leached with artificial rain for 6 weeks at 6.5 and 15°C. Temperature and the presence of vegetation interacted to have a significant (P<0.01) effect on the concentration of NO₃⁻ in leachates; highest concentrations were observed in leachates from cores without vegetation at 15°C, whereas lowest concentrations were observed in leachates from cores with vegetation at 6.5°C. In contrast, concentrations of DON and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) were significantly (P<0.001) higher in leachates from cores with vegetation than without vegetation and were not affected by temperature. The cumulative amounts of DON and DOC leached from the cores with vegetation were 4 and 2.5 times greater, respectively, than those leached from the cores without vegetation. Comparison of soil solution (extracted by centrifugation at 0–5 and 5–10 cm depth) after leaching for 6 weeks, showed that the upper layer contained more than twice the amount of DON than the 5–10 cm layer and that the difference in concentration between the two depths was enhanced in the presence of vegetation. The results indicate that vegetation is an important source of DON and DOC. However, the removal of vegetation did not lead to an increase in the quantity of total dissolved nitrogen (TDN) in soil water, but resulted in a change in the dominant N fraction from DON to NO₃⁻. In addition, the results show that DON, in both the incubated and leached cores, did not change as inorganic N was mineralised. This suggests that if water extractable DON was acting as a source of NH₄⁺ or NO₃⁻, then it was being replenished by, and in equilibrium with, a large reserve of organic N. Evidence of such a pool was indirect in the form of additional DON (equivalent to 2 g N m⁻²) being extracted by 0.5 M K₂SO₄.     

Amino acid,peptide and protein mineralization dynamics in a taiga forest soil

The availability of inorganic N has been shown to be one of the major factors limiting primary productivity in high latitude ecosystems. The factors regulating the rate of transformation of organic N to nitrate and ammonium, however, remain poorly understood. The aim of this study was to investigate the nature of the soluble N pool in forest soils and to determine the relative rate of inorganic N production from high and low molecular weight (MW) dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) compounds in black spruce forest soils. DON was found to be the dominant N form in soil solution, however, most of this DON was of high MW of which >75% remained unidentified. Free amino acids constituted less than 5% of the total DON pool. The concentration of NO₃⁻ and NH₄⁺ was low in all soils but significantly greater than the concentration of free amino acids. Incubations of low MW DON with soil indicated a rapid processing of amino acids, di- and tri-peptides to NH₄⁺ followed by a slower transformation of the NH₄⁺ pool to NO₃⁻. The rate of protein transformation to NH₄⁺ was slower than for amino acids and peptides suggesting that the block in N mineralization in taiga forest soils is the transformation of high MW DON to low MW DON and not low MW DON to NH₄⁺ or NH₄⁺ to NO₃⁻. Calculated turnover rates of amino acid-derived C and N immobilized in the soil microbial biomass were similar with a half-life of approximately 30 d indicating congruent C and N mineralization.     

Nitrogen Leaching of Two Forest Ecosystems in a Karst Watershed

Karst watersheds are a major source of drinking water in the European Alps. These watersheds exhibit quick response times and low residence times, which might make karst aquifers more vulnerable to elevated nitrogen (N) deposition than non-karst watersheds. We summarize 13 years of monitoring NO ₃ ^? , NH ₄ ⁺ , and total N in two forest ecosystems, a Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) forest on Cambisols/Stagnosols (IP I) and a mixed beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) spruce forest on Leptosols (IP II). N fluxes are calculated by multiplying concentrations, measured in biweekly intervals, with hydrological fluxes predicted from a hydrological model. The total N deposition in the throughfall amounts to 26.8 and 21.1 kg/ha/year in IP I and IP II, respectively, which is high compared to depositions found in other European forest ecosystems. While the shallow Leptosols at IP II accumulated on average 9.2 kg/ha/year of N between 1999 and 2006, the N budgets of the Cambisols/Stagnosols at IP I were equaled over the study period but show high inter-annual variation. Between 1999 and 2006, on average, 9 kg/ha/year of DON and 20 kg/ha/year of DIN were output with seepage water of IP I but only 4.5 kg/ha/year of DON and 7.7 kg/ha/year of DIN at IP II. Despite high DIN leaching, neither IP I nor IP II showed further signs of N saturation in their organic layer C/N ratios, N mineralization, or leaf N content. The N budget over all years was dominated by a few extreme output events. Nitrate leaching rates at both forest ecosystems correlated the most with years of above average snow accumulation (but only for IP I this correlation is statistically significant). Both snow melt and total annual precipitation were most important drivers of DON leaching. IP I and IP II showed comparable temporal patterns of both concentrations and flux rates but exhibited differences in magnitudes: DON, NO ₃ ^? , and NH ₄ ⁺ inputs peak in spring, NH ₄ ⁺ showed an additional peak in autumn; the bulk of the annual NO ₃ ^? and DON output occurred in spring; DON, NO ₃ ^? , and NH ₄ ⁺ output rates during winter months were low. The high DIN leaching at IP I was related to snow cover effects on N mineralization and soil hydrology. From the year 2004 onwards, disproportional NO ₃ ^? leaching occurred at both plots. This was possibly caused by the exceptionally dry year 2003 and a small-scale bark beetle infestation (at IP I), in addition to snow cover effects. This study shows that both forest ecosystems at Zöbelboden are still N limited. N leaching pulses, particularly during spring, dictate not only annual but also the long-term N budgets. The overall magnitude of N leaching to the karst aquifer differs substantially between forest and soil types, which are found in close proximity in the karstified areas of the Northern Limestone Alps in Austria.     

DEVELOPMENT OF A SOIL N TEST FOR FERTILIZER REQUIREMENTS FOR WHEAT

Optimal fertilizer nitrogen (N) rates result in economic yield levels and reduced pollution. A soil test for determining optimal fertilizer N rates for wheat has not been developed for Quebec, Canada, or many other parts of the world. Therefore, the objectives were to determine: 1) the relationship among soil nitrate (NO^? ₃)- N, soil ammonium (NH ⁺ ₄)- N and N fertilizer on wheat yields; and 2) the soil sampling times and depths most highly correlated with yield response to soil NO^? ₃-N and NH ⁺ ₄-N. In a three year research work, wet and dried soil samples of 0- to 30- and 30- to 60-cm depths from 20 wheat fields that received four rates of N fertilizer at seeding and postseeding (plants 15 cm tall) were analyzed for NH ⁺ ₄-N and NO^? ₃ -N using a quick-test (N-Trak) and a standard laboratory method. Wheat yield response to N fertilizer was limited, but strong to soil NO^? ₃-N.     

Ammonium Nitrogen Deposition as a Dominant Source of Nitrogen in a Forested Watershed Experiencing Acid Rain in Central Japan

To clarify nitrogen (N) sources, the overall N budget in a forested watershed in Kanagawa Prefecture, Central Japan was estimated by measuring dissolved inorganic N (DIN; NH₄ ⁺ + NO₃ ^– + NO₂ ^–) from Nov 2004 through Oct 2005. The estimated N budget (–1.43 kg N ha^–1 year^–1) showed that the N output rate (stream water N) was higher than the N input rate (bulk deposition N) in the watershed. The annual NO₂ ^– and NO₃ ^– input rates were 0.02 and 1.99 kg N ha^–1 year^–1, respectively. NH₄ ⁺ was the predominant source in this forested watershed, accounting for 71% (4.99 kg N ha^–1 year^–1) of DIN input rate. In addition, this study estimated rainfall pH, air temperature, and wind direction, which were considered as controlling factors related to the atmospheric deposition rate of NH₄ ⁺. This study showed that the rainfall NH₄ ⁺ was inversely proportional to the initial pH of the rainfall, which was calculated by adding the amount of H⁺ consumed by the dissociation process of NH_3(aq) to the measured rainfall pH. This result implies that acid rain can elevate the solubility of NH_3(g) and the dissociation capacity of NH₄ ⁺ throughout the process of precipitation. Also, this study provides strong evidence that the high NH₄ ⁺ deposition rate is mainly derived from NH_3(g) emitted from livestock wastes under the NH₃ transport condition of warm summer and favorable wind direction.     

Effect of biochar and nitrogen fertilizers on maize seedling growth and enzyme activity relating to nitrification

Maximizing nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) involves synchronizing the interplay between nitrogen preferential crops and the nitrogen transformation pathways of soil. Biochar may benefit specific N-preference crops in relatively unsuitable soil environments; however, experimental data are lacking. This study tested eight treatments, consisting of four nitrogen treatments (N0 = control; N1 = NH₄Cl; N2 = NaNO₃; and N3 = 1:1 ratio of NH₄⁺ and NO₃⁻) each with biochar applied at 0% or 2% (w/w). The results show that biochar and/or nitrogen application enhanced maize seedling biomass and NO₃⁻-based fertilizer resulted in higher seedling biomass than NH₄⁺-based fertilizer. With the application of biochar and NH₄⁺-based fertilizer, maize seedling biomass increased and soil NH₄⁺-N content was significantly reduced compared with NH₄Cl sole application. Correlation analysis and redundancy analysis revealed that SOC content and inorganic nitrogen content were the main factors influencing maize growth and N absorption. Biochar with or without nitrogen fertilizer (except N1 treatment) significantly increased β-1,4-glucosidase (BG) activity. Co-application treatments also resulted in higher vector length, an indicator of C limitation—the increment might add to the risk of microbial C limitation. The activity of ammonia monooxygenase (AMO), a key enzyme in nitrification, decreased with the co-application of biochar and nitrogen, suggesting the alteration of nitrogen transformation.     

Microbial decomposition of leached or extracted dissolved organic carbon and nitrogen from pasture soils

Microbial decomposition of extracted and leached dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and nitrogen (DON) was demonstrated from three pasture soils in laboratory incubation studies. DOC concentration in water extracts ranged between 29 and 148 mg C L^?1 and DON concentration ranged between 2 and 63 mg N L^?1. Between 17 and 61 % of the DOC in the water extracts were respired as CO₂ by microbes by day 36. DON concentrations in the extracts declined more rapidly than DOC. Within the first 21 days of incubation, the concentration of DON was near zero without any significant change in the concentration of NO₃ ^? or NH₄ ⁺, indicating that microbes had utilized the organic pool of N preferentially. Decomposition of leached DOC (ranged between 7 and 66 mg C L^?1) and DON (ranged between 6 and 11 mg N L^?1) collected from large lysimeters (with perennial pasture; 50 cm diameter?×?80 cm deep) followed a similar pattern to that observed with soil extracts. Approximately 28 to 61 % of the DOC in leachates were respired as CO₂ by day 49. The concentration of DON in the leachates declined to below 1 mg N L^?1 within 7–14 days of the incubation, consistent with the observations made with extractable DON. Our results clearly show that DOC and DON components of the dissolved organic matter in pasture soils, whether extracted or leached, are highly decomposable and bioavailable and will influence local ecosystem functions and nutrient balances in grazed pasture systems and receiving water bodies.     

Nature and Magnitude of Atmospheric Fluxes of Total Inorganic Nitrogen and Other Inorganic Species to the Tampa Bay Watershed, FL, USA

We estimated the total inorganic fluxes of nitrogen (N), sulfur (S), chloride (Cl^?, sodium (Na⁺, calcium (Ca²⁺, magnesium (Mg²⁺, potassium (K⁺ and hydronium (H⁺. The resistance deposition algorithm that is programmed as part of the CALMET/CALPUFF modeling system was used to generate spatially-distributed deposition velocities, which were then combined with measurements of urban and rural concentrations of gas and particle species to obtain dry deposition rates. Wet deposition rates for each species were determined from rainfall concentrations and amounts available from the National Acid Deposition Program (NADP) monitoring network databases. The estimated total inorganic nitrogen deposition to the Tampa Bay watershed (excluding Tampa Bay) was 17 kg-N ha^?1 yr^?1 or 9,700 metric tons yr^?1, and the ratio of dry to wet deposition rates was ～2.3 for inorganic nitrogen. The largest contributors to the total N flux were ammonia (NH₃ and nitrogen oxides (NO _x at 4.6 kg-N ha^?1 yr^?1 and 5.1 kg-N ha^?1 yr^?1, respectively. Averaged wet deposition rates were 2.3 and 2.7 kg-N ha^?1 yr^?1 for NH₄ ⁺ and NO₃ ^?, respectively.     

Biodegradation of an oily waste as influenced by nitrogen forms and sources

Biodegradation rates of oily waste in soil can be limited by mineral nutrients, particularly N and P. A laboratory incubation experiment was carried out to investigate the influence of N forms, nitrate (NO^? ₃-N) vs ammonium nitrogen (NH⁺ ₄-N), and sources, i.e., the conjugate cations/anions, on C mineralization rate (CMR) was determined daily by measuring the CO₂ evolved using gas chromatography. The CMR and the cumulative C mineralized (CCM) varied with the form and/or the source of N applied. The greatest enhancement in CMR occurred in the NO^? ₃-treatments in which the source conjugate cation was Ca⁺². The addition of P fertilizer further enhanced C mineralization rates irrespective of the form and/or the source of N added. The results show that up to 45% of the added oily waste mineralized as CO₂-C in 28 d. The residual P and N (NO^? ₃-N plus NH⁺ ₄-N) data showed that approximately 90% of the added P and N were utilized for oil decomposition. The amount of residual NO^? ₃-N appeared to have an inverse relationship with CCM. The NO^? ₃-N utilization occurred at the expense of NH⁺ ₄-N and this was particularly high in the treatments which received P.     

Short-term competition between crop plants and soil microbes for inorganic N fertilizer

Agricultural systems that receive high amounts of inorganic nitrogen (N) fertilizer in the form of either ammonium (NH₄⁺), nitrate (NO₃⁻) or a combination thereof are expected to differ in soil N transformation rates and fates of NH₄⁺ and NO₃⁻. Using ¹⁵N tracer techniques this study examines how crop plants and soil microbes vary in their ability to take up and compete for fertilizer N on a short time scale (hours to days). Single plants of barley (Hordeum vulgare L. cv. Morex) were grown on two agricultural soils in microcosms which received either NH₄⁺, NO₃⁻ or NH₄NO₃. Within each fertilizer treatment traces of ¹⁵NH₄⁺ and ¹⁵NO₃⁻ were added separately. During 8 days of fertilization the fate of fertilizer ¹⁵N into plants, microbial biomass and inorganic soil N pools as well as changes in gross N transformation rates were investigated. One week after fertilization 45-80% of initially applied ¹⁵N was recovered in crop plants compared to only 1-10% in soil microbes, proving that plants were the strongest competitors for fertilizer N. In terms of N uptake soil microbes out-competed plants only during the first 4 h of N application independent of soil and fertilizer N form. Within one day microbial N uptake declined substantially, probably due to carbon limitation. In both soils, plants and soil microbes took up more NO₃⁻ than NH₄⁺ independent of initially applied N form. Surprisingly, no inhibitory effect of NH₄⁺ on the uptake and assimilation of nitrate in both, plants and microbes, was observed, probably because fast nitrification rates led to a swift depletion of the ammonium pool. Compared to plant and microbial NH₄⁺ uptake rates, gross nitrification rates were 3-75-fold higher, indicating that nitrifiers were the strongest competitors for NH₄⁺ in both soils. The rapid conversion of NH₄⁺ to NO₃⁻ and preferential use of NO₃⁻ by soil microbes suggest that in agricultural systems with high inorganic N fertilizer inputs the soil microbial community could adapt to high concentrations of NO₃⁻ and shift towards enhanced reliance on NO₃⁻ for their N supply.