Microbial Immobilization and Plant Uptake of Different N Forms in Three Forest Types in Shikoku District, Southern Japan

Soil microbial immobilization and plant uptake of N were evaluated for three forest types in Kochi, Shikoku district. During 196-d laboratory incubation, soil NO₃-N production in the Hinoki cypress forest was negligible for the initial 40 d and then rapidly increased, whereas NO₃-N production was rapid from the beginning in Japanese cedar and deciduous hardwood forests. Microbial immobilization of the labeled ¹⁵N decreased in the order of NH₄-N>glycine-N>NO₃-N. The ¹⁵N immobilization was higher for soil in the Hinoki cypress forest than other two soils. The delayed NO₃-N production in the Hinoki cypress forest was likely related with low availability of NH₄-N due to NH₄-N immobilization and substantial NO₃-N immobilization. In the field experiment, ¹⁵N uptake by roots decreased in the order of NH₄-N>NO₃-N>glycine-N. The absorption of the labeled ¹³C suggested direct uptake of organic N. The preference of N forms by root uptake was not different among forest types. Trees in three forest types can absorb inorganic and organic forms of N, suggesting trees absorb the N form that is the most abundant in the soil.     

Water quality implications of dairy slurry applied to cut pastures in the northeast USA

Abstract. Nitrate nitrogen (NO₃-N) leaching from animal production systems in the northeast USA is a major non-point source of pollution in the Chesapeake Bay. We conducted a study to measure NO₃-N leaching from dairy slurry applied to orchardgrass ( Dactylis glomerata L., cv. Pennlate) using large drainage lysimeters to measure the direct impact of four rates of slurry (urine and faeces) N application (0, 168, 336, 672 kg N ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹) on NO₃-N leaching on three soil types. We then used experimentally-based relationships developed earlier between stocking density and NO₃-N leaching loss and leachate NO₃-N concentration to estimate the added impact of animal grazing. Nitrate N leaching losses from only dairy slurry applied at the 0, 158, 336, and 672 kg N ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ rates were 5.85, 8.26, 8.83, and 12.1 kg N ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹, respectively with corresponding NO₃-N concentrations of 1.60, 2.30, 2.46, and 3.48 mg l⁻¹. These NO₃-N concentrations met the 10 mg l⁻¹ US EPA drinking water standard. However, when a scenario was constructed to include the effect of NO₃-N leaching caused by animal grazing, the NO₃-N drinking water standard was calculated to be exceeded.     

Inhibition of nitrate accumulation in tropical grassland soils: effect of nitrogen fertilization and soil disturbance

In acid soils in the Eastern Plains of Colombia, forage grasses planted on land prepared before the previous dry season produced 40–50% more dry matter than when land was prepared immediately before planting. Virtually no NO₃⁻ accumulated in surface (0–10 cm) soil from three native undisturbed savanna sites. Where land was ploughed before the dry season, NO₃⁻ levels increased gradually after a 2–3 month lag, and dropped at the beginning of the rains. In samples incubated for 4 weeks, more NO₃⁻ accumulated in the wet than the dry season. A similar 2–3-month lag occurred when land was ploughed after the dry season. NH₄⁺ levels were higher in ploughed than savanna soils, and rose in all soils at the beginning of the rains. More NO₃⁻ and NH₄⁺ accumulated on incubation in pots than in soil cores. Forage grasses inhibited NO₃⁻ accumulation in the soil, relative to plant-free plots, and legumes stimulated it. N fertilization overcame this inhibition except in the case of Brachiaria humidicola .     

Effects of Shifting Cultivation on Soil Ecosystems in Sarawak, Malaysia. III. Results of Burning Practice and Changes in Soil Organic Matter at Niah and Bakam Experimental Sites

The effects of burning on the levels of soil organic matter, soil nitrogen, and soil microbial biomass were studied by carrying out experimental shifting cultivation at two sites, Niah and Bakam in Sarawak, Malaysia. Vegetation biomass was burned in plots (10 × 10 m²) at the rates of 0 (control), 100, 200, and 300 Mg ha⁻¹ at the Niah site and 0, 20, and 100 Mg ha⁻¹ at the Bakam site. At the Niah site, the levels of total C and N of the soils did not change throughout the experiment in spite of enhanced soil respiration until 2 months after burning. Although burning induced an increase in the amount of NH₄-N of the soils, the readily available pool of N (the sum of the NH₄-N, NO₃-N, microbial biomass N, and extractable organic N pools) in the burned plots was depleted appreciably at the end of rice cultivation. The effects of burning on these properties tended to be substantial with increasing amounts of the vegetation biomass burned. On the other hand, the levels of total C and N and the readily available N pool at the Bakam site were low before burning compared with those at the Niah site, and the burning treatments did not affect them appreciably. While the rice yield at the Niah site reached the average value obtained in traditional shifting cultivation in Sarawak, that at the Bakam site was much lower. It was suggested that the flush of NH₄-N induced by burning was one of the major factors for rice growth.     

Geologic Nitrogen as a Source of Soil Acidity

The origin of highly acidic (pH<4.5) barren soils in the Klamath Mountains of northern California was examined. Soil parent material was mica schist that contained an average of 2,700 mg N kg⁻¹, which corresponds to 7.1 Mg N ha⁻¹ contained in a 10-cm thickness of bedrock. In situ soil solutions were dominated by H⁺, labile-monomeric Al³⁺ and NO₃⁻, indicating that the barren area soils were nitrogen saturated—more mineral nitrogen available than required by biota. Leaching of excess NO₃⁻ has resulted in removal of nutrient cations and soil acidification. Nitrogen release rates from organic matter free soil ranged from 0.0163 to 0.0321 mg N kg⁻¹ d⁻¹. Nitrogen release rate from fresh ground rock was 0.0465 mg N kg⁻¹ d⁻¹. This study demonstrates that geologic nitrogen may represent a large and reactive nitrogen pool that can contribute significantly to soil acidification.     

Nitrate leaching and pasture yields following the application of dairy shed effluent or ammonium fertilizer under spray or flood irrigation: results of a lysimeter study

Abstract. Nitrate leaching and pasture ( Lolium perenne / Trifolium repens ) yields were measured on monolith lysimeters (80 cm diam. × 120 cm depth) of a Templeton sandy loam soil (Udic Ustochrept), following repeated applications of dairy shed effluent (DSE) or ammonium fertilizer (NH₄Cl), under spray (50 mm/month) or flood (100 mm/month) irrigation. Applications of DSE at 400 kg N/ha per annum resulted in significantly less nitrate leaching (8–25 kg N/ha per yr) compared with NH₄Cl (28–48kg N/ha per yr) ( P < 0.01). Over the two year period, the total mineral N (predominantly nitrate) leached was equivalent to 2.5–3.7% of the total N applied in the DSE and 8.7–9.8% of the N applied in the NH₄Cl. There was a trend of slightly less nitrate leaching under the flood irrigation than under the spray irrigation, probably because of the greater potential for denitrification under the wetter conditions. Average nitrate concentrations in the leachate were generally below the drinking water standard except in the NH₄Cl treatment under spray irrigation where it averaged 10 mg NO₃-N/l over the two year period. DSE was equally as effective as NH₄Cl in stimulating pasture dry matter production. Annual nitrogen uptakes were similar for the DSE (343 kg N/ha) and NH₄Cl (332–344kg N/ha) treatments in the first year but were higher in the DSE (361–412 kg N/ha) than in the NH₄Cl (324–340 kg N/ha) treatments in the second year. Pasture uptakes of phosphorus and sulphur were also higher in the DSE than in the NH₄Cl treatments in the second year. The results emphasize the need to set different regulatory limits for land application of organic wastes of various types and for N fertilizers.     

Ion chromatographic determination of nitrate in 2 M KC1 soil extracts

A method for the analysis of NO₃-N in a 2 m KCL soil extract, using ion chromatography, is discussed. It involves the treatment of the KCl extract with Ag⁺-activated cation exchange resin to remove excess Cl^–, followed by analysis using a Dionex ion chromatograph. The results of NO₃-N in soil extracts agreed closely with those obtained by steam distillation. The method was linear up to 20 mg N dm^–3 with a detection limit of 0.1 mg Ndm^–3. Quantitative recovery of NO_3-N added to soil extracts over the linear range were observed.
Standard deviations of samples containing 2.57 and 15.11 mgN dm^–3 were found to be 0.06 and 0.11 respectively.     

Gaseous nitrogen losses from soil under Sitka spruce following the application of fertilizer 15N urea

Gaseous N loss, through denitrification and NH₃⁻volatilization, was monitored throughout the growing season after spring application of ¹⁵N labelled urea fertilizer to peaty gley soils supporting N-deficient Sitka spruce. From the ¹⁵N data, it was calculated that only about 0.28% of applied N was lost through NH₃-volatilization, almost all within the first few days after fertilizer application. Approximately 0.05% of applied N was calculated to be lost through denitrification. Denitrification decreased slowly over a 4-month period after fertilizer application. Rates of NH₃-volatilization correlated with available NH₄⁺ in the litter layer, while for the early part of the study when N-losses were highest, denitrification rates correlated with available NO₃⁻ in the litter layer. Observations of gaseous N-loss are also discussed in relation to data from lysimetry, changes in soil pH, and the soil moisture regime.     

Carbon and nitrogen mineralization of sewage sludge compost in soils with a different initial pH

Soil properties may affect the decomposition of added organic materials and inorganic nitrogen (N) production in agricultural soils. Three soils, Potu (Pu), Sankengtzu (Sk) and Erhlin (Eh) soils, mixed with sewage sludge compost (SSC) at application rates of 0 (control), 25, 75 and 150 Mg ha⁻¹ were selected from Taiwan for incubation for 112 days. The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of SSC application rates on the carbon decomposition rate, N transformation and pH changes in three soils with different initial soil pH values (4.8–7.7). The results indicated that the highest peaks of the CO₂ evolution rate occurred after 3 days of incubation, for all treatments. The Pu soil (pH 4.8) had a relatively low rate of CO₂ evolution, total amounts of CO₂ evolution and percentage of added organic C loss, all of which resulted from inhibition of microbial activity under low pH. For the Pu and Sk soils, the concentration of NH₄⁺-N reached its peak after 7–14 days of incubation, which indicated that ammonification might have occurred in the two soils with low initial pH values. NO₃⁻-N rapidly accumulated in the first 7 days of incubation in the Eh soil (pH 7.7). The direction and extent of the soil pH changes were influenced by the N in the SSC and the initial soil pH. Ammonification of organic N in the SSC caused the soil pH to increase, whereas nitrification of mineralized N caused the soil pH to decline. Consequently, the initial soil pH greatly affected the rate of carbon decomposition, ammonification and nitrification of SSC.     

Increase in the Nitrogen Content of Soil by the Introduction of Earthworms into Soil

The contribution of an earthworm species ( Amynthas vittatus ) to the increase of the nitrogen content of soil was examined. Three specimens of adult earthworms were introduced into 300 g of soil (Gray Lowland soil, silty clay) supplemented with 1% carboxymethyl cellulose in a container and incubated for 32 d at 22°C in the dark. The contents of total-N, NH₄-N and NO₃-N, and the population of aerobic nitrogen-fixing bacteria in soil significantly increased after incubation with the earthworms, while the natural abundance of ¹⁵N (δ¹⁵N) in soil decreased. The amount of nitrogen in the earthworms did not decrease during the incubation in the microcosm. Both acetylene reduction activity of the microcosm and incorporation of ¹⁵N to soil from atmospheric ¹⁵N₂ were significantly enhanced by the introduction of the earthworms into soil, though the observed increment of nitrogen in soil was much higher than the estimated one based on the nitrogen-fixing activity. The results obtained in the present study indicated that the earthworms increased the nitrogen content of soil, presumably due to the enhancement of the nitrogen-fixing activity of the soil from the microcosm by the earthworms.     

黄淮海平原小麦-玉米轮作制度下的地下水NO3-N污染研究

The North China Plain, where summer corn (Zea mays L.) and winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) are the major crops grown, is a major agricultural area in China. Permeable soils make the region susceptible to groundwater pollution by NO₃-N, which is applied to fields in large amounts of more than 400 kg NO₃-N ha^-1as fertilizer. A field experiment was established in 2002 to examine the relationship among N fertilization rate, soil NO₃-N, and NO₃-N groundwater contamination. Two adjacent fields were fertilized with local farmers' N fertilization rate (LN) and double the normal application rate (HN), respectively, and managed under otherwise identical conditions. The fields were under a traditional summer corn/winter wheat rotation. Over a 22-month period, we monitored NO₃-N concentrations in both bulk soil and soil pore water in 20-40 cm increments up to 180 cm depth. We also monitored NO₃-N concentrations in groundwater and the depth of the groundwater table. No significant differences in soil NO₃-N were observed between the LN and HN treatment. We identified NO₃-N plumes moving downward through the soil profile. The HN treatment resulted in significantly higher groundwater NO₃-N, relative to the LN treatment, with groundwater NO₃-N consistently exceeding the maximum safe level of 10 mg L^-1, but groundwater NO₃-N above the maximum safe level was also observed in the LN treatment after heavy rain. Heavy rain in June, July, and August 2003 caused increased NO₃-N leaching through the soil and elevated NO₃-N concentrations in the groundwater. Concurrent rise of the groundwater table into NO₃-Nrich soil layers also contributed to the increased NO₃-N concentrations in the groundwater. Our results indicate that under conditions of average rainfall, soil NO₃-N was accumulated in the soil profile. The subsequent significantly higherthan-average rainfalls continuously flushed the soil NO₃-N into deeper layers and raised the groundwater table, which caused continuous groundwater contamination with NO₃-N. The results suggest that under common farming practices in the North China Plain, groundwater contamination with NO₃-N was likely, especially during heavy rainfalls, and the degree of groundwater contamination appeared to be proportional to the N application rates. Decreasing fertilization rates, splitting fertilizer inputs, and optimizing irrigation scheduling had potential to reduce groundwater NO₃-N contamination.     

Yield and uptake of fertilizer nitrogen by direct-drilled winter barley growing on a chalk soil

Abstract. This paper reports the growth and yield of grain and the utilization of fertilizer nitrogen applied on either one or two occasions in spring to a crop of winter barley established by direct drilling on a chalk soil in southern England. Nitrogen, as ammonium nitrate, was applied at rates of 0 to 140 kg N ha⁻¹ in a range of proportions on two occasions (March and April 1981); nitrogen-15 was used to facilitate study of the nitrogen utilization by the crop.
When sampled before the second top-dressing in April, the greatest number of tillers were found on plants treated with 70 and 100 kg N ha⁻¹ in March. The total above ground dry matter production at harvest was greatest when the split nitrogen dressing totalled more than 100 kg N ha⁻¹, although the apparent efficiency of nitrogen usage (kg DM per kg N applied) was greatest when 60 kg N ha⁻¹ was divided equally between the two application dates. Grain yield was heaviest (6.471 ha⁻¹) at the largest rate of nitrogen applied (140 kg N ha⁻¹); the lightest yield from the nitrogen treated crops was recorded from 100 kg N ha⁻¹ applied as a single dressing in April that stimulated shoot production and decreased individual grain weight. The recovery in grain and straw of labelled fertilizer nitrogen applied only in March averaged 42.2% and was 49.8% when the nitrogen was applied only in April. The recovery of nitrogen applied in both March and April at the total rate of 100 kg N ha⁻¹ but split 30/70 or 70/30 was 44.5% and 42.5% respectively. Non-fertilizer sources of nitrogen contributed 60.7–71.7% of the total nitrogen uptake by the crop at harvest.     

Ammonia volatilization from Vertisols

Farmers want to minimize losses of nitrogen (N) by volatilization of ammonia when adding fertilizers and improve fertilizer recovery of N by plants. We aimed to quantify the losses of N through NH₃ volatilization as affected by soil moisture content, type of fertilizer, and placement method in Vertisols in Kenya, and conducted three experiments for the purpose under controlled conditions in the laboratory. We found that NH₃-N losses were greatest at 80% water holding capacity, which we ascribed to the ready availability of water to dissolve the fertilizer at that water content. The soil's cation exchange capacity (CEC) did not influence volatilization, whereas the soil's pH indicated the potential of the soil to volatilize ammonia. Ammonia losses from the fertilizers were in the order urea > ammonium sulphate > ammonium nitrate applied. Incorporating fertilizer within the 0–5 cm soil layer more than halved NH₃ volatilization but did not prevent it completely. These results indicate that soil pH, rather than CEC, is the main inherent characteristic influencing ammonia volatilization from Vertisols. Ammonium-based fertilizers should be incorporated within the 0–5 cm soil layer, or preferably somewhat deeper, to avoid losses via NH₃ volatilization, particularly in alkaline soils. Nitrate fertilizers are preferable to urea where the risks of NH₃ volatilization are large, provided due consideration is given to denitrification risks.     

Acid deposition at Rothamsted, Saxmundham and Woburn, 1969–83

Abstract. Rainfall has become less acid at Rothamsted and Saxmundham over the period 1969–83. The pH of rain at these two sites has increased from 4.4–4.6 to about 4.8–4.9; at Woburn it has remained approximately constant at 4.4–4.6. Amounts of NH₄-N and NO₃-N deposited at present are 10–15 and 5–10 kg ha⁻¹ a⁻¹ respectively. They have been increasing at Rothamsted and Woburn. Some 50–60 kg ha⁻¹ a⁻¹ of Cl and 25–35 kg ha⁻¹ a⁻¹ of SO₄-S are presently deposited. Deposition of non-sea Cl and SO₄-S has been increasing markedly at all three sites. Non-sea salts comprise 35% of the total salt deposition near the coast at Saxmundham, 58% inland at Rothamsted and Woburn.     

Nitrogen inputs and outputs in a small agricultural catchment in the eastern part of the United Kingdom

Abstract. Nitrate concentrations measured in an ephemeral stream draining a 170 ha clay catchment in eastern England, with about 23% arable land, were greater than 11.3 mg N 1–¹ on the resumption of flow each autumn but then declined. There was also a spring peak in two years out of seven, 1978–1984, which depend on the length of time soils was at field capacity in the preceding winter. Mean annual load measured in rain was 19 kg N ha^-1 and loss of nitrate in the stream 34 kg N ha^-1. A catchment nitrogen balance suggested that inputs, which averaged 130 kg N ha yr^-1, were generally more than outputs, average 108 kg N ha yr^-1', but gaseous losses were not taken into account.     

周年施氮对冬小麦-夏大豆轮作产量及土壤氮素含量的影响

为探讨周年不同施氮组合对冬小麦-夏大豆轮作体系土壤氮素及产量影响规律,于2017—2018年,在伊宁县农业科技示范园内开展大田试验,以冬小麦-夏大豆轮作为研究对象,在前茬麦季设置4个施氮水平:0(N0)、104(N1)、173(N2)、242 kg·hm^-2(N3);后茬大豆设置3个施氮水平:0(S0)、69(S1)、138 kg·hm^-2(S2),研究周年不同施氮组合对两季作物收获后农田0~100 cm土层土壤硝态氮(NO₃^--N)、铵态氮(NH₄⁺-N)含量、无机氮残留量及产量的影响。结果表明,冬小麦不同施氮水平土壤NO₃^--N及NH₄⁺-N含量均在20~40 cm土层达到最大值,且N3的土壤NO₃^--N和NH₄⁺-N含量最高,分别达到14.65 mg·kg^-1和4.26 mg·kg^-1,土壤NO₃^--N含量平均分别较N0、N1、N2增加了92.86%、44.69%和17.03%,土壤NH₄⁺-N平均依次增加了69.95%、26.10%和8.46%;而冬小麦施氮量越高,其土壤无机氮残留量越大,以麦季N3平均最高,为200.62 kg·hm^-2。此外,前茬麦季施氮还能影响后茬大豆土壤中NO₃^--N、NH₄⁺-N含量及无机氮残留量;夏大豆的土壤NO₃^--N和NH₄⁺-N含量也在20~40 cm土层达到最大值,且N3S2的土壤NO₃^--N、NH₄⁺-N含量及无机氮残留量最大,平均分别为18.61 mg·kg^-1、 5.10 mg·kg^-1、258.36 kg·hm^-2。在麦季施氮173 kg·hm^-2时(N2),冬小麦产量最高,平均为7 828.64 kg·hm^-2,平均分别较N0、N1、N3增加35.45%、16.77%、6.26%;且在此基础上夏大豆当季再施氮69 kg·hm^-2时(S1),夏大豆获得产量最高,平均为2 988.93 kg·hm^-2,其周年总产量也达到最高平均,为10 817.5 kg·hm^-2。综上所述,麦季施氮173 kg·hm^-2,豆季施氮69 kg·hm^-2既有利于提高麦豆周年产量,又能减少土壤氮素的残留量,可为当地一年两熟制高效施氮制度提供一定的参考标准。     

Effect of Low Molecular Weight Organic Anions on the Adsorption of NO3− by Variable Charge Soils

Low molecular weight organic acids exist widely in soils and have been implicated in many soil processes. The results in the present paper showed that the presence of organic anions led to a decrease in the adsorption of NO₃⁻. The effect of citrate was much larger than that of oxalate and malate. Among different soils, the effect for Hyper-Rhodic Ferralsol and Rhodic Ferralsol was larger than that for Haplic Acrisol, which was related to the content of iron oxides in these soils. The effect of organic anions decreased with the increases in pH value and the amount of organic anions added. The organic anions depressed the adsorption of NO₃⁻ through two mechanisms, the competition of the organic anions for adsorption sites with NO₃⁻ and the change of soil surface charge caused by the specific adsorption of organic anions.     

Nitrogen fertilizer requirements of cereals following grass

Abstract. The effect of increasing rates of nitrogen (N) fertilizer on the yield response of 3 or 4 consecutive winter cereal crops after ploughing out grass was investigated at six field sites on commercial farms in England and Wales. Amounts of N required for an economically optimum yield (>3 kg of grain for each kg of fertilizer N applied) ranged from 0 to 265 kg ha⁻¹ and were dependent on soil N supply, but not on crop yield. Optimum N rates were large (mean 197 kg N ha⁻¹) at three sites: two sites where cereals followed 2-year grass leys receiving low N inputs (<200 kg N ha⁻¹), and at one site where a cut and grazed 4-year ley had received c . 315 kg N ha⁻¹ of fertilizer N annually. At the other three sites where 4 and 5-year grass leys had received large regular amounts of organic manures (20–30 t or m³ ha⁻¹) plus fertilizer N ( c . 300 kg ha⁻¹ each year), optimum N rates were low (mean 93 kg N ha⁻¹) and consistently over-estimated by the farmer by an average of 107 kg N ha⁻¹. Optimum N rates generally increased in successive years after ploughing as the N supply from the soil declined. Determination of soil C:N ratio and mineral N (NO₃N+NH₄N) to 90 cm depth in autumn were helpful in assessing fertilizer N need. The results suggest there is scope to improve current fertilizer recommendations for cereals after grass by removing crop yield as a determinant and including an assessment of soil mineralizable N during the growing season.     

Net nitrogen mineralization and nitrification rates in forest soil in northeastern Taiwan

We used a laboratory incubation approach to measure rates of net N mineralization and nitrification in forest soils from Fu-shan Experimental Forest WS1 in northern Taiwan. Net mineralization rates in the O horizon ranged from 4.0 to 13.8 mg N kg⁻¹ day⁻¹, and net nitrification rates ranged from 2.2 to 11.6 mg N kg⁻¹ day⁻¹. For mineral (10–20 cm depth) soil, net mineralization ranged from 0.06 to 2.8 mg N kg⁻¹ day⁻¹ and net nitrification rates ranged from 0.02 to 2.8 mg N kg⁻¹ day⁻¹. We did not find any consistent differences in N mineralization or nitrification rates in soils from the upper and lower part of the watershed. We compared the rates of these processes in three soil horizons (to a soil depth of 30 cm) on a single sampling date and found a large decrease in both net N mineralization and nitrification with depth. We estimated that the soil total N pool was 6,909 kg N ha⁻¹. The present study demonstrates the importance of the stock of mineral soil N in WS1, mostly organic N, which can be transformed to inorganic N and potentially exported to surface and ground water from this watershed. Additional studies quantifying the rates of soil N cycling, particularly multi-site comparisons within Taiwan and the East Asia–Pacific region, will greatly improve our understanding of regional patterns in nitrogen cycling.     

Nitrate leaching from reseeded pasture

Abstract. Nitrate leaching and soil mineral N status under grassland were measured on three contrasting soils, spanning winters 1995/96, 1996/97 and 1997/98, in Western England. The soils investigated were a freely draining silty clay loam (Rosemaund), a well drained loam (IGER 1) and a poorly drained clay loam (IGER 2). The effects of reseeding (ploughing and resowing grass) at IGER 1 and IGER 2 in autumn 1995 or 1996 were compared with undisturbed pasture. Reseeding at Rosemaund, in autumns 1995 or 1996, or spring 1996 was compared with undisturbed pasture of 3 sward ages (2, 5, >50 years).
Nitrate-N leaching losses during the winter immediately following autumn reseeding ranged between 60 and 350 kg N ha^–1 in 1995/96, depending on soil type, sward management history and rainfall. Losses were much less in the following winter when treatments were repeated (10–107 kg N ha^–1).
Reseeding in spring had little effect on soil mineral N content or leaching losses in the following autumn, compared with undisturbed pasture. Similarly, leaching losses from autumn reseeds in the second winter after cultivation were the same as undisturbed pasture (1-19 kg N ha^–1). The effect of ploughing grassland for reseeding was relatively short-term, in contrast to the effect of repeated annual cultivation associated with arable rotations.