Role of nitrite and nitric oxide in the processes of nitrification and denitrification in soil: Results from N tracer experiments

Recent research has proven soil nitrite to be a key element in understanding N-gas production (NO, N₂O, N₂) in soils. NO is widely accepted to be an obligatory intermediate of N₂O formation in the denitrification pathway. However, studies with native soils could not confirm NO as a N₂O precursor, and field experiments mainly revealed ammonium nitrification as the source of NO. The hypothesis was constructed, that the limited diffusion of NO in soil is the reason for this contradiction. To test this diffusion limitation hypothesis and to verify nitrite and NO as free intermediates in native soils we conducted through-flow (He/O₂ atmosphere) ¹⁵N tracer experiments using black earth soil in an experimental set up free of diffusion limitation. All of the three relevant inorganic N soil pools (ammonium, nitrite, nitrate) were ¹⁵N labelled in separate incubation experiments lasting 81 h based on the kinetic isotope method. During the experiments the partial pressure of O₂ was decreased in four steps from 20% to about 0%. The net NO emission increased up to 3.7 μg N kg⁻¹ h⁻¹ with decreasing O₂ partial pressure. Due to the special experimental set up with little to no obstructions of gas diffusion, only very low N₂O emission could be observed. As expected the content of the substrates ammonium, nitrate and nitrite remained almost constant over the incubation time. The ¹⁵N abundance of nitrite revealed high turnover rates. The contribution of nitrification of ammonium to the total nitrite production was approx. 88% under strong aerobic soil conditions but quickly decreased to zero with declining O₂ partial pressure. It is remarkable that already under the high partial pressure of 20% O₂ 12 % of nitrite is generated by nitrate denitrification, and under strict anaerobic conditions it increases to 100%. Nitrite is present in two separate endogenous pools at least, each one fed by the nitrification of ammonium or the denitrification of nitrate. The experiments clearly revealed that nitrite is almost 100% the direct precursor of NO formation under anaerobic as well as aerobic conditions. Emitted N₂O only originated to about 100% from NO under strict anaerobic conditions (0-0.2% O₂), providing evidence that NO is a free intermediate of N₂O formation by denitrification. To the best of our knowledge this is the first time that NO has been detected in a native soil as a free intermediate product of N₂O formation at denitrification. These results clearly verify the “diffusion limitation” hypothesis.     

Impact of stand age on soil C, N and P dynamics in a 40-year chronosequence of alder-cardamom agroforestry stands of the Sikkim Himalaya

The impact of age (5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 40 years) on chemical characteristics of mineral soil under an age sequence of alder-cardamom agroforestry stands was studied in the Eastern Himalayas. The seasonal variation in soil organic carbon (OC), soil organic matter (SOM), total nitrogen (TN), forms of phosphorus (total P, organic P, inorganic P, available P, fractionated forms of P), mineral nitrogen, potential N mineralization and nitrification was measured in the chronosequence across three replicate sites each having six representative stand ages. We hypothesized that nutrient stocks would be lower in younger agroforestry stands, would eventually increase with stand age due to the influence of alder but then decline as the stands mature further. The expected pattern of increasing soil nutrient stocks with stand age did occur with a peak at 15–20 years; nutrient stocks then substantially declined in 30- to 40-year-old stands. A significant seasonality, which coincided with cardamom flowering and fruiting, was observed in soil nutrient contents and N transformation rates. The 15–20-year-old stands had the highest nutrient pools and potential N transformation rates, whereas the youngest and oldest stands had the lowest nutrient pools. Soil acidity increased with stand age. Soil pH was negatively related to stand age and SOM in the linear regression. Nutrient dynamics varied with age depending on the successional stage, which limited soil nutrient availability for plant uptake after the 20-year point. The performance of both alder and cardamom was reduced after this age likely due to limited soil nutrient availability and nutrient dynamics as a result of recurrent biomass removal – part of the traditional management practice. This study concludes that the ecological and economic sustainability of this particular agroforestry system is possible by adopting a 20-year re-plantation cycle for alder and cardamom, and a phase-wise agroforestry rotation.     

Afforestation of semi-arid shrubland reduces biogenic NO emission from soil

Nitric oxide (NO) plays a central role in the formation of tropospheric ozone, hydroxyl radicals, as well as nitrous and nitric acids. There are, however, large uncertainties around estimates of global NO emissions due to the paucity of data. In particular, there is little information on the rate of NO emission and its sensitivity to processes such as land use changes in dry environments. Here we report on a two-year study on the influence of afforestation on soil NO fluxes in the semi-arid afforestation system in Southern Israel (Yatir forest, mean annual precipitation ∼280 mm). Laboratory incubations were carried out under seasonally defined conditions of soil moisture and temperature using soils sampled in different seasons from the native shrubland (taken both under shrub canopy and in the inter-shrub areas), and from the adjacent ∼2800 ha, 40-year-old pine afforestation site. Combining laboratory results with field measurements of soil moisture and temperature, we up-scaled soil-atmosphere NO fluxes to the ecosystem level. The different microsites differed in their annual mean NO release rates (0.04, 0.14 and 0.03 mg m⁻² d⁻¹ for the shrubland under and between shrubs and for the forest, respectively), and exhibited high inter-seasonal variability in NO emission rates (ranging from zero up to 0.25 mg m⁻² d⁻¹ in the wet and dry-rewetting seasons, respectively), as well as in temperature responses. Up-scaling results to annual and ecosystem scales indicated that afforestation of the semi-arid shrubland could reduce soil NO emission by up to 65%.     

Can differences in soil community composition after peat meadow restoration lead to different decomposition and mineralization rates?

Reducing decomposition and mineralization of organic matter by increasing groundwater levels is a common approach to reduce plant nutrient availability in many peat meadow restoration projects. The soil community is the main driver of these processes, but how community composition is affected by peat meadow restoration is largely unknown. Furthermore, it is unclear whether restoration induced changes could lead to altered decomposition and mineralization rates. We determined soil community composition in restored peat meadows with different groundwater levels and soil pH. This composition was subsequently used in food web model calculations of C and N mineralization rates to assess whether differences in soil community composition may have contributed to differences in decomposition and mineralization rates observed between these meadows.Community composition of micro-organisms, Collembola and Enchytraeidae differed considerably between meadows and were correlated with differences in groundwater levels and soil pH. Collembolan and enchytraeid species from wet and neutral environments were more abundant at meadows with higher groundwater levels. Lower fungal to bacterial PLFA ratios and higher numbers of protozoa indicated an increased importance of the bacterial part of the food web at meadows with higher groundwater levels. Food web model calculations suggested that the observed changes in community composition would lead to higher rates of C and N mineralization at meadows with high groundwater levels. Results from modeling were consistent with field measurements of C mineralization, but not with measurements of N mineralization.We conclude that understanding changes in soil community composition in response to specific restoration measures may help us to better understand ecosystem responses to wetland restoration schemes, especially regarding soil biogeochemical processes.     

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.     

A diazotrophic, indole-3-acetic acid-producing endophyte from wild cottonwood

An endophytic bacterium, wild poplar strain B (WPB), isolated from stems of wild cottonwood (Populus trichocarpa) was identified to Burkholderia vietnamiensis by analyzing the recA and rDNA genes. Phylogenetic analysis of the nifHDK cluster indicates that the WPB isolate shares high sequence similarity with known B. vietnamiensis strains. The nitrogenase activity of WPB was determined by a ¹⁵N₂ incorporation assay and an acetylene reduction assay. WPB was also monitored for production of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), a phytohormone which can promote plant growth, when incubated with l-tryptophan. In addition, its plant growth promotion capacity was assessed by inoculating the WPB strain onto Kentucky bluegrass in nitrogen-free medium. Compared to uninoculated control plants, the plants inoculated with WPB gained more dry weight (42%, p = 0.01) and more nitrogen content (37%, p = 0.04) in 50 days.     

集约化种植条件下典型潮土区土壤氮素的演变特征

通过对集约化种植制度下黄淮海平原7个典型潮土区土壤N素的调查,结合第二次全国土壤普查资料,对20年来潮土N素含量、分布及其演变特征进行了全面的分析和评价.结果表明:土壤N素较20年前有所积累,其中全N含量除个别地区有所下降外,其他地区都呈上升趋势,增幅在0 ～ 56.54% 之间;各地土壤碱解N含量普遍上升,增幅在2.03% ～ 81.52%之间.但总体上典型潮土区N素水平依然较低,其中,92% 以上面积的土壤全N含量低于1 g/kg,90% 以上面积的土壤碱解N含量集中在30 ～ 90 mg/kg之间,都处于偏低及以下水平.     

浙江水稻氮肥优化的决策支持系统ONIR

在大量田间试验的基础上,建立了浙江水稻氮肥优化决策支持系统ONIR(optimazation of nitrogen to irrigated rice).该系统是利用NuDSS(nutrient decision support system)与独创的NSAM(N splitting application model)有机结合而成的.氮肥分次施用模型(NSAM)是根据水稻生长发育规律和养分平衡供应原理建立的,目的是确定各生育期的氮肥施用量,也就是氮肥的分次施用量.系统验证结果表明,模拟值与实测值均落在直观图1∶1线附近,线性回归t 检验平均＞0.05,斜率α在0.847 ～ 1.034 之间,确定系数R2在0.85 ～ 0.99之间,均方差误差为1 ～ 110 kg/hm2,规范均方根为 9% ～ 24%.在浙江水稻区,当目标产量为7.3 t/hm2(晚稻)和8.3 t/hm2(中稻)时,利用ONIR推荐的最佳氮肥用量分别为120 kg/hm2和150 kg/hm2;基肥、分蘖前期、幼穗分化期和抽穗期施肥的分配比例:晚稻为0.4∶0.2∶0.4∶0 或0.4∶0.2∶0.2∶0.2,中稻为0.4∶0.2∶0.4∶0 或者0.4∶0.2∶0.2∶0.2.     

CO2浓度升高与增施钾肥对黄瓜生长的影响

采用土培和开顶箱法,研究了大气CO_2浓度升高与K肥共同作用对黄瓜生长的影响.结果表明,CO_2浓度升高和K肥浓度增大均能增加黄瓜干物质的积累,且在高CO_2浓度下.200mg/kg和300 mg/kg K肥处理时黄瓜的干物重达到最大值.大气CO_2浓度升高使得黄瓜体内的N、P、K、Na、Ca、Mg含量均降低,K肥处理对黄瓜植株内N、P、Ca、Mg含量的影响不大,但K的含量随K肥的增加而增加.在高浓度CO_2下,200mg/kg和300mg/kg K肥处理时黄瓜对N、P、K、Ca、Mg的吸收量达到最大值.可见,在未来CO_2浓度升高的环境中,更多的K肥供应能促进作物对N、P、K、Ca、Mg的吸收,使其快速高效的生长.     

Organic carbon and nitrogen stocks in reed meadow soils converted to alfalfa fields

Soil organic carbon and nitrogen are key elements of sustainable agriculture. Converting forest land and grassland to arable land is known to decrease the content of soil organic carbon (SOC), whereas converting land under annual crops into perennial grasslands has the potential to increase organic C and N sequestration, an assumption tested in this study. Compared to the levels in reed meadows, SOC and total nitrogen (TN) stocks in the top layer of 2489 Mg soil ha⁻¹ (about 0–15 cm depth) significantly increased 3 years after the conversion, despite a slight decrease numerically in the first year following the conversion. And the mass of light fraction organic carbon (LFOC), total extractable carbon (TEC), humic acid carbon (HAC), and fulvic acid carbon (FAC) stocks all decreased significantly in the first year in the top layer but recovered after 3 years. In the deeper layer of 2549 Mg soil ha⁻¹ (about 15–30 cm depth), however, the levels of SOC and heavy fraction organic carbon (HFOC) stocks began increasing from the first year itself. During the period of 1–10 years after the conversion, the degree of humification rate (HR) for the deeper layer were consistent, averaging 30%, whereas the same parameters in the top layer stabilized after 3 years at 33%. After 10 years of conversion, the soil recorded higher levels of SOC and TN stocks, used as indicators in this study, than those that had prevailed in the reed meadows, demonstrating the positive combined effects of the conversion on the retention of atmospheric C-CO₂ in the soil. This study suggests that proper management of alfalfa fields can maintain or even improve chemical and physical quality of converted reed meadows soils.