Isotopic fractionation during N2 fixation by four tropical legumes

To quantify the contribution of biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) to legume crops using the ¹⁵N natural abundance technique, it is necessary to determine the ¹⁵N abundance of the N derived from BNF—the B value. In this study, we used a technique to determine B whereby both legume and non-N₂-fixing reference plants were grown under the same conditions in two similar soils, one artificially labelled with ¹⁵N, and the other not. The proportion of N derived from BNF (%Ndfa) was determined from the plants grown in the ¹⁵N-labelled soil and it was assumed that the %Ndfa values of the legumes grown in the two soils were the same, hence the B value of the legumes could be calculated. The legumes used were velvet bean (Mucuna pruriens), sunnhemp (Crotalaria juncea), groundnut (Arachis hypogaea) and soybean (Glycine max) inoculated, or not, with different strains of rhizobium. The values of %Ndfa were all over 89%, and all the legumes grown in unlabelled soil showed negative δ¹⁵N values even though the plant-available N in this soil was found to be approximately +6.0‰. The B values for the shoot tissue (B_s) were calculated and ranged from approximately −1.4‰ for inoculated sunnhemp and groundnut to −2.4 and −4.5‰ for soybean inoculated with Bradyrhizobium japonicum strain CPAC 7 and Bradyrhizobium elkanii strain 29W, respectively. The B (B_wp) values for the whole plants including roots, nodules and the original seed N were still significantly different between the soybean plants inoculated with CPAC 7 (−1.33‰) and 29W (−2.25‰). In a parallel experiment conducted in monoxenic culture using the same soybean variety and Bradyrhizobium strains, the plants accumulated less N from BNF and the values were less negative, but still significantly different for soybean inoculated with the two different Bradyrhizobium strains. The results suggest that the technique utilized in this study to determine B with legume plants grown in soil in the open air, yields B values that are more appropriate for use under field conditions.     

Mineralization and volatile loss of nitrogen from soils treated with coal combustion byproducts

There is an increasing need to find a suitable means for disposal of coal combustion byproducts because of the increasing world-wide production of these byproducts. This need has prompted interest in the use of land disposal, but there are concerns that this use may degrade the quality of soil. To determine the influence of coal combustion byproducts on the transformation and fate of soil N and assess the potential impact of land disposal on soil quality, we studied the effects of two combustion byproducts (fly ash and bed ash) applied at rates of 22.5, 45, 90, and 180 Mg ha^-1 on mineralization and volatile loss of N from soil. Studies comparing the influence of the byproducts on these processes showed that whereas fly ash had little influence on the fate of soil N, bed ash caused substantial mineralization of organic soil N and volatile loss of this N as NH₃. Studies monitoring the pH of soils treated with bed ash showed that soil pH increased immediately after this treatment, with values reaching as high as 12.8. These studies indicated that such extreme alkaline conditions caused chemical degradation and volatile loss of as much as 10% of the organic N in soil, and they provide strong evidence that the improper disposal of bed ash on land can have a substantial negative impact on soil quality.     

The impact of protozoa on the availability of bacterial nitrogen to plants

Summary Microbial N from ¹⁵N-labelled bacterial biomass was investigated in a microcosm experiment, in order to determine its availability to wheat plants. Sterilized soil was inoculated with either bacteria (Pseudomonas aeruginosa alone or with a suspension of a natural bacterial population from the soil) or bacteria and protozoa to examine the impact of protozoa. Plant biomass, plant N, soil inorganic N and bacterial and protozoan numbers were determined after 14 and 35 days of incubation. The protozoa reduced bacterial numbers in soil by a factor of 8, and higher contents of soil inorganic N were found in their presence. Plant uptake of N increased by 20010 in the presence of protozoa. Even though the total plant biomass production was not affected, the shoot: root ratios increased in the presence of protozoa, which is considered to indicate an improved plant nutrient supply. The presence of protozoa resulted in a 65010 increase in mineralization and uptake of bacterial ¹⁵N by plants. This effect was more pronounced than the protozoan effect on N derived from soil organic matter. It is concluded that grazing by protozoa strongly stimulates the mineralization and turnover of bacterial N. The mineralization of soil organic N was also shown to be promoted by protozoa.Communication No. 9 of the Dutch Programme on Soil Ecology of Arable Farming Systems     

Effect of chemical composition on the release of nitrogen from agricultural plant materials decomposing in soil under field conditions

Summary In two field experiments, plant materials labelled with ¹⁵N were buried separately within mesh bags in soil, which was subsequently sown with barley. In the first experiment, different parts of white clover (Trifolium repens), red clover (T. pratense), subterranean clover (T. subterraneum), field bean (Vicia faba), and timothy (Phleum pratense) were used, and in the second, parts of subterranean clover of different maturity. The plant materials were analysed for their initial concentrations of total N, ¹⁵N, C, ethanol-soluble compounds, starch, hemicellulose, cellulose, lignin, and ash. After the barley had been harvested, the bags were collected and analysed for their total N and ¹⁵N. In the first experiment the release of N was highest from white clover stems + petioles (86%) and lowest from field bean roots (20%). In stepwise regression analysis, the release of N was explained best by the initial concentrations of lignin, cellulose, hemicellulose, and N (listed according to decreasing partial correlations). Although the C/N ratio of the plant materials varied widely (11–46), statistically the release of N was not significantly correlated with this variable. The results of the second experiment using subterranean clover of different maturity confirmed those of the first experiment.     

典型红壤丘陵区土壤氮素含量及其分布的演变规律

通过对湖南省桃源县典型区域高密度采样分析和历史资料调研,探明了红壤丘陵区不同土地利用类型13年来(19902～2003)土壤氮素含量及其分布的变化:1)典型区域2003年的稻田氮素含量为1.94±0.02.g/kg,比1990年提高4.9%,主要分布区间由1990年的1.25～2.00.g/kg(分布频率为59.1%,下同)上升到2003年的1.50～2.25g/kg(77.1%),曲线图上呈近似正态分布向右偏态分布的演变趋势;2)旱土2003年的氮素含量为1.57±0.14.g/kg,比1990年提高18.0%,1990和2003年主要分布区间都为0.75～1.50.g/kg(58.2%～58.8%),但2003年分布在1.50～2.00.g/kg区间的频率为33.6%,比1990年的高出12.7个百分点,曲线图上由呈现左偏态分布向正态分布的演变趋势;3)以坡地橘园为主的林果地,2003年的氮素含量为1.15±0.02.g/kg,比1990年提高9.5%,两者的主要分布区间虽然均在0.75～1.50.g/kg之间,但2003年在此区间的分布频率为88.0%,比1990年的高出10.2个百分点,其演变趋势与稻田的基本一致;4)整个采样调研区域农业用地的土壤氮素含量,2003年的为1.58±0.03g/kg,比1990年提高3.3%。这表明在当前的施肥方式与经营管理条件下,红壤丘陵区农业用地的土壤氮素含量稳定并有增加的趋势。     

Soil‐ and plant‐based nitrogen‐fertilizer recommendations in arable farming

Under‐ as well as overfertilization with nitrogen (N) will result in economic loss for the farmer due to reduced yields and quality of the products. Also from an ecological perspective, it is important that the grower makes the correct decision on how much and when to apply N for a certain crop to minimize impacts on the environment. To aggravate the situation, N is a substance that is present in many compartments in different forms (nitrate, ammonium, organic N, etc.) in the soil‐plant environment and takes part in various processes (e.g., mineralization, immobilization, leaching, denitrification, etc.). Today, many N‐recommendation systems are mainly based on yield expectation. However, yields are not stable from year to year for a given field. Also the processes that determine the N supply from other sources than fertilizer are not predictable at the start of the growing season. Different methodological approaches are reviewed that have been introduced to improve N‐fertilizer recommendations for arable crops. Many soil‐based methods have been developed to measure soil mineral N (SMN) that is available for plants at a given sampling date. Soil sampling at the start of the growing period and analyzing for the amount of NO ‐N (and NH ‐N) is a widespread approach in Europe and North America. Based on data from field calibrations, the SMN pool is filled up with fertilizer N to a recommended amount. Depending on pre‐crop, use of organic manure, or soil characteristics, the recommendation might be modified (±10–50 kg N ha^–1). Another set of soil methods has been established to estimate the amount of N that is mineralized from soil organic matter, plant residues, and/or organic manure. From the huge range of methods proposed so far, simple mild extraction procedures have gained most interest, but introduction into practical recommendation schemes has been rather limited. Plant‐analytical procedures cover the whole range from quantitative laboratory analysis to semiquantitative “quick” tests carried out in the field. The main idea is that the plant itself is the best indicator for the N supply from any source within the growth period. In‐field methods like the nitrate plant sap/petiole test and chlorophyll measurements with hand‐held devices or via remote sensing are regarded as most promising, because with these methods an adequate adjustment of the N‐fertilizer application strategy within the season is feasible. Prerequisite is a fertilization strategy that is based on several N applications and not on a one‐go approach.     

基于近红外光谱分析的土壤全氮含量估测研究

应用近红外光谱分析技术对比研究基于土壤风干样本和鲜样来预测全氮含量的可行性。选取水稻土为研究对象,首先分析了不同水分土壤的光谱特征,显示随水分含量增加,吸光度升高,且鲜样的吸光度高于干样。通过比较不同预处理方法,对土壤干鲜样分别采用逐步多元回归(SMLR)和偏最小二乘法(PLSR)建立了相应的近红外模型。结果表明,利用近红外光谱均可预测干鲜土壤样本的全氮含量,特别是利用偏最小二乘法建立的标定模型,预测精度高,反演性较好,鲜样和干样外部验证决定系数分别达到0.89和0.91,相对误差仅为6.92%和5.92%,研究结果可以为田间土壤全氮含量的估测提供技术依据和参考。     

施氮、钾和钼对菠菜不同生长阶段硝态氮积累影响研究初报

采用盆栽试验研究了肥料(氮、钾、钼)互作对菠菜不同生长阶段硝态氮积累的影响。结果表明,施肥对菠菜硝态氮积累的影响整体表现为:柄叶,老叶新叶;与生长前期相比,收获期各部位中硝态氮含量均有下降趋势。不施氮条件下,施钼极显著或显著地降低了菠菜生长前期和收获期叶片中硝态氮含量,降幅分别为19.3%和21.4%;施氮条件下,施钼仅显著降低了菠菜生长前期叶片中硝态氮含量,降幅达21.2%。在本试验条件下,单施钼比钼钾配施更有利于降低菠菜叶片中硝态氮的含量;钾与钼营养的相互效应,以及钾与钼之间如何平衡,似乎是影响施钼效果的关键。     

Effect of Application of Acidified Porous Hydrate Calcium Silicate and Porous Hydrated Calcium Silicate on the Growth of Rice Plants (Oryza sativa L.)

The effect of the application of acidified porous hydrate calcium silicate (APS) in nursery bed soil and porous hydrate calcium silicate (PS) in paddy fields on the growth of rice plants ( Oryza sativa L. cv. Hitomebore) was examined in 2002 and 2003. The results revealed the following: 1) Shoot dry weight of rice seedlings increased by APS treatment in nursery bed soil. The tiller number of rice plants after transplanting in both years also increased by APS treatment in nursery bed soil, and in 2003, the tiller number in the treatment with a combination of APS in nursery bed soil and PS in paddy fields was significantly higher than that in the other treatments until the maximum tiller number stage. Furthermore, the root length of rice plants 14 d after transplanting increased by APS treatment in nursery bed soil. 2) Silicon concentration in the soil solution significantly increased by PS treatment in paddy fields, and the concentration of dissolved carbon oxide increased by APS treatment in nursery bed soil. 3) Only in the APS treatment the rice yield was 341 g m⁻², while 400 and 450 g m⁻² in the PS and both APS and PS treatments, respectively, in 2003. Percentages of ripened grains in the plots without PS treatment ranged from 57 to 63%, respectively, while, those in the PS treated plots were 82%. The numbers of panicles and ripened grains in both APS and PS treatments were the highest among the treatments. Based on the above results, we concluded that both APS in nursery bed soil and PS in paddy field treatments were effective in improving the silicon nutrition and growth of rice plants, and that this effect was enhanced by a combination of treatments with the two.