Dynamics of soil microbial biomass N under zero and shallow tillage for spring wheat, using 15N urea

Author(s):  
M. R. Carter ◽  
D. A. Rennie
HortScience ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 54 (3) ◽  
pp. 537-546
Author(s):  
Pengpeng Duan ◽  
Ying Sun ◽  
Yuling Zhang ◽  
Qingfeng Fan ◽  
Na Yu ◽  
...  

A greenhouse field experiment involving tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) was performed using different nitrogen (N) management regimes: sole application of differing rates of chemical N fertilizer (SC) (SC treatments: N0, N1, N2, and N3) and combined application of manure and chemical N fertilizer (MC) (MC treatments: MN0, MN1, MN2, and MN3). These were used to understand the relationship between comprehensive fruit composition, yield, and N fractions (soil mineral N; soil soluble organic N; soil microbial biomass N, and soil fixed ammonium) under greenhouse conditions. The results showed that the MC treatments significantly increased vitamin C and soluble sugar content compared with SC treatments. In addition, the MN2 treatment produced a high yield and had a positive effect on fruit composition. The N3 (563 kg N/ha) and MN3 (796 kg N/ha) treatments resulted in a high loss of N below the root zone (0–30 cm), consequently reducing N use efficiency. Soil mineral N, soil soluble organic N, and soil fixed ammonium tended to be higher during the first fruiting period, whereas soil microbial biomass N tended to be higher during the second fruiting period. MC treatments significantly increased the N fraction in the 0- to 30-cm soil layer; N fractions tended to be higher with the MN2 treatment. According to an optimum regression equation, soil fixed ammonium during the first fruiting period and soil microbial biomass N during the second fruiting period had a more significant influence on tomato yield and fruit composition. Overall, application MC at an appropriate rate (MN2: 608 kg N/ha) is a promising approach to achieving high yields and optimum taste, and it offers a more sustainable fertilizer management strategy compared with chemical N fertilization.


2003 ◽  
Vol 166 (3) ◽  
pp. 326-327 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jürgen K. Friedel ◽  
Corinne Kobel ◽  
Michael Pfeffer ◽  
Walter J. Fitz ◽  
Walter W. Wenzel

Web Ecology ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 87-93 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Rodríguez ◽  
J. Durán ◽  
A. Gallardo

Abstract. Nitrogen availability frequently limits plant growth in natural ecosystems. N-fixers should have a substantial competitive advantage in N-limited systems, and as a byproduct of their activity they should increase the quantity and availability of N in the system as a whole. However, this effect has rarely been quantified in natural ecosystems. Heathlands in northwest Spain are frequently occupied by legume scrubs. We tested whether the presence of these legumes affected the N cycle in these communities. Specifically, we addressed the following questions: is nitrogen availability higher beneath legume canopies than beneath non-legume canopies? Is soil microbial biomass acting as a sink of extra N mineralized beneath legume canopies? Does the presence of legume scrubs change the soil pools of labile N and P? Is N plant uptake different under N-fixer scrubs than under non-N-fixer scrubs? To answer these questions, we sampled soil beneath the canopy of randomly selected individuals of Erica umbellata, Ulex gallii, and Genista tridentata twice during the growing season. Soil samples were analyzed for organic matter, NH4-N, NO3-N, DON, PO4-P, N mineralization and nitrification rates, and soil microbial biomass-N. In addition, we estimated N uptake by plants and the N concentration in green tissue to compare internal N cycles between legume and non-legume scrubs. Nitrification rates, DON (dissolved organic nitrogen), soil NO3 concentration, and N uptake were significantly higher beneath legume canopies. However, soil microbial biomass-N and extractable-P were significantly lower under legumes. Our results showed that the presence of legume scrubs modify the size of N pools and the dominant form of available N for plants, increasing spatial heterogeneity in mixed stands.


2011 ◽  
Vol 1 (4) ◽  
pp. 202-207
Author(s):  
N. Ewusi‐Mensah ◽  
V. Logah ◽  
J. O. Fening

This paper reports the short Ã¢â‚¬Â term effects of organic and inorganic fertilizerapplications on the culturable resident bacterial and fungal properties of aFerric Acrisol in the semi Ã¢â‚¬Âdeciduous forest zone of Ghana after three continuouscropping seasons. The treatments were two compost types (i.e. 1:1compost comprising 1 part made up of Chromolaena, Stylosanthes, maizestover mixture and 1 part of cattle manure, 2:1 compost comprising 2 partsof Chromolaena, Stylosanthes, maize stover mixture and 1 part of cattle manure),cowdung, 100% NPK and a control replicated three times in a randomizedcomplete block design. The results showed that total microbial load on alogarithmic scale ranged from 4.6 cfu/g in the control to 5.4 on cowdungtreated plots. Bacterial counts on 2:1 compost applied at 5 t/ha treatedplots recorded 5% more bacteria than the 1:1 compost applied at 5 t/ha.Fungal counts in the control and inorganic treated plots were higher than theorganically amended plots. The highest and lowest microbial biomass C contentswere recorded on cowdung and 1:1 compost at 5 t/ha treated plotsrespectively. Microbial biomass N content ranged from 1.4 Ã¢â‚¬Â 8.2 mg N kg‐1soil with a mean value of 6.2 mg N kg Ã¢â‚¬Â1 soil. Microbial biomass P contentranged from 3.6 Ã¢â‚¬Â 6.3 mg P kg‐1 soil with a mean value of 5 mg P kg‐1 soil.Microbial biomass carbon to organic carbon ratio varied from 18.37 to 85.63.


1989 ◽  
Vol 69 (4) ◽  
pp. 849-855 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. C. SRIVASTAVA ◽  
A. K. JHA ◽  
J. S. SINGH

Soil biomass C, N and P were determined for a native forest site, an unmined deforested site and an age-series of adjacent coal mine spoils (5, 10, 12, 16 and 20 yr). Biomass C ranged from 209 to 867 μg g−1 soil, biomass N from 20 to 75 μg g−1 soil and biomass P from 7 to 29 μg g−1 soil. Biomass C, N and P were linearly related to each other. Biomass C was also related to the root biomass. Biomass N with a mean C:N ratio of 11.8 accounted for 2.2–4.2% of the total soil N and was positively related to the mineral N of soil. Biomass C:P ratio ranged from 27.6 to 31.0%. The biomass P was significantly related to the bicarbonate soluble soil Pi. Soil microbial biomass was characterized by a mean C:N:P ratio of 29:3:1. Soil microbial C, N and P were positively related with the age of mine spoils, the values for the youngest spoil (5 yr old) being about four times lower compared to native forest soil. Total soil N was also positively related with age of spoil. The data suggest that microbial biomass can be taken as a functional index of soil redevelopment. Key words: Surface coal mining, soil microbial biomass C, biomass N, biomass P, mine spoil


Author(s):  
Gong ◽  
Zhang ◽  
Guo

: Soil and soil microbial biomass (SMB) carbon: nitrogen: phosphorus (C:N:P) stoichiometry are important parameters to determine soil balance of nutrients and circulation of materials, but how soil and SMB C:N:P stoichiometry is affected by climate change remains unclear. Field experiments with warming and N addition had been implemented since April 2007. Infrared radiators were used to manipulate temperature, and aqueous ammonium nitrate (10 g m-2 yr-1) was added to simulate nitrogen deposition. We found that molar nutrient ratios in the soil averaged 60:11:1, warming and warming plus N addition reduced soil C:N by 14.1% and 20% (P < 0.01), and reduced soil C:P ratios by 14.5% and 14.8% (P < 0.01). N addition reduced soil C:N significantly by 17.6% (P < 0.001) (Figs. 2B, 2D). N addition and warming plus N addition increased soil N:P significantly by 24.6% and 7.7% (P < 0.01). The SMB C:N, C:P and N:P ratios increased significantly with warming, N addition and warming plus N addition. Warming and N addition increased the correlations between SOC and soil microbial biomass C (SMBC), soil total P and soil microbial biomass P (SMBP), warming increased the correlation between the soil total N and soil microbial biomass N (SMBN). After four years’ treatment, our results demonstrated that the combined effects of warming and N fertilization could change the C, N, P cycling by affecting soil and SMB C:N:P ratios significantly and differently. At the same time, our results suggested SMB might have weak homeostasis in Sonnen Grassland and warming and N addition would ease N-limitation but aggravate P-limitation in northeastern China. Furthermore, these results further the current demonstration of the relationships between the soil and SMB C:N:P stoichiometry in response to global change in temperate grassland ecosystems.


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