Biological and chemical assays to estimate nitrogen supplying power of soils with contrasting management histories

Soil Research ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 42 (7) ◽  
pp. 737 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Curtin ◽  
F. M. McCallum
Keyword(s):  
Best Management Practices ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
N Uptake ◽  
N Mineralisation ◽  
Aerobic Incubation ◽  
Arable Soils ◽  
Mineral N ◽  
Mineralisation Potential ◽  
N Fertility

Nitrogen (N) mineralised from soil organic matter can be an important source of N for crop uptake, particularly following cultivation of pastures. Difficulty in predicting the contribution of mineralisation continues to be a serious obstacle to implementating best management practices for fertiliser N. We evaluated biological tests (i.e. net N mineralised in a 28-day aerobic incubation and anaerobically mineralisable N, AMN) and chemical tests (ammonium-N hydrolysis in hot 2 m KCl) as predictors of N supply to a glasshouse-grown oat (Avena sativa L.) crop. The oat plants were grown to maturity without added N on 30 soils representing a range of management histories, including soils collected from long-term pastures and intensive arable cropping sites. The majority (average 83%) of the N accumulated in grain and straw was mineralised N. Plant N derived from mineralisation (PNDM), estimated by subtracting soil mineral N at sowing from N uptake, was generally higher for long-term pasture soils (mean 82 mg/kg, n = 9) than for long-term arable soils (mean 48 mg/kg, n = 9). The 2 measures of N mineralisation were not closely related [R2 = 0.11 (0.37*** when one outlying observation was omitted)], indicating that aerobic and anaerobic assays can give quite different N fertility rankings. Aerobically mineralisable N was the best predictor of PNDM (R2 = 0.79***). The ratio of CO2-C evolved to net N mineralised in the aerobic incubation was highly variable (e.g. mean of 13.6 for pasture soils v. 7.5 for long-term arable soils), likely due to differences in N immobilisation. The correlations of AMN (R2 = 0.32**) and hot KCl N (R2 = 0.24**) with PNDM were not much better than that between total soil N and PNDM (R2 = 0.16*), suggesting that these tests would not provide reliable estimates of N mineralisation potential in soils with diverse management histories.

scholarly journals Legumes increase grassland productivity with no effect on nitrous oxide emissions

2019 ◽  
Vol 446 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 163-177 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arlete S. Barneze ◽  
Jeanette Whitaker ◽  
Niall P. McNamara ◽  
Nicholas J. Ostle
Keyword(s):  
Management Practices ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
N Uptake ◽  
Relative Proportion ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
Chemical Properties ◽  
Nitrous Oxide Emissions ◽  
Mineral N ◽  
Grassland Productivity

Abstract Aims Grasslands are important agricultural production systems, where ecosystem functioning is affected by land management practices. Grass-legume mixtures are commonly cultivated to increase grassland productivity while reducing the need for nitrogen (N) fertiliser. However, little is known about the effect of this increase in productivity on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in grass-legume mixtures. The aim of this study was to investigate interactions between the proportion of legumes in grass-legume mixtures and N-fertiliser addition on productivity and GHG emissions. We tested the hypotheses that an increase in the relative proportion of legumes would increase plant productivity and decrease GHG emissions, and the magnitude of these effects would be reduced by N-fertiliser addition. Methods This was tested in a controlled environment mesocosm experiment with one grass and one legume species grown in mixtures in different proportions, with or without N-fertiliser. The effects on N cycling processes were assessed by measurement of above- and below-ground biomass, shoot N uptake, soil physico-chemical properties and GHG emissions. Results Above-ground productivity and shoot N uptake were greater in legume-grass mixtures compared to grass or legume monocultures, in fertilised and unfertilised soils. However, we found no effect of legume proportion on N2O emissions, total soil N or mineral-N in fertilised or unfertilised soils. Conclusions This study shows that the inclusion of legumes in grass-legume mixtures positively affected productivity, however N cycle were in the short-term unaffected and mainly affected by nitrogen fertilisation. Legumes can be used in grassland management strategies to mitigate climate change by reducing crop demand for N-fertilisers.

scholarly journals Edaphic factors and plants influence denitrification in soils from a long-term arable experiment

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ian M. Clark ◽  
Qingling Fu ◽  
Maïder Abadie ◽  
Elizabeth R. Dixon ◽  
Aimeric Blaud ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gas Production ◽  
Soil Treatment ◽  
Soil Microbiome ◽  
Arable Soils ◽  
Experimental Conditions ◽  
Mineral N ◽  
Nitrate Availability ◽  
Denitrification Gene ◽  
Denitrification Genes

Abstract Factors influencing production of greenhouse gases nitrous oxide (N2O) and nitrogen (N2) in arable soils include high nitrate, moisture and plants; we investigate how differences in the soil microbiome due to antecedent soil treatment additionally influence denitrification. Microbial communities, denitrification gene abundance and gas production in soils from tilled arable plots with contrasting fertilizer inputs (no N, mineral N, FYM) and regenerated woodland in the long-term Broadbalk field experiment were investigated. Soil was transferred to pots, kept bare or planted with wheat and after 6 weeks, transferred to sealed chambers with or without K15NO3 fertilizer for 4 days; N2O and N2 were measured daily. Concentrations of N2O were higher when fertilizer was added, lower in the presence of plants, whilst N2 increased over time and with plants. Prior soil treatment but not exposure to N-fertiliser or plants during the experiment influenced denitrification gene (nirK, nirS, nosZI, nosZII) relative abundance. Under our experimental conditions, denitrification generated mostly N2; N2O was around 2% of total gaseous N2 + N2O. Prior long-term soil management influenced the soil microbiome and abundance of denitrification genes. The production of N2O was driven by nitrate availability and N2 generation increased in the presence of plants.

Long-term Water Quality Trends after Implementing Best Management Practices in South Florida

2009 ◽  
Vol 38 (4) ◽  
pp. 1683-1693 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samira H. Daroub ◽  
Timothy A. Lang ◽  
Orlando A. Diaz ◽  
Sabine Grunwald
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Best Management Practices ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
South Florida ◽  
Best Management ◽  
Water Quality Trends

THE FIRST 12 YEARS OF A LONG-TERM CROP ROTATION STUDY IN SOUTHWESTERN SASKATCHEWAN — NITRATE-N DISTRIBUTION IN SOIL AND N UPTAKE BY THE PLANT

1983 ◽  
Vol 63 (3) ◽  
pp. 563-578 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. W. L. READ ◽  
C. A. CAMPBELL ◽  
V. O. BIEDERBECK ◽  
G. E. WINKLEMAN
Keyword(s):  
Root Zone ◽  
Average Rate ◽  
N Uptake ◽  
Mineral N ◽  
N Application ◽  
Rooting Zone ◽  
Secale Cereale L ◽  
Rotation Study ◽  
Key Words Nitrate

The distribution of NO3-N in the soil, and N uptake by the crop during the first 12 yr of a long-term rotation study at Swift Current, Saskatchewan were studied. A considerable amount of NO3-N appeared to be leached beyond the rooting zone of the cereal crop in years of above average precipitation and also in some relatively dry years with heavy spring rains. Thus, leaching of NO3-N seemed to occur even under continuous wheat rotations. At all times there was considerable NO3-N situated at the 60- to 120-cm depth. In wet years N uptake by the plants reduced the amount of NO3-N located in the subsoil, but in dry years the amount of NO3-N in the subsoil remained higher throughout the growing season. The latter could result in groundwater pollution, especially if such a soil was fallowed the next year. Fall rye (Secale cereale L.) made more efficient use of mineral N than spring-sown crops. In dry years more NO3-N persisted in the root zone of N-fertilized wheat than in the root zone of unfertilized wheat, but in wet and average years there was little difference due to N application. The average rate of net NO3-N production in fallow land from spring thaw to freeze-up (166 days) was 107 kg∙ha−1. Values ranged from about 60 to 175 kg∙ha−1 with the lowest values being obtained during very dry or very wet years. The quantity of N mineralized (kg∙ha−1) between spring thaw and freeze-up was related to precipitation (mm) by the equation Nmin = 29.0 + 0.20 precipitation for the 0- to 60-cm depth (R2 = 0.65*). Key words: Nitrate leaching, N uptake, crop rotations, N mineralization rate

scholarly journals Soil structure after 18 years of long-term different tillage systems and fertilisation in Haplic Luvisol

2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (No. 3) ◽  
pp. 140-149 ◽  
Author(s):  
Šimanský Vladimír ◽  
Lukáč Martin
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Structure ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Crop Residues ◽  
Organic Matter Content ◽  
Matter Content ◽  
Soil Tillage ◽  
Arable Soils ◽  
Water Stable Aggregates

Soil structure is a key determinant of many soil environmental processes and is essential for supporting terrestrial ecosystem productivity. Management of arable soils plays a significant role in forming and maintaining their structure. Between 1994 and 2011, we studied the influence of soil tillage and fertilisation regimes on the stability of soil structure of loamy Haplic Luvisol in a replicated long-term field experiment in the Dolná Malanta locality (Slovakia). Soil samples were repeatedly collected from plots exposed to the following treatments: conventional tillage (CT) and minimum tillage (MT) combined with conventional (NPK) and crop residue-enhanced fertilisation (CR+NPK). MT resulted in an increase of critical soil organic matter content (St) by 7% in comparison with CT. Addition of crop residues and NPK fertilisers significantly increased St values (by 7%) in comparison with NPK-only treatments. Soil tillage and fertilisation did not have any significant impact on other parameters of soil structure such as dry sieving mean weight diameters (MWD), mean weight diameter of water-stable aggregates (MWD<sub>WSA</sub>), vulnerability coefficient (Kv), stability index of water-stable aggregates (Sw), index of crusting (Ic), contents of water-stable macro- (WSA<sub>ma</sub>) and micro-aggregates (WSA<sub>mi</sub>). Ic was correlated with organic matter content in all combinations of treatments. Surprisingly, humus quality did not interact with soil management practices to affect soil structure parameters. Higher sums of base cations, CEC and base saturation (Bs) were linked to higher Sw values, however higher values of hydrolytic acidity (Ha) resulted in lower aggregate stability in CT treatments. Higher content of K<sup>+</sup> was responsible for higher values of MWD<sub>WSA </sub>and MWD in CT. In MT, contents of Ca<sup>2+</sup>, Mg<sup>2+ </sup>and Na<sup>+</sup> were significantly correlated with contents of WSA<sub>mi </sub>and WSA<sub>ma</sub>. Higher contents of Na<sup>+</sup> negatively affected St values and positive correlations were detected between Ca<sup>2+</sup>, Mg<sup>2+ </sup>and Na<sup>+</sup> and Ic in NPK treatments.

scholarly journals The Response of the Soil Microbiota to Long-Term Mineral and Organic Nitrogen Fertilization is Stronger in the Bulk Soil than in the Rhizosphere

Genes ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 456 ◽  
Author(s):  
Massimiliano Cardinale ◽  
Stefan Ratering ◽  
Aitak Sadeghi ◽  
Sushil Pokhrel ◽  
Bernd Honermeier ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
N Fertilization ◽  
16S Rrna Genes ◽  
Bulk Soil ◽  
Rrna Genes ◽  
Soil Microbiome ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Arable Soils ◽  
Mineral N ◽  
Bacterial Microbiota

The effects of different agronomic practices, such as fertilization regimes, can be experimentally tested in long-term experiments (LTE). Here, we aimed to evaluate the effect of different nitrogen fertilizations on the bacterial microbiota in both rhizosphere and bulk soil of sugar beet, in the Giessen-LTE (Germany). Fertilization treatments included mineral-N, manure, mineral-N + manure and no N-amendment. Metabarcoding and co-occurrence analysis of 16S rRNA genes, qPCR of amoA, nirK, nirS, nosZ-I and nosZ-II genes and soil physico-chemical analyses were performed. The effect of the fertilization treatments was more evident in the bulk soil, involving 33.1% of the microbiota. Co-occurrence analysis showed a rhizosphere cluster, dominated by Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria and Verrucomicrobia (hub taxa: Betaproteobacteriales), and a bulk soil cluster, dominated by Acidobacteria, Gemmatominadetes and “Latescibacteria” (hub taxa: Acidobacteria). In the bulk soil, mineral N-fertilization reduced nirK, amoA, nosZ-I and nosZ-II genes. Thirteen Operational taxonomic units (OTUs) showed 23 negative correlations with gene relative abundances. These OTUs likely represent opportunistic species that profited from the amended mineral-N and outgrew the species carrying N-cycle genes. Our results indicate trajectories for future research on soil microbiome in LTE and add new experimental evidence that will be helpful for sustainable management of nitrogen fertilizations on arable soils.

scholarly journals The effects of cropping sequence, fertilization and straw management on the yield stability of winter wheat (1986–2017) in the Broadbalk Wheat Experiment, Rothamsted, UK

2020 ◽  
Vol 158 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 65-79
Author(s):  
J. Macholdt ◽  
H.-P. Piepho ◽  
B. Honermeier ◽  
S. Perryman ◽  
A. Macdonald ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Winter Wheat ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Wheat Yield ◽  
Organic Manure ◽  
Yield Stability ◽  
N Fertilizer ◽  
Mineral N ◽  
Straw Management ◽  
Yield Risk

AbstractThe development of resilient cropping systems with high yield stability is becoming increasingly important due to future climatic and agronomic challenges. Consequently, it is essential to compare the effects of different agronomic management practices, such as cropping sequences and nutrient supply, on the stability of crop yields. Long-term experiments are a valuable resource for investigating these effects, as they provide enough time to accurately estimate stability parameters. The objective of the current study was to compare the effects of different cropping sequencing (#1: continuous v. rotational), fertilization (#2: mineral v. organic) and straw management techniques (in the case of continuous wheat; #3: removal v. incorporation) on the yield stability of winter wheat; yield risk (the probability of yield falling below a threshold yield level) and inter-annual yield variability were used as stability indicators of the effects. Long-term yield data from the Broadbalk Wheat Experiment (Rothamsted, UK) were analysed using a mixed model. Overall, the results showed that rotational cropping combined with sufficient mineral N fertilizer, with or without organic manure, ensured stable wheat yields while reducing yield risk. In contrast, higher yield risks and inter-annual yield variabilities were found in continuous wheat sections with less mineral N fertilizer or with organic manure only.

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