Laboratory Methods for the Estimation of Soil Apparent N Mineralization and Wheat N Uptake in Calcareous Soils

Soil Science ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 179 (2) ◽  
pp. 84-94 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nerea Villar ◽  
Ana Aizpurua ◽  
Ander Castellón ◽  
Maria Arritokieta Ortuzar ◽  
Maria Begoña Gonzalez Moro ◽  
...  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fabio Olivieri de Nobile ◽  
Alexander Calero Hurtado ◽  
Renato de Mello Prado ◽  
Henrique Antunes de Souza ◽  
Maria Gabriela Anunciação ◽  
...  

Abstract Purpose: This study evaluated nitrogen (N) mineralization dynamics in three soils after the addition of heat-treated urban waste amendments or urban waste compost (UWC). The effects of UWC and urea on soil properties and broccoli and lettuce production were compared. Methods: The first N mineralization experiment was conducted in a factorial arrangement (4 × 3), as a randomized complete block design (RCBD), with three replicates. Four UWC doses: 12.5, 25.0, 37.5, and 50.0 mg dm-3 were applied to three soils: sandy Ustoxic Quartzipsamment (QS), intermediate-texture red Ultisol (US), and clayey red Oxisol (OS), during eight incubation periods (0, 7, 14, 28, 42, 56, 70, and 84 days). In the second experiment, the effects of UWC and urea fertilizer on soil properties were compared. The growth of broccoli and lettuce plants was evaluated (experiments 3 and 4). The treatments (Experiments 2–4) followed a factorial arrangement (4 × 2; RCBD; three replicates), using OS soil. Four N doses (as for experiment 1) were combined with two N sources (UWC and urea). Results: The processed UWC application proportionally increased the N mineralization rate by 72% in QS, 54% in US, and 66% in OS. Furthermore, UWC application enhanced soil properties (pH and nutrient availability), compared with urea fertilizer, and improved N uptake, resulting in higher fresh biomass production in broccoli and lettuce plants (50.0 and 37.5 mg dm-3, respectively). Conclusions: Our findings suggest that heat-treated UWC is an economical, viable, and efficient fertilizer to improve soil properties and short-cycle vegetable crop productivity.


2005 ◽  
Vol 85 (5) ◽  
pp. 579-587 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. K. Soon ◽  
S. S. Malhi

The influence o f landscape position on the dynamics of N in the soil-plant system has not been adequately studied. Our aim with this study on a predominantly Black Chernozem soil was to evaluate the effect of slope position (upper vs. lower) and N fertilizer application (none vs. 60 kg N ha-1) on soil and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) N through the growing season. Landscape position had a dominant effect on soil NO3− and soluble organic N (SON) concentrations, especially in the surface 15 cm. These pools of soil N and net N mineralization were greater at the lower than at the upper slope position. The landscape effect is attributed to higher organic matter content (as measured by organic C) and water availability in lower compared with upper slope positions. Nitrogen application had no measurable effect on soil NO3− and SON concentrations. Exchangeable and non-exchangeable NH4+ were little affected by slope position or N fertilization. Nitrogen application increased wheat N uptake; however, its influence was less than that of slope position, especially on N accumulation in wheat heads during grain-filling. Although N application increased wheat yields, landscape position exerted the greater influence: grain yield was less on upper than lower slope positions due to earlier onset of crop maturity. During grain filling, net N mineralization was suppressed at the upper slope position and by N application. The increase in crop yield and N uptake due to N application was not significantly different between slope positions. This study demonstrated that landscape position had a greater influence on N dynamics and availability than the application of typical amounts of fertilizer N and that the two effects were mostly independent of each other. Key words: Available N, landscape position, N uptake, net N mineralization, soluble organic N


2003 ◽  
Vol 81 (7) ◽  
pp. 698-705 ◽  
Author(s):  
Scott M Holub ◽  
Kate Lajtha

We studied mass loss and nitrogen dynamics during fall and spring initiated decomposition of an N2-fixing epiphytic lichen, Lobaria oregana (Tuck.) Müll. Arg., using 15N. We developed a method of labeling lichens with 15N for use in a decomposition study that involved spraying lichen material with a nutrient solution containing 15N-enriched ammonium. Through the first 180 days of sampling, lichens placed in the field during the spring had a smaller decay constant (k = 1.24 year–1) than the lichens placed in the field during the fall (k = 3.1 year–1). However, both spring and fall lichen samples were decomposed beyond recognition after 1 year. Patterns in exogenous N uptake and N concentration did not differ by season. Both spring and fall lichens took up N from the surrounding environment during decay while simultaneously losing N to the environment. The N concentration in both sets of lichen additions increased during decay to a peak of around 2.8% N, equal to a C to N ratio of about 16, and then began to decrease. This indicates that early in decay, net N immobilization occurred in the remaining lichen, but this was followed by net N mineralization in later stages of decay.Key words: decomposition, nitrogen, Lobaria oregana, lichen, mineralization, immobilization.


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Conor Watson ◽  
Timo Preißing ◽  
Florian Wichern

Insect protein production is considered a sustainable alternative to livestock protein which furthermore utilizes waste streams. Its production can have positive but also potentially negative environmental effects, which require evaluation. Frass, the byproduct of insect production, is regarded an efficient organic fertilizer or soil amendment. However, several studies report negative frass effects on plant growth and nitrogen (N) cycling. Therefore, a pot trial was carried out which sought to understand N release from frass and subsequent growth and nutrient uptake of Italian ryegrass. Mealworm frass (MWF) or buffalo worm frass (BFW) was applied at two rates (1.5 and 3% w/w) to a soil-sand mix. To evaluate N release processes, frass was applied alone, with a nitrification inhibitor (NI), a urease inhibitor (UI), or both (NI+UI). Plant N, nutrient uptake and soil inorganic N were measured at the experiment's end. To gauge whether altered N fluxes induced changes in the microbial community, soil microbial biomass, bacterial/archaeal abundances and ergosterol content as a fungal biomarker, were determined. Both frass types and application rates stimulated microbial growth and N mineralization. The 3% rate inhibited seed germination, possibly due to salinity or ammonia toxicity. At the 1.5% rate, both frass types were effective fertilizers. MWF led to higher biomass and nutrient uptake, owing to its higher extractable nutrient concentrations. The 3% rate caused nitrite accumulation in the absence of NI. NI improved plant biomass, nutrient uptake, stimulated archaeal and bacterial abundances and prevented nitrite accumulation. UI reduced N mineralization, showing that a substantial fraction of frass organic N is ureic. UI enhanced fungal contribution to the microbial biomass, revealing the importance of bacteria in frass N mineralization processes when UI is not applied. NI and UI combined, induced greater N release from frass than UI or NI alone. Our study demonstrated the usefulness of NI and UI in studying N release from frass. NI can improve plant N uptake and minimize N losses following frass application, reducing its potentially negative effects. UI can retard N release from frass, allowing its application as a slow-release fertilizer, but should not be used concurrently with NI.


1988 ◽  
Vol 68 (2) ◽  
pp. 337-344 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. A. CAMPBELL ◽  
R. P. ZENTNER ◽  
F. SELLES

Data from an 18-yr crop rotation study carried out on a Brown loam soil at Swift Current, Saskatchewan, were used to estimate equations that relate spring wheat straw yields, and N and P content of grain and straw to moisture use (MU). Moisture use was defined as soil moisture content in 0- to 120-cm depth at seeding, less soil moisture content at harvest, plus growing season precipitation. Grain yields were also related to straw yields and to N content of the straw. Potential net N mineralization (Nmin) in summerfallow (periods during the growing season with negative Nmin omitted) was related (r = 0.74**) to precipitation received during the spring to fall period. An attempt to relate apparent net Nmin (determined by N balance) in cropped systems to growing season precipitation or to MU was not successful. Highly significant linear regressions were obtained for straw yields, grain N and P contents vs. MU, and for grain yield vs. straw yield (r = 0.66** – 0.83**), but the other relationships were less reliable (r = 0.41** – 0.55**) though still significant. We discussed how these relationships might be used to estimate fertilizer N requirements, for examining N immobilization-mineralization, and for estimating residue sufficiency for erosion control on summerfallowed land. Key words: Straw:grain ratio, N uptake, P uptake, crop residues, N mineralization


2002 ◽  
Vol 82 (2) ◽  
pp. 219-225 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Qian ◽  
J. J. Schoenau

Manures behave differently as sources of available N due to differences in the amounts and forms of N in the manure. The C:N ratio is an important factor affecting the rate of mineralization and release of available N from manures in which the majority of N is contained in organic forms. In order to ascertain the effect of manure C:N ratio on N mineralization in manure-amended soils, 13 solid manures with a large range in C:N ratio were applied to two Saskatchewan soils (Haverhill sandy loam and Blaine Lake clay loam) at 100 mg N kg-1 along with control (no manure) treatments. A growth chamber experiment was conducted to evaluate the relationship between manure C:N ratio and canola yield and N uptake, and a laboratory incubation was conducted to measure how the addition of manures with different C:N ratios affected the pattern of N release in the soils as measured by supply rates to anion exchange membrane (PRSTM) probes placed directly in the soil. Canola (Brassica napus var. Sprint) was grown under the same environmental conditions to maturity, and yield and nutrient contents were determined. A significant increase in canola yield and N uptake was observed over the control in both soils only when amended with poultry manure (C:N 7.6) or a pelletized form of hog manure that was supplemented with fertilizer N (C:N 6.6). A significant negative correlation was found between cattle manure organic C:N ratio and N mineralization. Overall, the manures showed limited release of available N over the short-term (67 d) when the organic C:N ratio was in the range of 13–15 and tended to decrease N availability in the short-term if the organic C:N ratio was over 15. The C:N ratio appears to be a useful parameter to measure when attempting to predict the effects of solid manure amendments on short-term N availability. Key words: Nitrogen availability, mineralization, manure, C:N ratio, anion exchange membrane


1997 ◽  
Vol 77 (3) ◽  
pp. 345-350 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adrien N'Dayegamiye ◽  
Raynald Royer ◽  
Pierre Audesse

The real contribution of composts to N availability depends on their characteristics and maturity. A laboratory incubation experiment (140 d) was conducted parallel to a greenhouse study (330 d) in a split-split-plot design, with, respectively, two peat rates (0, 20 gkg−1 soil), five manure composts and four compost rates (0, 250, 500 and 750 gkg−1 soil). Compost N mineralization, orchardgrass (Dactylis Glomerata L.) yield and N uptake were measured. Total amount of mineralized N and yields and N uptake for six cuts of orchardgrass varied significantly with the type of composts and rate. Peat addition temporarily decreased compost N mineralization rate but significantly increased orchardgrass yields and N uptake as compared to peatless treatments. Mineralized N represented <3% of total N, whereas N uptake by orchardgrass represented 13–40% of total N among composts. This low mineralized N value compared to total N and total N uptake was due to a high maturity of the composts studied. This was shown by high humic acid: fulvic acid fraction ratios (3.1 to 4.8) and low nonhumic fraction:humic acid+fulvic acid ratios (0.10 to 0.12), as well as low C/N ratios, high bulk density, high ash content, pH, NO3-N and CEC values. Even if peat addition decreased mineralized N basically due to temporary N immobilization, its application significantly increased yields and N uptake probably by improving physical conditions in soil-manure compost mixtures. Peat addition to mature manure composts should be considered as an interesting alternative for horticultural plants sensitive to high NO3-N content from mature composts. Key word: Manure composts, peat, N mineralization, N availability, humification ratios or indexes, yields, orchardgrass


Pedosphere ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 125-130 ◽  
Author(s):  
De-Zhi YAN ◽  
De-Jian WANG ◽  
Rui-Juan SUN ◽  
Jing-Hui LIN

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