scholarly journals Evaluation of nitrogen availability indices and their relationship with plant response on acidic soils of India

2013 ◽  
Vol 59 (No. 6) ◽  
pp. 235-240 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bordoloi LJ ◽  
Singh AK ◽  
Manoj-Kumar ◽  
Patiram ◽  
S. Hazarika

Plant&rsquo;s nitrogen (N) requirement that is not fulfilled by available N in soil has to be supplied externally through chemical fertilizers. A reliable estimate of soil N-supplying capacity (NSC) is therefore essential for efficient fertilizer use. In this study involving a pot experiment with twenty acidic soils varying widely in properties, we evaluated six chemical indices of soil N-availability viz. organic carbon (C<sub>org</sub>), total N (N<sub>tot</sub>), acid and alkaline-KMnO<sub>4</sub> extractable-N, hot KCl extractable-N (KCl-N) and phosphate-borate buffer extractable-N (PBB-N), based on their strength of correlation with available-N values obtained through aerobic incubation (AI-N) and anaerobic incubation (ANI-N), and also with the dry matter yield (DMY), N percentage and plant (maize) N uptake (PNU). In general, the soils showed large variability in NSC as indicated by variability in PNU which ranged from 598 to 1026 mg/pot. Correlations of the N-availability indices with AI-N and ANI-N decreased in the order: PBB-N (r = 0.784** and 0.901**) &gt; KCl-N (r = 0.773** and 0.743**) &gt; acid KMnO<sub>4</sub>-N (r = 0.575** and 0.651**) &ge; C<sub>org</sub> (r = 0.591** and 0.531**) &ge; alkaline KMnO<sub>4</sub>-N (r = 0.394** and 0.548**) &gt; N<sub>tot</sub> (r = 0.297** and 0.273*). Of all the indices evaluated, PBB-N showed the best correlations with plant parameters as well (r = 0.790** and 0.793** for DMY and PNU, respectively). Based on the highest correlations of PBB-N with biological indices as well as plant responses, we propose PBB-N as an appropriate index of N-availability in the acidic soils of India and other regions with similar soils.

2011 ◽  
Vol 2011 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Craig G. Cogger ◽  
Andy I. Bary ◽  
Elizabeth A. Myhre

As heat-dried biosolids become more widely produced and marketed, it is important to improve estimates of N availability from these materials. Objectives were to compare plant-available N among three different heat-dried biosolids and determine if current guidelines were adequate for estimating application rates. Heat-dried biosolids were surface applied to tall fescue (Festuca arundinaceaSchreb.) in Washington State, USA, and forage yield and N uptake measured for two growing seasons following application. Three rates of urea and a zero-N control were used to calculate N fertilizer efficiency regressions. Application year plant-available N (estimated as urea N equivalent) for two biosolids exceeded 60% of total N applied, while urea N equivalent for the third biosolids was 45%. Residual (second-year) urea N equivalent ranged from 5 to 10%. Guidelines for the Pacific Northwest USA recommend mineralization estimates of 35 to 40% for heat-dried biosolids, but this research shows that some heat-dried materials fall well above that range.


Soil Research ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 42 (7) ◽  
pp. 719 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. T. Moroni ◽  
P. J. Smethurst ◽  
G. K. Holz

Several soil analyses were used to estimate available N in surface soils (0–10 cm) over a 2-year period at 5 sites that supported 1- to 4-year-old Eucalyptus nitens plantations, and once in subsoils (10–120 cm) at 3 of these sites. Soils were derived from basalt (1 site previously pasture, 1 Pinus radiate, and 2 native forest) or siltstone (previously native forest). Soil analyses examined were total N, total P, total C, anaerobically mineralisable N (AMN), hot KCl-extractable N (hot KCl-N), and NH4+ and NO3– in soil solution and KCl extracts. AMN, KCl-extractable NH4+ and NO3–, and soil solution NH4+ and NO3– varied considerably with time, whereas hot KCl-N, total N, total P, and total C were temporally stable except for a gradual decline in total C with time at one site. Only total P was correlated with net N mineralisation (NNM) across all sites (r2 = 0.91, P < 0.05, n = 5). At 2–3 years after planting, soil solution and KCl-extractable NO3– dropped below 0.1 mm N and 1 μg N/g soil, respectively, at sites with NNM ≤24 kg N/ha.year (n = 3). Sites with NNM ≤24 kg N/ha.year also had ≤0.8 Mg P/ha. Although concentrations of indices of soil N availability decreased with depth, the contribution of subsoil (10–120 cm depth) to total profile N availability was estimated to be at least twice that of the top 10 cm. At an ex-pasture site, high concentrations of mineral N were found at 75–105 cm depths (KCl-extractable N, 289.3 μg N/g soil; 2.8 mm mineral N in soil solution), which may have become available to plantations as their root systems developed.


2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (21) ◽  
pp. 4481 ◽  
Author(s):  
Figueiredo ◽  
Coser ◽  
Moreira ◽  
Leão ◽  
Vale ◽  
...  

Biochar has been presented as a multifunctional material with short- and long-term agro-environmental benefits, including soil organic matter stabilization, improved nutrient cycling, and increased primary productivity. However, its turnover time, when applied to soil, varies greatly depending on feedstock and pyrolysis temperature. For sewage sludge-derived biochars, which have high N contents, there is still a major uncertainty regarding the influence of pyrolysis temperatures on soil carbon mineralization and its relationship to soil N availability. Sewage sludge and sewage sludge-derived biochars produced at 300 °C (BC300), 400 °C (BC400), and 500 °C (BC500) were added to an Oxisol in a short-term incubation experiment. Carbon mineralization and nitrogen availability (N-NH4+ and N-NO3−) were studied using a first-order model. BC300 and BC400 showed higher soil C mineralization rates and N-NH4+ contents, demonstrating their potential to be used for plant nutrition. Compared to the control, the cumulative C-CO2 emissions increased by 60–64% when biochars BC300 and BC400 were applied to soil. On the other hand, C-CO2 emissions decreased by 6% after the addition of BC500, indicating the predominance of recalcitrant compounds, which results in a lower supply of soil N-NH4+ (83.4 mg kg−1) in BC500, being 67% lower than BC300 (255.7 mg kg−1). Soil N availability was strongly influenced by total N, total C, C/N ratio, H, pore volume, and specific surface area in the biochars.


2008 ◽  
Vol 23 (03) ◽  
pp. 250-259 ◽  
Author(s):  
Derek H. Lynch ◽  
Zhiming Zheng ◽  
Bernie J. Zebarth ◽  
Ralph C. Martin

AbstractThe market for certified organic potatoes in Canada is growing rapidly, but the productivity and dynamics of soil N under commercial organic potato systems remain largely unknown. This study examined, at two sites in Atlantic Canada (Winslow, PEI, and Brookside, NS), the impacts of organic amendments on Shepody potato yield, quality and soil mineral nitrogen dynamics under organic management. Treatments included a commercial hog manure–sawdust compost (CP) and pelletized poultry manure (NW) applied at 300 and 600 kg total N ha−1, plus an un-amended control (CT). Wireworm damage reduced plant stands at Brookside in 2003 and those results are not presented. Relatively high tuber yields (~30 Mg ha−1) and crop N uptake (112 kg N ha−1) were achieved for un-amended soil in those site-years (Winslow 2003 and 2004) when soil moisture was non-limiting. Compost resulted in higher total yields than CT in one of three site-years. Apparent recovery of N from CP was negligible; therefore CP yield benefits were attributed to factors other than N availability. At Winslow, NW300, but not NW600, significantly increased total and marketable yields by an average of 5.8 and 7.0 Mg ha−1. Plant available N averaged 39 and 33% for NW300 and NW600, respectively. Soil (0–30 cm) NO3−-N at harvest was low (&lt;25 kg N ha−1) for CT and CP, but increased substantially both in season and at harvest (61–141 kg N ha−1) when NW was applied. Most leaching losses of NO3−-N occur between seasons and excessive levels of residual soil NO3-N at harvest, as obtained for NW600, must be avoided. Given current premiums for certified organic potatoes, improving yields through application of amendments supplying moderate rates of N or organic matter appears warranted.


HortScience ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 46 (9) ◽  
pp. 1294-1297 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Lenny Wells

Nitrogen (N) fertilizer application to plants at rates not adjusted for the N contribution from soil N availability may result in overapplication of fertilizer. Further understanding of proper timing of N applications based on soil N dynamics and plant demand can be valuable information for the efficient use of fertilizer N. The present study measures soil N dynamics in a pecan orchard under various N fertilizer regimes on a southeastern U.S. Coastal Plain soil. The following treatments were evaluated: 1) crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum L.); 2) poultry litter; 3) crimson clover + poultry litter; 4) ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3); and 5) untreated control. Crimson clover provided from 20 to 75 kg·ha−1 N over the course of the two growing seasons; however, most of the available N from crimson clover became available late in the growing season. As a result, supplemental N may be required in spring where crimson clover is used as an orchard cover crop. Poultry litter, with and without clover, provided available N consistently throughout the growing season with more N becoming available later in the season than earlier. This suggests that poultry litter applications for pecan should be timed before budbreak. Under optimum environmental conditions, N from NH4NO3 is most available within the first 30 days of application. Thus, it appears that synthetic fertilizer applications using NH4NO3 as the N source should be targeted at or 2 to 3 weeks after pecan budbreak.


2011 ◽  
Vol 91 (4) ◽  
pp. 493-501 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Liu ◽  
A. M. Hammermeister ◽  
P. R. Warman ◽  
C. F. Drury ◽  
R. C. Martin

Liu, K., Hammermeister, A. M., Warman, P. R., Drury, C. F. and Martin, R. C. 2011. Assessing soil nitrogen availability in contrasting cropping systems at the end of transition to organic production. Can. J. Soil Sci. 91: 493–501. Quantifying soil nitrogen (N) availability at the end of a transition period for converting conventional fields to organic fields could enhance N management during the subsequent organic crop production phase. Soil total N (Ntot), KCl extractable N (KCl N) and potentially mineralizable N (No) were determined at the end of a 3-yr transition period. A complementary greenhouse ryegrass N bioassay was conducted using soils collected from the treated field plots. The field experiment consisted of six cropping systems comprising two N inputs (legume-based vs. manure-based) and three forage cropping treatments (0, 1 or 2 yr of forage in 4-yr rotations). The N input treatments consisted of alfalfa meal in the legume-based cropping system (LBCS) and composted beef manure in the manure-based cropping system (MBCS). Orthogonal contrasts suggested no differences in Ntot or KCl N either between LBCS and MBCS or between no-forage and forage cropping systems. However, in the greenhouse study, high cumulative N inputs in the MBCS resulted in significantly higher ryegrass N uptake and potentially mineralizable soil N than in the LBCS. Ryegrass N uptake ranged from 101 to 139 kg ha−1, which should be an adequate N supply for the succeeding potato crop. In the greenhouse, a ryegrass N bioassay effectively identified the differences in soil N availability. Ryegrass N uptake was linearly related to cumulative soil amendment N inputs but had no apparent relationship with N o. A systems approach provided a good assessment of N availability at the end of the transition period to organic production.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xianyu Yao ◽  
Qianchun Zhang ◽  
Haiju Zhou ◽  
Zhi Nong ◽  
Shaoming Ye ◽  
...  

Abstract Background There is substantial evidence that Eucalyptus for nitrogen (N) absorption and increasing the growth benefit from the introduction of N-fixing species, but the underlying mechanisms for microbially mediated soil N cycling remains unclear. Methods We investigated the changes of soil pH, soil water content (SWC), soil organic carbon (SOC), total N (TN), inorganic N (NH4+-N and NO3−-N), microbial biomass and three N-degrading enzyme activities as well as the biomass and N productivity of Eucalyptus between a pure Eucalyptus urophylla × grandis plantation (PP) and a mixed Dalbergia odorifera and Eucalyptus plantation (MP) in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China. Results Compared with the PP site, soil pH, SWC, SOC and TN in both seasons were significantly higher at the MP site, which in turn enhanced microbial biomass and the activities of soil N-degrading enzymes. The stimulated microbial activity at the MP site likely accelerate soil N mineralization, providing more available N (NH4+-N in both seasons and NO3−-N in the wet-hot season) for Eucalyptus absorption. Overall, the N productivity of Eucalyptus at the MP site was increased by 19.7% and 21.9%, promoting the biomass increases of 15.1% and 19.2% in the dry-cold season and wet-hot season, respectively. Conclusion Our results reveal the importance of microbially mediated soil N cycling in the N absorption on Eucalyptus. Introduction of D. odorifera enhances Eucalyptus biomass and N productivity, improve soil N availability and increased soil C and N concentration, which hence can be considered to be an effective sustainable management option of Eucalyptus plantations.


2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (20) ◽  
pp. 8358
Author(s):  
Gilbert C. Sigua ◽  
Kenneth C. Stone ◽  
Phil J. Bauer ◽  
Ariel A. Szogi

The soil nitrogen (N) availability and urease activity (UA) in a humid ecosystem with variable rainfall distribution and poor soil fertility are not well understood. A complete appreciation of N cycling in the soil–water–plant continuum is needed to better manage N and water in regions that will be strongly affected by climate change. A sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) study located in Florence, South Carolina, USA, was conducted using a variable-rate pivot system. We hypothesized that supplemental irrigation (SI) and N would enhance UA and N uptake while minimizing the concentration of N in porewater (TINW). The aim of the study was to assess the impact of SI (0, 50, and 100%) and N fertilization (0, 85, and 170 kg N ha−1) on: UA; total N (TNS); total inorganic N (TINS); TINW; and N uptake of sorghum. Results support our research hypothesis. The greatest UA was from 0% SI and 170 kg ha−1 (18.7 µg N g−1 ha−1). Porewater N (mg L−1), when averaged across SI and N showed a significantly lower concentration at lower soil depth (9.9 ± 0.7) than the upper depth (26.1 ± 2.4). The 100% SI had the greatest biomass N uptake (NUPB) of 67.9 ± 31.1 kg ha−1 and grain N uptake (NUG) of 52.7 ± 20.5 kg ha−1. The greatest NUPB (70.9 ± 30.3 kg ha−1) and NUG (55.3 ± 16.5 kg ha−1) was from the application of 170 kg N ha−1. Overall, results showed that proper use of water and N enhanced soil N dynamics, and improved biomass productivity and N uptake of sorghum.


2006 ◽  
Vol 86 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-33 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. M. Hammermeister ◽  
T. Astatkie ◽  
E. A. Jeliazkova ◽  
P. R. Warman ◽  
R. C. Martin

Organic sources of nutrients are increasingly being used in horticultural and certified organic production. The nutrient-supplying potentials of poultry manure compost (PM), feather meal (FM), alfalfa meal (AA) and vermicastings (VC) and an unamended control were measured in a growth room experiment. The amendments were applied at rates equivalent to 200, 400 and 800 kg total N ha-1 to a soil of low fertility. Nitrogen supply rates and concentrations were measured over 6 mo in unvegetated pots using PRS™ probes and KCl extraction, respectively. Biomass of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) and orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.) and N uptake of orchardgrass were measured. Repeated measures analysis revealed significant amendment × rate × time interaction effects for N supply rate and concentration. Of total N applied, available N was 50 to 70% in the FM and PM treatments, 10 to 40% in the AA treatments, and 10% in the VC treatments. High rates of FM and PM were toxic to lettuce but produced good orchard grass yields. VC was safe for lettuce but low N availability limited long-term orchardgrass growth. Higher application rates did not result in corresponding increases in nutrient supply. Consideration should be given to balancing the ratio of available nutrients in amendments with plant requirements. Key words: Apparent nitrogen recovery, plant N uptake, feather meal, alfalfa meal, vermicastings, poultry manure compost


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xianyu Yao ◽  
Qianchun Zhang ◽  
Haiju Zhou ◽  
Zhi Nong ◽  
Shaoming Ye ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: There is the substantial evidence that Eucalyptus for nitrogen (N) absorption and increasing the growth benefit from the introduction of N-fixing species, but the underlying mechanisms for microbially mediated soil N cycling remains unclear. Methods: We investigated the changes of soil pH, soil water content (SWC), soil organic carbon (SOC), total N (TN), inorganic N (NH4+-N and NO3--N), microbial biomass and three N-degrading enzyme activities as well as the biomass and N accumulation of Eucalyptus between a pure Eucalyptus urophylla × grandis plantation (PP) and a mixed Dalbergia odorifera and Eucalyptus plantation (MP) in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China. Results: Compared with the PP site, soil pH, SWC, SOC and TN in both seasons were significantly higher at the MP site, which in turn enhanced microbial biomass and the activities of soil N-degrading enzymes. The stimulated microbial activity at the MP site likely accelerated soil N mineralization, providing more available N (NH4+-N in both seasons and NO3--N in the wet-hot season) for Eucalyptus absorption. Overall, the N accumulation of Eucalyptus at the MP site was increased by 19.7% and 21.9%, promoting the biomass increases of 15.1% and 19.2% in the dry-cold season and wet-hot season, respectively.Conclusion: Our results reveal the importance of microbially mediated soil N cycling in the N absorption on Eucalyputs. Introduction of D. odorifera can enhance N absorption and growth on Eucalyputs, improve soil N availability and increased soil C sequestration, which hence can be considered to be an effective sustainable management option of Eucalyptus plantations.


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