Journal article

Publication year: 2015

Pages: 222-231

Journal: Soil Biology and Biochemistry

Volume number: 91

ISSN: 0038-0717

DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2015.08.039

Publisher: Elsevier

Abstract: 
In this study, a N-15 tracing incubation experiment and an in situ monitoring study were combined to investigate the effects of different N fertilizer regimes on the mechanisms of soil N dynamics from a long-term repeated N application experiment. The field study was initiated in 2003 under a wheat-maize rotation system in the subtropical rain-fed purple soil region of China. The experiment included six fertilization treatments applied on an equivalent N basis (280 kg N ha(-1)), except for the residue only treatment which received 112 kg N ha(-1): (1) UC, unfertilized control; (2) NPK, mineral fertilizer NPK; (3) OM, pig manure; (4) OM-NPK, pig manure (40% of applied N) with mineral NPK (60% of applied N); (5) RSD, crop straw; (6) RSD-NPK, crop straw (40% of applied N) with mineral NPK (60% of applied N). The results showed that long-term repeated applications of mineral or organic N fertilizer significantly stimulated soil gross N mineralization rates, which was associated with enhanced soil C and N contents following the application of N fertilizer. The crop N Make and yield were positively correlated with gross mineralization. Gross autotrophic nitrification rates were enhanced by approximately 2.5-fold in the NPK, OM, OM-NPK, and RSD-NPK treatments, and to a lesser extent by RSD application, compared to the UC. A significant positive relationship between gross nitrification rates and cumulative N loss via interflow and runoff indicated that the mechanisms responsible for increasing N loss following long-term applications of N fertilizer were governed by the nitrification dynamics. Organic fertilizers stimulated gross ammonium (NH4+) immobilization rates and caused a strong competition with nitrifiers for NH4+, thus preventing a build-up of nitrate (NO3-). Overall, in this study, we found that partial or complete substitution of NPK fertilizers with organic fertilizers can reduce N losses and maintain high crop production, except for the treatment involving application of RSD alone. Therefore, based on the N transformation dynamics observed in this study, organic fertilizers in combination with mineral fertilizer applications (i.e. OM, OM-NPK, and RSD-NPK treatments) are recommended for crop production in the subtropical rain-fed purple soils in China. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Harvard Citation style: Wang, J., Zhu, B., Zhang, J., Müller, C. and Cai, Z. (2015) Mechanisms of soil N dynamics following long-term application of organic fertilizers to subtropical rain-fed purple soil in China, Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 91, pp. 222-231. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2015.08.039

APA Citation style: Wang, J., Zhu, B., Zhang, J., Müller, C., & Cai, Z. (2015). Mechanisms of soil N dynamics following long-term application of organic fertilizers to subtropical rain-fed purple soil in China. Soil Biology and Biochemistry. 91, 222-231. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2015.08.039