Journal article

Publication year: 2018

Pages: 488-501

Journal: European Journal of Soil Science

Volume number: 69

Issue number: 3

DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.1111/ejss.12533

Publisher: Wiley

Abstract: 

The dramatic increase in anthropogenic reactive nitrogen (Nr) from agricultural activities negatively affects the environment. An additional challenge is to ensure food security while at the same time keeping the environmental impact to a minimum to prevent negative feedback effects on climate. To date, however, few studies have addressed the direct connection between soil N transformations, forms of N, species-specific N preferences and climate, despite the fact that the fate of N and soil N biochemical cycling are known to be intimately linked. In this paper we review the connections between soil N transformation, species-specific N preferences and climate, and explore how N-use efficiency may be enhanced while minimizing the environmental effect. Gross rates of N mineralization and immobilization govern the amount of available N in soil, especially in natural ecosystems, while nitrification plays a central role in regulating the NO3- to NH4+ ratio. Plant species prefer either NH4+-N or NO3--N, depending on the NO3--N to NH4+-N ratio in their habitat. Thus, plant N uptake could be optimized (i.e. Nr losses reduced) if species-specific N preferences are maintained by matching N sources applied with prevailing soil-specific N transformations. Therefore, whether N management practices can optimize N-use efficiencies hinges on the coupling of soil N transformation with climate and species-specific N preferences.

Harvard Citation style: Zhang, J., Cai, Z. and Müller, C. (2018) Terrestrial N cycling associated with climate and plant-specific N preferences. A review, European Journal of Soil Science, 69(3), pp. 488-501. https://doi.org/10.1111/ejss.12533

APA Citation style: Zhang, J., Cai, Z., & Müller, C. (2018). Terrestrial N cycling associated with climate and plant-specific N preferences. A review. European Journal of Soil Science. 69(3), 488-501. https://doi.org/10.1111/ejss.12533