Browsing by Subject "Net N mineralization"

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Nitrogen dynamics of grassland soils with differing habitat quality: high temporal resolution captures the details
(2023) Kukowski, Sina; Ruser, Reiner; Piepho, Hans‐Peter; Gayler, Sebastian; Streck, Thilo
Excessive nitrogen (N) input is one of the major threats for species‐rich grasslands. The ongoing deterioration of habitat quality highlights the necessity to further investigate underlying N turnover processes. Our objectives were (1) to quantify gross and net rates of mineral N production (mineralization and nitrification) and consumption in seminatural grasslands in southwest Germany, with excellent or poor habitat quality, (2) to monitor the temporal variability of these processes, and (3) to investigate differences between calcareous and decalcified soils. In 2016 and 2017, gross N turnover rates were measured using the 15N pool dilution technique in situ on four Arrhenatherion meadows in biweekly cycles between May and November. Simultaneously, net rates of mineralization and nitrification, soil temperature, and moisture were measured. The vegetation was mapped, and basic soil properties were determined. The calcareous soils showed higher gross nitrification rates compared with gross mineralization. In contrast, nitrification was inhibited in the decalcified soils, most likely due to the low pH, and mineralization was the dominant process. Both mineralization and nitrification were characterized by high temporal variability (especially the former) and short residence times of N in the corresponding pools (<2 days) at all sites. This illustrates that high temporal resolution is necessary during the growing season to detect N mineralization patterns and capture variability. Parallel determination of net N turnover rates showed almost no variability, highlighting that net rates are not suitable for drawing conclusions about actual gross turnover rates. During the growing season, the data show no clear relationship between soil temperature/soil moisture and gross N turnover rates. For future experiments, recording of microbial biomass, dissolved organic matter, and root N uptake should be considered.
Temporal dynamics of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) N supply from cover crops differing in biomass quantity and composition
(2022) Koch, Heinz-Josef; Grunwald, Dennis; Essich, Lisa; Ruser, Reiner
Cover crops are supposed to decrease the soil mineral N content (Nmin) during winter and increase the N supply to subsequent main crops due to mineralization of N previously prevented from leaching. However, data on N supply from cover crops grown before sugar beet have rarely been reported for Central European conditions. Therefore, our study aimed to provide information for cover crops differing in frost resistance and biomass quantity applicable for N fertilizer dressing in the subsequent main crop. In 2018/19 and 2019/20, field trials were conducted on two Luvisol sites in Germany typical for sugar beet cultivation, comprising a sequence of autumn sown cover crops grown after field pea followed by unfertilized sugar beet main crops sown in next spring. Apparent net N mineralization and the N effect of cover crops on sugar beet were calculated according to a mass balance approach including Nmin and sugar beet N uptake. Winter rye and oil radish revealed the greatest potential for scavenging nitrate from the soil profile while reductions caused by frost-sensitive saia oat and spring vetch were more variable. The amount of N in the cover crop biomass was negatively correlated with Nmin in autumn and also in spring. Thus, for environmentally effective cover cropping in Central Europe, species with a sufficiently high frost tolerance should be chosen. Despite cover crop N uptake up to 170 kg N ha−1 and C:N ratios < 20, a positive N effect on sugar beet was only found between March and July of the beet growing season and was 50 kg N ha−1 at maximum, while between August and September, net immobilization was predominant with up to 100 kg N ha−1. Differences among crop species were not consistent across the site/years investigated. Sugar yield was lowest after rye at 3 sites/years and correlated positively with Nmin in spring. Correlation between yield and cover crop N effect was mostly low and inconsistent and could not be improved by a multiple regression approach. Thus, factors other than in-season N supply from cover crops apparently impacted sugar beet yield formation to a larger extent.