追施氮肥对桉树各器官养分浓度及贮量的影响

采用田间定位试验的方法,研究了追施氮肥对2年生桉树各器官生物量积累及养分浓度与贮量的影响.结果表明:与对照相比,追施氮肥使桉树生物量增加24.2%,其中树枝增幅最高,为38.2%,树叶最少.追施氮肥显著促进了桉树对养分的吸收,其增幅顺序为PKNMgCaSi;叶片中N、P、Mg、Si含量最高,K在树干中的贮量最大,树枝部位的养分浓度与贮量增加最为显著.桉树N、P、K养分以内循环为主,叶片凋落前分别有73.8%、79.1%和72.9%的N、P、K养分被转移到植株体内,其外循环量仅为全树贮量的14.8%、7.7%和8.6%;Ca、Mg、Si养分则以外循环方式为主,其中Ca最明显,树叶中89.2%的Ca随叶片凋落,其外循环通量占全树Ca总贮量的25.9%.     

喀斯特峰丛洼地桂牧一号杂交象草对不同追施氮肥水平的响应

利用田间试验,研究了桂牧一号杂交象草对不同氮肥水平的响应.结果表明:3个追施氮肥处理株高、分蘖数、干草产量、粗蛋白含量和可溶性糖含量均高于对照处理;高氮追肥处理株高显著高于对照处理,中氮追肥处理分蘖数和干草产量显著高于对照处理,3个追施氮肥处理粗蛋白和可溶性糖年产量显著高于对照处理;追施氮肥有利于促进桂牧一号杂交象草的生长和营养物质的积累;高氮追肥处理的年净收入低于对照处理;中氮追肥处理为最佳经济施肥量,其年净收入显著高于对照处理.     

模拟氮沉降对中亚热带杉木幼树根系生物量的影响

植物根系是全球陆地生态系统碳储量的重要组成部分,在全球生态系统碳循环中起着重要作用,日益加剧的氮沉降会影响根系生物量在空间和不同径级的分配,进而影响森林生态系统的生产力和土壤养分循环。以杉木幼树为研究对象,通过野外氮沉降模拟实验,研究氮沉降四年后对不同土层、不同径级根系生物量的影响。结果发现：（1）低氮和高氮处理总细根生物量较对照均无显著差异（P > 0.05）,高氮处理粗根生物量及总根系生物量较对照分别增加45%和40%（P < 0.05）;（2）与对照相比,施氮处理显著增加20-40 cm与40-60 cm土层细根和粗根生物量,且在低氮处理下,20-40 cm土层细根、粗根在总土层细根与粗根生物量的占比显著提高。（3）与对照相比,高氮处理显著增加了2-5 mm、5-10 mm及10-20 mm径级的根系生物量,低氮处理显著增加2-5 mm、5-10 mm径级根系生物量,且显著降低20-50 mm径级根系生物量。综上所述表明：氮沉降后杉木幼树通过增加较粗径级根系来增加对养分及水分的输送,同时通过增加深层根系生物量及其比例的策略来维持杉木幼树的快速生长;而根系生物量的增加,在一定程度上会增加根系碳源的输入,影响土壤碳循环过程。     

不同硝化抑制剂对红壤氮素硝化作用及玉米产量和氮素利用率的影响

本研究分析添加不同种硝化抑制剂及其组合的高效稳定性氯化铵氮肥对红壤硝化作用、玉米产量和氮肥利用率的影响,旨在筛选出适合酸性红壤的高效稳定性氯化铵态氮肥。在氯化铵中分别添加硝化抑制剂2-氯-6-三甲基吡啶(CP)、3,4-二甲基吡唑磷酸盐(DMPP)和双氰胺(DCD)及其组合,制成6种高效稳定性氯化铵态氮肥,以不施氮肥(CK)和施氯化铵(N)为对照,进行等氮量玉米盆栽试验。结果表明: 与N处理相比,CP+DMPP和DMPP+DCD处理红壤中铵态氮含量提高56%～62%,显著高于CP、DMPP和DCD处理;土壤表观硝化率显著降低33%～34%。添加硝化抑制剂及其组合的6个处理均显著提高了玉米生物量和氮肥吸收利用率。与N处理相比,单独添加硝化抑制剂处理生物量均显著高于硝化抑制剂组合处理,平均提高1.3倍;添加DCD处理效果最显著,玉米籽粒产量、吸氮量和氮肥吸收利用率分别显著提高4.1、6.3和4.4倍。为了达到既能低成本又能提高产量和氮肥利用率的效果,在红壤上添加硝化抑制剂DCD是最佳选择。     

氮肥对夏秋季茶树吸收根生物量和养分储量的影响

以12年生龙井43茶树为研究对象,在7月至翌年1月利用土钻法对连续5a施用不同氮肥处理后的茶树吸收根生物量和养分含量进行了研究。结果表明茶树吸收根生物量在0.34-0.72 mg/dm3之间,碳、氮、磷、钾和镁储量变异范围分别为12.6-25.2 mg/dm~3、4.55-11.2 mg/dm~3、0.47-1.19 mg/dm~3、1.31-4.05 mg/dm~3、0.30-1.19 mg/dm~3。茶树吸收根生物量和各养分含量随月份变化呈现双峰型,峰值分别在8月和翌年1月,而7月和11月生物量和养分储量均较低。与不施肥对照相比,施用氮肥影响茶树吸收根生物量,氮肥施用对茶树吸收根生物量的影响因氮肥施用时间而异。不同氮肥施用水平下茶树吸收根总碳浓度和总碳含量均不存在显著差异。受氮肥施用时间影响,施氮对茶树吸收根氮浓度的影响不同月份间存在差异,其中7月、8月和1月施氮处理下氮浓度较高,而9月、10月和11月不施氮处理下氮浓度较高。氮肥施用对各月份茶树吸收根氮养分储量均没有显著影响。氮肥施用降低了部分月份茶树吸收根磷、钾和镁的浓度和储量。施用中等用量的氮肥能缩小茶树吸收根夏秋季氮磷钾镁养分储量的月份间差异。     

施肥对日本落叶松人工林细根生物量的影响

以辽宁东部山区16年生日本落叶松人工林为研究对象,探讨施肥对落叶松细根总生物量、不同层次生物量及不同根序生物量的影响.结果表明,与对照相比,施氮肥显著降低细根总生物量(P<0.01),而施磷肥及施氮+磷肥处理的细根总生物量差异不显著(P>0.05).落叶松人工林表层土壤(0～10 cm)细根生物量明显高于亚表层(10～20 cm)(P<0.01),各处理样地表层生物量占总生物量的64％～73％.施肥对不同层次、不同级别根序细根生物量的影响不同.与对照相比,施氮肥显著地降低了表层土壤1、3、4、5级根生物量(P<0.05),施磷肥(5级根除外)、施氮+磷肥(2级根除外)表层土壤各级根序细根生物量降低均不显著(P>0.05).在亚表层土壤,施氮肥和磷肥对各级根序生物量均没有显著影响(P>0.05);施氮+磷肥显著增加了1级根生物量(P<0.05),而其余各级根序细根生物量差异不显著(P>0.05).     

水分胁迫和氮肥对花生根系形态发育及叶片生理活性的影响

以"花育22号"花生为试验材料,在中度干旱胁迫和充足灌水两个水分条件下,分别设置不施氮肥(N0)、中氮(N1,90 kg·hm-2)、高氮(N2,180 kg·hm-2)3个施氮水平,研究不同土壤水分和氮肥条件对花生叶片生理活性及根系形态发育特征的影响.结果表明:与不施氮肥处理相比,两个水分条件下中氮处理均显著增加花生产量,但对收获指数无显著影响.干旱胁迫条件下,中氮处理对总根系生物量和总根长无显著影响,但显著增加花生总根系表面积;中氮和高氮处理均显著增加20~40 cm土层内根长和根系表面积,且高氮处理显著增加40 cm以下土层内根系生物量和根系表面积;施用氮肥显著提高叶片过氧化氢酶(CAT)和过氧化物酶(POD)活性,而丙二醛(MDA)含量随施氮量的增加而降低.正常供水条件下,施用氮肥显著降低了花生根系表面积和40 cm以下土层内根系生物量、根长和根系表面积,中氮处理可提高叶片保护酶活性.相关性分析表明,20~40 cm土层内根长和叶片超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、CAT、POD活性与产量呈显著相关.     

施氮和冬种绿肥对土壤活性有机碳及碳库管理指数的影响

为探讨冬季绿肥改良土壤的生态效应及确定合适比例的氮肥与绿肥翻压量,在“冬季绿肥 双季稻”复种型农作制度基础上,设置4×4双因素试验,研究不同紫云英翻压量和施氮水平对土壤活性有机碳库各组分及碳库管理指数的影响.结果表明： 单施绿肥能够显著促进土壤总有机碳和活性有机碳的累积.与对照相比,单施绿肥处理土壤总有机碳含量和活性有机碳含量分别平均增加22.2%、26.7%,但单施氮肥处理的土壤有机碳含量下降了0.6%～3.4%.与不施肥相比,单施绿肥和绿肥氮肥配施处理的土壤碳库管理指数分别平均增加了24.55和15.17,而单施氮肥处理减少了2.59.单施绿肥、绿肥氮肥配施和单施氮肥处理的土壤平均微生物生物量碳分别比对照高54.0%、95.2%和14.3%.活性有机碳含量与碳库管理指数存在极显著（P＜0.01）的相关性,与可溶性有机碳、微生物生物量碳也存在显著的相关性（P＜0.05）.水稻产量与活性有机碳含量和碳库管理指数均存在极显著的相关性,且相关系数明显大于总有机碳.可见在当地土壤肥力条件下,施有机肥或有机无机肥适当配施能提高土壤有机碳含量和土壤碳库管理指数,有利于改善土壤质量,提高土壤肥力.     

控释掺混尿素对稻、麦土壤氮与酶活性的影响

通过大田试验,共设7个处理,即不施氮、常规施肥以及掺混控释氮肥10%、20%、40%、80%、100%处理,探讨了不同施肥处理对土壤中4种形态氮(全氮、铵态氮、硝态氮、微生物生物量氮)和3种氮功能性酶(脲酶、蛋白酶、硝酸还原酶)活性的影响,以探究控释掺混尿素对稻、麦土壤肥力和环境的影响.结果表明: 土壤全氮在稻、麦全生育期内趋于稳定,且掺混比例20%以上各控释氮肥处理在稻、麦季均无显著差异;掺混40%以上控释氮肥能有效促进稻、麦生育中后期土壤无机氮水平;随稻、麦生育期推进,掺混40%以上控释氮肥处理可显著提高土壤微生物生物量氮,但常规施肥处理的微生物生物量氮整体呈明显下降趋势;掺混40%以上控释氮肥能明显提升稻、麦生育中后期土壤酶活性,土壤蛋白酶与硝酸还原酶活性在作物生育后期均随掺混比例增加而提高,以100%控释氮肥处理土壤酶活性最高.掺混20%以上控释氮肥处理能明显降低水稻季分蘖期脲酶活性,推迟铵态氮峰值期,有利于减少氮损失;掺混40%以上控释氮肥处理均可保障稻、麦生育中后期的氮素供应,刺激土壤脲酶与蛋白酶参与氮素转换,促进了土壤氮素有效性;100%控释氮肥处理对稻、麦生育后期土壤硝酸还原酶活性增加最明显,与掺混40%～80%控释氮肥处理相比,可显著减少小麦季20～40 cm土壤硝态氮残留量,在减少氮素损失方面的效果明显.     

不同氮素添加频率模拟氮沉降对桤木人工林生态系统碳储量的影响

为探究不同频率氮素添加模拟大气氮沉降对桤木人工林生态系统碳储量的影响, 采用野外固定样地观测的方法, 研究1年12次氮素添加(高频率)和1年2次氮素添加(低频率), 对桤木人工林生态系统乔木层、林下植被层、凋落物层、土壤层生物量及碳储量的影响。经过3年不同氮沉降模拟实验, 结果表明: (1) 高频与低频施氮均能增加桤木叶、枝、皮、根、总生物量及碳储量, 其中高频施氮显著增加根生物量及碳储量, 较对照增加了22.98%、24.05%; 而低频施氮显著增加叶、干生物量及枝、叶碳储量。(2) 低频与高频施氮均显著降低了桤木林下植被生物量及碳储量, 较对照分别降低67.95%、83.97%和79.73%、70.27%, 对碳含量影响不显著。(3)高频与低频施氮均显著增加L层(0—20 cm)凋落物生物量及L层和F层(20—40 cm)凋落物碳储量, 且高频施氮>低频施氮; 低频施氮显著降低20—40 cm土壤碳储量, 较对照降低20.83%, 高频施氮则对土壤碳含量和土壤碳储量无显著影响。高频施氮显著增加桤木林人工生态系统中凋落物层碳储量, 显著降低林下植被层碳储量, 生态系统总碳储量增加; 低频施氮显著降低乔木层、林下植被层和凋落物层碳储量, 导致桤木林生态系统碳储量降低, 但两种处理影响均不显著。     

Effect of one year rotational set-aside on immediate and ensuing nitrogen leaching loss

This paper reports results from a 3-year field experiment which examined Nitrogen (N) leaching loss from land under various set-aside managements. Four treatments were examined: three ploughed plots which were sown with wheat, ryegrass or maintained fallow; the fourth treatment was unploughed and natural weed growth (volunteers) permitted. The l-year set-aside was followed by two winter wheat test crops. Ceramic suction cups were installed at a depth of 90 cm and used to collect drainage water. N leaching loss was calculated by multiplying drainage volume, calculated from meteorological data, by its inorganic N concentration.Set-aside management significantly affected N leaching loss over the three years. During the set-aside year, the peak nitrate concentration from the unploughed treatment growing volunteer weeds was significantly lower than that from ploughed plots. Of the latter, by the spring, crop (i.e. wheat and ryegrass) assimilation of N significantly reduced N concentration compared to the fallow. The four set-aside treatments had a carry-over effect to the following year (first wheat test crop) resulting in significant differences in N losses. Leaching following the ryegrass treatment was very small and we believe that the grass residues minimised rates of net-N mineralization.The influence of set-aside management continued to the second wheat test crop where N loss was greater under the all wheat rotation because take-all had reduced yield and therefore crop N uptake.     

Extreme weather‐year sequences have nonadditive effects on environmental nitrogen losses

The frequency and intensity of extreme weather years, characterized by abnormal precipitation and temperature, are increasing. In isolation, these years have disproportionately large effects on environmental N losses. However, the sequence of extreme weather years (e.g., wet–dry vs. dry–wet) may affect cumulative N losses. We calibrated and validated the DAYCENT ecosystem process model with a comprehensive set of biogeophysical measurements from a corn–soybean rotation managed at three N fertilizer inputs with and without a winter cover crop in Iowa, USA. Our objectives were to determine: (i) how 2‐year sequences of extreme weather affect 2‐year cumulative N losses across the crop rotation, and (ii) if N fertilizer management and the inclusion of a winter cover crop between corn and soybean mitigate the effect of extreme weather on N losses. Using historical weather (1951–2013), we created nine 2‐year scenarios with all possible combinations of the driest (“dry”), wettest (“wet”), and average (“normal”) weather years. We analyzed the effects of these scenarios following several consecutive years of relatively normal weather. Compared with the normal–normal 2‐year weather scenario, 2‐year extreme weather scenarios affected 2‐year cumulative NO₃^? leaching (range: ?93 to +290%) more than N₂O emissions (range: ?49 to +18%). The 2‐year weather scenarios had nonadditive effects on N losses: compared with the normal–normal scenario, the dry–wet sequence decreased 2‐year cumulative N₂O emissions while the wet–dry sequence increased 2‐year cumulative N₂O emissions. Although dry weather decreased NO₃^? leaching and N₂O emissions in isolation, 2‐year cumulative N losses from the wet–dry scenario were greater than the dry–wet scenario. Cover crops reduced the effects of extreme weather on NO₃^? leaching but had a lesser effect on N₂O emissions. As the frequency of extreme weather is expected to increase, these data suggest that the sequence of interannual weather patterns can be used to develop short‐term mitigation strategies that manipulate N fertilizer and crop rotation to maximize crop N uptake while reducing environmental N losses.     

Contribution of nitrogen fixation to first year Miscanthus × giganteus

Many characteristics make Miscanthus × giganteus an appealing bioenergy feedstock in temperate North America, but the degree to which this plant species interacts with nitrogen‐fixing bacteria remains understudied. Demonstration of associative nitrogen fixation in Miscanthus would support management with minimal fertilizer inputs that is demanded of long‐term biofuel sustainability. As a first step, we investigate the role of biological nitrogen fixation in nutrition of immature Miscanthus and temporal dynamics of plant‐associated nitrogen fixers. The contribution of biological nitrogen fixation to plant nitrogen acquisition in first year Miscanthus × giganteus was estimated using a yield‐dependent ¹⁵N isotope dilution model. Temporal changes in plant‐associated diazotroph relative abundance and community composition were analyzed with quantitative PCR and terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism of the nifH gene in rhizome and rhizosphere DNA extracts. We estimate 16% of new plant nitrogen was derived by nitrogen fixation during the growing season, despite non‐limiting soil nitrogen. Diazotroph communities from rhizome and rhizosphere changed with plant development and endophytic nitrogen fixers had significantly higher relative abundance and altered community composition at sampling dates in July and August. This study provides evidence for a small, but measurable, benefit of associative nitrogen fixation to first year Miscanthus × giganteus that underscores the potential and need for selection of breeding lines that maximize this trait.     

Nitrogen inputs and losses from New Zealand dairy farmlets, as affected by nitrogen fertilizer application: year one

Inputs and losses of nitrogen (N) were determined in dairy cow farmlets receiving 0, 225 or 360 kg N ha^-1 (in split applications as urea) in the first year of a large grazing experiment near Hamilton, New Zealand. Cows grazed perennial ryegrass/white clover pastures all year round on a free-draining soil. N₂ fixation was estimated (using ¹⁵N dilution) to be 212, 165 and 74 kg N ha^-1 yr^-1 in the 0, 225 and 360 N treatments, respectively. The intermediate N rate had little effect on clover growth during spring but favoured more total pasture cover in summer and autumn, thereby reducing overgrazing and resulting in 140% more clover growth during the latter period.Removal of N in milk was 76,89 and 92 kg N ha^-1 in the 0, 225 and 360 N treatments, respectively. Denitrification losses were low (7–14 kg N ha^-1 yr^-1), increased with N application, and occurred predominantly during winter. Ammonia volatilization was estimated by micrometeorological mass balance at 15, 45 and 63 kg N ha^-1 yr^-1 in the 0, 225 and 360 N treatments, respectively. Most of the increase in ammonia loss was attributed to direct loss after application of the urea fertilizer.Leaching of nitrate was estimated (using ceramic cup samplers at 1 m soil depth, in conjunction with lysimeters) to be 13, 18 and 31 kg N ha^-1 yr^-1 in a year of relatively low rainfall (990 mm yr^-1) and drainage (170–210 mm yr^-1). Drainage was lower in the N fertilized treatments and this was attributed to enhanced evapotranspiration associated with increased grass growth.Nitrate-N concentrations in leachates increased gradually over time to 30 mg L^-1 in the 360 N treatment whereas there was little temporal variation evident in the 0 (mean 6.4 mg L^-1) and 225 (mean 10.1 mg L^-1) N treatments. Thus, the 360 N treatment had a major effect by greatly reducing N₂ fixation and increasing N losses, whereas the 225 N treatment had little effect on N₂ fixation or on nitrate leaching. However, these results refer to the first year of the experiment and further measurements over time will determine the longer-term effects of these treatments on N inputs, transformations and losses.     

Impacts of an anomalously warm year on soil nitrogen availability in experimentally manipulated intact tallgrass prairie ecosystems

Global climate change can potentially increase the frequency of climate anomalies. Anomalously warm years may cause an increase in soil nitrogen (N) availability by stimulating N mineralization. To date, most studies addressing the effects of ecosystem warming have been conducted in relatively cold ecosystems and few studies have addressed impacts of interannual as opposed to continuous, multiyear warming. In this study, 12 intact soil monoliths were excavated from a tallgrass prairie site near Purcell, Oklahoma, USA and divided among four large flux chambers (EcoCELLs). During the first year, all four EcoCELLs were subjected to Oklahoma air temperatures and precipitation. During the second year, air temperature in two EcoCELLs was increased by 4 °C throughout the year resulting in an increase in soil temperature of 2.3 °C at 7.5 cm depth. During the third and fourth years, temperatures in the warmed EcoCELL returned back to 'normal' conditions. During the warming year, vegetation N content was not significantly affected by the warming treatment suggesting no change in N availability. Other N availability indicators (soil solution chemistry, leaching, and N adsorption by ion exchange resins) did not show any effect of warming. Soil solution, leaching, and ion exchange resins showed a large pulse of NH₄⁺ at the start of the study most likely due to disturbance caused by monolith excavation and transport but these effects were short-lived and had disappeared before the treatment started. The lack of a clear warming effect may be explained by a reduction in soil moisture in the warming treatments compared with the controls offsetting a potential stimulation of N mineralization in response to increased temperatures. As a result, effects of an anomalously warm year on N availability in warmer ecosystems may be small compared with colder ecosystems but are likely to depend on soil moisture status.     

Total soil nitrogen and nitrogen mineralization

Summary The mineralization capacity of 24 different soils was determined from incubation experiments. Relatively rapid mineralization and nitrification was found with soils from cultivated land, and pastures, but soils under natural vegetative covers of conifers and hardwoods were mostly ammonifying. A close relationship could be established between the total nitrogen content of the soil and the amount of mineral nitrogen formed during incubation. Important connections could also be shown between the available nitrogen contents at different times during the incubation period; these suggest that the incubation period can be considerably shortened.     

玉米土壤有机氮组分的生长季动态变化及其对当季和长期秸秆还田的响应

阐明土壤有机氮组分的生长季变化特征及其对当季和长期秸秆还田的响应有助于合理调控土壤有机氮库,提高土壤肥力.本试验依托辽宁沈阳农田生态系统国家野外科学观测研究站进行田间微区试验,设置单施氮肥和秸秆还田配施氮肥两个处理,分别在播种前、拔节期、吐丝期、灌浆期和成熟期采集土样,采用Bremner法对土壤有机氮组分进行分级.结果...     

Extreme rainfall and snowfall alter responses of soil respiration to nitrogen fertilization: a 3‐year field experiment

Extreme precipitation is predicted to be more frequent and intense accompanying global warming and may have profound impacts on soil respiration (Rs) and its components, that is, autotrophic (Ra) and heterotrophic (Rh) respiration. However, how natural extreme rainfall or snowfall events affect these fluxes are still lacking, especially under nitrogen (N) fertilization. In this study, extreme rainfall and snowfall events occurred during a 3‐year field experiment, allowing us to examine their effects on the response of Rs, Rh, and Ra to N supply. In normal rainfall years of 2011/2012 and 2012/2013, N fertilization significantly stimulated Rs by 23.9% and 10.9%, respectively. This stimulation was mainly due to the increase of Ra because of N‐induced increase in plant biomass. In the record wet year of 2013/2014, however, Rs was independent on N supply because of the inhibition effect of the extreme rainfall event. Compared with those in other years, Rh and Ra were reduced by 36.8% and 59.1%, respectively, which were likely related to the anoxic stress on soil microbes and decreased photosynthates supply. Although N supply did not affect annual Rh, the response ratio (RR) of Rh flux to N fertilization decreased firstly during growing season, increased in nongrowing season and peaked during spring thaw in each year. Nongrowing season Rs and Rh contributed 5.5–16.4% to their annual fluxes and were higher in 2012/2013 than other years due to the extreme snowfall inducing higher soil moisture during spring thaw. The RR of nongrowing season Rs and Rh decreased in years with extreme snowfall or rainfall compared to those in normal years. Overall, our results highlight the significant effects of extreme precipitation on responses of Rs and its components to N fertilization, which should be incorporated into models to improve the prediction of carbon‐climate feedbacks.     

Recovery of soil nitrogen pools in species‐rich grasslands after 12 years of simulated pollutant nitrogen deposition: a 6‐year experimental analysis

Nitrogen (N) deposition from anthropogenic sources is a global problem that can reduce biodiversity and impair ecosystem functioning through effects on soil eutrophication and acidification. While increasing controls on emissions of oxides of nitrogen (NO_x) have reduced European N deposition rates from their peak in the late 20th Century, little is known about the legacy effects of N deposition in soils or the reversibility of N‐induced shifts in ecosystem processes. We studied species‐rich limestone and acidic grasslands, located in a highly polluted region that received over 3000 kg N deposition ha^?1 throughout the 20th Century, followed by a decline of ～50% in NO_x deposition rate in the past two decades. We investigated the effects on seasonal and annual mean concentrations of soil mineral N in experimental plots established in 1990 receiving simulated enhanced N deposition (0–140 kg N ha^?1 yr^?1) until 2002, both in the final year of treatment, and the subsequent 5 years of ‘recovery’ following cessation of treatments. Winter–summer cycles of N mineralization–immobilization were strongly amplified by simulated N deposition rates through the final year of treatments and into the first year of recovery, with winter concentrations of ammonium‐N in the acidic grassland and nitrate in the limestone grassland enhanced by up to 360% and 450%, respectively. Both the magnitude of the seasonal variations and the residual effects of the treatments on soil mineral N concentrations decreased progressively in the first 5 years after treatments ceased, although dose‐dependent trends remained in the acidic grassland. This study establishes that reducing N deposition rates in species‐rich grasslands can reverse eutrophication, even in soils that have experienced prolonged high rates of deposition. It provides new insight into the rates of recovery following, and effects of, declining N deposition rates with implications for restoration of species‐rich grasslands.