15N标记水稻控释氮肥对提高氮素利用效率的研究

本文应用^15N示踪技术研究了水稻对空控释氮肥和尿素氮吸收利用效率的影响以及氮的去向,结果表明：施肥后11天内,水稻控释氮肥和尿素的NH3挥发损失分别占施入氮量的0.69%和1.81%,NH3的挥发损失在施肥后第5天时达到最大值,此后逐渐降低。水稻控释氮肥和尿素氮的淋溶损失分别占施入氮量的0.95%和1.02%,水稻控释氮肥氮的淋溶损失在水稻整个生长期间均比较平缓,施肥后40天时略有上升,此后又缓慢降低。用氮素平衡帐中的亏缺量和缺量扣除氨的损失量后计为硝化-反硝化损失量的结果表明,水稻控制氮肥氮的硝化-反硝化损失量占施氮量的3.46%,而尿素氮在硝化-反硝化损失量却高达37.75%,肥料氮在土壤中的残留主要集中在0～35cm的土层中,达91.4%-91.5%,残留在35cm以下土层中的氮甚微,水稻控制氮肥残留在土壤中的氮量略高于尿素处理。水稻控释氮肥利用率高达73.8%,比尿素高出34.9%,水稻控释氮肥氮利用率高的原因是因氮从颗粒中缓慢释放、受淋溶、氨挥发、尤其受硝化-反硝化途径损失的氮较少。在施等氮量的条件下,施用水稻控制氮肥的稻谷产量比尿素的增产25.5%,达到p=0.05的显著水平。     

氮肥调控剂对潮褐土中不同氮源氮素转化及油菜生长的影响

采用土壤培养和盆栽试验相结合的方法,研究了硝化抑制剂双氰胺(DCD)与纳米碳配合施用对尿素和碳酸氢铵在华北平原典型土壤潮褐土中转化的调控效果及其对油菜生长的影响.结果表明： 尿素和碳酸氢铵在施入土壤后的2周内,土壤无机氮的供应强度差别较大,2周以后则基本相似.2种氮源对油菜生长及氮素利用的影响在生育前期(播种后34 d)差异显著,但最终达到商品生物量收获时,氮源之间差异不大.DCD对尿素和碳酸氢铵在潮褐土中的转化表现出显著的硝化抑制作用,其抑制强度和有效抑制时间随DCD用量的增加而增强,且以对碳酸氢铵施入土壤后的硝化抑制效果更好.在本研究条件下,DCD用量以占肥料纯氮量的1.0%～1.5%相对较佳,可显著提高油菜产量,改善叶色,降低植株硝酸盐含量,提高氮肥利用率.纳米碳与DCD配合施用对土壤铵氧化有明显的协同抑制效果,且可以显著刺激油菜前期的生长发育和氮素利用,降低油菜硝酸盐含量.     

成都平原水稻-油菜轮作系统氧化亚氮排放

2005年6月—2006年6月利用静态箱/气相色谱法对成都平原水稻 油菜轮作系统氧化亚氮（N₂O）排放进行定位观测, 研究了该系统N₂O排放特征及土壤水热状况、氮肥施用、作物参与对N₂O排放的影响. 结果表明: 成都平原水稻-油菜轮作系统N₂O排放总量为（8.3±2.8）kg·hm^-2·a^-1, 水稻季、油菜季和休闲期对整个轮作周期N₂O排放总量的贡献分别为30%、65%和5%. 水稻季N₂O平均排放速率表现为排灌交替期最大, 持续淹水期和排水晒田期相当;氮肥施用是N₂O排放高峰出现的主要驱动力;土壤表层含水量偏低是旱季出现土壤N₂O吸收现象的主要原因. 土壤水分、土壤温度、施用氮肥和作物参与均在不同程度上影响N₂O排放, 土壤水分是影响N₂O排放的关键因子, 避免水稻季土壤频繁干湿交替或控制旱季土壤水分(表层土壤含水孔隙率介于50%～70%)可有效抑制N₂O排放.     

氮肥调控剂对潮褐土中不同氮源氮素转化及油菜生长的影响

采用土壤培养和盆栽试验相结合的方法,研究了硝化抑制剂双氰胺(DCD)与纳米碳配合施用对尿素和碳酸氢铵在华北平原典型土壤潮褐土中转化的调控效果及其对油菜生长的影响.结果表明:尿素和碳酸氢铵在施入土壤后的2周内,土壤无机氮的供应强度差别较大,2周以后则基本相似.2种氮源对油菜生长及氮素利用的影响在生育前期(播种后34 d)差异显著,但最终达到商品生物量收获时,氮源之间差异不大.DCD对尿素和碳酸氢铵在潮褐土中的转化表现出显著的硝化抑制作用,其抑制强度和有效抑制时间随DCD用量的增加而增强,且以对碳酸氢铵施入土壤后的硝化抑制效果更好.在本研究条件下,DCD用量以占肥料纯氮量的1.0％ ～1.5％相对较佳,可显著提高油菜产量,改善叶色,降低植株硝酸盐含量,提高氮肥利用率.纳米碳与DCD配合施用对土壤铵氧化有明显的协同抑制效果,且可以显著刺激油菜前期的生长发育和氮素利用,降低油菜硝酸盐含量.     

控失尿素对稻田氨挥发、氮素转运及利用效率的影响

通过田间试验,以普通尿素分次施用处理(CU)为对照,研究了控失尿素分次施用(LCUS)和一次施用(LCUB)对水稻田土壤氨挥发特征、水稻氮素营养状况、稻谷产量及氮肥利用效率的影响. 结果表明: 普通尿素分次施用、控失尿素分次施用和控失尿素一次施用条件下,生育期氨挥发总量占总施氮量的比例分别为15.8%、13.4%和19.7%. 与普通尿素分次施用处理相比,控失尿素分次施用处理可降低土壤氨挥发损失量4.4 kg N·hm^-2,降幅达18.0%,而控失尿素一次施用处理稻田土壤氨挥发总量却增加了7.2 kg N·hm^-2,增幅达24.7%. 与普通尿素分次施用处理相比,控失尿素分次施用处理的水稻叶片叶绿素、籽粒和茎叶氮含量与氮素积累量、稻谷产量均有不同程度提高,氮肥利用率显著提高了7.6%,但氮素转运量、转运率和对穗氮贡献率均显著降低,而控失尿素一次施用处理的水稻叶片叶绿素、籽粒和茎叶氮含量与氮素积累量以及氮肥利用率均显著降低,氮素转运量、转运率、对穗氮贡献率以及稻谷产量无显著差异. 综上所述,控失尿素分次施用处理可以在保证稻谷稳产的同时,有效降低稻田土壤氨挥发损失,改善植株氮素营养状况,显著提高氮肥利用效率.     

氮肥种类及运筹技术调控土壤氮素损失的研究进展

氮肥的不合理施用导致氮肥利用率低下,大量氮素通过径流、淋溶、氨挥发、硝化-反硝化作用等途径损失到环境中,从而对水体、大气造成污染,带来严重的环境问题,影响人类健康.施氮量、施肥时间和方式,以及肥料种类对氮素流失量的影响显著.土壤氮素浓度过饱和是导致氮素大量流失的最根本原因,充分利用环境供氮量,减少化学氮肥施用量,采用深施等技术,以及配合施用有机肥,可以有效降低氮素的损失,提高氮素利用率.在开发应用新型高效氮肥和强化氮肥高效管理技术研究的同时,加强环境氮素的监测和利用力度,是实现减氮增效的有力手段.     

施用缓/控释尿素对玉米苗期土壤生物学活性的影响

采用盆栽试验,模拟田间生态环境,研究了施用不同种缓/控释氮素底肥对玉米苗期土壤硝酸还原酶、脲酶活性及微生物量碳、氮的影响.结果表明,施用硝化抑制剂(双氰胺)和脲酶抑制剂(n-丁基硫代磷酰三胺)涂层大颗粒尿素肥料的土壤硝酸还原酶活性最高;施用大颗粒尿素,脲酶活性最强,微生物量碳、氮最高.施用醋酸酯淀粉包膜大颗粒尿素、包膜双氰胺涂层大颗粒尿素、丙烯酸树脂包膜双氰胺涂层大颗粒尿素与不施氮肥土壤脲酶活性较高;每种处理微生物量碳与氮变化完全一致.施用醋酸酯淀粉包膜硝化和脲酶抑制剂涂层大颗粒尿素肥料,土壤微生物量碳、氮最低.同种膜材料包膜抑制剂涂层大颗粒尿素制成的缓/控释氮肥,对土壤生物学活性的影响效果好于直接包膜大颗粒尿素;丙烯酸树脂包膜大颗粒尿素制成的缓/控释氮肥,对氮素的控释效果明显好于醋酸酯淀粉包膜.     

灌溉方式和施氮量对棉田氮肥利用率及损失的影响

在田间条件下,研究不同灌溉方式(滴灌和漫灌)和不同施氮水平(0、240、360、480kg N·hm-2)对棉田氮肥利用率及损失的影响,并定量分析了氮肥被植株吸收、土壤硝态氮残留,以及氨挥发、硝态氮淋溶损失、硝化反硝化损失等氮素循环转化途径.结果表明:滴灌棉花籽棉产量、植株吸氮量和氮肥利用率均显著大于漫灌.漫灌土壤硝态氮残留量显著高于滴灌;在不同施氮量处理中滴灌土壤氨挥发损失量占肥料氮施用量的比例为0.06％～0.14％,且显著高于漫灌;滴灌和漫灌硝态氮淋溶损失量占肥料氮施用量的比例分别为4.4％和8.8％,与漫灌相比,滴灌能显著降低淋溶水中硝态氮淋失量;滴灌和漫灌肥料氮的硝化-反硝化损失量分别占肥料氮施用量的17.9％和16.8％.硝态氮淋溶和硝化-反硝化损失是新疆棉田氮素损失的主要途径.     

含硝化抑制剂DMPP复合肥对日光温室芹菜生长和营养品质的影响

通过田间试验研究了含硝化抑制剂DMPP复合肥对日光温室芹菜生长和品质的影响. 结果表明,与普通复合肥相比,一次基施DMPP复合肥67.5和54.0 kg·hm^-2 氮处理分别使芹菜增产5.78%和10.14%; DMPP复合肥可降低芹菜可食部分硝酸盐含量,提高Vc、游离氨基酸、可溶性糖及氮、磷含量. 与分次施用相比,适当减少DMPP复合肥施用次数和用量可提高芹菜产量并改善其品质,降低生产成本.DMPP复合肥在施入土壤中后具有显著的硝化抑制作用,延缓了菜地土壤铵态氮向硝态氮的转化,降低了氮素向水体迁移的风险.芹菜收获后土壤中全氮、铵态氮、硝态氮残留较多,有利于保持地力.     

不同氮肥喷涂吡啶对夏玉米田氮素利用及土壤N2O排放的影响

为减少土壤N₂O排放,提高作物氮素利用,采用田间试验法研究了不同氮肥用量喷涂一定比例的吡啶(0、180、270、360 kg N·hm^-2)对夏玉米生育期内土壤N₂O排放和氮素表观损失、籽粒产量及氮素利用的影响.结果表明:不同氮肥用量下喷涂吡啶的土壤N₂O排放主要集中在播种-苗期和拔节-抽雄期,基肥和追肥后均会出现显著的土壤N₂O排放通量高峰.随氮肥用量增加,玉米产量不断增加,但270和360 kg N·hm^-2间无显著差异,2种施氮量下的玉米分别净增收5209和5426元·hm^-2.与不施氮肥比,各施氮处理下的玉米籽粒吸氮量提高幅度为109.6%～134.1%.各处理间的氮肥农学效率和氮肥利用率均以氮肥喷涂吡啶270 kg N·hm^-2较大,而土壤氮素表观损失较小.氮肥喷涂吡啶在270 kg N·hm^-2时玉米增产增收,氮肥利用效率较高,土壤N₂O排放和氮素表观损失较少,是一种较为合理的氮肥调控施用技术.     

黑土区水田化肥氮去向的研究

选取东北北部黑土地区水稻生产上施氮量、施肥方法和主要氮肥品种(尿素)为参数,采用示踪元素微区法和常规尿素小区法,连续2年系统地研究了水田化肥氮的去向。结果表明,化肥氮22．2％～46．1％进入了水稻体内,平均为37．7％,当年进入土壤中的残留氮12．7％～25．4％,氨挥发为8．8％～17．2％,作物对化肥氮的利用高低决定于施氮方法,化肥氮深施、混施均比表层施用利用率高,低施肥量化肥氮利用率比高施肥量利用率高,土壤残留量与施肥方法有关,深施和高施氮量均增加土壤残留,^15N试验证明,由于东北北部黑土比较粘重和土体构型的原因,在土层深度为80cm以下未检测出土壤残留化肥氮,示踪试验和小区试验证明,化肥氮的激发效应(PE)量和土壤残留氮量从该地区总体估算为大致平衡。     

内蒙古典型草原羊草群落氮素去向的示踪研究

 在中国科学院内蒙古草原生态系统定位研究站的羊草样地,采用15N同位素示踪技术研究了羊草（Leymus chinensis）群落标记氮素的去向。结果表明：在我国典型草原羊草群落,植物对标记氮素的回收率为31.61%,氮素添加显著影响植物对标记氮素的回收,随着氮素添加量的增加,地上和地下植物器官对标记氮素的回收量均显著提高。标记氮素被凋落物的回收率为2.92%,地下凋落物的回收率显著高于地上凋落物。标记氮素的土壤存留率为36.16%,主要分布在地表0～40 cm的土层范围内;各土层存留的标记氮素量均随着氮素添加量的增加而显著提高。标记氮素的当季损失率为21.77%～43.38%。风险/收益比分析表明,在该试验条件下,添加5.25 g N•m-2与28 g N•m-2的处理风险大于收益,添加17.5 g N•m-2的处理风险最低,收益最高,在草原生态系统的管理中可供参考。     

Labeled nitrogen fertilizer research with urea in the semi-arid tropics

Summary As part of a research program to determine the fate of N fertilizers applied to dryland sorghum in the semi-arid tropics,¹⁵N balance studies were conducted with various N sources in the greenhouse. Two American soils, Houston Black clay (Udic Pellustert) and Windthorst sandy loam (Udic Paleustalf), similar in properties to the Vertisol and Alfisol in the semi-arid tropics of India, were employed. Experiments were conducted with large pots containing 20 or 60 kg of soil which was subjected to several watering regimes. The¹⁵N not accounted for in the plant and soil was presumably lost. Losses of N on calcareous Houston Black clay were greatest for broadcast urea, 16%–28%. Amendment of broadcast urea with 2% phenyl phosphorodiamidate, a urease inhibitor, reduced N losses only slightly to 15%–20%. Point placement of urea at a 6 cm soil depth reduced losses to 1%–11%. Granule size had no effect on N loss from point-placed urea. Ammonia volatilization was apparently the main N loss mechanism, since N losses from sodium nitrate were less than 7%, except when the soil surface was waterlogged. N losses on the Windthorst soil averaged 30% from urea and 11% from ammonium nitrate. Amendment of urea with urea phosphate to form a 27% N and 13% P product reduced fertilizer N losses but did not increase grain yield on Windthorst soil. N losses were also less from ammonium nitrophosphate than from urea. Band and point placement of urea 6 cm below the soil surface were equally effective in reducing N loss on Houston Black clay. The findings give credence to the recommendation of deep band placement for urea in the semi-arid tropics.     

施氮量对夏季玉米产量及土壤水氮动态的影响

在黄土高原南部旱地有大量氮素残留背景的田块上,研究了不同氮肥用量对夏玉米生长及对土壤水分、硝态氮、铵态氮累积及其剖面分布的影响。结果表明：适量施氮可以提高作物产量;过量施氮没有表现出增产效果,其氮肥利用率只有3．9％,残留率则高达87．2％。施氮240kghm^-2时,0～200cm土层土壤水分达到593mm,且可以下渗到200cm土层;不施氮和施氮120kghm^-2以小区土壤的蓄水量分别为561和553mm,可下渗到180cm。对矿质态氮而言,施氮量可以显著影响土壤中硝态氮的累积和分布,但对铵态氮的影响较小;施氮0,120,240kghm^-2时．收获期土壤硝态氮累积量分别为78,148,290kghm^-2,硝态氮的下移前沿分别到达60,60,140cm。可见,适量施氮会促进作物对土壤水氮的利用。提高作物生物量和产量;过量施氮导致硝态氮在土壤中大量累积,提高硝态氮随水分淋溶危险;但硝态氮向下层土壤的移动显著滞后于水分。     

不同土层深度配施缓释/普通尿素对土壤氮素和酶活性及玉米产量的影响

通过2017—2018两年田间试验,研究了不同土层深度配施缓释(PCU)/普通尿素(PU)对0～30 cm土层土壤无机氮含量、酶活性和玉米产量的影响。试验设置不施氮肥(CK)、普通尿素一次施肥(PU₁,5～10 cm土层)、普通尿素传统两次施肥(PU₂,5～10 cm土层,60%种肥+40%追肥)、普通尿素一次分层施肥(PU₃,5～10 cm土层20%N+15～20 cm土层30%N+25～30 cm土层50%N)、不同土层深度缓释/普通尿素配施[PCU₁～PCU₄,均为5～10 cm土层20%N(普通尿素)+15～20 cm土层30%N(配施)+25～30 cm土层50%N(配施),其中PCU₁～PCU₄的15～20和25～30 cm土层PCU:PU分别为3:7、3:7,5:5、5:5, 3:7、5:5, 5:5、3:7]共8个处理。结果表明: 与CK相比,PU₁能够满足玉米生育前期对0～10 cm土层氮素的需求,PU₂和PU₃能够满足玉米发育前期对10～30 cm土层氮素的需求,不同土层深度配施缓释/普通尿素能够满足玉米整个生育时期对氮素的需求。与PU₁～PU₃相比,不同土层深度配施缓释/普通尿素可显著增加灌浆期和成熟期10～20和20～30 cm土层NO₃^--N、NH₄⁺-N、碱解氮含量和脲酶、蛋白酶活性。与PU₃相比,不同土层深度配施缓释/普通尿素处理2017和2018年玉米产量分别提高2.3%～24.6%和1.3%～16.5%,PCU₄产量最高,分别达13899和12439 kg·hm^-2。因此,不同土层深度配施缓释/普通尿素既能满足玉米生育前期对氮素的需求,也能提高生育后期10～30 cm土层土壤无机氮含量和酶活性,促进玉米生长,增加玉米产量,其中PCU₄处理施肥方式最佳。     

控释肥料与普通氮肥混施对春白菜产量、品质和氮素损失的影响

在京郊露地生产条件下,研究了控释肥料与速效化肥混配施用对春白菜产量、品质、氨挥发、土壤硝态氮累积和淋失的影响.结果表明：与习惯施肥处理（施N 300 kg·hm^-2）相比,控释肥料与普通化肥按纯氮比2∶1混配施用（共施N 150 kg·hm^-2）没有造成白菜减产,并显著降低了菜叶中硝酸盐和有机酸含量;与半量施肥处理(施N 150 kg·hm^-2)相比,控释肥与化肥混施处理产量和叶片硝酸盐含量无显著差异.控释肥与化肥混施处理提高了白菜氮肥利用率,减少了N₃-N淋失量和氨挥发总量.白菜收获后,控释肥与化肥混施处理在20～40、60～80、80～100 cm土层的NO₃^--N含量显著低于习惯施肥处理.     

深松与包膜尿素对玉米田土壤氮素转化及利用的影响

耕作方式和氮肥施用是影响土壤中氮肥转化、利用效率和作物产量的重要因素。通过夏玉米田的2a(2011—2012)定位试验,研究了两种耕作方式(深松、旋耕)配合不同尿素类型(包膜尿素、普通尿素)的施用对玉米田土壤硝态氮和铵态氮含量、脲酶活性、硝化细菌和反硝化细菌数量、玉米产量以及氮肥农学效率的影响。研究结果表明:相同耕作方式下,包膜尿素处理土壤中脲酶活性较稳定,且增加了旱田土壤亚硝酸细菌数量而降低了反硝化细菌数量,有利于土壤硝态氮含量的提高,尤其是作物生长的中后期;包膜尿素处理的产量比普通尿素提高7.25%—10.82%,同时提高氮肥农学效率。深松处理增加了土壤中的反硝化细菌数量,配合施用包膜尿素进一步提高了土壤脲酶活性,增加了亚硝酸细菌数量;旋耕与包膜尿素配合施用在一段时期内能显著增加土壤硝态氮含量,减少反硝化细菌数量。深松配合包膜尿素处理能够显著的增加玉米产量,2a分别比旋耕配合包膜尿素增加1.41%和10.62%。因此,深松措施配合施用包膜尿素能够增强土壤脲酶活性,增加亚硝酸细菌数量,提高氮素转化速率,增加作物产量和氮肥农学效率,其稳产效果在干旱年份尤为显著。     

Fate of 15N-labelled fertilizer applied to spring barley grown on soils of contrasting nutrient status

An experiment with ¹⁵N-labelled fertilizer was superimposed on the Rothamsted Hoosfield Spring Barley Experiment, started in 1852. Labelled ¹⁵NH₄ ¹⁵NO₃ was applied in spring at (nominal) rates of 0, 48, 96 and 144 kg N ha^-1. The labelled fertilizer was applied to microplots located within four treatments of the original experiment: that receiving farmyard manure (FYM) annually, that receiving inorganic nutrients (PK) annually and to two that were deficient in nutrients: applications were made in two successive years, but to different areas within these original treatments. Maximum yields in 1986 (7.1 t grain ha^-1) were a little greater than in 1987. In 1987, microplots on the FYM and PK treatments gave similar yields, provided enough fertilizer N was applied, but in 1986 yields on the PK treatment were always less than those on the FYM treatment, no matter how much fertilizer N was applied. In plots with adequate crop nutrients, about 51% of the labelled N was present in above-ground crop and weed at harvest, about 30% remained in the top 70 cm of soil (mostly in the 0–23 cm layer) and about 19% was unaccounted for, all irrespective of the rate of N application and of the quantity of inorganic N in the soil at the time of application. Less than 4% of the added fertilizer N was present in inorganic form in the soil at harvest, confirming results from comparable experiments with autumn-sown cereals in south-east England. Thus, in this experiment there is no evidence that a spring-sown cereal is more likely to leave unused fertilizer in the soil than an autumn-sown one. With trace applications (ca. 2 kg N ha^-1) more labelled N was retained in the soil and less was in the above-ground crop. Where P and K were deficient, yields were depressed, a smaller proportion of the labelled fertilizer N was present in the above-ground crop at harvest and more remained in the soil.Although the percentage uptake of labelled N was similar across the range of fertilizer N applications, the uptake of total N fell off at the higher N rates, particularly on the FYM treatment. This was reflected in the appearance of a negative Added Nitrogen Interaction (ANI) at the highest rate of application. Fertilizer N blocked the uptake of soil N, particularly from below 23 cm, once the capacity of the crop to take up N was exceeded. Denitrification and leaching were almost certainly insufficient to account for the 19% loss of spring-added N across the whole range of N applications and other loss processes must also have contributed.     

Turnover of residual 15N-labelled fertilizer N in soil following harvest of oilseed rape (t Brassica napus L.)

We studied the fate of ¹⁵N-labelled fertilizer nitrogen in a sandy loam soil after harvest of winter oilseed rape (Brassica napus L. cv. Ceres) given 100 or 200 kg N ha^-1 in spring, with or without irrigation. Our main objective was to quantify the temporal variations of the soil mineral N, the extractable soil organic N and soil microbial biomass N, and fertilizer derived N in these pools during autumn and winter. Nitrogen use efficiency of the oilseed rape crop varied from 47% of applied N in the 100N, irrigated treatment to 34% in the 200N, non-irrigated treatment. However, only in the latter treatment did we find significantly higher fertilizer derived soil mineral N than in the three other treatments which all had low soil mineral N contents at the first sampling after harvest (8 days after stubble tillage). Between 31% and 42% of the applied N could not be accounted for in the harvested plants or 0-15 cm soil layer at this first sampling. Over the following autumn and winter none of the remaining fertilizer derived soil N was lost from the 0–5 cm depth, but from the 5–15 cm depth a marked proportion of N derived from fertilizer was lost, probably by leaching. Negligible amounts of fertilizer derived extractable soil organic and mineral N (<1 kg N ha^-1, 0-15 cm) were found in all treatments after the first sampling.Soil microbial biomass N was not significantly affected by treatments and showed only small temporal variability (±11% of the mean 76 kg N ha^-1, 0- 15 cm depth). Surprisingly, the average amount of soil microbial biomass N derived from fertilizer was significantly affected by the treatments, with the extremes being 5.5 and 3.1 kg N ha^-1 in the 200N, non-irrigated and 100N, irrigated treatments, respectively. Also, the estimated exponential decay rate of microbial biomass N derived from fertilizer, differed greatly (2 fold) between these two treatments, indicating highly different microbial turnover rates in spite of the similar total microbial biomass N values. In studies utilising ¹⁵N labelling to estimate turnover rates of different soil organic matter pools this finding is of great importance, because it may question the assumption that turnover rates are not affected by the insertion of the label.