Nitrification mediated nitrogen immobilization in soils

Summary The influence of nitrification on the status of soil organic nitrogen is examined by applying NH ₄ ⁺ -¹⁵N to the soil in the absence and the presence of a selective inhibitori.e. nitrapyrin. Parallel with nitrification, formation of organic nitrogen from the added fertilizer was followed. In the soil examined (pH 6.5, 4% organic carbon),ca. 55% of the fertilizer-N was immobilized during the 60 days incubation period, as a consequence of the nitrification process. Nitrification not only appeared to contribute to the binding of added mineral nitrogen onto soil organic matter, but also to re-immobilization of mineralised soil nitrogen.     

Effect of temperature on nitrogen transformation in Hawaiian soils

Summary In a field experiment soil samples buried at the warmer temperature regime nitrified added ammonium faster than soils buried at the cooler temperature regime. Nitrification occurred more rapidly under both regimes in a soil which had developed in a warm climatic zone than in two other soils developed under cooler conditions.The rate of nitrification of added ammonium in soils incubated at 5, 15, 25 and 40°C in the laboratory increased with increase in the temperature up to 25°C in three out of four soils. In the fourth soil nitrification was as active at 40°C as at 25°C. The temperature range for appreciable nitrification to occur in a soil was related to the environmental conditions where the soil was formed.Mineralization of organic nitrogen occurred to a greater extent at 40°C than at three lower incubating temperatures of 5, 15, and 25°C. Rapid and active mineralization was associated with high organic matter and C/N ratio in soils     

无机氮对土壤甲烷氧化作用的影响

无机氮输入(施氮肥和大气N沉降)对土壤CH4氧化作用的影响取决于甲烷氧化菌类型、输N种类和量以及土壤状况．这种作用既有抑制作用,又有刺激作用,但文献报道的抑制作用多于刺激作用,NH4^ 对CH4氧化的抑制作用多于NO3^-．随着全球N输入的增加,应在广泛的土壤类型和气候带观测和评价无机氯对土壤CH4氧化作用的影响．无机氮对土壤CH4氧化的抑制作用表现为立即或直接抑制、延迟抑制以及缺乏抑制等多种模式．尽管目前—些学者用酶基质竞争、增高的阈值、盐作用和离子交换、N转化率和N浓度等来解释抑制现象,但抑制机理依旧不完全清楚．因此,抑制机理是本领域未来研究的主要目标之一．     

Effect of plant growth on transformation of mineral nitrogen in soils

Summary The effects of plants on NH₄- and NO₃-N transformations were studied on a clay loam soil pH 7.7, organic carbon 2.4%, and total N 0.25%. Without plants 80% of the extractable NH₄-N from a 0.3 ppm addition was nitrified in one hour, and 100% in one day. The disappearance of NH₄-N was increased from 20%, where plants were not grown, to 50% where barley plants were grown for two weeks. Only 5% of the NO₃-N added to soil disappeared in the absence of plant growth, but 40% disappeared with plants. N also disappeared when added to soil from which growing plants had recently been removed. Several hypotheses, including transformation to gaseous forms, are advanced to explain the disappearance.     

楝树籽提取物对土壤供氮和氮肥利用率的影响

研究了楝树籽不同方式的提取物（NI,NⅡ）对普通铁质淋溶土壤,简有水耕人为土壤供N和N肥利用率的影响。NI可在一定程度上抑制两种土壤产生NO3－N,NⅡ在两种土壤上前期均能显著固定NH4^ -N并在后期释放出NH4^ -N。如果NI和NⅡ2种提取物同时与化肥N施入土壤,则可明显改善土壤的供N状况,使这与作物需N过程更吻合。盆栽实验证明,NⅡ可显著提高肥旱耕人为土壤上作物对N肥的利用率。     

Effects of different methods of acid hydrolysis on the nitrogen distribution in two soils

Summary An inorganic (Bainsville) and an organic (Farnham) soil were hydrolyzed by continuous and stepwise hydrolysis with hot 3N HCl for 1, 2, 3, 4, 11, 15, 18 and 24 h and continuously with hot 6N HCl for 24 h. The following nitrogen forms were determined: total N, hydrolyzable-N, amino acid-N, amino sugar-N and ammonia-N. Proportions of ‘unknown’ N were computed from these data. Continuous hydrolysis with 3N HCl yielded more amino acid-N and less ‘unknown’ N than did stepwise hydrolysis with the same acid strength. But continuous hydrolysis for 24 h with 6N HCl produced more amino acid-N and less ‘unknown’ N than did hydrolysis with 3N HCl by either method. It was estimated that 33 and 54% of the total N in the inorganic and organic soil, respectively, was protein-N. The ‘unknown’ N in the inorganic and organic soil constituted 51 and 37% of the total N, respectively. From our work it appears that the ‘unknown’ N is not proteinaceous. It can be readily degraded chemically and microbiologically to NH₃ and N-gases. More attention needs to be given to identifying the ‘unknown’ N which constitutes a large portion of the total soil-N. A more adequate knowledge of the chemical constitution of the ‘unknown’ soil N may lead to the development of technologies that will make more efficient use of the N in soils.     

Effect of nitrogen and phosphorus addition on phenanthrene biodegradation in four soils

Phenanthrene mineralization rates were found to vary widely among four soils; differences in soil nutrient levels was one hypothesis to explain this variation. To test this hypothesis, phenanthrene mineralization rates were measured in these soils with, and without, added nitrogen and phosphorus. Mineralization rates either remained unchanged or were depressed by the addition of nitrogen and phosphorus. Phenanthrene degradation rates remained unchanged in the soil which had the highest indigenous levels of nitrogen and phosphorus and which showed the largest increase in phosphorus levels after nutrients were added. The soils in which degradation rates were depressed had lower initial phosphorus concentrations and showed much smaller or no measurable increase in phosphorus levels after nutrients were added to the soils. To understand the response of phenanthrene degradation rates to added nitrogen and phosphorus, it may be necessary to consider the bioavailability of added nutrients and nutrient induced changes in microbial metabolism and ecology.     

Different forms of nitrogen in particle size fractions separated from two soils

Summary The possible use of particle size separation of soils in water was tested for preparing fractions rich in ‘unknown’-N, which constitutes between 41 and 46% of the total N. Ten particle size fractions ranging from <0.2 to>1,000.0 μm were separated from the A horizon of the Bainsville soil, an Orthic Humic Gleysol, and from the Bh horizon of the Armadale soil, a poorly drained Podzol. The distribution of N (hydrolyzable-, amino acid-, protein-, amino sugar-, ammonia-, ‘unknown’-and unidentified-N) in the initial soils and in each size fraction was determined. While particle size separation did not yield fractions which contained essentially only ‘unknown’-N and few known N-components, it was possible to isolate fractions which were either rich in amino acid-or protein-N or in NH₃-N. In general, the finer size fractions tended to be enriched in amino acid-N while NH₃-N was more prominent in the coarser fractions. The amino sugar-N content of all size fractions was low.     

不同类型农田土壤对可溶性有机氮、碳的吸附特性

研究了陕西关中地区红油土和淋溶褐土耕层土壤对分离的有机肥提取液中可溶性有机氮、碳(SON和SOC)的吸附特性.结果表明:原始物质吸附等温线方程可以反映土壤对可溶性有机氮、碳的吸附特性,土壤吸附SON、SOC的数量与它们各自加入的量呈极显著线性关系.从原始物质吸附等温线方程的分配系数m看,淋溶褐土对SON、SOC的吸附能力强于红油土.红油土对SON、SOC的平均吸附率分别为24.3%和18.8%,淋溶褐土则分别为38.3%和18.6%;两种类型土壤对SON和SOC的吸附能力较低,说明它们在土壤中具有较强的移动性;土壤对SOC的吸附能力弱于SON,说明SOC更易于从土壤中流失.     

Effect of immobilization of cyanobacteria in solid matrix on ammonia excretion and nitrogen fixing activity

Summary The algal symbiont of Azolla - Anabaena azollae (AS-DS) and free-living A.variabilis (SAo) colonized and immobilized well in all the solid matrices such as hollow fibre, polyurethane foam, cotton and silk cotton. Biomass production was more under immobilized state than under free-living state. Heterocyst frequency, nitrogen fixing activity and ammonia excretion were significantly higher under immobilized state than under free-living conditions.     

Effect of copper activity on carbon and nitrogen mineralization in field-aged copper-enriched soils

Summary Nitrogen and C mineralization were investigated in five soils which had received anthropogenic Cu inputs many years ago, and compared to control soils. Copper activity was used to assess the active or toxic form of Cu; the activity of Cu in the soils ranged from approximately 10^–10 to 10^–7 M. No effect of the Cu was observed on the mineralization rates, indicating that either the Cu levels were not toxic or that microbial adaptation to Cu inputs had occurred at the sites. The ion activity product ((Cu)(OH)²) is suggested as a possible indicator of plant available Cu.     

Effect of pH on the preparation of poly-L-lysine-stabilized calcium alginate beads for immobilization of aminoacylase

Summary The preparations of calcium alginate beads stabilized with poly-L-lysine and encapsulating aminoacylase were conducted at different pH conditions. The interaction of poly-L-lysine and alginate beads proceeds readily. The beads prepared at pH 7.0 exhibited high operational and storage stability with the elimination of enzyme leakage and the immobilized aminoacylase possessed high biological activity.     

Effect of Mn deficiency and legume inoculation on rhizosphere pH in highly alkaline soils

Plant and Soil - Although plant growth is often limited at high pH, little is known about root-induced changes in the rhizospheres of plants growing in alkaline soils. The effect of Mn deficiency...     

Litter effects of two co-occurring alpine species on plant growth, microbial activity and immobilization of nitrogen

We measured the litter chemistry of two co‐dominant alpine species, Acomastylis rossii, a forb characterized by a low growth rate and N uptake capacity, and Deschampsia caespitosa, a grass characterized by a high growth rate and N uptake capacity, and examined the effect litter of these two species had on the growth of Deschampsia phytometers in a greenhouse. We also examined the influence of litter from the two species on microbial respiration and immobilization of N, in two separate laboratory microcosm experiments and in the field. We hypothesized that Acomastylis litter would reduce plant growth more than Deschampsia litter, corresponding with either 1) suppression of microbial activity and thus a decrease in N mineralization, or 2) by stimulation of microbial biomass and increasing microbial immobilization of N. Relative to Deschampsia litter, Acomastylis litter had higher total water soluble organic carbon (DOC), and higher total phenolic concentration. Deschampsia litter had 30 times higher carbohydrate (primarily glucose and fructose) concentrations than Acomastylis litter. Soil respiration, microbial biomass N, and consumption of DOC and N were higher with the Acomastylis litter treatment than the Deschampsia litter treatment in experimental microcosms, and both respiration and microbial biomass N were higher in field soils under canopies dominated by Acomastylis relative to those dominated by Deschampsia. These results indicate that phenolics in Acomastylis are a C source for soil microorganisms, rather than an inhibitor of microbial activity. Deschampsia phytometers grew significantly less, had higher root: shoot biomass ratios, and acquired less nitrogen in the Acomastylis litter treatment relative to the control and Deschampsia litter treatments. The results of these experiments indicate that Acomastylis litter influences soil N cycling by increasing microbial activity and N immobilization, which may influence N supply to neighboring plants. This mechanism has the potential to influence competitive interactions between Acomastylis and its neighbors.     

Carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus mineralization in two soils amended with distillery yeast

The concentrations and the seasonal changes of heavy metals and organic carbon in the sediments underlying a Zostera marina L. bed were measured monthly during one year, in two Mediterranean lagoons: Thau (France) and Venice (Italy). While at Thau sediments showed Cu (18.7+/-3.9 microg g-1) and Pb (13.8+/-3.8 microg g-1) average concentrations twofold higher than at Venice (Cu: 8.4+/-4.8 microg g-1; Pb: 6.1+/-0.70 microg g-1), the Italian site exhibited average concentrations of Fe (13383+/-955 microg g-1 versus 6098+/-1089 microg g-1 at Thau), Mn (339+/-12 microg g-1 versus 190+/-23 microg g-1 at Thau), Zn (61.6+/-12.7 microgg -1 versus 36.1+/-7.4 microg g-1 at Thau), Cr (47.3+/-7.3 microg g-1 versus 21.8+/-8.0 microg g-1 at Thau) and Ni (12.7+/-1.7 microg g-1 versus 8.9+/-3.1 microg g-1 at Thau) approximately 1.5-2 times as high as the French site. The organic carbon concentration was systematically higher at Thau (1.0+/-0.3) than at Venice (0.7+/-0.2). A significant seasonal fluctuation was found for Zn, Cu, Ni, Cr in both lagoons while no significant variations were recorded for Pb at Venice and for Cd at Thau. Some of those changes appeared to be significantly correlated with the biomass of Zostera at Thau and the concentration of organic carbon at Venice.     

Bulk soil pH and rhizosphere pH of peach trees in calcareous and alkaline soils as affected by the form of nitrogen fertilizers

One-year old nectarine trees [Prunus persica, Batsch var. nectarina (Ait.) Maxim.], cv Nectaross grafted on P.S.B2 peach seedlings [Prunus persica (L.) Batsch] were grown for five months in 4-litre pots filled with two alkaline soils, one of which was also calcareous. Soils were regularly subjected to fertigation with either ammonium sulphate or calcium nitrate providing a total of 550 mg N/tree. Trees were also grown in such soils receiving only deionized water, as controls. Rhizosphere pH, measured by the use of a microelectrode inserted in agar sheet containing a bromocresol purple as pH indicator and placed on selected roots, was decreased by about 2–3 units compared to the bulk soil pH in all treatments. This decrease was slightly less marked when plants were supplied with calcium nitrate rather than ammonium sulphate or control. Measurements conducted during the course of the experiment indicated that ammonium concentration was similar in the solution of soils receiving the two N fertilizers. During the experiment, soil solution nitrate-N averaged 115 mg L^–1 in soil fertilized with calcium nitrate, 68 mg L^–1 in those receiving ammonium sulphate and 1 mg L^–1 in control soils. At the end of the experiment nitrate concentrations were similar in soils receiving the two N sources and bulk soil pH was decreased by about 0.4 units by ammonium sulphate fertigation: these evidences suggest a rapid soil nitriflcation activity of added ammonium. Symptoms of interveinal chlorosis in apical leaves appeared during the course of the experiment in trees planted in the alkaline-calcareous soil when calcium nitrate was added. The slightly higher rhizosphere pH for calcium nitrate-fed plants may have contributed to this. The findings suggest that using ammonium sulphate in a liquid form (e.g. by fertigation) in high-pH soils leads to their acidification and the micronutrient availability may be improved.     

Effect of pH and nitrogen source on pigment production by Monascus purpureus

The effect of pH and nitrogen source on pigment production by Monascus purpureus 192F using glucose as the carbon and energy source, was studied in pH-controlled, batch fermentor cultures using HPLC analysis to determine individual pigment concentrations. A maximum of four pigments were detected in fungal extracts. These were the yellow pigments monascin and ankaflavin, the orange rubropunctatin and the red pigment monascorubramine. Monascorubramine was present as the major product in all instances. Fungal growth and ankaflavin synthesis were favoured at low pH (pH 4.0), whereas production of the other pigments was relatively independent of pH. The nature of the nitrogen source affected fungal growth and pigment production, independent of pH. Ammonium and peptone as nitrogen sources gave superior growth and pigment concentrations compared to nitrate. Ankaflavin was not detected in nitrate cultures. The highest red pigment production was obtained using a glucose-peptone medium at pH 6.5, due to the secretion of red pigments into the medium under these conditions. Correspondence to: M. R. Johns