Microbial biomass and bacteria in two pasture soils: An assessment of measurement procedures,temporal variations,and the influence of P fertility status

The reliability of three methods (microbial C and mineral-N flush by fumigation-incubation, and ATP) for measuring soil microbial biomass was assessed on two silt-loam soils of different P fertility status under grazed perennial pastures. The mineral-N flush and ATP methods provided a reasonably reliable index of microbial biomass, but the fumigation-incubation procedure for CO₂-C flush, using preincubated samples and an unfumigated 0–10 day control, was inappropriate for these soils. The numbers of bacteria (direct microscopy) and the percentage metabolically active were also measured. Generally, in both soils, total microbial biomass and the numbers, mass and metabolic activity of bacteria were influenced more by temporal factors in samples taken monthly than by the fertility status. Temporal fluctuations were greater in the high-fertility (Waikanae) soil, but no consistent seasonal trends in mineral-N flush and ATP values were apparent. In both soils, numbers and biomass of bacteria were at a minimum in spring. Values of two biomass indices (mineral-N flush and ATP contents) were similar in the high- and low-fertility (Pomare) soil, and comprised similar percentages of organic-matter contents. The percentages of metabolically active bacteria, however, tended to be higher in Pomare than in Waikanae soil, and, therefore, did not reflect soil fertility status. Methodological and field aspects of these results are discussed.     

Seasonal variation in organic and inorganic phosphorus fractions of temperate-climate sandy soils

Soils from an arable plot, a grassland plot and pasture plot were sampled over an 18-month period. Inorganic (P_i) and organic (P_o) soil phosphorus fractions were extracted sequentially with resin, NaHCO₃, and NaOH. Soil solution was sampled on the arable plot and pasture plot during 12 months with teflon suction cups, and the contents of P_i and P_o were determined.The patterns of the variation for all soil fractions were similar for the three plots. All soil P_i fractions were at minimum in the cool moist winter period. The soil P_o fractions varied less systematically than P_i fractions. The sum of P_o fractions had a winter maximum and a spring minimum. For all soil P fractions temporal variation was highly significant (p<0.0001). The magnitude of change in P_i and P_o soil fractions was 4–40 times greater than what would be expected from the magnitude of new N mineralization.The content of P in the inorganic soil P fractions was negatively correlated with soil moisture. The variation in organic soil P could not be explained by any single factor, but it is suggested that the variation is caused by changes in solubility rather than by biological transformations. Thus, physicochemical processes masked the impact of biological transformations on the temporal variation of soil phosphorus fractions.Both soil solution P_i and P_o varied significantly with time on field scale. In contrast to soil P_i fractions, solution P_i was initially low in the early autumn, increased by a factor 4 during the following 6 weeks, and thereafter decreased to a low level by the end of the sampling period. Soil solution P_o had several fluctuations during the sampling period.     

Inorganic and organic P in soil solutions from three upland soils

Soil solutions from three P-deficient Cambisols were analyzed for inorganic orthophosphate (P_i), organically combined phosphorus (P_o), total phosphorus (P_t) and residual phosphorus (P_r=P_t–(P_o+P_i)). The solutions were obtained by centrifugation of soil samples wetted-up to 90% field capacity. Increasing the centrifugal force from 750 to 1400×g (for 60 minutes) increased the volume of soil solution obtained by 17–35%. Increasing the centrifugation period from 30 to 90 minutes (at 1000×g) increased the volume by 2–12%. The effect of the different centrifugation conditions on the P composition of soil solutions were not critical and had little effect on either P_t concentration or on the distribution of P between P_i, P_o and P_r fractions. Soil solutions were also obtained on a seasonal basis over a 2-year period. The soils, fresh from the field, were wetted-up to 90% field capacity and centrifuged at 1000×g for 60 minutes to isolate the soil solution. Although the soils were derived from contrasting parent rock, and had different Fe and Al sesquioxide contents, the P_t concentrations of the soil solutions and the distribution between the fractions were similar. Annual average P_t concentrations for the 3 soils ranged from 93 to 114 and 63 to 89 g dm^-3 during the first and second year, respectively. Seasonal changes were of a similar order as those resulting from differences in soil type. During May, June, August and October soil solutions had average P_t concentrations ranging from 82 to 111 and 51 to 119 g P dm^-3 in 1989 and 1990, respectively. P_o was a major P component in soil solution and exceeded the amount of P_i by about 5–20 times.     

严重退化生态系统不同恢复和重建措施的植物多样性与地力差异研究

对花岗岩区土壤严重退化生态系统（对照）及４种不同恢复和重建措施建筑多样性和地力研究结果表明,花岗岩区红壤严重退化生态系统（对照）植物多样地性极低,土壤肥力极差,生态环境极为恶劣,改为杨梅果园（措施Ａ）或多树种混交（措施Ｂ）后,植物多样性明显增大,林地土壤肥力得到一定程度恢复,生态系统朝着良性循环方向发展,采取封山育林（措施Ｃ）方法,林下植被层和群落多样性恢复最快,林地土壤肥力亦得到较快的恢复,保留     

广西典型土壤上不同林分的土壤肥力分析与综合评价

通过对广西山地黄壤、棕色石灰性土、赤红壤3种类型土壤上不同林分林下0—30cm土层土壤的pH值,有机质,全量N、P、K,速效N、P、K及CEC(阳离子交换量)等肥力因子的比较和综合评价,研究了3种类型土壤不同林分下的肥力演变状况。结果表明:不同林分对土壤肥力状况影响不同,山地黄壤上松木林和成年桦林土壤有机质含量分别是自然林的2.55和3.16倍,而新植桦林土壤速效养分明显高于自然林;棕色石灰性土上任豆林的有机质、全氮、全磷、碱解氮、速效磷、速效钾和CEC含量均为较高,而枇杷林的pH值明显比另外3种林分的低;赤红壤上种植第2代的速生桉林碱解氮含量明显比马尾松针阔叶自然林低,而有机质、全氮、全钾、速效钾均略高于自然林。不同类型土壤的综合评价结果表明,山地黄壤上自然林松林西南桦林;棕色石灰性土4种林分土壤的综合评价是任豆林≈竹林枇杷林=银合欢;赤红壤上马尾松针阔叶自然林≈第2代速生桉林。     

滇西北高原纳帕海湿地植物多样性与土壤肥力的关系

采用植物群落研究法与原状土就地取样技术,研究了滇西北高原典型退化湿地纳帕海植物多样性、土壤养分、酶活性格局特征及其相互关系.随着湿地原生沼泽向沼泽化草甸、草甸的演替,湿地植物群落盖度增加、物种组成增多,群落优势种优势度减小,伴生种数量增加,植物多样性呈增加趋势;湿地土壤有机质、全氮含量不断减少,过氧化氢酶、蛋白酶、蔗糖酶活性增加,脲酶活性降低.植物α多样性指数(辛普森、香浓-维纳指数)与湿地土壤有机质、全氮含量呈负相关,与土壤过氧化氢酶、蛋白酶、蔗糖酶活性呈正相关,与脲酶活性呈负相关;土壤有机质、全氮含量与过氧化氢酶、蛋白酶、蔗糖酶活性呈一致负相关,与脲酶活性则成正相关.湿地景观在一定程度上反映了人为生产活动干扰的类型与强度,其植物多样性、土壤养分和酶活性特征及其相互关系是湿地生态系统演替过程中时空间体现,研究结果揭示了人为干扰下湿地退化的生态学过程及机理,可为我国高原湿地生物多样性保护,退化湿地生态恢复与湿地资源可持续利用提供一定的理论依据.     

Cadmium status of soils and plants from a long-term fertility experiment in southeast Norway

To determine whether the use of phosphate fertilizer resulted in measurable cadmium accumulation in soils and crops harvested, soil and plant samples were collected from some selected treatments of a seventy year-old fertilizer experiment at Møystad, southeast Norway. Soil samples after extraction with Aqua Regia or 1M NH₄NO₃ and plant samples after digestion were analyzed for Cd. Cadmium balance based on fertilizer and atmospheric inputs and crop removal and leaching losses was worked out. Neither the total nor the available (NH₄NO₃-extractable) Cd in the soil was significantly affected by Cd added through fertilizer, though a tendency of higher Cd in soils from the plots receiving higher amounts of fertilizer was seen. The same trend was also observed for the Cd concentration in plants. Annual Cd input rates (fertilizer and atmosphere) varied from 1.20 to 2.57 g Cd ha^-1 y^-1 and the Cd removal (crops and leaching) rates varied from 1.16 to 1.79 g Cd ha^-1 y^-1. The balance calculations based on the seventy years data indicated Cd accumulation in the soil was <1 g Cd ha^-1 y^-1, but that increasing the doses of either commercial fertilizer or farm yard manure would likely result in increased accumulation of the element. This may have a negative impact because the available soil Cd content would be increased at a faster rate, resulting in increased plant uptake. Although Cd tended to accumulate as a result of P fertilization, the rate of increase was slow. The annual increase in the total Cd content of fertilized plots varied from 0.04 to 0.12% indicating that it may take from 800 to 2000 years, depending upon the fertilizer input, to accumulate Cd equivalent to that currently present in the soil.     

Transformations and plant uptake of urine-sulphate in urine-affected areas of pasture soil

The fate of sheep urine sulphate in the soil and its plant uptake was monitored using ³⁵S-labelled sulphate-S in undisturbed pasture microplots in two glasshouse experiments. The extent of macropore flow of simulated urine immediately following a sheep urination was also investigated at 5 pasture sites in the field. Immediately following urination to pasture microplots in the glasshouse, the amounts of urinederived ³⁵S recovered in the 0–2.5, 2.5–7.5, 7.5–15 and 15–30 cm soil layers were 38, 28, 18 and 9%, respectively. In the field study on 5 contrasting soils, a similar pattern was found with 55–70, 20–35 and 13–20% of simulated urine being recovered in the 0–5, 5–10 and 10–15 cm soil layers, respectively. There was insignificant loss below 15 cm. If urine had moved via simple displacement in these soils the wetting front would have reached only 2.0–2.5 cm in depth suggesting that significant downward movement of urine via macropore flow occurs after urination. In a 15-day period following urine application to a pasture soil there was a rapid rate of incorporation of ³⁵S into organic forms, while between 15 and 64 days the rate of incorporation declined. After 7 days, 27% of added ³⁵S had been incorporated into organic forms with 19% being C-bonded S and 8% Hl-reducible S. This rapid incorporation was attributed to the large and active microbial biomass present in the rhizosphere. Since urine application depressed pasture growth, due to ‘urine burn’, less than 10% of applied ³⁵S was absorbed by pasture plants over a 64-day period. A second experiment using microplots of contrasting soil types, confirmed that the majority of the ³⁵S incorporated into the organic form was present as C-bonded S. Results showed that of the ³⁵S remaining in the 0–2.5 cm layer 35 days after application, 20–40% was present as sulphate, 10–20% as Hl-reducible S and 50–60% as C-bonded S. Plant uptake of S accounted for only 7–12% of applied ³⁵S over the 35-day period.     

松嫩平原玉米带农田土壤氮密度时空格局

基于1980年吉林省第二次全国土壤普查剖面资料和2003—2006年的实测数据,估算了松嫩平原玉米带不同土壤类型农田表层(0—20 cm)土壤氮密度和储量,分析了该地区土壤氮密度的25a时空变化特征及其原因。结果表明,两个时期松嫩平原玉米带农田土壤氮密度的空间分布格局基本一致,中部高、边缘低,平均土壤氮密度变化不大,均为0.31 kg/m2,但25 a间不同土壤类型和土地利用方式的土壤氮密度变化趋势存在差异,暗棕壤、水稻土和沼泽土的氮密度上升,其它类型土壤的氮密度不变或下降,旱田的氮密度不变,水田的氮密度明显下降,25 a间研究区内的农田土壤总氮储量每年减少7.6×105kg。25 a间土壤氮密度的变化与1980年的初始值负相关,土壤氮密度的新稳定状态值为0.32 kg/m2。如保持1980年的土地利用方式和栽培耕作措施不变,该地区农田土壤总固氮潜力为5.18×106kg/a。但实际上,与固氮潜力相比,2005年该区农田土壤总氮储量偏低了1.20×108kg。因此,今后该区应多注重肥料的合理施用,加强农田管理,尤其是旱田改水田的管理。     

黄绿蜜环菌蘑菇圈生长对土壤及植物群落的影响

通过调查青海省祁连县峨堡乡野生黄绿蜜环菌蘑菇圈发生季节蘑菇圈上、圈外植物群落的物种多样性、植物群落种类组成及多度变化 ,分析了蘑菇圈上、圈外土壤主要微生物类群的数量变化、土壤水分、速效养分、交换性阳离子及pH等的差异。结果表明 ,蘑菇圈上和圈外植物群落组成种类不同 ,圈上物种数明显高于圈外物种数 ;圈上各物种分盖度总和比圈外高出 4 9 .16 % ,但圈上和圈外优势种及主要伴生种相同。在 0～ 10cm土壤层 ,圈上土壤含水量、速效磷、硝态氮、氨态氮的含量明显高于圈外 ,但土壤有机质、交换性Ca2 + 、交换性Mg2 + 和pH值的变化不明显 ;在 10～ 2 0cm土壤层 ,圈上速效磷、硝态氮、氨态氮的含量仍明显高于圈外 ,但土壤含水量变化趋势相反 ,圈外高于圈上。在 0～ 10cm土壤层 ,细菌、放线菌、真菌及纤维素分解菌的数量 ,均以圈上显著高于圈外 (P <0 . 0 5 ) ;在 10～ 2 0cm土层 ,它们的数量差异不显著 (P <0 . 0 1)。在两层土壤中 ,各类微生物数量表现为 :细菌 >放线菌 >真菌 >纤维素分解菌。     

高肥力土壤条件下不同基因型花生对氮素利用的差异

在桶栽条件下,利用¹⁵N示踪技术,选用20个基因型花生为供试材料,研究了高肥力土壤条件下不同基因型花生对氮素利用的差异.结果表明:高肥力土壤条件下花生氮素营养以土壤氮为主,根瘤固氮次之,肥料氮最低.不同基因型间花生对全氮、肥料氮、土壤氮和根瘤固氮的吸收和积累均存在显著差异,基因型间遗传变异以根瘤固氮最大,肥料氮和土壤氮相当.氮素荚果生产效率和氮肥利用率基因型间差异显著,最高值分别为最低值的3.6和2.1倍.全氮、肥料氮、土壤氮和根瘤固氮的氮素收获指数基因型间均存在显著遗传变异,且以根瘤固氮的氮素收获指数基因型间遗传变异最大.花生荚果产量与不同氮源氮素积累量及氮素收获指数、氮素荚果生产效率和氮肥利用率呈显著或极显著正相关.依据花生对不同氮源氮素吸收积累和荚果产量筛选出全氮高积累高产型、肥料氮高积累高产型、土壤氮高积累高产型和根瘤固氮高积累高产型四大类型花生,其中四大类型特征兼有的有4个花生基因型.     

Net changes of soil C stocks in two grassland soils 26 months after simulated pasture renovation including biochar addition

The use of deep‐rooting pasture species as a management practice can increase the allocation of plant carbon (C) below ground and enhance C storage. A 2‐year lysimeter trial was set up to compare changes in C stocks of soils under either deep‐ or shallow‐rooting pastures and investigate whether biochar addition below the top 10 cm could promote root growth at depth. For this i) soil ploughing at cultivation was simulated in a silt loam soil and in a sandy soil by inverting the 0 to 10 and 10‐ to 20‐cm‐depth soil layers, and a distinctive biochar (selected for each soil to overcome soil‐specific plant growth limitations) was mixed at 10 Mg ha^?1 in the buried layer, where appropriate and ii) three pasture types with contrasting root systems were grown. In the silt loam, soil inversion resulted in a general loss of C (2.0–8.1 Mg ha^?1), particularly in the buried horizon, under shallow‐rooting pastures only. The addition of a C‐rich biochar (equivalent to 7.6 Mg C ha^?1) to this soil resulted in a net C gain (21–40% over the non‐biochar treatment, P < 0.10) in the buried layer under all pastures; this overcame the loss of C in this horizon under shallow‐rooting pastures. In the sandy soil, all pastures were able to maintain soil C stocks at 10–20 cm depth over time, with minor gains of C (1.6–5.1 Mg ha^?1) for the profile. In this soil, the exposure of a skeletal‐ and nutrient‐depleted soil layer at the surface may have fostered root growth at depth. The addition of a nutrient‐rich biochar (equivalent to 3.6 Mg C ha^?1) to this soil had no apparent effect on C stocks. More research is needed to understand the mechanisms through which soil C stocks at depth are preserved.     

丹参氮、磷肥效效应及最佳施肥模式研究

在陕西省商州市山阳县不同肥力土壤上,采用N、P二因素五水平最优设计,进行了丹参氮、磷优化配方施肥模式研究的多点田问试验。根据田间试验结果,求得不同土壤肥力水平下的N、P肥效反应方程,根据方程提出丹参不同产量水平的N、P合理配比和肥料用量。寻优结果表明,在山阳低肥力土壤目标产量10000～11500kg／hm^2之间的施氮为88．17～165．7kg／hm^2,施磷(P2O4)为88．18～165．7kg／hm^2;中肥力土壤目标产量在11000～14000kg／hm^2之间的施N量为108．5～187．4kg／hm^2,施磷(P2O5)为105．1～179．5kg／hm^2;高肥力土壤目标产量在20000～25000kg／hm^2之间的施N量为85．4～173．1kg／hm^2,施磷(P2O5)为121．95～179．01kg／hm^2。合理施用N、P肥有利于提高丹参产量,但过量施肥会造成丹参减产。     

渝东山地黄壤肥力变化与植物群落演替的关系

从土壤的理化因子出发,利用综合评价的方法,对渝东地区城口县坪坝区大巴山南坡山地黄壤的土壤肥力变化特征与地上植被类型之间的关系进行了研究.结果表明,马尾松林、杉木林、落叶栎类林、茶树林和常绿阔叶林下土壤肥力的综合指标值分别为0.1256、0.2085、0.351、0.2479、0.9329.阔叶林(落叶栎类林、茶树林和常绿阔叶林)下山地黄壤的土壤肥力综合指标值均大于针叶林(马尾松林、杉木林)下山地黄壤的土壤肥力综合指标值.即使在同一植被类型下,由于建群种的不同,其土壤肥力综合指标值也不相同.根据植物群落演替的过程可以断定土壤的发育与植物群落演替是两个密不可分、相辅相成的过程.     

华北地区土壤水分的时空变化特征

土壤水分是重要的水文参数,也是水循环、气候变化等研究的基本要素.本研究利用中国气象局新一代自动土壤水分观测网逐小时土壤水分观测数据,分析2013-2019年间华北地区土壤水分的时空分布和变化趋势及其与降水和温度的关系.结果 表明:研究期间,华北地区10～100 cm土层土壤水分整体呈波动下降趋势,尤以100 cm根区土...     

不同土壤肥力条件下施氮量对小麦氮肥利用和土壤硝态氮含量的影响

在土壤肥力不同的两块高产田上,利用15N示踪技术,研究了高产条件下施氮量对冬小麦氮肥吸收利用、籽粒产量和品质的影响,及小麦生育期间土壤硝态氮含量的变化.结果表明：1.成熟期小麦植株积累的氮素73.32%～87.27%来自土壤,4.51%～9.40%来自基施氮肥,8.22%～17.28%来自追施氮肥;随施氮量增加,植株吸收的土壤氮量减少,吸收的肥料氮量和氮肥在土壤中的残留量显著增加,小麦对肥料氮的吸收率显著降低;小麦对基施氮肥的吸收量、吸收率和基施氮肥在土壤中的残留量、残留率均显著小于追施氮肥,基施氮肥的损失量和损失率显著大于追施氮肥;较高土壤肥力条件下,植株吸收更多的土壤氮素,吸收的肥料氮量较少,土壤中残留的肥料氮量和肥料氮的损失量较高,不同地块肥料氮吸收、残留和损失的差异主要表现在基施氮肥上.2.当施氮量为105 kg/hm2时,收获后0～100cm土体内未发现硝态氮大量累积,随施氮量增加,0～100cm土体内硝态氮含量显著增加;施氮量大于195 kg/hm^2时,小麦生育期间硝态氮呈明显的下移趋势,土壤肥力较高地块,硝态氮下移较早,下移层次深.3.随施氮量增加,小麦氮素吸收效率和氮素利用效率降低,适量施氮有利于提高成熟期小麦植株氮素积累量、籽粒产量和蛋白质含量;施氮量过高籽粒产量和蛋白质含量不再显著增加,甚至降低;较高土壤肥力条件下,获得最高籽粒产量和蛋白质含量所需施氮量较低.     

黑河流域山区牧坡草地土壤呼吸的时间变化及水热因子影响

采用LI600-09土壤呼吸室和LI-600便携式光合作用测量系统,在生长季节对黑河流域山区牧坡草地土壤呼吸速率进行了连续观测,研究不同环境条件下土壤CO₂释放速率及其对气候和土地利用变化的反馈作用.结果表明,牧坡草地土壤呼吸速率的日变化规律为夜间土壤呼吸速率较低,最低值在5～10月份,分别出现在7:00、6:30、5:30、5:00、6:00和7:00,此后开始升高,达到最大值的时间分别为15:00、14:30、14:30、13:30、14:00和15:00,在16:00～18:30又逐渐下降,整个过程呈单峰曲线;土壤呼吸速率日均值介于0.31～6.98μmol·m^-2·s^-1.土壤呼吸速率7、8月份最高,5月与9月份次之,月与10月份基本一致,整个过程的变化趋势呈单峰曲线形式.土壤呼吸速率与温度呈显著指数关系,与土壤含水量呈显著乘幂关系.     

Comparison of initial wetting pattern,nutrient concentrations in soil solution and the fate of15N-labelled urine in sheep and cattle urine patch areas of pasture soil

Three field experiments were carried out to compare cattle and sheep urine patches in relation to (i) initial wetting pattern and volume of soil affected, (ii) soil solution ionic composition and (iii) the fate of¹⁵N-labelled urine in the soil over the winter period. The distribution of Br^– (used as a urine tracer) across the soil surface and down the profile was irregular in all the patches. The pasture area covered by Br^– in the sheep patches was 0.04–0.06 m² and Br^– was detected to a depth of 150 mm. Cattle patches were significantly larger covering a surface area of 0.38–0.42 m² and penetrating to a depth of 400 mm. The rapid downward movement of urine occurred through macropore flow but even so, over half of the applied Br^– was detected in the 0–50 mm soil layer in both sheep and cattle patches. Due to the larger volume of urine added to the cattle patches (2000 mL for cattle and 200 mL for sheep) the effective application rate was about 5 L m^–2 compared with 4 L m^–2 for sheep. Concentrations of extractable mineral N and ionic concentrations in soil solution were higher in cattle than sheep patches particularly near the soil surface. In both sheep and cattle patches, urea was rapidly hydrolysed to NH ₄ ⁺ and nitrification occurred between 14 and 29 days after urine application. Initially the major anions and cations in the soil solution were HCO ₃ ^– , SO ₄ ⁼ , Cl^–, NH ₄ ⁺ , Mg⁺⁺, K⁺ and Na⁺, which were derived from the urine application. Ionic concentrations in the soil solution decreased appreciably over time due to plant uptake and possibly some leaching. As nitrification proceeded, NO ₃ ^– became the dominant anion in soil solution and the major accompanying cation was Ca⁺⁺. The fate of¹⁵N-labelled urine-urea was followed during a 5 month period beginning in late autumn. Greater leaching losses of NO ₃ ^– occurred below cattle patches (equivalent to 60 kg N ha^–1 below 300 mm and 37 kg N ha^–1 below 600 mm) compared with sheep patches (10 kg N ha^–1 below 300 mm and 1 kg N ha^– below 600 mm). While 6% of the applied¹⁵N was leached the amount of N leached was equivalent to 11% of the applied urine-N in cattle patches. This suggests that there was significant immobilsation-mineralisation turnover in urine patch soil with the release of mineral N from native soil organic matter. In both sheep and cattle patches 60% of the¹⁵N was accounted for in plant uptake, remaining in the soil and leaching. About 40% of the applied N was therefore lost through gaseous emission.     

Temporal changes in C,P and N concentrations in soil solution following application of synthetic sheep urine to a soil under grass

We have determined the temporal changes in the concentration of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and P and N components in soil solution following application of synthetic sheep urine (500 kg N ha^-1) to a brown forest soil in boxes sown with Agrostis capillaris. Three contrasting defoliation treatments (no cutting, single cut before urine application and regular cutting twice per week) plus a fallow soil were studied. The synthetic urine contained ¹⁵N labelled urea and was P-free. Intact soil cores were taken after 2, 7, 14, 21 and 56 d and centrifuged to obtain soil solution. The urea in the synthetic urine was rapidly hydrolysed in the soil, increasing soil solution pH, DOC and total dissolved phosphorus (TDP) concentrations. For the regularly defoliated sward, DOC and P reached maximum concentrations (4000 mg DOC L^-1 and 59 mg TDP L^-1) on day 7. From their peak values, pH and DOC and P concentrations generally decreased with time and at day 56 were near those of the control. Concentrations of NH₄ ⁺ and NO₃ ^- in the no-urine treatments fluctuated and the greatest treatment differences were between the fallow soil and the soil sown with grass. Adding synthetic urine increased NH₄ ⁺ concentrations during the first week, but NO₃ ^- concentrations decreased. This was consistent with the ¹⁵N labelling of the NO₃ ^- pool which required 3 weeks to reach that of ¹⁵NH₄ ⁺. Dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) reached a maximum value at day 7 with a concentration of 409 mg N L^-1. The DON in soil solution contained no detectable amounts of ¹⁵N label indicating that it was derived from sources in the soil. Differences in soil solution composition related to the effect of the other cutting treatments and the fallow treatment were small compared to the effect of synthetic urine addition. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

15N natural abundance in forest and pasture soils of the Brazilian Amazon Basin

The natural abundance of ¹⁵N was examined in soil profiles from forests and pastures of the Brazilian Amazon Basin to compare tropical forests on a variety of soil types and to investigate changes in the sources of nitrogen to soils following deforestation for cattle ranching. Six sites in the state of Rondônia, two sites in Pará and one in Amazonas were studied. All sites except one were chronosequences and contained native forest and one or more pastures ranging from 2 to 27 years old. Forest soil ¹⁵N values to a depth of 1 m ranged from 8 to 23 and were higher than values typically found in temperate forests. A general pattern of increasing ¹⁵N values with depth near the soil surface was broadly similar to patterns in other forests but a decrease in ¹⁵N values in many forest profiles between 20 and 40 cm suggests that illuviation of ¹⁵N-depleted nitrate may influence total soil ¹⁵N values in deeper soil where total N concentrations are low. In four chronosequences in Rondônia, the ¹⁵N values of surface soil from pastures were lower than in the original forest and ¹⁵N values were increasingly depleted in older pastures. Inputs of atmospheric N by dinitrogen fixation could be an important N source in these pastures. Other pastures in Amazonas and Pará and Rondônia showed no consistent change from forest values. The extent of fractionation that leads to ¹⁵N enrichment in soils was broadly similar over a wide range of soil textures and indicated that similar processes control N fractionation and loss under tropical forest over a broad geographic region. Forest ¹⁵N profiles were consistent with conceptual models that explain enrichment of soil ¹⁵N values by selective loss of ¹⁴N during nitrification and denitrification.