高寒草甸退化对祁连山土壤微生物生物量和氮矿化速率的影响

为深入了解高寒草甸退化对草原生态系统中土壤微生物碳氮量、土壤氮矿化及土壤微生物相关酶的变化特征,以祁连山东缘4个不同退化程度(未退化、轻度退化、中度退化和极度退化)的高寒草甸为研究对象,采集了深度为0—10 cm的土壤样品,并对不同退化程度高寒草甸中植物因子、土壤理化性质、土壤氨化速率、土壤硝化速率、土壤净氮矿化速率以及转化氮素的相关酶和微生物进行了相关研究。结果表明:(1)随退化程度的加剧,高寒草甸土壤中氨化速率和净氮矿化速率逐渐降低,硝化速率逐渐升高;(2)高寒草甸的退化降低了有关氮素转化相关酶,如土壤蛋白酶、脲酶、亮氨酸氨基肽酶的活性,而β-乙酰葡糖胺糖苷酶的活性呈先下降后上升趋势,且在极度退化草地活性最高;(3)随退化程度的加剧,高寒草甸土壤中微生物生物量碳和氮的含量逐渐降低,同时土壤基础呼吸、土壤微生物熵和代谢熵的指数也呈下降趋势。RDA分析表明,高寒草甸中氨化速率和净氮矿化速率与微生物生物量碳、微生物生物量氮、土壤基础呼吸、植物高度、植被盖度、地上生物量、蛋白酶、脲酶以及亮氨酸氨基肽酶呈显著正相关,而硝化速率则表现为负相关性。因此,高寒草甸退化对土壤微生物特性以及氮素转化和循环具有重要影响。     

氮素添加和刈割对内蒙古弃耕草地土壤氮矿化的影响

以内蒙古多伦县恢复生态学试验示范研究站弃耕10余年的草地为研究对象,于2006年起分别设置对照、氮素添加、刈割和氮素添加+刈割4种处理,每种处理6次重复,研究弃耕草地氮素添加和刈割对土壤氮矿化的影响,结合土壤理化性质和植被地上生产力的动态变化,分析弃耕草地土壤氮矿化对植被恢复的响应,为当地草地恢复与重建提供理论依据和数据支持。实验结果表明:1氮素添加显著增加了植物地上净初级生产力(ANPP)和土壤无机氮库,与对照相比分别提高115%和196%,同时显著提高了土壤总硝化速率;但是氮素添加对总氨化速率、土壤微生物生物量碳(MBC)、微生物生物量氮(MBN)、微生物生物量碳氮比(MBC/MBN)、微生物呼吸(MR)以及呼吸熵(q CO2)均无显著影响;2总氨化速率和硝化速率对刈割处理的响应均不显著,但是刈割处理显著降低了土壤MR(P0.05);3氮素添加+刈割处理5—7a后,土壤总氨化和硝化速率均无显著变化;但是氮素添加+刈割处理显著增加了ANPP、土壤无机氮库和q CO2,同时显著降低了MBC和MBC/MBN。这说明在弃耕草地适应性管理中,氮素添加可以显著提高草地生产力,但是长期的氮添加对土壤微生物氮的转化是否有利还值得我们进一步研究。     

添加氮素对沙质草地土壤氮素有效性的影响

通过氮素添加(20g.m-2.a-1)试验,研究了科尔沁沙地东南部沙质草地生态系统土壤氮矿化及有效氮的季节变化。对2006年生长季的观测发现,添加氮素显著提高了沙质草地生长季土壤铵态氮、硝态氮、矿质氮的含量以及9月1日至10月15日的净氮矿化速率与硝化速率;添加氮素导致土壤有效氮的季节变异增大,净氮矿化(1.29～11.60mg.kg-1.30d-1)与硝化(-4.15～11.20mg.kg-1.30d-1)速率随时间呈上升趋势,铵态氮含量逐渐降低,硝态氮与矿质氮(6.49～20.66mg.kg-1)含量的变化呈"V"型,最小值出现在生物量生长高峰期的7月中旬。该沙质草地土壤氮的有效性较低,施氮肥可明显提高土壤供氮能力。     

氮磷添加对亚热带常绿阔叶林土壤氮素矿化的影响

设计了2种处理(即氮添加,100 kg N·hm-2·a-1;氮磷添加,100 kgN·hm-2·a-1+50kgP·hm-2·a-1),研究了氮磷添加对亚热带北部常绿阔叶林土壤无机氮和氮素矿化的影响.结果表明,不同处理0 ～ 10 cm和10 ～ 20 cm土层无机氮(铵态氮+硝态氮)含量年平均值分别为:对照7.27和6.80 mg·kg-1、氮添加13.94和8.92 mg·kg-1、氮磷添加11.20和7.13 mg·kg-1,其中铵态氮分别占90.66％和91.15％、65.78％和72.85％、84.64％和85.08％.不同处理0～10 cm和10 ～20 cm土层的净氨化、净硝化和净氮矿化速率具有相似的季节性变化规律,即夏季氮素净转化速率最高,冬季氮素净转化速率最低,春季和秋季氮素净转化速率有一定差异,但不显著.研究表明,养分添加使土壤年平均净氮矿化速率下降,氮添加使土壤硝化速率下降,氨化速率上升;而氮磷添加使硝化速率上升,氨化速率下降.养分添加对森林生态系统的氮动态影响效应尚需长期定位观测.     

重度放牧对欧亚温带草原东缘生态样带土壤氮矿化及其温度敏感性的影响

以欧亚温带草原东缘生态样带为平台,以样带上未放牧和重度放牧配对样地为研究对象,开展重度放牧对欧亚温带典型草原土壤氮矿化及其温度敏感性的影响研究。结果表明:(1)在室内培养条件下,土壤氮积累量和土壤净氮矿化速率呈现出干燥度指数较大的样点显著大于干燥度指数最低的样点(P0.05)。在相对湿润的样点,土壤氮素矿化周转速率较快;(2)重度放牧对不同样点土壤氮积累量和土壤氮矿化速率的影响是不同的。在干燥度指数较高样点,重度放牧样地土壤铵态氮减少量和速率较未放牧样地低(P0.05),重度放牧显著降低了土壤硝态氮积累量、无机氮积累量、硝化速率、净氮矿化速率(P0.05);在干燥度指数较低样点,重度放牧样地土壤铵态氮减少量和速率较未放牧样地高(P0.05),重度放牧对土壤硝态氮积累量、无机氮积累量、硝化速率、净氮矿化速率影响不大(P0.05);(3)土壤氮矿化作用温度敏感性(Q_(10))变化范围在1.61—2.06,重度放牧对Q_(10)无显著影响。随着纬度的升高,Q_(10)呈升高趋势。Q_(10)与基质质量指数以及表观活化能与基质质量指数均呈显著的负相关关系(P0.05);(4)土壤硝态氮积累量、无机氮积累量、硝化速率、净氮矿化速率对重度放牧的响应比与干燥度指数呈极显著负相关(P0.01),重度放牧对欧亚温带典型草原土壤氮矿化的影响受气候条件(温度和降水)的调控。     

降水变化与氮添加对晋北盐碱化草地土壤净氮矿化的影响

于2018年在晋北典型农牧交错带盐碱化草地设置增减降水和氮添加处理试验, 2019年生长季(5—9月)采用原位顶盖PVC埋管法测定不同水、氮处理下土壤净氮矿化速率,研究盐碱化草地土壤净氮矿化速率对降水格局变化和氮沉降的响应。结果表明: 土壤净氮矿化速率表现出明显的季节动态。单独增减降水(±50%)和氮添加(10 g·m^-2·a^-1)以及氮添加+增加50%降水处理对土壤净氮矿化速率影响不显著,氮添加+减少50%降水处理显著提高土壤净硝化速率和净氮矿化速率,分别提高10.8和8.6倍。土壤净氮矿化速率与土壤含水量呈显著正相关,与土壤pH值呈显著负相关。氮添加在不同降水条件下对晋北盐碱化草地土壤氮矿化速率的影响存在差异,土壤含水量与pH值是晋北盐碱化草地土壤净氮矿化速率的主要影响因素。因此,全面评估草地土壤氮矿化过程对全球变化的响应模式,需要考虑降水格局变化与氮沉降增加的交互作用,以及盐碱化草地土壤理化性质的特殊性。     

大兴安岭北部天然针叶林土壤氮矿化特征

采用顶盖埋管法对大兴安岭地区天然针叶林(樟子松林、樟子松-兴安落叶松混交林和兴安落叶松林)土壤铵态氮(NH~+_4-N)、硝态氮(NO~-_3-N)、净氮矿化速率进行研究,并探索土壤理化性质与氮矿化之间的相关性,为大兴安岭地区森林生态系统土壤养分管理及森林经营提供帮助。结果表明:观测期内(5—10月)3种林型土壤无机氮变化范围为31.51—70.42 mg/kg,以NH~+_4-N形式存在为主,占比达90%以上,且与纯林相比混交林土壤无机氮含量较高。3种林型土壤净氮矿化、净氨化、净硝化速率月变化趋势呈V型,7、8月表现为负值,其他月份为正值。净氮矿化速率变化范围樟子松林为-0.54—1.28 mg kg~(-1) d~(-1)、樟子松-兴安落叶松混交林为-0.13—0.55 mg kg~(-1) d~(-1)、兴安落叶松林为-0.80—1.05 mg kg~(-1) d~(-1)。土壤净氨化过程在土壤氮矿化中占主要地位,占比达60%以上。3种林型土壤净氮矿化、净氨化及净硝化速率垂直差异显著,0—10 cm土层矿化作用明显高于10—20 cm土层(P0.05)。土壤氮矿化速率与土壤含水量、土壤有机碳含量、土壤C/N、枯落物全氮含量和枯落物C/N均存在显著相关性。不同类型的森林土壤及枯落物的质量也存在差异,进而影响土壤氮矿化特征。     

氮磷添加对内蒙古温带典型草原净氮矿化的影响

氮素矿化是决定土壤供氮能力的重要生态过程, 也是目前国内外土壤氮循环研究的重点。养分添加在调节土壤的氮转化方面起着重要的作用。该文以内蒙古锡林河流域温带典型草原为研究对象, 通过不同水平的氮(N)和磷(P)养分添加实验, 利用树脂芯原位培养法分析研究不同水平施氮、施磷对生长季草地土壤氮矿化的影响。结果表明: 高氮处理对草地土壤硝态氮(NO₃^- -N)、铵态氮(NH₄⁺ -N)及无机氮都有明显的影响, 其中25 g N·m^?2·a^?1和10 g N·m^?2·a^?1高氮处理显著提高了无机氮含量, 25 g N·m^?2·a^?1高氮处理显著增加土壤的NO₃^- -N及NH₄⁺ -N含量。与施氮相比, 施磷处理对土壤NO₃^--N、NH₄⁺ -N及无机氮的影响较为有限, 只有12.5 g P₂O₅·m^-2·a^-1的磷处理显著促进了NO₃^- -N及无机氮含量。高氮处理对草地土壤氮素转化有明显影响, 其中25 g N·m^?2·a^?1高氮处理对净硝化速率、氨化速率及矿化速率都有显著的促进作用, 说明高梯度的施氮处理有利于提高土壤的供氮能力。氮是内蒙古锡林河流域草原生态系统有机氮矿化的限制因子。与施氮相比, 施磷处理对草地土壤氮转化的作用较为有限, 仅有12.5 g P₂O₅·m^-2·a^-1 + 2 g N·m^?2·a^?1处理显著促进生长季中期的净氨化速率。说明施磷对土壤氮转化的影响弱于施氮的影响。养分添加显著提高了草地的地上生物量。 养分添加情景下, 土壤湿度与净矿化速率极显著相关, 表明湿度是影响该区域温带草原土壤氮矿化的主效因素。环境因子(如有机碳含量、土壤全氮及土壤C/N)与不同氮处理下的净矿化速率之间显著相关, 而土壤微生物碳、氮含量与土壤氮矿化均没有显著相关性。     

温度对川西亚高山3种森林土壤氮矿化的影响

川西亚高山森林群落土壤氮循环对全球气候变化非常敏感。采用室内培养法,研究川西3个森林群落(天然针叶林、云杉人工林和桦木次生林)土壤有机层和矿质土壤层无机氮含量在两个培养温度(20℃和10℃)下4周内动态变化。结果表明:培养4周后,在20℃培养条件下天然针叶林、云杉人工林和桦木次生林硝态氮含量比在10℃培养条件下分别高出104.32%、52.11%和25.57%;而铵态氮含量仅高出10.18%、24.06%和44.82%。有机层土壤氨化速率、硝化速率和净氮矿化速率大多表现为20℃显著高于10℃;相反,温度对矿质土壤层氮转化速率影响大多不显著。此外,天然林土壤净氨化速率、硝化速率和净氮矿化速率均高于桦木次生林和云杉人工林。实验期间,3个森林群落土壤净硝化速率20℃比10℃高79.03%—128.89%,而净氨化速率仅高37.81%—63.33%。综上所述,温度变化对川西亚高山森林土壤氮矿化具有显著影响,而温度效应因森林类型、土壤层次和氮形态而不同。与矿质土壤层相比,土壤有机层氮矿化对温度变化更为敏感。     

沙坡头地区藓类结皮土壤净氮矿化作用的季节动态

以腾格里沙漠东南缘天然植被区藓类结皮和无结皮土壤为对象,采用野外原状土柱封顶埋管法对无机氮库和净氮转化速率的季节动态特征进行研究.结果表明:藓类结皮和无结皮土壤有效氮含量和净氮转化速率存在明显的季节变化特征,不同月份间差异显著.在非生长季,3和10月土壤有效氮含量和净氮转化速率显著高于其他月,氮矿化过程以固持态为主,两样地间土壤净氮转化速率无显著差异;在生长季,土壤有效氮含量和净氮转化速率显著增加,6—8月时达到峰值,分别为17.18 mg·kg-1和0.11 mg·kg-1·d-1.两样地土壤净硝化速率和净氮矿化速率在各月间差异显著,均表现为藓类结皮土壤>无结皮土壤.土壤铵态氮和硝态氮含量4和5月时表现为藓类结皮土壤(2.66和3.16 mg·kg-1)>无结皮土壤(1.02和2.37mg·kg-1);6—9月则表现为无结皮土壤(7.01和7.40 mg·kg-1)>藓类结皮土壤(6.39和6.36mg·kg-1).藓类结皮的繁衍与拓殖能够调节土壤有效氮含量、促进土壤氮矿化过程,是影响土壤氮素循环的重要生物因素.     

The nitrogen status of Austrian forest ecosystems as influenced by atmospheric deposition,biomass harvesting and lateral organomass exchange

Measurements of the deposition rates of atmospheric trace constituents to forest ecosystems in Austria have shown that the deposition of plant utilizable nitrogen compounds is in the range from 12 kg N to more than 30 kg N ha^-1 a^-1. Locally, even higher deposition rates are encountered as a consequence of point sources or special deposition mechanisms such as fog interception, hoar frost formation, and accumulation in snow drifts. In order to place these values into perspective, they are compared with the nitrogen demand of past and present forest land use and with natural processes of nitrogen depletion and accumulation in forest ecosystems. During wind erosion of forest litter, woody material with a wide C/N-ratio remains on the windward side of ridges, while nutrient-rich material with a narrow C/N-ratio is deposited on the leeward side. As a result, total nitrogen storage in the forest soil as well as overall C/N-ratios change dramatically along a transect over a ridge, thus indicating a strong influence of litter C/N ratio on nitrogen retention in the forest soil. A study of nitrogen stores in the soil of beech ecosystems of the same yield class in the Vienna Woods showed a significant correlation of total N-content with base saturation. These results suggest that nitrogen storage capacity of forest soils may be managed by liming and tree species selection. As knowledge is still meagre, a special study on factors which determine nitrogen storage in forest soils is proposed within the FERN-programme.     

Nitrogen yields from undisturbed watersheds in the Americas

Yields of total fixed nitrogen and nitrogen fractions are summarized for thirty-one watersheds in which anthropogenic disturbance of the nitrogen cycle, either through land use or atmospheric deposition, is negligible or slight. These yields are taken as representative of background conditions over a broad range of watershed areas, elevations, and vegetation types. The data set focuses on watersheds of the American tropics, but also includes information on the Gambia River (Africa) and some small watersheds in the Sierra Nevada of California. For the tropical watersheds, total nitrogen yield averages 5.1 kg ha^–1 y^–1. On average, 30% of the total is particulate and 70% is dissolved. Of the dissolved fraction, an average of 50% is organic and 50% is inorganic, of which 20% is ammonium and 80% is nitrate. Yields are substantially lower than previously estimated for background conditions. Yields of all nitrogen fractions are strongly related to runoff, which also explains a large percentage of variance in yield of total nitrogen (r²=0.85). For total nitrogen and nitrogen fractions, yield increases at about two-thirds the rate of runoff; concentration decreases as runoff increases. There is a secondary but significant positive relationship between elevation and yield of DIN. Ratios DON/TDN and PN/TN both are related to watershed area rather than runoff; DON/TDN decreases and PN/TN increases toward higher stream orders. The analysis suggests for tropical watersheds the existence of mechanisms promoting strong homeostasis in the yield of N and its fractions for a given moisture regime, as well as predictable downstream change in proportionate representation N fractions. Yields and concentrations for small tropical watersheds are much larger than for the few temperate ones with which comparisons are possible.     

Nitrogen outputs from fecal and urine deposition of small mammals: implications for nitrogen cycling

The contribution of small mammals to nitrogen cycling could have repercussions for the producer community in the maintaining or perhaps magnifying of nitrogen availability. Our objective was to model nitrogen outputs (deposition of feces and urine) of small mammals in an old-field ecosystem and estimate the amount of fecal and urinary nitrogen deposited annually. To address this objective, we used models from laboratory studies and combined these with data from field studies to estimate dietary nitrogen and monthly and annual nitrogen outputs from fecal and urine deposition of five rodent species. The models accounted for monthly fluctuations in density and biomass of small-mammal populations. We estimated that the minimal amount of nitrogen deposited by rodents was 1.0 (0.9–1.1) and 2.7 (2.6–2.9) kg Nha⁻¹ year⁻¹ from feces and urine, respectively, for a total contribution of 3.7 (3.5–4.0) kg Nha⁻¹ year⁻¹. Hispid cotton rats (Sigmodon hispidus) accounted for >75% of the total nitrogen output by small mammals. Our estimates of annual fecal and urinary nitrogen deposited by rodents were comparable to nitrogen deposits by larger herbivores and other nitrogen fluxes in grassland ecosystems and should be considered when assessing the potential effects of herbivory on terrestrial nitrogen cycles.     

Yield of nitrogen from minimally disturbed watersheds of the United States

Watersheds of the US Geological Survey's Hydrologic Benchmark Network program were used in estimating annual yield of total nitrogen and nitrogen fractions (ammonium, nitrate, dissolved organic N, particulate N) in relation to amount of runoff, elevation, and watershed area. Only watersheds minimally disturbed with respect to the nitrogen cycle were used in the analysis (mostly natural vegetation cover, no point sources of N, atmospheric deposition of inorganic N < 10 kg ha^–1 y^–1). Statistical analysis of the yields of total nitrogen and nitrogen fractions showed that elevation and watershed area bear no significant relationship to nitrogen yield for these watersheds. The yields of total nitrogen and nitrogen fractions are, however, strongly related to runoff (r ² = 0.91 for total N). Annual yield increases as runoff increases, but at a rate lower than runoff; annual discharge-weighted mean concentrations decline as annual runoff increases. Yields of total nitrogen and most nitrogen fractions bear a relationship to runoff that is nearly indistinguishable from a relationship that was documented previously for minimally disturbed watersheds of the American tropics. Overall, the results suggest strong interlatitudinal convergence of yields and percent fractionation for nitrogen in relation to runoff.     

The impact of humans on the nitrogen cycle,with focus on temperate arable agriculture

The 6 billion people alive today consume about 25 million tonnes of protein nitrogen each year, a requirement that could well increase to 40–45 million tonnes by 2050. Most of them ultimately depend on the Haber-Bosch process to fix the atmospheric N₂ needed to grow at least part of their protein and, over the earth as a whole, this dependency is likely to increase. Humans now fix some 160 million tonnes of nitrogen per year, of which 98 are fixed industrially by the Haber-Bosch process (83 for use as agricultural fertilizer, 15 for industry), 22 during combustion and the rest is fixed during the cultivation of leguminous crops and fodders. These 160 million tonnes have markedly increased the burden of combined nitrogen entering rivers, lakes and shallow seas, as well as increasing the input of NH₃, N₂O, NO and NO₂ to the atmosphere. Nitrogen fertilizers give large economic gains in modern farming systems and under favourable conditions can be used very efficiently. Losses of nitrogen occur from all systems of agriculture, with organic manures being particularly difficult to use efficiently. Although nitrate leaching has received much attention as an economic loss, a cause of eutrophication and a health hazard, gaseous emissions may eventually prove to be the most serious environmentally. Scientists working on the use and fate of nitrogen fertilizers must be careful, clear headed and vigilant in looking for unexpected side effects.     

Time course of N2 fixation in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

Field and greenhouse experiments were conducted to assess the nitrogen fixation rates of four cultivars of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) at different growth stages. The ¹⁵N isotope dilution technique was used to quantify biological nitrogen fixation. In the greenhouse, cultivars M4403 and Kallmet accumulated 301 and 189 mg N plant^–1, respectively, up to 63 days after planting (DAP) of which 57 and 43% was derived from atmosphere. Under field conditions, cultivars Bayocel and Flor de Mayo RMC accumulated in 77 DAP, 147 and 135 kg N ha^–1, respectively, of which approximately one-half was derived from the atmosphere. The rates of N₂ fixation determined at different growth stages increased as the plants developed, and reached a maximum during the reproductive stage both under field and greenhouse conditions. Differences in translocation of N were observed between the cultivars tested, particularly under field conditions. Thus, the fixed N harvest index was 93 and 60 for cultivars Flor de Mayo and Bayocel, respectively. In early stages of growth, the total content of ureides in the plants correlated with the N fixation rates. The findings reported in the present paper can be used to build a strategy for enhancing biological N₂ fixation in common bean.     

嫁接与施氮对甜瓜产量和氮素吸收、利用的影响

通过裂区设计田间试验,主区为2种栽培方式(嫁接栽培和自根栽培),副区为4个施氮水平(0、120、240、360 kg N·hm^-2),研究了栽培方式和施氮量对甜瓜产量和品质、氮素运移和分配,以及氮素利用率的影响.结果表明: 嫁接栽培的甜瓜商品瓜产量较自根甜瓜提高了7.3%,可溶性固形物含量降低了0.16%～3.28%;生长前期嫁接栽培甜瓜氮素累积量较自根栽培低,结果后嫁接栽培氮素累积量显著升高,收获时植株氮素累积量较自根栽培增加了5.2%,果实中的氮素累积量提高了10.3%;嫁接栽培植株氮素向果实的转移量较自根栽培提高了20.9%,嫁接栽培果实中的氮素分配率在80%以上,自根栽培的分配率在80%以下;在同一施氮水平下,嫁接栽培的甜瓜氮素吸收利用率较自根栽培提高了1.3%～4.2%,氮素农学效率提高了2.73～5.56 kg·kg^-1,氮素生理利用率提高了7.39～16.18 kg·kg^-1;从商品瓜产量、氮素吸收量和氮素利用率综合考虑,施氮量240 kg·hm^-2为本区域嫁接甜瓜较适宜的氮素用量.     

Nitrogen inputs to a marine embayment: the importance of groundwater

We examined the importance of nitrogen inputs from groundwater and runoff in a small coastal marine cove on Cape Cod, MA, USA. We evaluated groundwater inputs by three different methods: a water budget, assuming discharge equals recharge; direct measurements of discharge using bell jars; and a budget of water and salt at the mouth of the Cove over several tidal cycles. The lowest estimates were obtained by using a water budget and the highest estimates were obtained using a budget of water and salt at the Cove mouth. Overall there was more than a five fold difference in the freshwater inputs calculated by using these methods. Nitrogen in groundwater appears to be largely derived from on site septic systems. Average nitrate concentrations were highest in the region where building density was greatest. Nitrate in groundwater appeared to behave conservatively in sandy sediments where groundwater flow rates were high (> 11/m²/h), indicating that denitrification was not substantially reducing external nitrogen loading to the Cove. Nitrogen inputs from groundwater were approximately 300 mmol-N/m³/y of Cove water. Road runoff contributed an additional 60 mmol/m³/y. Total nitrogen inputs from groundwater and road runoff to this cove were similar in magnitude to river dominated estuaries in urbanized areas in the United States.     

Available soil nitrogen in relation to fractions of soil nitrogen and other soil properties

The available N of 27 soils from England and Wales was assessed from the amounts of N taken up over a 6-month period by perennial ryegrass grown in pots under uniform environmental conditions. Relationships between availability and the distribution of soil N amongst various fractions were then examined using multiple regression. The relationship: available soil N (mg kg^–1 dry soil)=(N_min×0.672)+(N_inc×0.840)+(N_mom×0.227)–5.12 was found to account for 91% of the variance in available soil N, where N_min=mineral N, N_inc=N mineralized on incubation and N_mom=N in macro-organic matter. The N mineralized on incubation appeared to be derived largely from sources other than the macro-organic matter because these two fractions were poorly correlated. When availability was expressed in terms of available organic N as % of soil organic N (N_ao) the closest relationship with other soil characteristics was: N_ao=[N_inc×(1.395–0.0347×CN_mom]+[N_mom×0.1416], where CN_mom=CN ratio of the macro-organic matter. This relationship accounted for 81% of the variance in the availability of the soil organic N.The conclusion that the macro-organic matter may contribute substantially to the available N was confirmed by a subsidiary experiment in which the macro-organic fraction was separated from about 20 kg of a grassland soil. The uptake of N by ryegrass was then assessed on two subsamples of this soil, one without the macro-organic matter and the other with this fraction returned: uptake was appreciably increased by the macro-organic matter.     

The cycling of organic nitrogen through the atmosphere

Atmospheric organic nitrogen (ON) appears to be a ubiquitous but poorly understood component of the atmospheric nitrogen deposition flux. Here, we focus on the ON components that dominate deposition and do not consider reactive atmospheric gases containing ON such as peroxyacyl nitrates that are important in atmospheric nitrogen transport, but are probably not particularly important in deposition. We first review the approaches to the analysis and characterization of atmospheric ON. We then briefly summarize the available data on the concentrations of ON in both aerosols and rainwater from around the world, and the limited information available on its chemical characterization. This evidence clearly shows that atmospheric aerosol and rainwater ON is a complex mixture of material from multiple sources. This synthesis of available information is then used to try and identify some of the important sources of this material, in particular, if it is of predominantly natural or anthropogenic origin. Finally, we suggest that the flux of ON is about 25 per cent of the total nitrogen deposition flux.