Soil carbon storage potential of direct seeding mulch-based cropping systems in the Cerrados of Brazil

No‐tillage cropping systems with direct seeding into a mulch of plant residues from cover crops – the so‐called direct seeding mulch‐based cropping (DMC) systems – have been adopted widely over the last 10–15 years in the Cerrado region of Brazil. They are replacing the traditional soybean monoculture with bare fallow using conventional tillage (CT) practices. The objective of this study was to examine how DMC practices affect soil organic carbon (SOC) dynamics and to assess their potential for enhanced soil carbon (C) storage. The approach was to determine soil C stocks along a chronosequence of fields under DMC, and then to apply the generic decomposition and yield (G'DAY) plant–soil model to analyse the soil C storage potential for a number of cropping systems. Forty‐five fields were selected on a plateau of Ferralsols in the central Cerrado region to represent a chronosequence of 0–12 years under continuous DMC. Before DMC the fields had been under CT soybean monoculture following the clearing of the native savannah. An average increase in SOC stocks of 0.83 Mg C ha^?1 yr^?1 in the 0–20 cm topsoil was measured. The corresponding increase in total soil nitrogen was 79 kg N ha^?1 yr^?1. The G'DAY model predicted a net accumulation of 0.70–1.15 Mg C ha^?1 yr^?1 in the 0–40 cm topsoil for the first 12 years, depending on the type of soil and DMC system. Model predictions showed that less soil C was accumulated under DMC systems that commenced immediately after clearing the native savannah. Gains in soil C under DMC were primarily due to the introduction of a second crop that caused higher net primary productivity, leading to higher plant C inputs to soil. A rough estimation shows that the conversion of 6 million ha of CT soybean monoculture to DMC in the Cerrados would enhance soil C storage by 4.9 Tg C yr^?1 during at least the first 12 years following the conversion to DMC.     

不同氮输入对湿地草甸沼泽土N_2O排放和有机碳矿化的影响

通过室内培养实验,研究了不同氮输入梯度下(N0:0mg·g-1,N1:0.1mg·g-1,N2:0.2mg·g-1,N3:0.5mg·g-1)湿地草甸沼泽土N2O排放和有机碳矿化特征,并分析了土壤微生物量碳、氮变化规律。整个培养期(23d)内,N0、N1、N2和N3处理N2O排放总量分别为91.12、133.02、147.75和303.45μg.kg-1,随氮输入量增大而增大,表明氮输入对N2O排放产生促进作用;氮输入处理的有机碳矿化速率在整个培养期除最后培养阶段外均低于对照,表明氮输入对有机碳矿化有一定的抑制作用;各氮输入处理土壤微生物量碳降低,与对照差异显著(P0.05),但各处理间差异未达到显著水平,土壤微生物量氮随氮输入量增大呈线性增加,各处理间差异显著(P0.05),表明氮输入影响土壤微生物结构和组成,具体影响机理须进一步探讨。     

Nitrogen released from different plant residues of the Loess Plateau and their additions on contents of microbial biomass carbon, nitrogen in soil

An incubation method was used to investigate the nitrogen release characteristics from the residue of ten plant species which commonly grow in the northern part of the Loess Plateau. The effect of the residue on soil microbial biomass carbon (SMBC) and soil microbial biomass nitrogen (SMBN) was also determined. There were significant differences in the total N content and the C/N ratios among the different types of plant residue. The total N content of the residues ranged from 6.61 to 32.78 g kg^?1. The C/N ratio of the residue ranged from 14 to 65. There was an immediate increase in soil N after alfalfa, erect milkvetch, and korshinsk peashrub residue was added to the soil. In contrast, soil N decreased after elm, sea buckthorn, and wild peach residue was added to the soil. The soil N content remained relatively low for 14–34 days and then increased. This indicated that N immobilization occurred during the early portion of the incubation period when elm, sea buckthorn and wild peach residue was added to the soil. Soil N levels were low during the entire incubation period when simon poplar, locust, Stipa bungeana, and old world bluestem residue were added to the soil. The addition of plant residue significantly increased SMBC and SMBN in all treatments. The SMBC and SMBN values were greatest in treatments containing plant residue with high total N content and low C/N ratios. The C/N ratios of korshinsk peashrub, sea buckthorn, and wild peach residues were similar, but the amount of N released from these residues and the effects of the residue on SMBC and SMBN in soil were significantly different. This indicates that not only the C/N ratio but also the chemical composition of the plant residue affected decomposition. It is important to consider C and N release characteristics from plant residue in order to adjust the C and N balance of soil when revegetating degraded ecosystems.     

Effect of legume-based cropping systems on nitrogen mineralization potential of Vertisol

The quantity and patterns of net mineralization of soil nitrogen (N) were studied in Vertisols under different cropping systems in the semi-arid tropical areas. Eight cropping systems were selected; three contained pigeonpea (PP), one contained PP and cowpea (COP), and two contained chickpea (CP) as legume component crops, one included sequence cropping with nonlegumes during the rainy and postrainy seasons, and one system was kept fallow (F) during the rainy season and sown to sorghum (S) during the postrainy season. Cropping systems with PP as a component crop increased mineralizable N(N _o ) content two-fold in the soil compared with fallow + sorghum (F+S)–F+S system. The N mineralization rate constant (k) was not significantly affected by previous cropping history of the soil; however, a numerically higher rate constant was observed in the COP/PP intercrop, followed by sequential S+safflower (SF) system as compared to the other soils. Mineral N accumulation curves for six soils were more accurately described by the exponential model than the linear model. The active N fraction (N _o /N_tot %) varied between 8 and 16% for different systems and a direct relationship was observed between N _o /N_tot and total N for the soils under diverse cropping systems.ICRISAT JA (1638)     

川西北泡沙参种群根系生长动态及其与环境因素关系研究

对川西北地区泡沙参种群根系生物量累积和形态发育过程及其与环境因素的关系进行了研究.结果表明,泡沙参种群根系生物量累积一般规律符合Logistic增长过程.较高的泡沙参根系生物量累积和形态发育时期可以持续到15～17年生以后,根系采收直径应在1.7cm以上.动物啃食、人为采挖、土壤、气候等环境条件与不同海拔各种群的根系生物量累积等有着密切联系,中海拔地区(2800～3300m)人为干扰少,土壤和水热条件适宜,根系生物量和形态发育达到较高水平,适合高产栽培.而低海拔和高海拔地区的不利环境条件限制了泡沙参根系生长.在进行野生资源保护利用以及人工栽培泡沙参时应充分考虑环境因素,努力减少放牧、采挖等人为破坏,有条件的地区应实行分区禁牧、禁采挖,为泡沙参种群恢复和药材品质提高创造条件.     

长期保护性耕种方式对农田表层土壤性质的影响

研究了不同耕种方式对澳大利亚同一地区3种土壤表层(0～5cm)理化性质的作用,以揭示保护性耕作对土壤质量恢复的影响.结果表明:免耕穴播/保留残茬(DD/SR)、多年生人工草地(PP)和自然草地(NP)表层土壤的>2mm水稳性团聚体含量、全氮、有机碳含量、田间持水量均显著高于其相应对照传统耕作/秸秆焚烧(CC/SB)、人工草地/作物轮作(PPC)和耕作(CT)的;土壤全氮含量、田间持水量分别与有机碳含量之间有极显著的正相关关系(r=0.994**,r=0.996**,n=6),而受土壤质地等因素的影响较小;在同一类型的土壤上,土壤有机碳含量与水稳定性团聚体含量之间存在显著的相关性;在不同试验区,耕作措施对表层土壤容重和孔隙分布的影响存在较大差异;秸秆焚烧和施用石膏对表层土壤的pH及交换性阳离子含量有较大的影响.研究表明长期保护性耕作、草田轮作或多年生草地有利于提高表层土壤有机碳含量和结构稳定性,从而改善土壤的供肥供水能力.     

Long-term tillage effects on soil organic carbon and dissolved organic carbon in a purple paddy soil of Southwest China

The impact of conservation tillage practices on soil carbon has been of great interest in recent years. Conservation tillage might have the potential to enhance soil carbon accumulation and alter the depth distribution of soil carbon compared to conventional tillage based systems. Changes in the soil organic carbon (SOC) as influenced by tillage, are more noticeable under long-term rather than short-term tillage practices. The objective of this study was to determine the impacts of long-term tillage on SOC and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) status after 19 years of four tillage treatments in a Hydragric Anthrosol. In this experiment four tillage systems included conventional tillage with rotation of rice and winter fallow system (CTF), conventional tillage with rotation of rice and rape system (CTR), no-till and ridge culture with rotation of rice and rape system (NT) and tillage and ridge culture with rotation of rice and rape system (TR). Soils were sampled in the spring of 2009 and sectioned into 0–10, 10–20, 20–30, 30–40, 40–50 and 50–60 cm depth, respectively.Tillage effect on SOC was observed, and SOC concentrations were much larger under NT than the other three tillage methods in all soil depths from 0 to 60 cm. The mean SOC concentration at 0–60 cm soil depth followed the sequence: NT (22.74 g kg^?1) > CTF (14.57 g kg^?1) > TR (13.10 g kg^?1) > CTR (11.92 g kg^?1). SOC concentrations under NT were significantly higher than TR and CTR (P < 0.01), and higher than CTF treatment (P < 0.05). The SOC storage was calculated on equivalent soil mass basis. Results showed that the highest SOC storage at 0–60 cm depth presented in NT, which was 158.52 Mg C ha^?1, followed by CTF (106.74 Mg C ha^?1), TR (93.11 Mg C ha^?1) and CTR (88.60 Mg C ha^?1). Compared with conventional tillage (CTF), the total SOC storage in NT increased by 48.51%, but decreased by 16.99% and 12.77% under CTR and TR treatments, respectively. The effect of tillage on DOC was significant at 0–10 cm soil layer, and DOC concentration was much higher under CTF than the other three treatments (P < 0.01). Throughout 0–60 cm soil depth, DOC concentrations were 32.92, 32.63, 26.79 and 22.10 mg kg^?1 under NT, CTF, CTR and TR, and the differences among the four treatments were not significant (P > 0.05). In conclusion, NT increased SOC concentration and storage compared to conventional tillage operation but not for DOC.     

长期施肥条件下黄土高原黑垆土作物产量与土壤碳氮的关系

通过设置在黄土高原黑垆土区的长期定位试验系统,研究了长期施肥条件下作物产量与土壤碳氮的互馈关系.试验设不施肥(CK)、单施氮肥(N)、氮磷配施(NP)、秸秆与氮磷配施(SNP)、施有机肥(M)和有机肥与氮磷配施(MNP)6个处理.结果表明: 与对照相比,长期平衡施用化肥、单施有机肥、化肥与有机肥配合施用和秸秆还田配施化肥显著增加了作物产量及其稳定性, NP、SNP、M、MNP处理玉米和小麦产量分别增加92%、97%、93%、141%和147%、164%、139%、214%.NP处理玉米和小麦年均产量与当地常规施肥作物产量相当且稳定,小麦-玉米轮作体系施肥量为N 90 kg·hm^-2、P₂O₅ 75 kg·hm^-2能够满足作物需要.秸秆还田与隔年施磷相配合的SNP处理与NP处理作物产量相似,且可减少磷肥施用量50%.平衡施用化肥、有机肥、化肥与有机肥配施和秸秆还田配施化肥均可显著增加土壤有机碳含量,而施用化肥对土壤全氮含量影响不明显,综合所有处理,土壤有机碳和全氮含量呈显著正相关.不同处理土壤有机碳固存率在15%～41%.SNP处理土壤有机碳累积投入量增加1 t·hm^-2,土壤有机碳含量增加0.06 g·kg^-1,而CK、N、NP、M和MNP处理的增幅在0.12～0.15 g·kg^-1.玉米和小麦产量都与土壤全氮含量呈显著正相关,玉米产量随土壤有机碳含量的增加而增加,但小麦产量随土壤有机碳含量的增加先快速增加后趋于平稳,拐点出现在6.8 g·kg^-1.长期平衡施用化肥、有机肥、有机肥与化肥配合施用及秸秆还田配施化肥可显著增加黄土高原黑垆土土壤有机碳和全氮含量、作物产量和根茬还田量,根茬还田量的增加又进一步增加了土壤有机碳和全氮含量,形成了相互促进的互馈关系.     

Effect of cropping systems on soil chemical characteristics,with emphasis on soil acidification*

The soil under intensive cultivation and low addition of crop residues is exposed to erosion and reduction of organic matter. Increases in soil organic matter, cation exchange capacity (CEC) and nutrient availability may occur in no-till systems with legumes and with large additions of organic residues. Nevertheless, some legumes may increase soil acidification through the carbon and nitrogen cycles. An experiment was carried out over 10 years, with 10 cropping systems on a Dark Red Podzolic soil (Paleudult) to evaluate the effect of no-till cropping systems on soil chemical characteristics. Legume cropping systems resulted in the greatest soil organic C gain and the highest ECEC to a depth of 17.5 cm. The increase was greatest at 0 - 2.5 cm layer. Clover systems resulted in the highest soil acidification at 2.5 - 7.5 and 7.5 - 17.5 cm depths. The rate of soil pH decrease at 2.5 - 7.5 cm depth under clover+ t Spergula/maize system was 0.1 unit year^-1. Differences in soil acidification affected soil ECEC. Soil exchangeable cation data indicate that nitrate leaching increased soil acidification. Maize yields were greatest in legume systems due to increased N supply.     

Long-term effects of elevated nitrogen on forest soil organic matter stability

Nitrogen addition may alter the decomposition rate for different organic-matter pools in contrasting ways. Using a paired-plot design, we sought to determine the effects of long-term elevated N on the stability of five organic-matter pools: organic horizons (Oe+a), whole mineral soil (WS), mineral soil fractions including the light fraction (LF), heavy fraction (HF), and a physically recombined fraction (RF). These substrates were incubated for 300 days, and respiration, mineralized N, and active microbial biomass were measured. Samples with elevated N gave 15% lower cumulative respiration for all five substrates. Over the 300-day incubation, the Oe+a gave twice the cumulative respiration (gCkg^–1 initial C) as the LF, which gave slightly higher respiration than the HF. Respiration was 35% higher for the WS than for the RF. Mineralized N was similar between N treatments and between the LF and HF. Net N mineralized by the LF over the course of the 300-day incubation decreased with higher C:N ratio, due presumably to N immobilization to meet metabolic demands. The pattern was opposite for HF, however, which could be explained by a release of N in excess of metabolic demands due to recalcitrance of the HF organic matter. Mineralized N increased with respiration for the HF but showed no pattern, or perhaps even decreased, for the LF. WS and RF showed decreasing active microbial biomass near the end of the incubation, which corresponded with decreasing respiration and increasing nitrate. Our results show that long-term elevated N stabilized organic matter in whole soil and soil fractions.     

Soil organic matter and the indigenous nitrogen supply of intensive irrigated rice systems in the tropics

Soil organic matter (SOM) has been proposed as an index of N supply in paddy soils although field validations are few. We evaluated the relationship between the indigenous N supply (N_i) of the soil-floodwater system and soil organic carbon (SOC) or total N (N_t) in surface soil of long-term fertility experiments (LTFEs) at 11 sites, in 42 farmer's fiels with similar soil type, and in the same field in ten consecutive rice (Oryza sativa L.) crops. The N_i was estimated by crop N uptake from plots without applied N (N_o plots) under otherwise favorable growth conditions. There was a tight linear correlation between yields and N uptake in N_o plots and tremendous variation in both parameters among LTFE sites, farmer's fields, and in the same field over time. Correlation between N_i and SOC or N_t explained little of this variation. Factors likely to contribute to the poor correlation were: (1) inputs of N from sources other than N mineralization of SOM in surface soil, (2) degree of congruence between soil N supply and crop demand, which is sensitive to soil drying, length of fallow, crop rotation, and residue management, and (3) differences in SOM quality related to intensive cropping in submerged soil. Better understanding of the processes governing the N_i of tropical lowland rice systems would contribute to the development of crop management practices that optimize utilization of indigenous N resources.     

Influence of cropping and N-fertilization on changes in different forms of nitrogen in an alluvial soil

Water was sampled from an acid forest soil 1 year after a Sitka spruce crop had been clear-felled. In samples extracted using porous ceramic cups, total dissolved nitrogen varied according to depth from 2.6 to 3.6 mg.l⁻¹. In the organic horizons, dissolved nitrogen was mainly in organic form. As it passed down the profile, it was progressively transformed to nitrate. Nitrification was obviously active in this acid soil. The role of dissolved organic nitrogen should not be underestimated in nutrient cycling studies.     

A simple model for estimating the contribution of nitrogen mineralization to the nitrogen supply of crops from a stabilized pool of soil organic matter and recent organic input

A simple model was developed to estimate the contribution of nitrogen (N) mineralization to the N supply of crops. In this model the soil organic matter is divided into active and passive pools. Annual soil mineralization of N is derived from the active pool. The active pool comprises stabilized and labile soil organic N. The stabilized N is built up from accumulated inputs of fresh organic N during a crop rotation but the labile N is a fraction of total N added, which mineralizes faster than the stabilized N. The passive pool is considered to have no participation in the mineralization process. Mineralization rates of labile and stabilized soil organic N from different crop residues decomposing in soil were derived from the literature and were described by the first-order rate equation dN/dt =-K*N, where N is the mineralizable organic N from crop residues andK is a constant. The data were groupedK ₁ by short-term (0–1 year) andK ₂ by long-term (0–10 years) incubation. Because the range of variation inK ₂ was smaller than inK ₁ we felt justified in using an average value to derive N mineralization from the stabilized pool. The use of a constant rate ofK ₁ was avoided so net N mineralization during the first year after addition is derived directly from the labile N in the crop residues. The model was applied to four Chilean agro-ecosystems, using daily averages of soil temperature and moisture. The N losses by leaching were also calculated. The N mineralization varied between 30 and 130 kg N ha^–1 yr^–1 depending on organic N inputs. Nitrogen losses by leaching in a poorly structured soil were estimated to be about 10% of total N mineralized. The model could explain the large differences in N- mineralization as measured by the potential N mineralization at the four sites studied. However, when grassland was present in the crop rotation, the model underestimated the results obtained from potential mineralization.     

南方丘陵区土壤氮素尺度效应的影响因素

利用GPS、GIS和随机过程抽样技术,研究了江西省兴国县潋水河流域土壤氮素在小、中和大3种研究尺度下的分布特征及其影响因素。结果表明,土壤全氮和有效氮尺度效应明显,均值随研究尺度的扩大而增加。其中,土壤全氮平均含量分别是0.60gkg-1、0.73gkg-1和0.83gkg-1,有效氮含量为64.8mgkg-1、66.3mgkg-1和80.2mgkg-1。成土母质、土壤类型、土地利用和土壤侵蚀状况是影响氮素尺度效应的重要因素。3种尺度下母质与土壤氮素含量关系复杂,但均以花岗岩坡残积物发育土壤最低。在不同尺度下,水稻土全氮和有效氮均显著或极显著高于红壤,但大尺度下的石灰岩土与前二种土壤差异均不显著。在小尺度和中尺度下水田全氮显著或极显著高于旱地和林地,在大尺度下它显著高于旱地而与林地差异不显著;水田有效氮显著或极显著高于林地,但与旱地除小尺度下差异达显著水平外,中、大尺度下差异不显著。土壤侵蚀状况对土壤全氮和有效氮含量的影响与尺度大小有关,且随尺度增加差异显著性逐渐增强。     

近红外光谱分析法测定东北黑土有机碳和全氮含量

以我国东北黑土为研究对象,分析了2004-2005年采集的136个土壤样品在3699～12000 cm^-1范围的近红外光谱,利用偏最小二乘法建立了原始光谱吸光度与土壤有机碳、全氮和碳氮比之间的定量分析模型.结果表明：土壤有机碳和全氮的模型拟合效果良好,决定系数R²分别为0.92和0.91（P<0.001）,相对分析误差RPD分别为3.45和3.36,利用该模型对验证样本土壤有机碳和全氮的预测值与实测值之间的相关系数分别为0.94和0.93（P<0.001）,表明可以用近红外光谱分析法对黑土有机碳和全氮含量进行测定.但是利用近红外光谱分析法对土壤碳氮比的预测并不理想,虽然验证样本集黑土碳氮比模型预测值与实测值呈显著相关（r＝0.74,P<0.001）,但是校正模型的R²为0.61,RPD仅为1.61,建立的模型不能对黑土碳氮比做出合理的估测.     

霍林河流域湿地土壤碳氮空间分布特征及生态效应

对霍林河流域湿地土壤有机碳及全氮空问分布特征及其生态效应的研究表明,有机碳和全氮的水平分异和垂直分异都十分显著,干湿交替周期是引起分异的关键因子;表层土壤有机碳与全氮含量显著相关(r=0．977),土壤碳氮比基本沿湿度梯度变化;土壤pH值对土壤表层碳氮含量及碳氮比值影响显著;流域湿地土壤与流域草原土壤碳氮比与土壤碳氮含量的相关性差异显著;其生态效应主要表现在生产效应和净化效应两方面．     

Long- and short-term effects of fire on nitrogen cycling in tallgrass prairie

Fires in the tallgrass prairie are frequent and significantly alter nutrient cycling processes. We evaluated the short-term changes in plant production and microbial activity due to fire and the long-term consequences of annual burning on soil organic matter (SOM), plant production, and nutrient cycling using a combination of field, laboratory, and modeling studies. In the short-term, fire in the tallgrass prairie enhances microbial activity, increases both above-and belowground plant production, and increases nitrogen use efficiency (NUE). However, repeated annual burning results in greater inputs of lower quality plant residues causing a significant reduction in soil organic N, lower microbial biomass, lower N availability, and higher C:N ratios in SOM. Changes in amount and quality of below-ground inputs increased N immobilization and resulted in no net increases in N availability with burning. This response occurred rapidly (e.g., within two years) and persisted during 50 years of annual burning. Plant production at a long-term burned site was not adversely affected due to shifts in plant NUE and carbon allocation. Modeling results indicate that the tallgrass ecosystem responds to the combined changes in plant resource allocation and NUE. No single factor dominates the impact of fire on tallgrass plant production.     

松嫩平原玉米带土壤碳氮储量的空间特征

利用第二次全国和县级土壤普查的382个典型土壤剖面资料和1∶50万数字化土壤图建立土壤剖面空间数据库,利用土壤类型法估算松嫩平原玉米带土壤碳、氮储量,分析土壤有机碳、氮密度的空间分布特征,探讨土壤有机碳、氮密度与土壤类型和土地利用类型之间的关系.结果表明:松嫩平原玉米带土壤有机碳、氮储量分别为(163.12±26.48)Tg和(9.53±1.75)Tg,土壤碳、氮储量主要集中在草甸土、黑钙土和黑土等土类中.土壤有机碳、氮密度分别为5.51～25.25和0.37～0.80kg·m-2,土壤C/N值大致在7.90～12.67.土壤有机碳、氮密度的空间分布均表现为东部和北部高、西部低.在不同土地利用类型中,旱田土壤的有机碳密度最高,为(19.07±2.44)kg·m-2;林地土壤的氮密度最高,为(0.82±0.25)kg·m-2;水田土壤的碳、氮密度均较低.     

喀斯特峰丛洼地不同土地利用类型土壤有机碳和氮素分布特征

为探讨喀斯特峰丛洼地景观类型表层土壤和土壤剖面有机碳和氮素的分布特征,在广西壮族自治区环江毛南族自治县采集典型景观类型耕地、退耕还草地、退耕还林地和林地表层样品及耕地、退耕还草地、退耕还林地剖面样品,进行了系统的分析。结果表明:林地土壤土层浅薄,但其表层土壤有机碳和全氮含量平均高达46.14和4.87g·kg-1,耕地土壤有机碳和全氮含量为13.96和1.88g·kg-1,退耕还林地表层土壤有机碳和全氮含量比耕地明显提高,退耕还草地比耕地略高;耕地0～40cm和退耕还草地0～30cm土壤有机碳和全氮含量随剖面深度增加急剧下降,耕地40～100cm和退耕还草地30～100cm则缓慢下降,退耕还林地土壤厚度一般小于1m,土壤有机碳和全氮含量在整个剖面均随深度增加急剧下降;说明地形、人类活动和土层厚度等影响表层土壤有机碳和全氮含量,其中地形和人类活动是关键影响因子;植被类型影响土壤有机碳和全氮的剖面分布,退耕还林(草)使土壤有机碳和氮储量增加。     

Mineralization of carbon and nitrogen in soil samples taken from three fertilized pine stands: Long-term effects

Seven years after fertilization the rate of CO₂ production in the soil samples taken from the organic horizons of a poor pine forest site (Calluna vulgaris site type), treated with urea or ammonium nitrate with lime, was lower than that in the unfertilized soil. The same trend was also observed in samples of theEmpetrum-Calluna site type 14 years after fertilization. In the more fertileVaccinium myrtillus site type these rapidly-soluble N fertilizers had a long-term enhancing effect on the production of CO₂. Apatite and biotite eliminated the decreasing effect of urea on the production of CO₂. One reason for this might be the long-term increase in soil pH caused by apatite and biotite, or their constituents (Ca, Mg, K, P). Nitroform (a slow-releasing N fertilizer) had no statistically significant effect on the production of CO₂ in soil samples from any of the forest types. Despite the high N mineralization in the samples from nitroform fertilized soils there was no nitrification, and the high content of total N indicated that after nitroform fertilization the losses of N were low.The correlation between the net mineralization values for C (CO₂ production) and N was poor. However, multiple linear regression analysis, which also took into account the effect of nutrients and pH, indicated that there was a link between the mineralization of C and N.