Prediction of long-term fertilizer nitrogen requirements of maize in the tropics using a nitrogen balance model

A simple N balance model was used to calculate fertilizer requirement for a target N uptake by maize. Nitrogen uptake from soil sources and target uptake of N with fertilizer N additions were obtained from fertilizer trials in Africa and Latin America. Most experiments had data for only one cropping period, although some from Latin America had data for four to six crops. The transfer coefficient of fertilizer N to the crop was adjusted to realize maximum recovery of fertilizer N under best methods of fertilizer application. The time constants of transfer of soil N to the crop were allowed to vary and were affected mainly by soil texture. Where 4 to 6 cropping periods were available good agreement between actual and predicted fertilizer N requirements was obtained. With this approach long-term fertilizer N requirements for 14 sites were predicted using first cropping period N uptake. This study showed that pools of organic N in more coarse-textured soils were usually smaller and declined more rapidly than in fine-textured soils. Labile organic N pools declined with time under all simulations, but approached equilibrium within 10 croppings seasons. Equilibrium N uptake from the soil organic N pool was predicted to be 31 kg ha^–1 for the more coarse-textured soils and 36 kg ha^–1 for the fine-textured soils. Long-term projections of fertilizer requirements using input data of the field experiments were reasonable, and effects of legume green manures and other amendments could be clearly evaluated.     

Enhanced foliar 15N enrichment with increasing nitrogen addition rates: Role of plant species and nitrogen compounds

Determining the abundance of N isotope (δ¹⁵N) in natural environments is a simple but powerful method for providing integrated information on the N cycling dynamics and status in an ecosystem under exogenous N inputs. However, whether the input of different N compounds could differently impact plant growth and their ¹⁵N signatures remains unclear. Here, the response of ¹⁵N signatures and growth of three dominant plants (Leymus chinensis, Carex duriuscula, and Thermopsis lanceolata) to the addition of three N compounds (NH₄HCO₃, urea, and NH₄NO₃) at multiple N addition rates were assessed in a meadow steppe in Inner Mongolia. The three plants showed different initial foliar δ¹⁵N values because of differences in their N acquisition strategies. Particularly, T. lanceolata (N₂-fixing species) showed significantly lower ¹⁵N signatures than L. chinensis (associated with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi [AMF]) and C. duriuscula (associated with AMF). Moreover, the foliar δ¹⁵N of all three species increased with increasing N addition rates, with a sharp increase above an N addition rate of ~10 g N m⁻² year⁻¹. Foliar δ¹⁵N values were significantly higher when NH₄HCO₃ and urea were added than when NH₄NO₃ was added, suggesting that adding weakly acidifying N compounds could result in a more open N cycle. Overall, our results imply that assessing the N transformation processes in the context of increasing global N deposition necessitates the consideration of N deposition rates, forms of the deposited N compounds, and N utilization strategies of the co-existing plant species in the ecosystem.     

Simulation of nitrogen assimilation by heterotrophic soil microbial biomass

Assimilation of N by heterotrophic soil microbial biomass is associated with decomposition of organic matter in the soil. The form of N assimilated can be either low molecular weight organic N released from the breakdown of organic matter (direct assimilation), or NH⁺₄ and NO⁻₃ from the soil inorganic N pool, into which mineralized organic N is released (mineralization immobilization turnover). The kinetics of C and N turnover in soil is quantifiable by means of computer simulation models. NCSOIL was constructed to represent the two assimilation schemes. The rate of N assimilation depends on the rate of C assimilation and microbial C/N ratio, thereby rendering it independent of the assimilation scheme. However, if any of the N forms is labeled, a different amount of labeled N assimilation will be simulated by the different schemes. Experimental data on inorganic N and ¹⁵N and on organic ¹⁵N dynamics in soils incubated with ¹⁵N added as NH⁺₄ or organic N were compared with data simulated by different model schemes. Direct assimilation could not account for the amount of ¹⁵N assimilated in any of the experimental treatments. The best fit of the model to experimental data was obtained for the mineralization immobilization turnover scheme when both NH⁺₄ and NO⁻₃ were assimilated, in proportion to their concentration in the soil.     

Uptake of fertilizer nitrogen and soil nitrogen by rice using15N-labelled nitrogen fertilizer

Data from five field experiments using labelled nitrogen fertilizer were used to determine the relative effects of soil nitrogen and fertilizer nitrogen on rice yield. Yield of grain was closely correlated with total aboveground nitrogen uptake (soil+fertilizer), less closely correlated with soil nitrogen uptake and not significantly correlated with fertilizer nitrogen uptake. When yield increase rather than yield was correlated with fertilizer nitrogen uptake, the correlation coefficient was statistically significant.Contribution from the Laboratory for Flooded Soils and Sediments, Agronomy Dept., Louisiana Agri. Exper. Sta., Louisiana State Univ., Baton Rouge, LA 70803, and Univ. of Florida, Agricultural Research and Education Center, Sanford, FL 32771.     

施用氮肥对油用牡丹叶片氮素吸收积累与籽粒品质的影响

利用田间栽培试验,研究0 (对照)、18、24和30 g N·m^-2 4个氮肥用量对油用牡丹“凤丹”叶片氮素吸收转运以及籽粒产量和品质的影响.结果表明: 施用氮肥处理牡丹株高、冠幅、花径和花干质量与对照相比均显著增加,其中,24和30 g·m^-2氮肥处理株高比对照分别增加14.7%和15.2%.施用氮肥提高了牡丹籽粒的相关指标,24和30 g·m^-2氮肥处理籽粒产量达到最大,分别比对照增加15.2%和15.4%.施用氮肥明显增加了叶片氮素积累量、叶片氮素转移量和籽粒氮素积累量.其中,24 g·m^-2氮肥处理叶片氮素对籽粒贡献率最大.与对照相比,施用氮肥明显提高了籽粒蛋白氮、总氨基酸,以及部分饱和脂肪酸和不饱和脂肪酸的含量.在本试验条件下,施氮量为24 g N·m^-2时,叶片积累氮素向籽粒的转移量、转移率和贡献率均达到较高水平,籽粒产量较高,并且蛋白氮、氨基酸含量和不饱和脂肪酸含量也相对较高.     

土壤微生物量氮含量、矿化特性及其供氮作用

论述了土壤中微生物体氮的含量及其影响因素,土壤微生物量氮的矿化特性及其与土壤矿化氮间的关系,土壤微生物量氮含量与土壤供氮指标间的关系等。提出研究不同生态系统中土壤微生物量氮的含量及其变化规律,不同耕作栽培措施对土壤微生物量氮含量的影响。土壤微生物量在土壤氮素保持和释放中的作用,土壤微生物量氮的转化率与其供氮量间的关系;土壤微生物量氮与作物氮素吸收间的关系等,是土壤微生物量氮方面应重点研究的问题。     

氮磷营养因子对赤潮异弯藻生长的影响

研究了N、P营养浓度对赤潮异弯藻(Heterosigma akashiwo)生长的影响.结果表明,该藻的生长速率与N、P营养因子浓度的关系符合Monod公式.在NO₃^--N浓度达到7.5 mg·L^-1时,赤潮异弯藻开始生长;浓度为3.75～75 mg·L^-1时,赤潮异弯藻的比生长速率与NO₃^--N浓度成正比关系.N营养充足时,赤潮异弯藻的最大生长速率μ_m-n=0.3475·d^-1,K_s-n=18.91 mg·L^-1.PO₄^--P浓度为0～1.0 mg·L^-1时,赤潮异弯藻的比生长速率与P浓度成正比关系;P营养充足时,赤潮异弯藻的最大生长速率μ_m-p=0.3024·d^-1,K_s-p=0.4086 mg·L^-1.N/P达到25后藻细胞浓度达到最大,表明N/P为25时最适合赤潮异弯藻生长.赤潮异弯藻最适合在N 37.5～225.0 mg·L^-1、P 5.0～50.0 mg·L^-1、N/P=25条件下生长.     

Effect of liming on mineralization of soil nitrogen as measured by plant uptake and nitrogen released during incubation

The effect of lime rates on oat yield and N uptake was measured in a 6-years pot experiment, using 12 acid surface soils (pH 4.7 to 6.0). Mineralization of nitrogen was measured by incubation of soil samples taken after harvest each year from the different lime treatments.Nitrogen uptake was significantly correlated with total N in the soils. Averaged over all 12 soils liming only to pH 7 or above, increased the oat yield significantly. Liming increased the N concentration of grain and the N uptake significantly during a 4-years period, indicating the effect of lime on N mineralization.The mineralization of organic N measured by incubation in the non-limed samples was highly correlated with the total N concentration, but it was not significantly related to the original pH of the soils. The amounts of N released as well as the duration of the lime effect on mineralization varied among soils. When pH was raised to 7 or above, considerable increases in N mineralization occurred in some soils. Based on average values, liming increased N mineralization significantly during a 3-years period. After 3 years, the lime treatments differed only slightly from the non-limed treatments.     

畜牧系统中氮素平衡计算参数的探讨

畜牧系统中N流动与平衡的研究是畜牧业进行养分资源管理的基础,而参数的确定又是研究养分循环与平衡的基础工作.本研究对该系统的N输入、输出项参数进行分析讨论,包括平衡计算中每一个输入和输出项需要的参数种类、参数的选择以及建议采用的数值.讨论过程参考了大量的文献资料和统计数据,初步确定了我国畜牧系统N养分平衡计算参数.     

长期氮添加对草甸草原生态系统氮库的影响

大气氮沉降增加深刻影响生态系统物种多样性、生产力及其稳定性,研究草原生态系统N库如何响应不断增加的大气氮沉降至关重要。本研究在内蒙古额尔古纳草甸草原开展刈割和不同水平外源氮添加试验,设置6个氮添加水平: 0、2、5、10、20和50 g·m^-2·a^-1,同时设置刈割处理,分为刈割和不刈割2个水平。在连续处理的第7年,采集群落中优势植物地上部分、群落根、地表凋落物和0～100 cm分层土壤样品,测定N含量并计算N库储量。结果表明: 氮添加显著增加植物地上部分和凋落物N含量,以及羊草、植物群落和凋落物的N库及生态系统N库总量。刈割处理显著增加羊草叶片和凋落物N含量,降低羊草、植物群落和凋落物N库,但并不改变它们对氮添加的响应格局。此外,刈割和氮添加对植物群落N库存在显著的交互作用。在不刈割处理下,高水平氮添加使更多的氮储存在凋落物中等待分解,植物群落N库的饱和阈值出现在10 g·m^-2·a^-1;在刈割处理下,植物群落N库表现为随氮添加量增加而不断增加,并且在相同水平氮添加条件下刈割后进入到植物群落N库中的氮更多。刈割可以缓解氮沉降不断增加对生物多样性和生态系统稳定性造成的不利影响,并可以在一定程度上推迟氮沉降增加引起的生态系统氮饱和的发生。     

High retention of 15N‐labeled nitrogen deposition in a nitrogen saturated old‐growth tropical forest

The effects of increased reactive nitrogen (N) deposition in forests depend largely on its fate in the ecosystems. However, our knowledge on the fates of deposited N in tropical forest ecosystems and its retention mechanisms is limited. Here, we report the results from the first whole ecosystem ¹⁵N labeling experiment performed in a N‐rich old‐growth tropical forest in southern China. We added ¹⁵N tracer monthly as ¹⁵NH₄¹⁵NO₃ for 1 year to control plots and to N‐fertilized plots (N‐plots, receiving additions of 50 kg N ha^?1 yr^?1 for 10 years). Tracer recoveries in major ecosystem compartments were quantified 4 months after the last addition. Tracer recoveries in soil solution were monitored monthly to quantify leaching losses. Total tracer recovery in plant and soil (N retention) in the control plots was 72% and similar to those observed in temperate forests. The retention decreased to 52% in the N‐plots. Soil was the dominant sink, retaining 37% and 28% of the labeled N input in the control and N‐plots, respectively. Leaching below 20 cm was 50 kg N ha^?1 yr^?1 in the control plots and was close to the N input (51 kg N ha^?1 yr^?1), indicating N saturation of the top soil. Nitrogen addition increased N leaching to 73 kg N ha^?1 yr^?1. However, of these only 7 and 23 kg N ha^?1 yr^?1 in the control and N‐plots, respectively, originated from the labeled N input. Our findings indicate that deposited N, like in temperate forests, is largely incorporated into plant and soil pools in the short term, although the forest is N‐saturated, but high cycling rates may later release the N for leaching and/or gaseous loss. Thus, N cycling rates rather than short‐term N retention represent the main difference between temperate forests and the studied tropical forest.     

香蕉苗期氮素亏缺与补偿对植株生长和根系形态的影响

为探究氮素亏缺及亏缺后补偿供氮对蕉苗生长及其根系形态特征的影响,该研究以主要栽培品种基因组类型(AAA型和ABB型)的香蕉品种为材料,通过石英砂基质培养结合氮素亏缺与补偿处理,分析其株高、叶长、叶宽、新增绿叶数、地上部和根系的鲜重和干物质质量、根长和根表面积及根体积等指标的变化。结果表明：(1)亏缺30 d,香蕉苗呈现明显的缺氮表型症状,株高、叶长、叶宽及新增绿叶数均显著降低,根系干物质积累增加,品种Ⅰ、Ⅱ根系干物质分别提高64.71%、87.50%,根冠比增加,总根表面积分别增加4.38%、11.85%,体积分别增加71.78%、66.55%。(2)亏缺68 d,干物质积累受到明显抑制,品种Ⅰ、Ⅱ全株干物质质量降低33.74%、42.04%,根系干物质质量与常规处理无显著差异,根系形态参数变化趋势与轻度亏缺一致。(3)亏缺后补偿供氮,缺氮症状消失,植株生长指标恢复正常水平;品种Ⅰ、Ⅱ根系干物质质量显著增加51.22%、52.38%,根冠比显著高于常规处理,根系趋向正常形态生长,并且总根体积分别增加61.80%、45.92%;轻度氮素亏缺后适时补偿供氮,缺氮蕉苗可恢复正常生长,根系干物...     

限水灌溉冬小麦冠层氮分布与转运特征及其对供氮的响应

以高产冬小麦品种周麦18为材料,在大田春灌1水条件下,设置不同供氮水平和氮肥运筹处理试验,研究并探讨了在华北地区限水灌溉条件下氮肥施用对冬小麦冠层叶片氮素时空分布与转运及氮肥利用的影响。结果表明,冬小麦适量施氮可显著增产,2008-2009年以施氮量180 kg/hm²时(N21)产量最高,为8749 kg/hm²;2009-2010年以施氮量270 kg/hm²时(N32)产量最高,但施氮量210 kg/hm²(N22)处理与N32处理产量无显著差异,分别为8340 kg/hm²和8558 kg/hm²。氮肥利用效率和氮肥偏生产力均随施氮量增加而降低;氮肥利用率与氮肥农学效率均随施氮量的增加呈先升后降的趋势,分别在N21和N22处理时最高。冠层叶片氮素含量和积累量随叶层层次自上而下降低而下降,垂直梯度分明,各时期冠层叶片氮素垂直梯度随施氮量的增加总体呈先增大后减小的趋势。冠层叶片氮素转运量、转运率和对籽粒的贡献率均呈现为:第1层>第2层>第3层>第4层。相关分析表明,冠层叶片氮素梯度与叶片氮素转运率呈显著正相关关系(R²=0.722^*),与贡献率呈极显著正相关关系(R²=0.975^**)。适量施氮(120-210 kg/hm²)增大了叶层间氮素垂直分布梯度,促进了氮素在植株内的运移分配,有利于叶片氮素向外转运,提高了叶片氮素转运量和对籽粒贡献率,保持了较高的氮素利用率。施氮过多(330 kg/hm²)减小了叶层间氮素垂直分布梯度,减弱了氮素在植株内的再利用,叶片氮素转运不畅,导致叶片氮素转运量和对籽粒贡献率下降,氮素利用率显著降低。连续两年试验结果显示,通过适量氮肥调控可以增大冠层叶片氮素垂直梯度,有利于叶片中的氮素输出,促进氮素的再分配、再利用,从而提高氮素利用率,并可获得较高的籽粒产量和蛋白质含量。     

Long-lasting effects on nitrogen cycling 12 years after treatments cease despite minimal long-term nitrogen retention

Atmospheric deposition of biologically active nitrogen (N) has increased dramatically over the past 60 years, with far-reaching impacts on the structure and function of many ecosystems. Much research has examined the initial impacts of N enrichment; however, few studies have been multidecadal, and even fewer long-term studies have examined the longevity of N-induced impacts on N cycling after inputs cease. Here, we address this gap by reporting the state of key N pools and fluxes in a Minnesota grassland for plots that received N addition for 10 years and then none for 12 years, in comparison with plots that received annual N treatment for the entire 22 years. We found weak evidence for long-term N retention in plots that ceased receiving treatment; and in plots that continued to receive N over the 22-year period, retention that was high after 12 years (50–100% of inputs) was greatly reduced after 22 years (to 15%). In spite of this, net N mineralization rates remained elevated in plots that ceased receiving treatment 12 years prior, likely because N-rich litter maintained higher N-cycling rates. These results suggest (1) some systems do not retain much deposited N, with potentially large impacts on downstream habitats; (2) the previously reported high retention efficiencies for this and many other terrestrial ecosystems may be relatively short-lived as N sinks become saturated over time; and (3) the effects of even small amounts of retained N in N-limited environments may be particularly long-lasting. In total, these findings highlight the importance of long-term studies in evaluating the impacts of chronic N deposition to ecosystems, and urge additional research examining dynamics following N cessation to evaluate the reversibility of these impacts.     

Evaluation of laboratory-based measures of soil mineral nitrogen and potentially mineralizable nitrogen as predictors of field-based indices of soil nitrogen supply in potato production

Accurate estimation of soil nitrogen (N) supply in the field is required to optimize fertilizer N management and to minimize environmental N losses in humid environments. Laboratory-based measures of N availability were evaluated as predictors of field-based indices of soil N supply within potato production systems. Pre-plant soil samples (0–15 cm) were collected from a series of forty treatments in established potato trials located in Atlantic Canada and Maine, USA. Total plant N uptake at topkill with no fertilizer N applied (PNU_0N), PNU_0N plus soil mineral N to 30 cm depth at harvest and relative yield were considered as field-based indices of soil N supply. The potentially mineralizable N (N₀) was determined by aerobic incubation at 25°C and periodic leaching for 24 weeks. A series of laboratory-based measures of soil N supply were measured in soil samples. Pre-plant soil nitrate or total mineral N at 0–30 cm depth was the best single predictor of PNU_0N (r = 0.67 and 0.71, respectively) and relative yield (r = 0.58 and 0.61). The ultraviolet absorbance of 0.01 M NaHCO₃ extract at 205 nm (NaHCO₃-205) was suitable as a predictor of PNU_0N and relative yield in each growing season, however, the relationship between this parameter and PNU_0N or relative yield varied somewhat among years. A combination of pre-plant mineral N plus N mineralized in the first 2 weeks period of incubation after re-wetting is proposed as a more robust measure of N availability compared with use of mineral N alone.     

Distribution and remobilization of symbiotically fixed nitrogen in soybean (Glycine max)

Partitioning of nitrogen by soybeans ( Glycine max L. Merr. cv. Hodgson) grown in natural conditions was studied by successive exposures of root systems to ¹⁵N₂ and periodical measurements of ¹⁵N distribution. Nitrogen derived from the atmosphere was mainly found in the aerial parts of the plants, and the stage of development exerted a strong influence on the initial ¹⁵N distribution (measured one week after incorporation). Until day 69 after sowing, leaf blades contained 47 to 57% of the fixed N. After that, reproductive structures attracted increasing proportions, 10 to 60% between days 69 and 92. Around day 82, stems and petioles stored up to 30% of the newly fixed N. During pod development and pod filling and until maturity, fixed N was remobilized from vegetative tissues and pod walls to seeds. These transfers first concerned the newly incorporated N, but at maturity 80 to 90% of the total was recovered in the seeds. The high mobility of N originating from the atmosphere as compared to that coming from the soil (vegetative tissues exported only 50% of their total N) seems to indicate that fixed N was at least partially integrated in a special pool. This was certainly the case at the later stage of N₂ fixation, when a large portion of fixed N accumulated in the stems and petioles, probably in the form of storage compounds such as ureides for later transfer to the developing seeds. Further research is needed in order to investigate the nature and role of this pool in the nitrogen nutrition of soybeans.     

土壤硝态氮时空变异与土壤氮素表观盈亏研究Ⅰ.冬小麦

不同氮肥用量下对冬小麦生育期间土壤硝态氮时空变化特征及土壤氮素表观盈亏量的研究结果表明,氮肥用量不同,硝态氮分布特征有差异,并且随着冬小麦的生长,其变化也不同。在冬小麦快速生长阶段,作物吸收可在一定深度的土层出现硝态氮亏缺区。由于灌溉的影响,土壤表层硝态氮向深层淋洗严重,即使在低氮肥水平,土壤深层仍可观察到硝态氮含量升高现象,存在淋出2m土体的可能性。并且氮肥用量越高,土壤硝态氮含量越高,硝酸盐向深层淋洗也越严重,淋出2m土体的可能性和也相应增大;在冬小麦生长前期（播种－拔节）,即使在不施氮肥处理也有土壤氮素的表观盈余,随着施肥量的增加,在拔节－扬花也出现了土壤氮素表观盈余,而扬花后各个氮肥处理均出现土壤氮素的表观亏缺,氮肥用量越高,小麦一生中土壤表观氮盈余量越大,1m土体内平均最大盈余量达199.8kgN/hm^2。研究表明,土壤氮损失是盈余氮素的一个主要去向,而硝态氮淋洗是冬小麦生育期间土壤氮素损失的一个重要的途径。     

减量施氮对玉米-大豆套作系统下作物氮素吸收和利用效率的影响

为探索玉米-大豆套作系统中作物对N素吸收的差异特性,揭示减量施N对玉米-大豆套作系统的N高效利用机理。利用15N同位素示踪技术,结合小区套微区多年定位试验,研究了玉米单作(MM)、大豆单作(SS)、玉米-大豆套作(IMS)及不施N(NN)、减量施N(RN:180 kg N/hm2)、常量施N(CN:240 kg N/hm2)下玉米、大豆的生物量、吸N量、N肥利用率及土壤N素含量变化。结果表明,与MM(SS)相比,IMS下玉米茎叶及籽粒的生物量、吸N量降低,15N%丰度及15N吸收量增加,大豆籽粒及植株的生物量、吸N量及15N吸收量显著提高;IMS下玉米、大豆植株的N肥利用率、土壤N贡献率、土壤15N%丰度降低,15N回收率显著增加。施N与不施N相比,显著提高了单、套作下玉米、大豆植株的生物量、吸N量、15N丰度及15N吸收量;RN与CN相比,IMS下,RN的玉米、大豆植株总吸N量提高13.4%和12.4%,N肥利用率提高213.0%和117.5%,土壤总N含量提高12.2%和11.6%,土壤N贡献率降低12.0%和11.2%,玉米植株15N吸收量与15N回收率提高14.4%和52.5%,大豆的则降低57.1%和42.8%,单作与套作的变化规律一致。玉米-大豆套作系统中作物对N素吸收存在数量及形态差异,减量施N有利于玉米-大豆套作系统对N肥的高效吸收与利用,实现作物持续增产与土壤培肥。     

Relationship between efficiency of nitrogen utilization and isotopic nitrogen fractionation in dairy cows: contribution of digestion v. metabolism?

Animal tissues are naturally ¹⁵N enriched relative to their diet and the extent of this difference (Δ¹⁵N_animal-diet) has been correlated to the efficiency of N assimilation in different species. The rationale is that transamination and deamination enzymes, involved in amino acid metabolism are likely to preferentially convert amino groups containing ¹⁴N over ¹⁵N. However, in ruminants the contribution of rumen bacterial metabolism relative to animal tissues metabolism to naturally enrich animal proteins in terms of ¹⁵N has been not assessed yet. The objective of this study was to assess the impact of rumen and digestion processes on the relationship between Δ¹⁵N_animal-diet and efficiency of N utilization for milk protein yield (milk N efficiency (MNE); milk N yield/N intake) as well as the relationship between the ¹⁵N natural abundance of rumen bacteria and the efficiency of N use at the rumen level. Solid- and liquid-associated rumen bacteria, duodenal digesta, feces and plasma proteins were obtained (n=16) from four lactating Holstein cows fed four different diets formulated at two metabolizable protein supplies (80% v. 110% of protein requirements) crossed by two different dietary energy source (diets rich in starch v. fiber). We measured the isotopic N fractionation between animal and diet (Δ¹⁵N_animal-diet) in these different body pools. The Δ¹⁵N_animal-diet was negatively correlated with MNE when measured in solid-associated rumen bacteria, duodenal digesta, feces and plasma proteins, with the strongest correlation found for the latter. However, our results showed a very weak ¹⁵N enrichment of duodenal digesta (Δ¹⁵N_{duodenal digesta-diet} mean value=0.42) compared with that observed in plasma proteins (Δ¹⁵N_{plasma protein-diet} mean value=2.41). These data support the idea that most of the isotopic N fractionation observed in ruminant proteins (Δ¹⁵N_{plasma protein-diet}) has a metabolic origin with very little direct impact of the overall digestion process on the existing relationship between Δ¹⁵N_{plasma protein-diet} and MNE. The ¹⁵N natural abundance of rumen bacteria was not related to either rumen N efficiency (microbial N/available N) or digestive N efficiency (metabolizable protein supply/CP intake), but showing a modest positive correlation with rumen ammonia concentration. When using diets not exceeding recommended protein levels, the contribution of rumen bacteria and digestion to the isotopic N fractionation between animal proteins and diet is low. In our conditions, most of the isotopic N fractionation (Δ¹⁵N_{plasma protein-diet}) could have a metabolic origin, but more studies are warranted to confirm this point with different diets and approaches.     

Terrestrial nitrogen cycle simulation with a dynamic global vegetation model

A global scale Dynamic Nitrogen scheme (DyN) has been developed and incorporated into the Lund–Posdam–Jena (LPJ) dynamic global vegetation model (DGVM). The DyN is a comprehensive process‐based model of the cycling of N through and within terrestrial ecosystems, with fully interactive coupling to vegetation and C dynamics. The model represents the uptake, allocation and turnover of N in plants, and soil N transformations including mineralization, N₂ fixation, nitrification and denitrification, NH₃ volatilization, N leaching, and N₂, N₂O and NO production and emission. Modelled global patterns of site‐scale nitrogen fluxes and reservoirs are highly correlated to observations reported from different biomes. The simulation of site‐scale net primary production and soil carbon content was improved relative to the original LPJ, which lacked an interactive N cycle, especially in the temporal and boreal regions. Annual N uptake by global natural vegetation was simulated as 1.084 Pg N yr⁻¹, with lowest values <1 g N m⁻² yr⁻¹ (polar desert) and highest values in the range 24–36.5 g N m⁻² yr⁻¹ (tropical forests). Simulated global patterns of annual N uptake are consistent with previous model results by Melillo et al. The model estimates global total nitrogen storage potentials in vegetation (5.3 Pg N), litter (4.6 Pg N) and soil (≥67 Pg as organic N and 0.94 Pg as inorganic N). Simulated global patterns of soil N storage are consistent with the analysis by Post et al. although total simulated N storage is less. Deserts were simulated to store 460 Tg N (up to 0.262 kg N m⁻²) as NO₃⁻, contributing 80% of the global total NO₃⁻ inventory of 580 Tg N. This model result is in agreement with the findings of a large NO₃⁻ pool beneath deserts. Globally, inorganic soil N is a small reservoir, comprising only 1.6% of the global soil N content to 1.5 m soil depth, but the ratio has a very high spatial variability and in hot desert regions, inorganic NO₃⁻ is estimated to be the dominant form of stored N in the soil.