氮素对花铃期干旱再复水后棉花根系生长的影响

于2005~2006年在江苏南京农业大学卫岗试验站进行盆栽试验, 设置正常灌水(土壤含水量为田间持水量的75%左右)和棉花(Gossypium hirsutum)花铃期土壤短期干旱处理(将正常灌水的棉花自然干旱持续8 d, 以棉株出现萎蔫症状为标准, 之后复水至正常灌水水平), 每个处理再设置3个氮素水平(0、3.73、7.46 g N·pot^-1, 分别相当于0、240、480 kg N·hm^-2), 研究氮素对花铃期干旱及复水后棉花根系生长的影响。结果表明, 花铃期干旱条件下, 土壤相对含水量迅速减少, 并随氮素水平的提高而降低。在干旱处理结束时, 与正常灌水处理相比, 干旱处理棉花根重与氮素累积量显著降低, 但干物质根冠比(R/S)与氮素累积量根冠比(R_N/S_N)增大; 根系超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)和过氧化物酶(POD)活性明显升高, 而过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性降低, 同时, 丙二醛(MDA)含量相应增大。花铃期短期干旱亦显著降低棉花根系活力与叶片净光合速率。施氮可提高干旱处理棉花根重与氮素累积量, 降低SOD活性, 增强POD与CAT活性, 但以240 kg N·hm^-2水平最有利于根系生长, 其内在生理机制表现为R/S与R_N/S_N最小, 膜脂过氧化程度最低, 而根系活力最强, 其叶片的净光合速率亦最高。复水后, 干旱处理棉花根重与氮素累积量显著高于正常灌水处理; 内源保护酶活性相应变化, 其根系MDA含量与正常灌水处理已无显著差异; 根系活力显著高于正常灌水处理。施氮有助于增加复水后棉花根重与氮素累积量, 提高POD与CAT活性, 降低膜脂过氧化程度, 增强棉花根系活力, 从而提高叶片净光合速率。综合分析认为, 过量施氮或施氮不足均不利于棉花根系生长, 两年的试验结果表明, 在本试验设置的3个氮素水平中, 花铃期干旱胁迫下以240 kg N·hm^-2, 且基施50%, 初花期追施50%较适宜。     

氮素水平对初花后棉株生物量、氮素累积特征及氮素利用率动态变化的影响

在大田栽培条件下,分别在长江流域下游棉区(江苏南京)和黄河流域黄淮棉区(河南安阳)设置棉花氮素水平试验,定量研究氮素水平对花后棉株生物量、氮素累积特征及氮素累积利用率动态变化的影响,结果表明:棉株总生物量和氮素累积量随花后棉株生育进程的动态变化符合S型曲线,安阳、南京试点分别以360kg.hm-2、240kg.hm-2氮素水平的总生物量、氮素累积最多,其动态累积模型的特征参数值最为协调,皮棉产量最高。因此,可以通过改变施肥量来调节初花后棉株生长特征值,从而获得高产。棉株氮素累积利用率随初花后棉花生育进程的推进,呈现为不规则的S型曲线变化趋势,计算两试点的氮素累积利用率、瞬时利用率,安阳试点以360 kg.hm-2的施氮水平为最优,南京以240 kg.hm-2最高;施肥过多不仅利用率低,而且易造成营养器官比例加大,棉株虽可获得较大的干物质和氮素累积,但不能适时向生殖器官转移,皮棉产量降低。     

水氮运筹对棉花花后生物量和氮素利用率的影响

在池栽和大田条件下,以‘美棉33B’为材料,研究不同水分(自然降水、自然降水 灌水)和氮素(0、240、480kgN/hm2)运筹下棉花花后生物量和养分累积及氮素利用率动态变化特征。结果表明:施氮使棉花(整株、营养器官、生殖器官)生物量和养分快速累积期持续时间缩短、最大累积速率增大且出现时间提前、累积量及皮棉产量增加。灌水使240 kgN/hm2处理棉花(整株、营养器官、生殖器官)生物量和养分快速累积期持续时间缩短、最大累积速率出现时间提前、最大累积速率和累积量增大、氮素累积利用率和产量提高;而使480 kgN/hm2处理棉花营养器官生物量和养分快速累积期持续时间延长、最大累积速率出现时间推迟、生物量和养分最大累积速率及累积量增大、氮素累积利用率提高,而生殖器官相应指标呈降低趋势;灌水对不施氮处理棉花生物量和养分累积各项特征参数影响较小。营养器官生物量和氮磷钾最大累积速率出现时间较生殖器官早23 d左右,而快速累积期持续时间长于生殖器官11 d左右。研究发现,水分和氮素运筹可通过影响棉花生物量和养分累积的动态特征参数来影响棉花生长,进而影响最终产量品质形成;在本实验条件下,以灌水的240 kgN/hm2处理棉花的生长特征参数最为协调,皮棉产量和氮素利用率最高,品质较优。     

施氮和肥料添加剂对水稻产量、氮素吸收转运及利用的影响

在苏南太湖地区开展田间试验,研究了施氮和肥料添加剂对水稻产量、氮素吸收转运及利用的影响.结果表明:施氮对水稻产量、各生育时期植株累积吸氮量、阶段氮累积量和花后氮素转运量具有显著的促进作用(P＜0.01),当施氮量高于200 kg·hm-2时,增施氮肥的增产效应不显著(P＞0.05);花后氮素转运率和氮肥利用率均随施氮量的增加而降低.施用肥料添加剂可进一步提高水稻产量、累积吸氮量、花后氮素转运量和氮肥利用率,且该效应在高施氮量( ≥200 kg·hm-2)条件下表现更明显.本试验条件下不施用肥料添加剂时,施氮150kg·hm-2可同时获得较高的产量和氮肥利用率.     

灌溉对沙拐枣幼苗生长及氮素利用的影响

采用盆栽试验,比较了5个灌溉梯度下(4.6、6.1、7.7、9.2、13.0 kg·株-1·次-1)沙拐枣幼苗氮素累积分配、利用和回收特征及其生长特性差异。结果表明:随灌溉量增加,沙拐枣幼苗整株氮素累积量和干物质量均显著增加,但在最高灌溉量下沙拐枣幼苗出现严重病害。生长旺季干物质和氮素主要分配在同化枝中,平均分别占总株的39.5%和66.1%,随灌溉量增加分配比例显著增加;季末茎和老枝是干物质和氮素的主要累积器官,平均分别占总株的54.7%和47.8%,分配比例也随灌溉量增加而显著增加。干旱条件下沙拐枣幼苗具有较高的根冠比,增加灌溉量后显著下降。生长旺季沙拐枣幼苗具有较高氮素回收效率,平均为64.4%,灌溉后明显增加;季末平均为58.1%,灌溉后有下降趋势。在两个生长季平均氮素利用效率分别为120.5和235.8g/g,增加灌溉量虽可提高植物氮素利用效率,但在最高灌溉量下氮素利用效率出现降低。由此可见,沙拐枣幼苗物质分配特征具有明显的季节性和可塑性,灌溉量过高和过低都不利于沙拐枣幼苗生长及氮素回收和利用效率的提高,因此中等灌溉量(7.7—9.2 kg·株-1·次-1)更有利于其生长及自身特性发挥。     

施氮量和种植密度对东北特早熟棉区棉花生物量和氮素累积的影响

以辽棉19号和美棉33B为材料,于2008年在东北特早熟棉区设置不同的棉花种植密度(每公顷75000、97500、120000株)和施氮量(0、240、480 kg·hm^-2),研究了施氮量和种植密度对东北特早熟棉区棉花生物量、氮素累积特征和氮素累积利用率的影响.结果表明： 两个品种的棉花生物量和氮素累积量随棉花生育进程的动态变化均符合Logistic模型;种植密度和施氮量显著影响棉花氮素累积动态特征以及棉花产量和品质;氮素的快速累积起始日较生物量早13 d左右.在种植密度为每公顷97500株、240 kg·hm^-2施氮量处理下,两个品种棉花的生物量和氮素动态累积模型的特征参数最为协调,皮棉产量最高,纤维品质最优,氮素利用效率最高.在东北特早熟棉区,较早的生物量和氮素快速累积及较高的累积速率有利于棉花较高产量的形成.     

种植密度和施氮水平对小麦吸收利用土壤氮素的影响

2011-2013小麦季,在大田条件下设置2个氮肥水平(180和240kgN· hm-2)和3个种植密度(135、270和405万·hm-2),并将15N-尿素分别标记在20、60和100 cm土层处,研究种植密度-施氮互作对小麦吸收、利用土壤氮素及硝态氮残留量的影响.结果表明:种植密度从135万·hm-2增加至405万·hm-2,小麦在20、60和100 cm土层的15N吸收量分别增加1.86、2.28和2.51 kg·hm-2,地上部氮素积累量和吸收效率分别提高12.6％和12.6％,氮素利用效率降低5.4％;施氮量由240 kg N·hm-2降至180 kg N·hm-2,小麦在20、60 cm土层的15N吸收量分别降低4.11和1.21 kg·hm-2,在100 cm土层的15N吸收量增加1.02 kg·hm-2,地上部氮素积累量平均降低13.5％,氮素吸收效率和利用效率分别提高9.4％和12.2％.施氮180kg N·hm-2+种植密度为405万·hm-2处理与施氮240 kg N·hm-2+种植密度为270或405万·hm-2处理相比,其籽粒产量无显著差异,深层土壤氮素的吸收量显著提高,氮素吸收效率和利用效率分别提高13.4％和11.9％,O～ 200 cm土层的硝态氮积累量及100～ 200 cm土层硝态氮分布比例降低.在适当降低氮肥用量条件下,通过增加种植密度可以促进小麦吸收深层土壤氮素,减少土壤氮素残留,并保持较高的产量水平.     

施氮对不同品种冬小麦氮素累积和运转的影响

在鄂北岗地以当地主栽的5个冬小麦品种‘鄂麦14'、‘鄂麦18'、‘鄂麦23'、‘郑麦9023'、和‘洛麦1号'为试验材料,通过田间裂区试验在不施氮(0 kg/hm2)和施氮(195 kg/hm2)条件下研究不同品种小麦氮素的累积、转移与分配规律的差异.结果表明:(1)在扬花期,不施氮处理叶片、茎鞘和穗部氮素累积量均为‘鄂麦14' 最大,积累量分别达到14.2 、16.6 和10.8 kg/hm2;施氮后‘鄂麦23' 的叶片氮素积累量最大(71.5 kg/hm2),‘鄂麦14' 的茎鞘积累量最大(69.0 kg/hm2),‘鄂麦18'的穗部积累量最大(34.2 kg/hm2).(2)成熟后不同部位氮素转移效率表现为叶片>穗>茎鞘,且叶、茎鞘、穗氮素转移效率存在品种差异;不同品种间氮肥效率差异显著,并以‘鄂麦23'的氮肥利用率、氮肥农学效率最高,而‘郑麦9023'的氮肥生理效率最高.(3)在氮胁迫条件下,扬花前‘鄂麦14'各器官氮素累积量、成熟期的氮素转移率及籽粒氮素累积量都显著高于其它品种;而在施氮条件下,冬小麦各器官氮素的累积、转移与分配因品种不同而异,‘鄂麦14'和‘鄂麦23'籽粒及植株氮素累积量都显著高于其它品种.研究发现,冬小麦氮素的累积、转移与分配受品种与氮素调控共同影响;施氮能显著提高各器官氮素的累积量,且提高的幅度因品种而异.     

育秧箱全量施肥对水稻产量和氮素流失的影响

采用育秧箱全量施肥技术,通过2年田间小区试验,研究中量控释氮肥(80 kg N·hm-2)、高量控释氮肥(120kgN·hm-2)和常规施肥(300 kg N·hm-2)处理对水稻产量和氮素流失的影响.结果表明:与常规施肥相比,高量控释氮肥处理的水稻产量未显著降低.常规施肥处理2年平均氮素利用率为33.2％,中量和高量控释氮肥处理的平均氮素利用率分别比常规施肥处理提高26.2％和20.7％.常规施肥处理田面水的总氮含量在施肥后1～3d达最大值,中量和高量控释氮肥处理的高峰期为施肥后7～9d,全生育期内,中量和高量控释氮肥处理田面水的总氮含量均显著低于常规施肥处理.常规施肥处理的氮素渗漏流失主要在分蘖期,中量和高量控释氮肥处理的氮素渗漏流失后移至分蘖-开花期.各处理硝态氮流失量占总氮流失量的59.7％～64.2％,高量控释氮肥处理的总氮净流失量比常规施肥处理减少51.8％.     

水分亏缺和施氮对冬小麦生长及氮素吸收的影响

利用管栽试验研究了不同生育期,水分亏缺和施氮对冬小麦生长及氮素吸收的影响.结果表明：任何生育期水分亏缺都会影响冬小麦的株高、叶面积、干物质累积及对氮素的吸收.冬小麦对水分亏缺的敏感期为拔节期,其次为开花期、灌浆期和苗期.苗期干旱后复水对后期生长有显著的补偿效应,开花期适度干旱后复水对生物量形成和氮素吸收有一定的补偿作用,拔节期干旱对小麦的生长影响明显.相同氮肥处理下, 与不亏水处理比较, 苗期水分亏缺、拔节期水分亏缺、开花期水分亏缺、灌浆期水分亏缺的根系氮素积累量分别平均降低25.82%、55.68%、46.14%和16.34%,地上部氮素积累量分别平均降低33.37%、51.71%、27.01%和2.60%.在相同水分处理下冬小麦含氮量、累积吸收氮量都表现为高氮处理（0.3 g N·kg^-1FM）>中氮处理（0.2 g N·kg^-1FM）>低氮处理（0.1 g N·kg^-1FM）.水分逆境条件下施用氮肥对冬小麦植株生长和干物质累积及氮吸收具有明显的调节效应.     

氮素形态对黄檗幼苗生长及氮代谢相关酶类的影响

通过改变水培溶液中NH4^＋-N和NO3^--N的比例,研究了不同氮素形态对黄檗（Phellodendron amurense）幼苗生长及氮代谢相关酶类的影响。结果表明,硝态氮比例较高的营养供给比铵态氮比例较高的营养供给有利于黄檗幼苗的生长,叶片叶绿素含量和可溶性蛋白含量也高。在NH4^＋-N／NO3^--N为25／75时黄檗幼苗具有最大生物量。在铵态氮比例大的营养供给下,黄檗幼苗的谷氨酰胺合成酶（GS）活性增强,而在硝态氮比例大的营养供给下幼苗的硝酸还原酶（NR）活性则较高,叶片中的硝态氮较低。营养液的氮素形态及其组成通过影响GS与NR的活性而调控黄檗幼苗的氮素代谢。     

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.     

施氮对不同品种冬小麦植株硝态氮和硝酸还原酶活性的影响

以黄土高原南部半湿润区土垫旱耕人为土为供试土壤进行盆栽试验,以NR 9405、9430、偃师9号、小偃6号、陕229号和西农2208冬小麦品种为供试材料,研究施氮对不同品种冬小麦植株硝态氮含量和硝酸还原酶活性(NRA)的影响.结果表明,施氮能明显增加叶片NRA.不施氮时除小偃6号和偃师9号外,其余品种NRA在全生育时期的动态变化均呈双峰曲线,2个高峰期分别在返青期和开花期,且开花期高峰值(36.17 NO2-μg.-g 1FW.h-1)明显比返青期峰值(15.407 NO2-μg.-g 1FW.h-1)大;施氮时不同品种叶片NRA在全生育期呈单峰曲线变化,最高峰在开花期,平均峰值为80.93 NO2-μg.-g 1FW.h-1),比同期不施氮处理增加1倍以上.施氮后地上部硝态氮含量在各时期均显著提高,在小麦生育前期(出苗到拔节)表现最为显著.氮肥对不同品种硝态氮含量的影响程度基本上与对NRA的影响程度相反,即施氮后硝态氮增加幅度小的品种,NRA却增加幅度大.     

氮素营养水平对冬小麦碳氮运转的影响

在大田试验条件下,研究了不同施氮水平对2种穗型冬小麦品种花后干物质和氮素积累与运转的影响及其与产量和品质的关系,以探讨氮素营养水平对冬小麦碳氮运转的影响.结果显示,适宜的施氮量（180 kg·hm^-2）能够极显著增加2种穗型冬小麦品种叶片、茎鞘等营养器官花前贮藏物质及花前贮藏氮素的再运转量和运转率以及总再运转量和运转率,也能够极显著增加成熟期籽粒氮素含量和花前贮藏氮素总运转量对籽粒氮素含量的贡献率.各施氮处理对2种穗型小麦品种花后氮素积累量对籽粒氮素含量贡献率的影响效应不明显.结果表明,适宜的施氮量有利于小麦籽粒和蛋白质产量的提高.     

Nitrogen fixation and the mass balances of carbon and nitrogen in ecosystems

Ecosystems with high rates of nitrogen fixation often have high loss rates through leaching or possibly denitrification. However, there is no formal theoretical context to examine why this should be the case nor of how nitrogen accumulates in such open systems. Here, we propose a simple model coupling nitrogen inputs and losses to carbon inputs and losses. The nitrogen balance of this model system depends on plant (nitrogen fixer) growth rate, its carrying capacity, N fixed/C fixed, residence time of nitrogen and carbon in biomass, litter decay rate, litter N/C, and fractional loss rate of mineralized nitrogen. The model predicts the requirements for equilibrium in a nitrogen-fixing system, and the conditions on nitrogen fixation and losses in order for the system to accumulate nitrogen and carbon. In particular, the accumulation of nitrogen and carbon in a nitrogen-fixing system depend on an interaction between residence time in vegetation and litter decay rate in soil. To reflect a possible increased uptake of soil nitrogen and decreased respiratory cost of symbiotic nitrogen fixers, the model was then modified so that fixation rate decreased and growth rate increased as nitrogen capital accumulated. These modifications had only small effects on carbon and nitrogen accumulation. This suggests that switching from uptake of atmospheric nitrogen to mineral soil nitrogen as nitrogen capital accumulates simply results in a trade-off between energetic limitations and soil nitrogen limitations to carbon and nitrogen accumulation. Experimental tests of the model are suggested.     

Effect of Nitrogen Supply on the Nitrogen Use Efficiency of an Annual Herb, Helianthus annuus L.

Nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) is the product of nitrogen productivity (NP) and the mean residence time of nitrogen (MRT). Theory suggests that there should be a trade-off between both components,but direct experimental evidence is still scarce. To test this hypothesis, we analyzed the effect of varying nitrogen supply levels on NUEand its two components (NP, MRT) in Helianthus annuus L., an annual herb.The plants investigated were subjected to six nitrogen levels (0, 2, 4, 8, 16, and 32 g N/m2). Total plant production increased substantially with increasing nitrogen supply. Nitrogen uptake and loss also in creased with nitrogen supply. Nitrogen influx (rin) and outflux (rout) were defined as the rates of nitrogen uptake and loss per unit aboveground nitrogen, respectively. Both rin and rout increased with increasing nitrogen supply. In addition, rin was far higher than rout. Consequently, the relative rate of nitrogen incre ment (rin- rout) also increased with nitrogen supply. There were marked differences between treatments with respect to parameters related to the stress resistance syndrome: nitrogen pool size, leaf nitrogen concentration,and net aboveground productivity increased with nitrogen supply. Plants at high nitrogen levels showed a higher NP (the growth rate per unit aboveground nitrogen) and a shorter MRT (the inverse of rout), whereas plants at low nitrogen levels displayed the reverse pattern. Shorter MRT for plants at high nitrogen levels was caused by the abscission of leaves that contained relatively large fractions of total plant nitrogen. We found a negative relationship between NP and MRT, the components of NUE, along the gradient of nitrogen availability, suggesting that there was a trade-off between NP and MRT. The NUE increased with increasing nitrogen availability, up to a certain level, and then decreased. These results offer support for the hypoth esis that adaptation to infertile habitats involves a low nitrogen loss (long MRT in the plant) rather than a high NUE per se. The higher NUE at the plant level was a result, in part, of greater nitrogen resorption during senescence. We suggest that a long MRT (an index of nitrogen conservation) is a potentially successful strategy in nitrogen-poor environments.     

氮处理对大豆根瘤固氮能力及GmLbs基因表达的影响

共生根瘤的固氮效率受外界氮素的严格调控。除固氮酶活性外,豆血红蛋白(Lb)浓度亦是反应固氮能力的重要指标。为明确氮水平对生物固氮作用的影响,以大豆(Glycine max)为材料,在低氮(0.53 mmol·L–1)条件下接种根瘤菌,30天后再进行高氮(5.3、10、20、30和40 mmol·L–1)处理7天,分析L...     

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.     

植物氮素营养与病害发生关系研究进展

氮素营养不仅影响植物的正常生长发育,还会影响植物的感病性或抗病性。该文主要综述了氮素营养及其代谢对植物病害发展的影响、诱导病原菌侵染的寄主氮营养信号和氮素营养对植物与病原菌互作相关基因表达的影响,尤其是氮素受限(饥饿)对病原菌基因的诱导表达、植物衰老基因和抗病基因的关系、植物衰老过程中防御基因的表达等国际研究的热点领域所取得的成果和进展,并讨论了有待深入研究的问题。     

Nitrogen mineralization by bacterial-feeding nematodes: verification and measurement

Bacterial feeding nematodes excrete N assimilated in excess of that required for growth. Because metabolic and developmental rates differ among nematode species, we hypothesized that their contribution to N mineralization in soil would differ. Sand-column microcosms amended with an organic substrate, bacteria, and with or without bacterial-feeding nematodes, were leached at 3-d intervals. Cumulative N, as NH ₄ ⁺ or NO ₃ ^- , leached from columns containing nematodes was consistently greater than from columns without nematodes. Maximum N-mineralization rates for populations of rhabditid nematodes, which predominated in field soils early in the summer were at lower temperatures than those for cephalobid nematodes, which predominated later in the summer. For an organic substrate with C-to-N ratio of 11:1, rates of N mineralization among species of different body size were similar, ranging between 0.0012 and 0.0058 g-N nematode^-1 d^-1, mainly as NH ₄ ⁺ . Smaller nematodes mineralized more N per unit of body weight than larger nematodes. We hypothesized that at low C-to-N ratios of the organic substrate, bacterial growth is C-limited and N-immobilization will be minimal; at high C-to-N ratios bacterial growth will be N-limited and there may be rapid immobilization of newly-mineralized N. Consequently, net N mineralization in the presence of nematodes will be lower when the organic substrate has a high C-to-N ratio. In experiments with different nematode species, net mineralization and the nematode contribution to mineralization generally decreased with increasing C-to-N ratio, consistent with the hypothesis; however, there were exceptions.