Effects of different organic ∶inorganic nitrogen addition ratios on nitrogen distribution and transformation in a grassland soil

doi:10.11686/cyxb2021104

Abstract

Abstract:

Increase in nitrogen （N） deposition has become one of the most important phenomena of global change， and has significantly affected the soil nitrogen cycle in many grasslands. This experiment studied the effects of inorganic versus organic forms of N addition on the soil N cycle， in a six-year N addition experiment carried out in meadow steppe grassland in Inner Mongolia. Inorganic N （IN） was added as NH₄NO₃， while organic N （ON） was added as urea and glycine mixed in equal proportions， based on their N concentrations. The ratios of IN∶ON used as treatments were 10∶0 （N₁）， 7∶3 （N₂）， 5∶5 （N₃）， 3∶7 （N₄）， 0∶10 （N₅） and 0∶0 （CK）. Soil N was fractionated into light fractions and heavy fractions. Additionally， a short-term incubation was conducted to assess potential N mineralization. Our results showed that soil total N content was not affected by the form of N addition. Nitrogen addition significantly increased soil nitrate and mineral N concentrations in the 0-20 cm soil layer， and this effect was most pronounced in the N₄ （IN∶ON=3∶7） treatment. Compared with the control treatment， soil mineral N increased by 1332% in the N₄treatment. The N concentration of light fractions in the 0-10 cm soil horizon was increased by 91% and the N concentration of heavy fractions in the 0-20 cm horizon was increased by 44% both under N₁ treatment （IN∶ON=10∶0）. However， the percentage of N concentrations in light fractions and heavy fractions was not affected by different forms of N addition. The data also indicated that N addition increased the nitrification rate while decreasing the ammonization rate in the 10-20 cm soil horizon， but it did not affect the soil net N mineralization rate. Therefore， the effects of changing the IN∶ON addition ratio on the form and turnover of nitrogen in these grassland soils are complex.

Key words: meadow steppe, nitrogen fertilization, nitrogen forms, soil organic matter fractions, nitrogen mineralization

Meng-han WANG, Li-li DONG, Fu-cui LI, Lie-bao HAN, Xiang WANG. Effects of different organic ∶inorganic nitrogen addition ratios on nitrogen distribution and transformation in a grassland soil[J]. Acta Prataculturae Sinica, 2022, 31(1): 36-46.

Figures/Tables 6

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处理 Treatments	深度 Depth （cm）	氮素含量 Nitrogen content （g·kg^-1）
处理 Treatments	深度 Depth （cm）	风干土 Dry soil	轻组 Light fractions	重组 Heavy fractions
CK	0~10	2.23±0.11a	0.91±0.07a	4.79±0.08a
CK	10~20	1.96±0.24a	0.47±0.07a	3.72±0.06a
N₁	0~10	3.43±0.42a	1.47±0.18a	5.18±0.33a
N₁	10~20	2.82±0.41a	0.67±0.11a	4.23±0.17a
N₂	0~10	2.49±0.45a	1.43±0.34a	4.99±0.61a
N₂	10~20	2.27±0.14a	0.68±0.09a	4.18±0.45a
N₃	0~10	2.75±0.37a	1.16±0.07a	4.99±0.20a
N₃	10~20	2.14±0.09a	0.58±0.08a	3.97±0.15a
N₄	0~10	2.70±0.23a	1.07±0.09a	4.93±0.14a
N₄	10~20	2.13±0.24a	0.58±0.10a	3.96±0.10a
N₅	0~10	2.81±0.16a	1.40±0.17a	4.74±0.33a
N₅	10~20	2.17±0.16a	0.87±0.17a	4.00±0.14a

处理 Treatments	深度 Depth （cm）	氮素含量 Nitrogen content （g·kg^-1）
处理 Treatments	深度 Depth （cm）	风干土 Dry soil	轻组 Light fractions	重组 Heavy fractions
CK	0~10	2.23±0.11a	0.91±0.07a	4.79±0.08a
CK	10~20	1.96±0.24a	0.47±0.07a	3.72±0.06a
N₁	0~10	3.43±0.42a	1.47±0.18a	5.18±0.33a
N₁	10~20	2.82±0.41a	0.67±0.11a	4.23±0.17a
N₂	0~10	2.49±0.45a	1.43±0.34a	4.99±0.61a
N₂	10~20	2.27±0.14a	0.68±0.09a	4.18±0.45a
N₃	0~10	2.75±0.37a	1.16±0.07a	4.99±0.20a
N₃	10~20	2.14±0.09a	0.58±0.08a	3.97±0.15a
N₄	0~10	2.70±0.23a	1.07±0.09a	4.93±0.14a
N₄	10~20	2.13±0.24a	0.58±0.10a	3.96±0.10a
N₅	0~10	2.81±0.16a	1.40±0.17a	4.74±0.33a
N₅	10~20	2.17±0.16a	0.87±0.17a	4.00±0.14a

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