Open AccessShort‐term effects of nitrogen source on soil properties and plant growth
Author(s) -
Wacha Kenneth M.,
Hatfield Jerry L.,
O'Brien Peter L.,
Dold Christian
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
agrosystems, geosciences and environment
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2639-6696
DOI - 10.1002/agg2.20176
Subject(s) - amendment , biomass (ecology) , nitrogen , randomized block design , growing season , agronomy , chemistry , long term experiment , plant growth , winter wheat , aggregate (composite) , zoology , environmental science , fertilizer , biology , materials science , organic chemistry , political science , law , composite material
A randomized complete block design experiment was performed in a growth chamber study to evaluate the short‐term impact of N amendment source on CO 2 fluxes, aggregate stability, and aboveground plant biomass. Large intact soil cores ( n = 6) were each segmented into three subplot treatment sources: (a) organic N (ORG‐N); (b) inorganic N (UAN‐32); and (c) no N added (no‐N), with both N sources applied at rates of 27.5 kg N ha –1 . The experiment was run for 130 d, representing one growing season of winter wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.). Soil CO 2 fluxes accumulated during the growing season were 47.1, 36.6, and 24.6 mol m –2 for ORG‐N, UAN‐32, and no‐N treatments, respectively. Significantly higher aboveground plant biomass was harvested in the N source treatments compared with no‐N. Aggregate stability in ORG‐N was significantly higher than inorganic sources, UAN‐32 ( p < .05). This study highlights that even over a short‐term study, organic N sources can increase soil biological activity and aggregation processes, indicating an increased capacity for several soil functions.