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Nitrogen losses from agricultural soils through denitrification ‐ a critical evaluation
Author(s) -
Rheinbaben Wolfgang Von
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
zeitschrift für pflanzenernährung und bodenkunde
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.644
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1522-2624
pISSN - 0044-3263
DOI - 10.1002/jpln.19901530305
Subject(s) - denitrification , arable land , environmental science , manure , soil water , fertilizer , irrigation , nitrogen , agriculture , agronomy , soil science , chemistry , ecology , organic chemistry , biology
The direct measurement of gaseous N losses through denitrification requires a complicated methodology. Mostly alternative approaches are used to estimate these losses for a particular arable or grassland site. Evaluation of the literature shows that N losses as a result of denitrification ‐ determined by the 15 N balance, by direct mass spectrometry of N 2 + N 2 O and by the acetylene inhibition method, respectively ‐ may reach about 10 % of the fertilizer input on agriculturally used sites without irrigation or organic manure addition. The estimation of denitrification losses can be improved by considering site‐specific parameters affecting denitrification like total carbon content, pH, time of fertilizer application as well as soil temperature and soil moisture conditions.