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Nitrogen mineralization in loamy arable soils after increasing the ploughing depth and ploughing grasslands
Author(s) -
Richter G.M.,
Hoffmann A.,
Nieder R.,
Richter J.
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
soil use and management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.709
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1475-2743
pISSN - 0266-0032
DOI - 10.1111/j.1475-2743.1989.tb00779.x
Subject(s) - plough , mineralization (soil science) , agronomy , topsoil , soil water , nitrogen cycle , nitrogen , loam , environmental science , leaching (pedology) , arable land , chemistry , soil science , ecology , biology , organic chemistry , agriculture
. Increasing the ploughing depth and ploughing in grassland has been common in Germany during the past 20 years. Incubation studies were conducted with topsoils from luvisols and gleysols at different times after change of management in order to assess its influence on nitrogen mineralization and its kinetic parameters. The results show that deep ploughing slows the mineralization of nitrogen. The difference between earlier (1967–72) and more recently (1980–82) deepened topsoil has become smaller after a further three years of cultivation, however. The preceding crops (wheat or sugar beet), the amount of N fertilizer as well as clay and nitrogen contents cause a variation in N mineralization. The results indicate a continuing approach of an‘equilibrium’organic matter and nitrogen content. The enrichment capacity of intensively managed soils may be replenished within 10 years. Gleysols formerly under grass mineralize more nitrogen than‘traditionally’ploughed soils, even 27 years after the ploughing‐in. While nitrogen from easily decomposable materials decreases within the first 10 years, the resistant fraction is a long‐lasting determinant for N mineralization. Both processes need to be considered when applying fertilizer to minimize nitrate leaching.