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3. Some Important Factors Controlling the Rate of Nitrification of Organic Materials 1
Author(s) -
Whiting A. L.
Publication year - 1926
Publication title -
agronomy journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.752
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1435-0645
pISSN - 0002-1962
DOI - 10.2134/agronj1926.00021962001800100003x
Subject(s) - whiting , citation , library science , bacteriology , operations research , mathematics , computer science , biology , fishery , genetics , fish <actinopterygii> , bacteria
The rate of nitrification of organic materials added to or incorporated in soils is of large practical importance in intelligent soil management and efficient crop production. The rate at which nitrates will be produced varies for different materials and is a primary characteristic of the materials and not the soil. The rapid accumulation of nitrates in a soil is closely related to their production and it is the measure applied for determining the rate. The accumulation should not be confused with the rate of production as they may be influenced by entirely different factors or in a different manner by the same factor. A rain may decrease the accumulation and increase the rate of production. Higher plants, algae, fungi, bacteria, and other forms of soil life may decrease the accumulation and increase the production of nitrates or they may decrease both or increase both. Soil conditions affect the accumulation and the rate of production of nitrates, bu~t in spite of all these considerations the initial speed of nitrification is dependent upon and a characteristic of the materials themselves. In order to have more definite information as a guide in answering many practical questions on the rate cf nitrification of common farm materials and fertilizers, the data concerned with such exper~ments as occur in the literature and some experiments by the writer and his associates have been used as a basis for the tentative arrangement of these materials in order of their rate of. nitrification. The order must depend upon certain fundamental factors which it is hoped may be determined .and e~phasized by this study. A lecognition of these controlling factors may permit predictions as to the rate of nitrification of many materials yet untested and about which ̄ the farmer is now seeking information. The need for new expei~ments concerned with the rate of nitrification of roots, root-crops, roots and stubble, sods of various non-legumes, mixed sods, weeds, weed and crop mixtures, volunteer growths of various crops, second growths, crop residues, crop products, and many vegetable residues is apparent