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The Effect of Soil Moisture Tension on Carbon Dioxide Evolution, Nitrification, and Nitrogen Mineralization
Author(s) -
Miller Richard D.,
Johnson D. D.
Publication year - 1964
Publication title -
soil science society of america journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.836
H-Index - 168
eISSN - 1435-0661
pISSN - 0361-5995
DOI - 10.2136/sssaj1964.03615995002800050020x
Subject(s) - nitrification , carbon dioxide , mineralization (soil science) , soil water , nitrogen cycle , chemistry , nitrogen , water content , moisture , incubation , soil science , environmental chemistry , zoology , environmental science , geology , geotechnical engineering , biology , organic chemistry , biochemistry
Four soils were incubated at 30°C. for 14 days under soil moisture conditions varying from zero tension to airdry soil after which NO 3 ‐N and NH 4 ‐N were measured. Carbon dioxide evolved from the soils was collected continuously and measured at the end of the 1, 2, 3, 7, and 14 days. Carbon dioxide production during the first day increased from a minimum in air‐dry soil to a maximum at tensions of from 0.50 to 0.15 bars, and then decreased with further increase in soil moisture. At the end of the incubation period there was little difference in the CO 2 evolved in the tension range from zero to 0.15 bar. Maximum nitrification occurred in the tension range of 0.50 to 0.15 bars. There was a peak in both N mineralized and N nitrified in this tension range followed by a decline in NH 4 ‐N and NO 3 ‐N to about zero tension where there was another peak in N mineralization. Nitrification was shown to proceed at tensions above 15 bars tension but at a very slow rate. Ammonification took place at a faster rate at both high and low tensions, indicating that NH 4 ‐N can accumulate in soil at high tensions (up to air‐dry) and low tensions (near zero bars).