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Variation of 15N in Corn and Soil Following Application of Fertilizer Nitrogen
Author(s) -
Kohl D. H.,
Shearer G. B.,
Commoner B.
Publication year - 1973
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/sssaj1973.03615995003700060028x
Subject(s) - nitrogen , agronomy , fertilizer , nitrogen deficiency , nitrogen fertilizer , manure , poaceae , soil test , environmental science , chemistry , soil water , biology , soil science , organic chemistry
Samples of corn ( Zea mays L.) plant tissue (grain and leaf) were obtained from the University of Illinois South Farm plots and from the University of Illinois Morrow plots. Soil samples were also obtained from each of the South Farm plots. The 15 N: 14 N ratio of the nitrogen in these corn plants is shown to be sensitive to the source of nitrogen taken up by the plants. A systematic decline in δ 15 N (per mill excess 15 N) was observed within a narrow range of variation (about 4 δ 15 N units) with increasing applications of commercial nitrogen fertilizer. This result is consistent with increasing contributions of fertilizer nitrogen to the plant, as the fertilizer had a δ 15 N value close to zero. Similarly, the influence of a small amount of manure nitrogen (40 kg nitrogen/ha) applied over many years was detected in samples grown on the University of Illinois' historic Morrow plots. The results indicate that the nitrogen of grain and the leaf tissue of young plants is derived at least in part from different pools reflecting different proportions of fertilizer and soil nitrogen or fertilizer nitrogen of different δ 15 N, due to the time course of its fractionation. Unexplained differences between the influence of soybeans and clover on δ 15 N were also observed. Neither the quantity nor the δ 15 N of the total nitrogen was influenced by short term (3 years) addition of large quantities of nitrogen (448 kg/ha) to the soil on the South Farm plots. A relatively high value of δ 15 N was obtained for NO 3 ‐ in the soil profile in the fall following spring application of 448 kg nitrogen/ha. This suggests that the observed nitrate nitrogen was not derived from nitrogen molecules applied as fertilizer in the spring, but originated rather from the exchange of fertilizer nitrogen for soil nitrogen and/or the “priming effect” (release of extra soil nitrogen as a result of the application of fertilizer nitrogen).