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Water Management Effects on Mineralization of Soil Organic Matter and Corn Residue
Author(s) -
Kimmelshue J. E.,
Gilliam J. W.,
Volk R. J.
Publication year - 1995
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/sssaj1995.03615995005900040030x
Subject(s) - loam , mineralization (soil science) , soil water , chemistry , water table , agronomy , residue (chemistry) , drainage , environmental chemistry , environmental science , zoology , groundwater , soil science , geology , ecology , biology , biochemistry , geotechnical engineering
Water table control is being used on large areas of poorly drained Atlantic Coastal Plain soils during the winter to reduce N losses to surface waters. This study was conducted to determine the effect of water table depth (WTD) and control on N mineralization of added corn ( Zea mays L.) residue. Soil columns (15‐cm‐diam.) were extracted to 70‐cm depth from a Portsmouth loam (fine‐loamy over sandy or sandy‐skeletal, mixed, thermic Typic Umbraquult), placed in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) water table columns, and buried even with the surrounding soil surface. Labeled corn residue (18.01 atom % excess 15 N) was incorporated in the upper 15 cm of the PVC columns and WTDs of 0, 15, 30, and 45 cm maintained. Soil microsamples were taken over time for N analyses. After 209 d, approximately 8 to 13% of the inorganic N came from the N added as plant residue, even though the added N was only 1.1% of the total soil N. Although the 0‐ and 15‐cm WTD treatments accumulated little 15 NO 3 ‐N, they contained appreciable 15 NH 4 ‐N. In contrast, the 30‐ and 45‐cm WTD treatments accumulated primarily 15 NO 3 ‐N as inorganic N accumulation increased with time and rising soil temperatures. It was concluded that WTD control could be used during the winter to promote denitrification of available NO 3 ‐N and thus to minimize NO 3 ‐N lost to drainage water.