Effect of bulk density and soil water tension on denitrification in the rhizosphere of spring wheat (Triticum vulgare

Abstract

Pot experiments were carried out to study the influence of bulk density (D b), soil water tension (pF) and presence of plants (spring wheat) on denitrification in a low-humus Bt-horizon of a udalf. Pots of only 5-cm depth were found to be most suitable for the experiments when using the acetylene inhibition method. Almost homogeneous soil compaction between 1.1 and 1.6g soil cm−3 was achieved by a Proctor tamper. Water tensions were adjusted by means of ceramic plates on which negative pressure was applied. No denitrification was detected in unplanted pots. With planted pots and increasing bulk density denitrification increased more in pots with 14-day-old plants than in pots with 7-day-old plants. With 14-day-old plants N2O emission pot−1 increased steadily from 2 μmol at D b 1.1 to 8 μmol at D b 1.6, when soil moisture was adjusted to pF 1.5, although root growth was impaired by higher bulk density. From an experiment with different bulk densities and water tensions it could be deduced that the air-filled porosity ultimately determined the rate of denitrification. When low water tension was applied for a longer period, water tension had an overriding effect on total denitrification. Denitrification intensity, however, i.e. the amount of N2O g−1 root fresh weight, was highest when low water tension was accompanied by high bulk density. The results suggest that the increase in denitrification intensity at oxygen stress is partly due to higher root exudation.