Nitrogen Mineralization in West Indian Soils

Abstract

SUMMARYSoil properties influencing N mineralization, and hence the potential N-supplying power of 154 West Indian soils, have been studied. Mineralizable N was correlated with the activity of the soil biomass measured as extractable glucose, with exchangeable bases in base-deficient soils and with total N in soils well supplied with bases, but not with other estimates of the nature of soil organic matter (e.g. extractable chlorophyll or C : N ratio). It is suggested that cation exchange capacity and percentage base saturation may influence the N-supplying power of West Indian soils more than their total N content.