Abstract

Parameters characterizing N mineralization and nitrification were measured in soils of ten monitoring areas of the basal soil monitoring carried out by the Central Institute for Supervising and Testing in Agriculture. A remarkable seasonal cycle was found only for nitrate concentrations that reached their maxima in the spring (April–June), and late summer and/or autumn, starting in August. Ammonium ions were nitrified immediately after fertilizer application. Anaerobic N mineralization represented a variable parameter, which was not directly affected by mineral N fertilizers. Nitrification measured by means of one-week incubation was significantly stimulated by N fertilizers confirming that substrate availability was a limiting factor of this process. Short-term nitrification activity (SNA) showed no remarkable seasonal fluctuations, which meant that the potential nitrification rate remained relatively constant during the season. Urease activity was mostly constant during the year and was only slightly related to N mineralization.

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.