Shoot, root, soil and microbial nitrogen dynamics in two contrasting soils cropped to barley (Hordeum vulgare L.)

Abstract

Dynamics of barley N, mineral N, and organic N were compared at Ellerslie (Black Chernozem, Typic Cryoboroll) and Breton (Gray Luvisol, Typic Cryoboralf) in central Alberta, using 15N-urea. On average, shoot N and shoot 15N recoveries at Ellerslie (14.1 g m−2, 36%) were greater than at Breton (4.5 g m−2, 17%). Root N (g m−2) did not significantly differ between sites (0–30 cm) but root 15N recovery was greater at Breton (3.4%) than Ellerslie (1.8%). Low levels of shoot N and shoot 15N at Breton were partly due to very wet soil conditions in July, which resulted in premature shoot senescence and low plant N uptake. Although the total 15N recoveries from the system (to 30 cm depth) at Ellerslie (63%) and Breton (56%) were similar, soil 15N was greater at Breton (35%) than at Ellerslie (26%). There were no differences in mineral N between sites but the average 15N recovery in the mineral-N pool was significantly greater at Ellerslie (3.3%) than at Breton (1.6%). There was no difference in 15N recovery in the microbial biomass (∼3%) between sites, although non-microbial organic 15N was greater at Breton (31 %) than at Ellerslie (20%). The two soils showed differences in the relative size of kinetically active N pools and in relative mineralization rates. Microbial N (0–30 cm) was greater at Ellerslie (13.3 g m−2) than at Breton (9.9 g m−2), but total microbial N made up a larger proportion of total soil N at Breton (1.6%) than at Ellerslie (0.9%). In the 0–10 cm interval, microbial N was 1.7-fold greater and non-microbial active N was 3-fold greater at Breton compared to Ellerslie, when expressed as a proportion of total soil N. Net N mineralization in a 10-day laboratory incubation was 1.4-fold greater in the Black Chernozem (0–10 cm interval) from Ellerslie, compared to the Gray Luvisol from Breton, when expressed per gram of soil. Net N mineralization in the soil from Breton was double that of the soil from Ellerslie, when expressed as a proportion of soil N. Although soil N (g m−2) was 2.5-fold greater at Ellerslie compared to Breton, it was cycled more rapidly at Breton.