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Microplot Design and Plant and Soil Sample Preparation for 15Nitrogen Analysis
Published on: May 10, 2020
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Phosphorus availability and plants alter soil nitrogen retention and loss
Kazi R Mehnaz1, Claudia Keitel1, Feike A Dijkstra1
1Sydney Institute of Agriculture, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, 380 Werombi Rd, Brownlow Hill, NSW 2570, Australia.
The Science of the Total Environment
|April 4, 2019
Summary
Phosphorus addition and plant presence increase nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions and nitrogen (N) retention in soil. Both factors stimulate N loss as N2O but reduce nitrate leaching, impacting soil N dynamics.
Area of Science:
- Soil Science
- Environmental Science
- Agronomy
Background:
- Phosphorus (P) availability influences soil nitrogen (N) cycling through microbial and plant activities.
- The interactive effects of P availability and plant presence on soil nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions and nitrate (NO3-) leaching remain unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the combined effects of P addition and plant presence on N2O emission, NO3- leaching, and 15N recovery in soil.
- To elucidate the mechanisms driving N loss and retention under varying P levels and plant conditions.
Main Methods:
- A mesocosm experiment was conducted using Phalaris aquatica (C3 grass).
- Treatments included three P addition levels (0, 10, 20 mg P kg-1) with and without plant presence.
- Measurements included N2O emission, NO3- leaching, and 15N recovery over time.
Main Results:
- N2O emissions showed high variability, increasing significantly after leaching events.
- P addition, particularly at later stages, and plant presence generally increased N2O emission rates.
- Plant presence modulated N2O emissions based on soil water and NO3- availability, potentially stimulating denitrification via labile organic carbon supply.
- P addition enhanced 15N recovery in soil and microbial biomass while reducing it in leachates.
Conclusions:
- Both P addition and plant presence stimulate N loss as N2O but also enhance N retention within the soil-plant system.
- These factors collectively reduce nitrate leaching, indicating a complex interplay affecting overall nitrogen fate in soils.
- Understanding these interactions is crucial for managing soil fertility and mitigating nitrogen pollution.
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