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Microplot Design and Plant and Soil Sample Preparation for 15Nitrogen Analysis
Published on: May 10, 2020
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Spatial heterogeneous granulation enhance soil nitrogen supply potential via regulating dissolved organic nitrogen
Xinyi Yang1, Kun Zhu1, Xiaohong Jia2
1Department of Soil and Water Science, College of Land Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, No. 2 West Road of Yuanmingyuan, Haidian, Beijing 100193, PR China.
The Science of the Total Environment
|August 10, 2020
Summary
Spatial heterogeneous granulation of organic and chemical fertilizers enhances soil nitrogen transformation. This method optimizes nitrogen release, offering a promising strategy for future fertilizer management.
Area of Science:
- Soil Science
- Agronomy
- Environmental Science
Background:
- Combined organic fertilizer (OF) and chemical nitrogen (CF) application is common for crop growth.
- Granulation methods for OF and CF mixtures are understudied regarding soil nitrogen (N) supply.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of granulation methods (homogeneous vs. spatial heterogeneous) on N transformations in soil.
- To compare N release patterns from mixed OF and CF under different granulation techniques.
Main Methods:
- Mixing 15N-labeled CF with OF at 2% or 8% (dry weight) into homogeneous (HG) or spatial heterogeneous (SG) granules.
- Applying granules to soil and monitoring N transformations over an 80-day incubation period.
- Utilizing structural equation modeling (SEM) to analyze N dynamics and microbial activity.
Main Results:
- SG granules and surrounding soil showed higher NH4+, NO3-, and microbial biomass N (MBN) after 30 days.
- HG granules and soil had higher dissolved organic N (DON) after 30 days.
- At 80 days, SG released less CF-N but primed more organic N into mineral N compared to HG; DON was the primary N form transported from granules, influencing microbial activity and mineral N dynamics.
Conclusions:
- Spatial heterogeneous granulation of OF and CF alters N release patterns into the soil.
- This method slows N release but enhances microbial transformation of CF within granules.
- Heterogeneous granulation offers a potential strategy for optimizing nitrogen fertilizer management.
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