ISSN:
1432-0789
Keywords:
Nitrogen immobilization
;
Mineralization
;
Nitrification
;
Nitrification inhibitor
;
Acetylene
;
CaC2
;
15N enrichment
;
Urea
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
,
Geosciences
,
Agriculture, Forestry, Horticulture, Fishery, Domestic Science, Nutrition
Notes:
Abstract The effect of acetylene (provided by wax-coated calcium carbide, CaC2) on N transformations in a red-brown earth was measured in a field experiment with irrigated wheat by determining the change in the concentration and 15N enrichment of the organic N and mineral N pools with time. The study was conducted in the Goulburn-Murray Irrigation region of south-eastern Australia using 0.3 m by 0.3 m microplots fertilized with 15N-labelled urea (10 g N m-2; 5 atom% 15N). Acetylene was effective in slowing the nitrification of both unlabelled and labelled N. Nitrate derived from the added fertilizer reached a maximum 19 days after sowing in the treatment without CaC2, whereas little nitrate accumulated in the 8 g CaC2 m-2 treatment. There was significant immobilization of the urea N by 19 days after sowing in all treatments, but the extent of immobilization was not affected by the acetylene. The addition of acetylene slowed net mineralization of labelled and unlabelled N from the organic N pool, and resulted in increased accumulation of both unlabelled and labelled N in wheat tops.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00369408
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