Journal ArticleDOI
The effect of soil drying on humus decomposition and nitrogen availability
TLDR
In this paper, the authors show that when a dry soil is moistened, a characteristic pattern of decomposition occurs in which an initial period of relatively rapid decomposition (Stage 1) falls, during a few days, to a slow steady rate (Stage 2).Abstract:
Respirometer experiments show that when a dry soil is moistened a characteristic pattern of decomposition occurs in which an initial period of relatively rapid decomposition (Stage 1) falls, during a few days, to a slow steady rate (Stage 2). This pattern is repetitive with successive dryings and rewettings and is common to all soils so far investigated. The magnitude of decomposition depends in the percent carbon in the soil and on the drying conditions, air-drying being less effective than oven-drying. Decomposition during Stage 1 conforms approximately to a first-order reaction and proportionate amounts of nitrogen are mineralised. A similar pattern of decomposition occurs under field conditions throughout successive wet and dry seasons. Evidence is presented to show that decomposition involves direct microbial attack of the solid organic substrate and that the recurrent pattern of decomposition is due to the state in which the microbial population is left after drying and its subsequent behaviour on rewetting. The rapid decline in the rate of decomposition on rewetting (Stage 1) appears not to involve (1) the development of toxic conditions, (b) physical changes in the soil (since similar patterns of decomposition also occur with organic material alone or in sand) or (c) rapid decomposition of organic material made soluble by drying. The operation and repetition of this pattern of decomposition in the field has important consequences in the rundown of soil carbon and the mineralisation of soil nitrogen particularly where well-defined wet and dry seasons occur. These consequences are discussed in relation to climate and certain agricultural practices.read more
Citations
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Review of mechanisms and quantification of priming effects.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors reveal possible causes and processes leading to priming actions using the references on agricultural ecosystems and model experiments, and summarize in Tables for positive and negative real and apparent priming effects induced after the addition of different organic and mineral substances to the soil.
Journal ArticleDOI
Nitrogen mineralization: challenges of a changing paradigm
TL;DR: A complete new conceptual model of the soil N cycle needs to incorporate recent research on plant–microbe competition and microsite processes to explain the dynamics of N across the wide range of N availability found in terrestrial ecosystems.
Journal ArticleDOI
Microbial stress‐response physiology and its implications for ecosystem function
TL;DR: It is suggested that more effectively integrating microbial ecology into ecosystem ecology will require a more complete integration of microbial physiological ecology, population biology, and process ecology.
Journal ArticleDOI
Tansley Review No. 95 15N natural abundance in soil-plant systems
TL;DR: Measurements of δ15 N might offer the advantage of giving insights into the N cycle without disturbing the system by adding 15 N tracer, as well as giving information on N source effects, which can give insights into N cycle rates.
References
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Journal ArticleDOI
Microbiological studies of some subantarctic soils
J. S. Bunt,A. D. Rovira +1 more
TL;DR: A stimulation occurred in each case in the rhizosphere, even in the more primitive Azorella selago and Dicranoweisia antarctica associations at Macquarie Island.
Journal ArticleDOI
Humus Decomposition in East African Soils
H. F. Birch,M. T. Friend +1 more
TL;DR: The macro-respirometer described by Swaby and Passey1 has been considerably modified while still retaining its chief advantages and is relatively cheap, easy to make and sensitively reflects the magnitude of organic matter decomposition over any desired period.
Journal ArticleDOI
The nitrogen cycle in grassland soils: with especial reference to the Rothamsted Park grass experiment
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors examined Park Grass soils extending over three years, and in shorter studies of other grassland soils, the fresh soil always contained more ammonia than nitrate nitrogen.
Journal ArticleDOI
Drying of soil, as one of the natural factors in maintaining soil fertility
Journal ArticleDOI
The organic-matter and nitrogen status of east african soils
H. F. Birch,M. T. Friend +1 more
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