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Title: MINERALIZATION OF N IN SOILS AMENDED WITH DAIRY MANURE AS AFFECTED BY WETTING/DRYING CYCLES

Author
item Watts, Dexter
item Torbert, Henry - Allen
item Prior, Stephen - Steve

Submitted to: American Society of Agronomy Meetings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/1/2004
Publication Date: 11/1/2004
Citation: Watts, D.B., Torbert III, H.A., Prior, S.A. 2004. Mineralization of N in soils amended with dairy manure as affected by wetting/drying cycles. [abstract] American Society of Agronomy Meetings. 2004 CDROM

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Manure management and its effects on nitrogen (N) mineralization have caused great concern in recent years. The focus of this research was to investigate the N mineralization rates in Coastal Plain soils and compare them to a standard soil. Soils with and without manure were subjected to different wetting/drying cycles under laboratory conditions at three temperatures (11°C, 18°C, and 25°C). Soil samples were collected from four soil types: Catlin-standard (Mollisols), Bama (Ultisols), Goldsboro (Ultisols), and Lynchburg (Ultisols). Soil chemical and physical properties were determined to assess variations in N mineralization rates. Difference in the amount of organic N mineralized to inorganic forms was mainly attributable to soil series, with Lynchburg and Catlin producing the most inorganic N. The total amounts of N mineralized to inorganic forms for both cycling and constant moisture regimens were in the order: Catlin > Lynchburg > Goldsboro > Bama at 11°C and 18°C, in the order: Catlin > Lynchburg > Bama > Goldboro at 25°C. Samples with cycling moisture regimens generally mineralized slightly more N than soils with constant moisture at all temperatures for Bama, Catlin, and Goldsboro, except the Catlin at 18°C and Goldsboro at 25°C. The Lynchburg soil was the opposite, mineralizing more inorganic N in the constant moisture regimen for all three temperatures.