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Submitted to: American Society of Agronomy Branch Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only Publication Acceptance Date: 6/29/2004 Publication Date: 6/29/2004 Citation: Watts, D.B., Torbert III, H.A. 2004. Mineralization of nitrogen in soils under different temperature and wetting/drying regimes. [abstract] American Society of Agronomy Branch Meeting. CDROM Interpretive Summary: Technical Abstract: Within the past two decades, animal production has experienced substantial growth, thereby increasing pressure on producers to dispose of this waste in an environmental friendly way. In areas where manure is land applied, excess application can increase hypoxia and eutrophication in streams and lakes from runoff. Wetting and drying cycles can also impact the environment by affecting the rate of N being mineralized from manure by stimulation of microbial activity, thereby increasing the potential for N loss. The major goal of this research is to investigate the N mineralization in Coastal Plain soils from an ongoing precision agriculture experiment. Soils were subjected to different wetting/drying cycles under laboratory conditions at different temperatures (11'C, 18'C, 25'C). Soil samples were collected from three different soil types (Bama, Goldsboro, and Lynchburg) in close proximity to each other. Soil chemical, physical, and biological properties were determined to assess how variations in these soil quality indicators and environmental conditions will impact N mineralization rates. The amount of organic N mineralized to inorganic forms was mainly attributed to the soil series, with Bama producing the most inorganic N. This was probably due its soil texture. Also, the water-cycled soil in this series produced slightly more inorganic N. The information acquired from this study may aid in accurately predicting the impact of manure application when applied at different climates and seasons, and to different soil types in order to increase N use efficiency. |
