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ARS Home » Plains Area » Temple, Texas » Grassland Soil and Water Research Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #320926
Title: Estimating potential nitrogen mineralisation using the solvita soil respiration system

Author
item Haney, Richard
item HANEY, ELIZABETH - Texas Agrilife Research
item Smith, Douglas
item White, Michael

Submitted to: Open Journal of Soil Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/18/2015
Publication Date: 12/23/2015
Citation: Haney, R.L., Haney, E.B., Smith, D.R., White, M.J. 2015. Estimating potential nitrogen mineralisation using the solvita soil respiration system. Open Journal of Soil Science. 5:31-323.

Interpretive Summary: Breakdown of organic forms of Nitrogen (N) called "mineralization" contributes considerably to crop growth in fertilized and unfertilized fields. We need to be able to assess N mineralization to increase fertilizer application efficiency, prevent excessive N runoff, and improve environmental system models. We compared the measurement of microbial activity of 257 soils using the Solvita Gel System to the widely accepted 7-day anaerobic N mineralization test. Measured CO2 using Solvita was strongly correlated with anaerobic N mineralization indicating that the Solvita Soil Respiration System can be used to rapidly assess soil respiration and relative N mineralization potential in a wide range of soils.

Technical Abstract: Nitrogen (N) mineralisation contributes considerably to crop growth in fertilized and unfertilized fields. It is useful to be able to assess potential N mineralisation to increase fertilizer application efficiency, prevent excessive N runoff, and improve environmental system models. The microbes present in soil mineralise N based on many factors, including soil temperature and moisture, tillage, and levels of organic C and N. The measurement of soil’s ability to mineralise N is considered a good indicator of soil quality. Many methods have been developed to estimate N mineralisation in the laboratory and field. The 7-day anaerobic N mineralisation method developed in the 1960’s is considered reliable and is often used to compare new N-mineralisation testing methods. This study examines the use of soil CO2 evolution as determined using the Solvita Soil Respiration System (Solvita) for estimating N mineralisation by comparing it directly to the anaerobic N mineralisation test. Measured CO2 using Solvita was strongly correlated with anaerobic N mineralisation (r2 = 0.82). Results indicate that the Solvita Soil Respiration System can be used to rapidly assess soil respiration and relative N mineralisation potential in any given soil and is considerably faster and easier to perform in a laboratory setting than the anaerobic N mineralisation test.