Quantification of the Effect of Fumigation on Short‐ and Long‐Term Nitrogen Mineralization and Nitrification in Different Soils

Abstract

The effect of soil fumigation on N mineralization and nitrification needs to be better quantified to optimize N fertilizer advice and predict NO(-)(3) concentrations in crops and NO(-)(3) leaching risks. Seven soils representing a range in soil texture and organic matter contents were fumigated with Cyanamid DD 95 (a mixture of 1,3-dichloropropane and 1,3-dichloropropene). After removal of the fumigant, the fumigated soils and unfumigated controls were incubated for 20 wk and N mineralization and nitrification were monitored by destructive sampling. The average short-term N mineralization rates (k(s)) were significantly larger in the fumigated than in the unfumigated soils (P = 0.025), but the differences in k(s) between fumigated and unfumigated soils could not be related to soil properties. The average long-term N mineralization rates (k(l)) were slightly larger in the fumigated soils but the difference with the unfumigated soils was not significant. Again, the differences in k(l) values could not be related to soil properties. Nitrification was inhibited completely for at least 3 wk in all soils, and an effect on nitrification could be observed up to 17 wk in one soil. An S-shaped function was fitted to the nitrification data corrected for N mineralization, and both the rate constant (gamma) and the time at which maximum nitrification was reached (t(max)) were strongly correlated to soil pH. However, since no correlations were found between the effect of fumigation on N mineralization and soil properties, taking into account the effects of fumigation in fertilizer advice and in the prediction of NO(-)(3) leaching risks will need further research.

Nitrification dynamics in a soil after addition of different fumigants

“…To assess the effect of fumigant treatments on nitrification, an S-shaped function was fitted to the NO À 3 -N concentrations of treated soil samples (Zhang et al 2000;De Neve et al 2004) using the following equation:…”

Farming System and Management

“…It is suggested that organic matter application increases biomass nitrogen, and contributes to yield increase. D-D promotes mineralization from biomass nitrogen (Neve et al, 2004). D-D suppresses nitrification from ammonia nitrogen (Neve et al, 2004).…”

“…D-D promotes mineralization from biomass nitrogen (Neve et al, 2004). D-D suppresses nitrification from ammonia nitrogen (Neve et al, 2004). Therefore, much ammonia nitrogen in soil will be kept by D-D.…”

“…Soil biomass nitrogen increases by organic matter application (Sakamoto & Oba, 1993). Soil fumigation promotes mineralization of soil nitrogen and suppresses nitrification www.intechopen.com (Neve et al, 2004). Soil fumigation sterilizes Fungus (Asano et al, 1983) and nematodes.…”

Evaluation of the effects of Telone II (fumigation) on nitrogen management and yield in Louisiana delta cotton

“…An attempt to quantify the effect of fumigation on nitrogen mineralization and nitrification in different soils found that there was no correlation between fumigation and mineralization (Neve et al 2004). In a test to evaluate management systems based on inputs of varietal resistance, nematicide and K-fertilization, the highest yields were observed in the Temik/ Telone II/K-treated plots (Hadden et al 1991).…”