Crop Residue Type and Placement Effects on Denitrification and Mineralization
1991
Aulakh, M. S. | Walters, D. T. | Doran, J. W. | Francis, D. D. | Mosier, A. R.
Nutrient release from legume and cereal crop residue is important to N crycling and the success of conservation and sustainable farming systems. Residue type, placement, and degree of incorporation, and soil water regimes largely control availability and loss of soil N and were evaluated in the laboratory. Four residues, i.e., vetch (Vicia villosa Roth.), soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merr.), corn (Zea mays L.), and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) having C/N ratios ranging from 8 to 82 were applied on the soil surface or incorporated in repacked cores of a Nicollet loam (fine-loamy, mixed, mesic Aquic Hapludoll) and incubated for 17 or 35 d at 60 and 90% water-filled pore space (WFPS) with enriched ¹⁵N-NO₃ (76.7%). Denitrification losses from all treatments were negligible at 60% WFPS. At 90% WFPS, total denitrification losses from residue-incorporated soils represented 87 to 127% of the initial soil NO₃ level (80.5 mg N kg⁻¹); losses increased with decreasing residue C/N ratio. Denitrification was greatest during the first 8 d, as was CO₂ evolution. Initial denitrification with surface-placed residues was less than with incorporated residues, but cumulative losses over 35 d did not differ significantly. Substantial N immobilization occurred with incorporated or surface-placed wheat, corn, and soybean residue with wide C/N ratios at 60% WFPS, whereas, with low-C/N-ratio vetch, significant mineralization occurred. After 35 d, 51 and 36% of N in incorporated and surface-placed vetch residue, respectively, was mineralized. Residue C/N ratio was inversely related to initial rates of residue decomposition, and effects of residue type and placement and soil water on denitrification and mineralization were most important during early (8-10 d) decomposition. Published as Paper no. 9367, Journal Series, Nebraska Agricultural Research Division, Lincoln.
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