Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Seasonal fluctuations of native available N and soil management implications

  • Chapter
Nitrogen Economy in Tropical Soils

Part of the book series: Developments in Plant and Soil Sciences ((DPSS,volume 69))

  • 430 Accesses

Abstract

The concentration of native available N in tropical soils fluctuates considerably in response to seasonal changes in soil water potential. Such fluctuation reflects the net effect of inputs of N from mineralization, fertilizers and the atmosphere, and removal by plant uptake, immobilization, leaching and gaseous losses. The greatest concentrations normally occur during the transition between the dry and wet seasons. In East-Africa, up to 184 kg mineral N ha-1 has been measured in the 0–40 cm soil layer and in Trinidad, 143 kg ha-1 was found in the 0–10 cm layer. Release and accumulation of mineral N occur as a result of the influence of soil water potential on microbial activity. This is due to changes in microbial motility, solute diffusion, microbial survival and the release of protected organic matter. A quantitative understanding of these processes should increase the efficiency of use of this valuable N resource by crops. Current methods of forecasting mineralization under field conditions include measurement of the soil mineralization potential, the release of N from seasonal inputs of litter and model predictions. Litter quality is important. Its composition, in particular its nitrogen, lignin and soluble polyphenol content has a major impact on its N mineralization rate.

Crop uptake, gaseous and leaching losses decrease the concentration of soil mineral N during the wet season. These losses are important under moist tropical conditions. For example, at Port Harcourt and Ibadan in Nigeria, leaching losses were large in spite of NO -3 adsorption which decreased the depth of NO -3 leaching relative to through-flow. To minimise these losses, it is essential to synchronise plant nutrient demand with supply by mineralisation. This is particularly important at the start of the tropical rainy season when high rates of mineralisation often in excess of the relatively low levels of crop demand, are observed. Fertilizer recommendation, the time table for cropping and the farming system used therefore need to take into account the seasonal availability of N. The CERES model simulates crop growth and development and the N-cycle. As development and validation continue, such models should provide a strong basis for better soil, crop and fertilizer management practices. A better understanding of the processes should provide a strong basis for futher development of such models.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 259.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 329.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 329.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Amato A, Jackson RB, Butler JHA and Ladd JN (1984) Decomposition of plant material in Australian soils. II Residual organic 14C and 15N from legume plant parts decomposing under field and laboratory conditions. Aust J Soil Res 22: 331–341.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Anderson JM and Ingram JSL (1989) Tropical soil biology and fertility: a handbook of methods. CAB International, Oxon, UK

    Google Scholar 

  3. Ayanaba A, Tuckwell SB and Jenkinson DS (1976) The effect of clearing and cropping on the soil organic reserves and biomass of tropical forest soils. Soil Biol Biochem 8: 519–525

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Balesdent J, Meriotti A and Boisgontier D (1990) Effect of tillage on soil organic carbon mineralization estimated from 13C abundance in maize fields. J Soil Sci 41: 587–596

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Birch HF (1958) The effect of soil drying on humus decomposition and nitrogen availability. Plant and Soil 10: 9–31

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Bottner B (1985) Response of microbial biomass to alternate moist and dry conditions in a soil incubated with 14C- and 15N-labelled plant material. Soil Biol Biochem 17: 329–337

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Bowen WT, Jones JW, Carsky RJ and Quintana JO (1993) Evaluation of the nitrogen submodel of CERES-Maize following legume green manure incorporation. Agron J 85: 153–159

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Bradbury NJ, Whitmore AP, Hart PBS and Jenkinson DS (1993) Modelling the fate of nitrogen in crop and soil in the years following application of 15N-labelled fertilizer to winter wheat. J Agric Sci (Camb.) 121: 363–379

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Cabrera ML (1993) Modelling the flush of nitrogen mineralization caused by drying and rewetting soils. Soil Sci Soc Am J 57: 63–66

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Christensen BT (1992) Physical fractionation of soil and organic matter in primary particle size and density separates. Adv Soil Sci 20: 1–90

    Google Scholar 

  11. Dommergues Y, Garcia JL and Ganly F (1980) Microbiological considerations of the nitrogen cycle in West African ecosystems. In: Rosswall T (ed) Nitrogen Cycling in West African Ecosystems, pp 55–72. UTA, Ibadan, Nigeria.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Duxbury JM, Smith MS and Doran JW with Jordan C, Szott L and Vance E (1989) Soil organic matter as a source and sink of plant nutrients. In: Coleman et al. (eds.) Dynamics of Soil Organic Matter in Tropical Ecosystems, pp 33–67

    Google Scholar 

  13. Elston J and Dennett MD (1981) Climates of the tropics in relation to crop productivity. In: Greenland DJ (ed) Characterisation of Soils, pp 262–275. Clarendon Press, Oxford

    Google Scholar 

  14. Ford GW and Greenland DJ (1968) The dynamics of partly humified organic matter in some arable soils. Trans 9th Int Congr Soil Sci 2: 403–410

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Fox RH, Myers RJK and Vallis I (1990) The nitrogen mineralization rate of legume residues in soil as influenced by their polyphenol, lignin, and nitrogen contents. Plant and Soil 129: 251–259

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Frankenberger WT and Abdelmagid HM (1985) Kinetic parameters of nitrogen mineralization rates of leguminous crops incorporated into soil. Plant and Soil 87: 257–271

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Ghani A, McLaren RG and Swift RS (1990) Seasonal fluctuations of sulphate and soil microbial biomass-S in the surface of a Wakanui soil. NZ J Agric Res 33: 467–472

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Godwin DC, Singh U, Buresh RJ and DeDatta SK (1990) Modelling of nitrogen dynamics in relation to rice growth and yield. In:Trans 14th Int Congr Soil Sci Kyoto, Japan. Vol IV, pp 320–325

    Google Scholar 

  19. Gonzalez MA and Sauerbeck DR (1982) Decomposition of 14C-labelled plant residues in different soils and climates of Costa-Rica. Proc Reg Coll on Soil Organic Matter Studies, Piracicaba, Brazil, pp 141–146

    Google Scholar 

  20. Greenland DJ (1958) Nitrate fluctuations in tropical soils. J Agric Sci 50: 82–92

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Greenland DJ (1980) The nitrogen cycle in West Africa-Agronomic considerations. In: Rosswall T (ed) Nitrogen Cycling in West African Ecosystems, pp 73–81. SCOPE/UNEP, Sweden

    Google Scholar 

  22. Greenland DJ, Wild A and Adams D (1992) Organic matter dynamics in soils of the tropics-From myth to complex reality. In: Lal R et al. (eds) Myths and Science of Soils of the Tropics. SSSA special publication No.29, pp 17–33. SSSA, ASA, Madison, WI, USA

    Google Scholar 

  23. Griffin DM (1981) Water potential as a selective factor in the microbial ecology of soils. In: Kral DM and Cousin MK (eds) Water Potential Relations in Soil Microbiology. SSSA Publication No. 9, pp 141–151. SSSA, Madison, WI, USA

    Google Scholar 

  24. Hardy F (1946) Seasonal fluctuations of soil moisttire and nitrate in a humid tropical climate (Trinidad, B.W.I.). Trop Agric (Trinidad) 23: 40–49

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Harris PJ (1988) Ecology of the soil population. In: Wild A (ed) Russell’s Soil Conditions and Plant Growth, pp 472–499. Longman, UK

    Google Scholar 

  26. Jansson SL and Persson J (1982) Mineralization and immobilization of soil nitrogen. In: Stevenson FJ (ed) Nitrogen in Agricultural Soils, pp 229–252. ASA, Madison, Wisconsin, USA

    Google Scholar 

  27. Jenkinson DS (1966) Studies on the decomposition of plant material in soil II. Partial sterilization of soil and the soil biomass. J Soil Sci 17: 280–302

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Jenkinson DS (1990) The turnover of organic carbon and nitrogen in soil. Phil Trans Royal Soc, London, B 329: 361–368.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Jenkinson DS and Ayanaba A (1977) Decomposition of carbon-14 labelled plant material under tropical conditions. Soil Sci Soc Am J 41: 912–915

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Jenkinson DS, Fox RH and Rayner JH (1985) Interaction between fertilizer nitrogen and soil nitrogen… the so called “priming” effect. J Soil Sci 36: 425–444

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Jensen HL (1929) On the influence of the carbon: nitrogen ratios of organic material on the mineralization of nitrogen. J Agric Sci 19: 71–82

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Kuikman PJ, Jansen AG and van Veen JA (1991) 15N-nitrogen mineralization from bacteria by protozoan grazing at different soil moisture regimes. Soil Biol Biochem 23: 193–200

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Kuikman PJ, van Vuuren MMI and van Veen JA (1989) Effect of soil moisture regime on predation by protozoa of bacterial biomass and the release of bacterial nitrogen. Agric Ecosys Environ 27: 271–279

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Ladd JN, Amato M, and Oades JM (1985) Decomposition of plant material in Australian soils. III. Residual organic and microbial biomass C and N from isotope-labelled legume material and soil organic matter decomposing under field conditions. Aust J Soil Res 23: 603–611

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Marrs RH, Thompson J, Scott D and Proctor J (1991) Nitrogen mineralization and nitrifcation in terra firme forest and savanna soils on Ilha de Maraca, Roraima, Brazil. J Trop Ecol 7: 123–127

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Marumoto T, Anderson JPE and Domsch KH (1982) Mineralization of nutrients from soil microbial biomass. Soil Biol Biochem 14: 469–476

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. McGill WB and Myers RJK (1987) Controls on dynamics of soil and fertilizer N. In: Follett R, Cole CV and Stewart JWB (eds) Soil Fertility and Organic Matter as Critical Components of Production Systems. Soil Sci Soc Am Spec Publ No. 19, pp 71–98. ASA, Madison

    Google Scholar 

  38. Meiklejohn J (1957) The number of bacteria and actinomycetes in Kenyan soils. J Soil Sci 8: 240–247

    Article  Google Scholar 

  39. Mueller-Harvey I, Juo ASR and Wild A (1989) Mineralization of nutrients after forest clearance and their uptake during cropping. In: Proctor J (ed.) Mineral Nutrients in Tropical Forest and Savanna Ecosystems, pp 315–324. Blackwell Scientific Publishers, Oxford, UK

    Google Scholar 

  40. Myers RJK (1988) Nitrogen management of upland crops: From cereals to food legumes to sugarcane. In: Wilson JR (ed) Advances in Nitrogen Cycling in Agricultural Ecosystems, pp 257–273. CAB International, Oxon, UK

    Google Scholar 

  41. Newman AS and Norman AG (1943) The activity of subsurface soil population. Soil Sci 55: 377–391

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. Nkrumah M, Griffith SM and Ahmad N (1989) Lysimeter and field studies on 15N in a tropical soil. II. Transformation of (NH2)2CO-15N in a tropical loam in lysimeter and field plots. Plant and Soil 114: 13–18

    Article  Google Scholar 

  43. Norman DH (1972) Mixed cropping in Northern Nigeria III. Mixtures of cereals. Exp Agric 15: 41–48.

    Google Scholar 

  44. Orchard VA and Cook FJ (1983) Relationship between soil respiration and soil moisture. Soil Biol Biochem 15: 447–453.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  45. Palm CA and Sanchez PA (1991) Nitrogen release from the leaves of some tropical legumes as affected by their lignin and polyphenolic contents. Soil Biol Biochem 23: 83–88.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  46. Papendick RI and Campbell GS (1981) Theory and measurement of water potential. In: Krai DM and Cousin MK (eds) Water Potential Relations in Soil Microbiology. SSSA Publication No. 9, pp 1–22. SSSA, Madison, WI, USA

    Google Scholar 

  47. Parton WJ, Anderson DW, Cole CV and Stewart JBW (1983) Simulation of soil organic matter formations and mineralization in semi arid agro ecosystems. In: Lawrence et al. (eds) Nutrient Cycling in Agricultural Ecosystems. The Univ Georgia Spec Publ No. 23, pp 533–550

    Google Scholar 

  48. Pilbeam CJ, Mahapatra BS and Wood M (1993) Soil matric potential effects on gross rates of nitrogen mineralization in an Orthic Ferralsol from Kenya. Soil Biol Biochem 25: 1409–1413

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  49. Power JF and Doran JW (1988) Role of crop residue management in nitrogen cycling and use. In: Hargrove WL (ed) Cropping Strategies for Efficient Use of Water and Nitrogen. ASA Special Publication NO. 51, pp 101–113. ASA, CSSA, SSSA. Madison, WI, USA

    Google Scholar 

  50. Powlson DS (1993) Understanding the soil nitrogen cycle. Soil Use Manage 9: 86–94

    Article  Google Scholar 

  51. Robertson FA, Myers RJK and Saffigna PG (1993) Carbon and nitrogen mineralization in cultivated and grassland soils in subtropical Queensland. Aust J Soil Res 31: 611–619.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  52. Robertson GP and Tiedje JM (1988) Deforestation alters den-itrification in a lowland tropical forest. Nature 336: 756–759

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  53. Robinson JBD (1957) The critical relationship between soil moisture content in the region of wilting point and the mineralization of natural soil nitrogen. J Agric Sci 49: 100–105

    Article  Google Scholar 

  54. Russell EJ and Hutchinson HB (1909) The effect of partial sterilisation of soil on the production of plant food. J Agric Sci 3: 111–144

    Article  Google Scholar 

  55. Sanchez P (1976) Properties and management of soils in the tropics. John Wiley and Sons, New York

    Google Scholar 

  56. Semb G and Robinson JBD (1969) The natural nitrogen flush in different arable soils and climates in East Africa. East Afr Agric For J 34: 350–370.

    Google Scholar 

  57. Seneviratne R and Wild A (1985) Effect of mild drying on the mineralization of soil nitrogen. Plant and Soil 84: 175–179

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  58. Skjemstad JO, Vallis I and Myers RJK (1988) Decomposition of soil organic nitrogen. In: Wilson JR (ed) Advances in Nitrogen Cycling in Agricultural Ecosystems, pp 134–144. CAB International, Oxon, UK

    Google Scholar 

  59. Sommers LE, Gilmour CM, Wildung RE and Beck SM (1981) The effect of water potential on decomposition processes in soils. In: Kral DM and Cousin MK (eds) Water Potential Relations in Soil Microbiology. SSSA Publication No. 9, 97–117. SSSA, Madison, WI, USA

    Google Scholar 

  60. Spycher G, Sollins P and Rose S (1983) Carbon and nitrogen in the light fraction of a forest soil: vertical distribution and seasonal patterns. Soil Sci 135: 79–87

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  61. Srivastava SC and Singh JS (1991) Microbial C, N and P in dry tropical forest soils:effects of alternate land uses and nutrient flux. Soil Biol Biochem 23: 117–124

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  62. Stanford G and Smith S J (1972) Nitrogen mineralization potential of soils. Soil Sci Soc Am J 36: 465–472

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  63. Stott DE, Elliott LF, Papendick RI and Campbell GS (1986) Low temperature or low water potential effects on the microbial decomposition of wheat residue. Soil Biol Biochem 18: 577–582

    Article  Google Scholar 

  64. Swift MJ and Boddy L (1984) Animal-microbial interactions in wood decomposition. In: Anderson JM, Rayner ADM and Wilson DWH (eds) Invertebrate-microbial Interactions, pp 89–131. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  65. Tenney FG and SA Waksman (1929) Composition of natural organic materials and their decomposition in the soil: IV. The nature and rapidity of decomposition of the various organic complexes in different plant materials, under aerobic conditions. Soil Sci 28: 55–84

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  66. Vallis I and Jones RJ (1973) Net mineralization of nitrogen in leaves and leaf litter of Desmodium intortum and Phaseolus atropurpureus mixed with soil. Soil Biol Biochem 5: 391–398

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  67. Van der Kruijs ACBM, Wong MTF, Juo ASR and Wild A (1988) Recovery of 15N-labelled fertilizer in crops, drainage water and soil using monolith lysimeters in south-east Nigeria. J Soil Sci 39: 483–492

    Article  Google Scholar 

  68. Van Noordwijk M (1989) Rooting depth in cropping systems in humid tropics in relation to nutrient use efficiency. In: van der Heide J (ed) Nutrient Management for Food Crop Production in Tropical Farming Systems, pp 129–144. Institute of Soil Fertility, Haren and Universitad Brawijaya, Malang

    Google Scholar 

  69. Van Veen JA, Ladd JN and Frissel MJ (1984) Modelling C and N turnover through the microbial biomass in soil. Plant and Soil 76: 257–274

    Article  Google Scholar 

  70. West AW, Sparling GP, Feltham CW and Reynolds J (1992) Microbial activity and survival in soils dried at different rates. Aust J Soil Res 30: 209–222

    Article  Google Scholar 

  71. Wetselaar R (1968) Soil organic nitrogen mineralization as affected by low soil water potentials. Plant and Soil 29: 9–17

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  72. Wild A (1972) Mineralization of soil nitrogen at a savanna site in Nigeria. Exp Agric 8: 91–97

    Article  Google Scholar 

  73. Wong MTF, Wild A and Juo ASR (1987) Retarded leaching of nitrate measured in monolith lysimeters in south east Nigeria. J Soil Sci 38: 511–518

    Article  Google Scholar 

  74. Wong MTF, Hughes R and Rowell DL (1990a) The retention of nitrate in acid soils from the tropics. Soil Use Manage 6: 72–74

    Article  Google Scholar 

  75. Wong MTF, Hughes R and Rowell DL (1990b) Retarded leaching of nitrate in acid soils from the tropics: measurement of the effective anion exchange capacity. J Soil Sci 41: 655–663

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  76. Wong MTF and Swift RS (1994) Amelioration of aluminium phytotoxicity with organic matter. In: Date RA, Grundon NJ, Rayment GE and Probert ME (eds) Proceedings of the 3rd International Symposium on Plant-Soil Interactions at Low pH: Principles and Management. Brisbane, Australia

    Google Scholar 

  77. Wong MTF, Van Der Kruijs ACBM and Juo ASR (1992) Leaching loss of calcium, magnesium, potassium and nitrate derived from soil, lime and fertilizers as influenced by urea applied to undisturbed lysimeters in south-east Nigeria. Fert Res 31: 281–289.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  78. Wong MTF, Wild A and Mokunye AU (1991) Overcoming soil nutrient constraints to crop production in West Africa: Importance of fertilizers and priorities in soil fertility research. Fert Res 29: 45–54

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. CSIRO Division of Soils, Private Bag PO, Wembley, Western Australia, 6014, Australia

    M. T. F. Wong

  2. Department of Soil Science, The University of Reading, Whiteknights, Reading, RG6 2DW, UK

    S. Nortcliff

Authors
  1. M. T. F. Wong
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. S. Nortcliff
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad W.I.

    N. Ahmad (Chairman, Organizing Committee) (Chairman, Organizing Committee)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1995 Kluwer Academic Publishers

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Wong, M.T.F., Nortcliff, S. (1995). Seasonal fluctuations of native available N and soil management implications. In: Ahmad, N. (eds) Nitrogen Economy in Tropical Soils. Developments in Plant and Soil Sciences, vol 69. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-1706-4_2

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-1706-4_2

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-010-7264-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-009-1706-4

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation