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Mineralization of Nitrogen in Grass Roots¹

ABSTRACT

The mineralization of fertilizer N immobilized in grass roots (Bromus inermus L.) is of major importance in regulating the use of N fertilizers on grassland. Grass roots varying in N content were therefore incubated with soil for 10 weeks at 30C, and the net rate of mineralization was measured. Rate of N mineralization during incubation was controlled to a large extent by the N content of the root material—mineralization of N contained in grass roots followed much the same pattern as for that in any other plant tissue. Incubation of unfertilized grass roots (0.84% N) resulted in net immobilization of mineral N. Incubation of N-fertilized grass roots (containing 1.44% N) resulted in a net increase in mineral N. For both root materials the changes in mineral N were in proportion to the amount of root material added.

¹ Contribution from the Northern Plains Branch, Soil and Water Conservation Research Division, Agricultural Research Service, USDA.

² Research Soil Scientist, USDA, Mandan, North Dakota.

Received for publication April 1, 1968. Accepted for publication May 21, 1968.