HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Drury, C. F. Articles by Gregorich, E. G. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Drury, C. F. Articles by Gregorich, E. G. Agricola Articles by Drury, C. F. Articles by Gregorich, E. G.

Long-Term Effects of Fertilization and Rotation on Denitrification and Soil Carbon

Greenhouse and Processing Crops Research Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Harrow, ON N0R 1G0, Canada

D. J. McKenney

Univ. of Windsor, Windsor, ON N9B 3P4, Canada

E. G. Gregorich

Eastern Cereal and Oilseed Research Center, Agriculture and Agri-Food Ontario, Ottawa, ON K1A 0C6, Canada

*Corresponding author (druryc{at}em.agr.ca).

ABSTRACT

Various long-term crop management strategies are known to have differing effects on soil organic C. This laboratory study explored the effect of long-term (35 yr) fertilization and crop rotation on soil organic C and denitrification capacity at different depths of a Brookston clay loam soil (fine-loamy, mixed, mesic Typic Argiaquoll). We related denitrification capacity to soil biochemical (CO₂ production, organic C, microbial biomass C, soluble organic C) and soil structural properties. Denitrification capacity was determined as the increase in N₂O that occurred when NO^-₃-amended soils were incubated anaerobically in the presence of acetylene. Treatments included fertilized and nonfertilized plots of continuous corn (Zea mays L.), continuous bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.), and rotation corn (corn-oat [Avena sativa L.]-alfalfa [Medicago sativa L.]-alfalfa). Soils from an adjacent mixed deciduous woodlot were also sampled. Soils from the woodlot had higher denitrification capacities than the continuous or rotation corn treatments. Among the agricultural treatments, the soil under bluegrass had the greatest denitrification capacity followed by the soil under corn rotation, with the continuous corn having the lowest capacity. Long-term fertilization resulted in 35% higher denitrification capacity and 65% higher CO₂ production than nonfertilized soils. Denitrification capacity across all depths in the agricultural soils was correlated with CO₂ production (r² = 0.76), microbial biomass C (r² = 0.60), and organic C (r² = 0.54); however, the relationship between denitrification capacity and soil structure was not as strong (r² = 0.28).

Received for publication September 10, 1997.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				B. K. Sey, J. K. Whalen, E. G. Gregorich, P. Rochette, and R. I. Cue Carbon Dioxide and Nitrous Oxide Content in Soils under Corn and Soybean Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J., May 29, 2008; 72(4): 931 - 938. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. F. Drury, W. D. Reynolds, C. S. Tan, T. W. Welacky, W. Calder, and N. B. McLaughlin Emissions of Nitrous Oxide and Carbon Dioxide: Influence of Tillage Type and Nitrogen Placement Depth Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J., February 27, 2006; 70(2): 570 - 581. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. G. Hunter and S. P. Faulkner Denitrification Potentials in Restored and Natural Bottomland Hardwood Wetlands Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J., November 1, 2001; 65(6): 1865 - 1872. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]