Abstract
In a mass balance of 15N-labelled nitrate added to soil grown with pea or barley, denitrification estimates using the acetylene-inhibition technique were compared with unaccounted for 15N. During the growth season of 1989, which was drier than average, N losses due to denitrification estimated by the acetylene-inhibition technique were negligible. A substantial amount of fertilizer N was unaccounted for by the 15N mass balance, especially in the pea plots. The loss took place during the period of grain-filling in which no leaching occurred, and was accompanied by a decrease in 15N content of the plants. Volatilization of ammonia from the aerial parts of the plants is a possible explanation of the observed loss. An estimation of denitrification relying only on the 15N mass balance would have resulted in an overestimation of denitrification.
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Bertelsen, F., Jensen, E.S. Gaseous nitrogen losses from field plots grown with pea (Pisum sativum L.) or spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) estimated by 15N mass balance and acetylene inhibition techniques. Plant Soil 142, 287–295 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00010974
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00010974