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Short-term effects of ammonium nitrogen in upland pasture soil affected or not affected by cattle

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Abstract

The short-term effects of excessive NH +4 -N on selected characteristics of soil unaffected (low annual N inputs) and affected (high annual N inputs) by cattle were investigated under laboratory conditions. The major hypothesis tested was that above a theoretical upper limit of NH +4 concentration, an excess of NH +4 -N does not further increase NO −3 formation rate in the soil, but only supports accumulation of NO −2 -N and gaseous losses of N as N2O. Soils were amended with 10 to 500 μg NH +4 -N g−1 soil. In both soils, addition of NH +4 -N increased production of NO −3 -N until some limit. This limit was higher in cattle-affected soil than in unaffected soil. Production of N2O increased in the whole range of amendments in both soils. At the highest level of NH +4 -N addition, NO −2 -N accumulated in cattle-affected soil while NO −3 -N production decreased in cattle-unaffected soil. Despite being statistically significant, observed effects of high NH +4 -N addition were relatively weak. Uptake of mineral N, stimulated by glucose amendment, decreased the mineral N content in both soils, but it also greatly increased production of N2O.

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Acknowledgments

The research was supported by the Czech Science Foundation (No 526/04/0325), the Research Plan of the Institute of Soil Biology (No AV0Z60660521), the Ministry of Education of the Czech Republic (MSM 6007665801 and LC 06066), and the Grant Agency of the AS CR (No IAA600660605). V. Šlajchrtová and L. Jíšová are greatly acknowledged for laboratory analyses. Mr. and Mrs. Kamír are thanked for allowing access to the experimental plot and H. Šantrůčková for critical reading of the text.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Biology Centre AS CR, v.v.i, Institute of Soil Biology, Na Sádkách 7, CZ 370 05, České Budějovice, Czech Republic

    Jaroslav Hynšt & Miloslav Šimek

  2. Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Na Sádkách 7, CZ 370 05, České Budějovice, Czech Republic

    Miloslav Šimek

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  1. Jaroslav Hynšt
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  2. Miloslav Šimek
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Correspondence to Jaroslav Hynšt.

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Hynšt, J., Šimek, M. Short-term effects of ammonium nitrogen in upland pasture soil affected or not affected by cattle. Biol Fertil Soils 48, 43–49 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00374-011-0600-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00374-011-0600-2

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