Abstract
Soil microbial biomass (SMB) activity was investigated in a long-term experiment in which grazed swards received annual inputs of 200 N kg ha–1. SMB total C and total N, specific respiration, ammonification and nitrification were examined over a 10 week period, following the first and the second seasonal applications of N. Whilst there was no effect on biomass C and N, additions of N appeared to increase biomass activity. Nitrification was weakly correlated with ammonification (r 2=0.413) and the latter was stimulated by the addition of N (P<0.05), suggesting a ‘priming’ effect.
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Received: 28 February 1997
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Lovell, R., Hatch, D. Stimulation of microbial activity following spring applications of nitrogen. Biol Fertil Soils 26, 28–30 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/s003740050338
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s003740050338