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Nitrification and acidification from urea application in red soil (Ferralic Cambisol) after different long-term fertilization treatments

  • SOILS, SEC 1 • SOIL ORGANIC MATTER DYNAMICS AND NUTRIENT CYCLING • RESEARCH ARTICLE
  • Published:
Journal of Soils and Sediments Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

Long-term manure applications can prevent or reverse soil acidification by chemical nitrogen (N) fertilizer. However, the resistance to re-acidification from further chemical fertilization is unknown. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of urea application on nitrification and acidification processes in an acid red soil (Ferralic Cambisol) after long-term different field fertilization treatments.

Materials and methods

Soils were collected from six treatments of a 19-year field trial: (1) non-fertilization control, (2) chemical phosphorus and potassium (PK), (3) chemical N only (N), (4) chemical N, P, and K (NPK), (5) pig manure only (M), and (6) NPK plus M (NPKM; 70 % N from M). In a 35-day laboratory incubation experiment, the soils were incubated and examined for changes in pH, NH4 +, and NO3 −, and their correlations from urea application at 80 mg N kg−1(−80) compared to 0 rate (−0).

Results and discussion

From urea addition, manure-treated soils exhibited the highest acidification and nitrification rates due to high soil pH (5.75–6.38) and the lowest in the chemical N treated soils due to low soil pH (3.83–3.90) with no N-treated soils (pH 4.98–5.12) fell between. By day 35, soil pH decreased to 5.21 and 5.81 (0.54 and 0.57 unit decrease) in the NPKM-80 and M-80 treatments, respectively, and to 4.69 and 4.53 (0.43 and 0.45 unit decrease) in the control-80 and PK-80 treatments, respectively, with no changes in the N-80 and NPK-80 treatments. The soil pH decrease was highly correlated with nitrification potential, and the estimated net proton released. The maximum nitrification rates (K max) of NPKM and M soils (14.7 and 21.6 mg N kg−1 day−1, respectively) were significantly higher than other treatments (2.86–3.48 mg N kg−1 day−1). The priming effect on mineralization of organic N was high in manure treated soils.

Conclusions

Field data have shown clearly that manure amendment can prevent or reverse the acidification of the red soil. When a chemical fertilizer such as urea is applied to the soil again, however, soil acidification will occur at possibly high rates. Thus, the strategy in soil N management is continuous incorporation of manure to prevent acidification to maintain soil productivity. Further studies under field conditions are needed to provide more accurate assessments on acidification rate from chemical N fertilizer applications.

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Acknowledgments

This study was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (41301309), the National Basic Research Program (2014CB441001) and National Nonprofit Institute Research Grant of CAAS (IARRP-2014-10). Mention of trademark, propriety product, or vendor in this article does not constitute a guarantee or warranty of the product by the CAAS and the USDA-ARS nor does it imply approval to the exclusion of other products or vendors that may be suitable.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Ministry of Agriculture Key Laboratory of Crop Nutrition and Fertilization, Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081, China

    Zejiang Cai, Boren Wang, Minggang Xu, Huimin Zhang & Lu Zhang

  2. Qiyang Agro-ecosystem of National Field Experimental Station, Hunan, 426182, China

    Zejiang Cai, Boren Wang, Minggang Xu, Huimin Zhang & Lu Zhang

  3. USDA Agricultural Research Service, San Joaquin Valley Agricultural Sciences Center, Parlier, CA, 93648-9757, USA

    Suduan Gao

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  1. Zejiang Cai
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  2. Boren Wang
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  3. Minggang Xu
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  4. Huimin Zhang
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  5. Lu Zhang
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  6. Suduan Gao
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Correspondence to Minggang Xu.

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Responsible editor: Hong Jie Di

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Cai, Z., Wang, B., Xu, M. et al. Nitrification and acidification from urea application in red soil (Ferralic Cambisol) after different long-term fertilization treatments. J Soils Sediments 14, 1526–1536 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-014-0906-4

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