Abstract
An improved field sampling method for measuring denitrification and mineralization, based on square-section soil cores enclosed in a specially constructed incubation box is described. Comparisons with an established method, based on conventional (cylindrical) soil cores were made using two contrasting soil types. In a well-drained soil, similar rates of denitrification were obtained with either method, but rates were consistently lower using the established method in a poorly-drained soil, both in the short-term and over an extended period. Rates of mineralization were also similar with the two methods in the well-drained soil, but in the poorly-drained soil, rates were significantly higher using the established method. The box method was considered overall to give more reliable estimates of these soil processes in a poorly-drained soil, especially when the soil water content approached field capacity. Better soil structure was maintained with minimal disturbance to the natural soil aeration using square-section cores.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Berg P., Klemedtsson L. and Rosswall T. 1982. Inhibition effect of low partial pressures of acetylene on nitrification. Soil Biol. Biochem. 14: 301–303.
Bhogal A., Hatch D.J., Shepherd M.A. and Jarvis S.C. 1999. Comparison of methodologies for field measurement of net nitrogen mineralisation in arable soils. Plant Soil 207: 15–28.
De Klein C.A.M., van Logtestijn R.S.P., van de Meer H.G. and Geurink J.H. 1996. Nitrogen losses due to denitrification from cattle slurry injected into grassland soil with and without a nitrification inhibitor. Plant Soil 183: 161–170.
Hatch D.J., Jarvis S.C. and Parkinson R.J. 1998. Concurrent measurements of net mineralization, nitrification, denitrification and leaching from field incubated soil cores. Biol. Fertil. Soils 26: 323–330.
Hatch D.J., Jarvis S.C. and Phillips L. 1990. Field measurement of nitrogen mineralization using soil core incubation and acetylene inhibition of nitrification. Plant Soil 124: 97–107.
Gill K., Jarvis S.C. and Hatch D.J. 1995. Mineralization of nitrogen in long-term pasture soils: effects of management. Plant Soil 172: 153–162.
Heincke M. and Kaupenjohann M. 1999. Effects of soil solution on the dynamics of N2O emissions: a review. Nutr. Cycl. Agr. 2 Ecosyst. 55: 133–157.
Jarvis S.C., Barraclough D., Williams J. and Rook A.J. 1991. Patterns of denitrification loss from grazed grassland: Effects of N fertilizer inputs at different sites. Plant Soil 131: 77–88.
Jarvis S.C., Hatch D.J., Pain B.F. and Klarenbeek J.V. 1994. Denitrification and the evolution of nitrous oxide after the application of cattle slurry to a peat soil. Plant Soil 166: 231–241.
Kempers A.J. and Luft A.G. 1988. Re-examination of the determination of environmental nitrate as nitrite by reduction with hydrazine. Analyst 113: 1117–1120.
Ryden J.C. and Dawson K.P. 1982. Evaluation of the acetylene-inhibition technique for the measurement of denitrification in grassland soils. J. Sci. Food Agric. 33: 1197–1206.
Ryden J.C., Skinner J.H. and Nixon D.J. 1987. Soil core incubation system for the field measurement of denitrification using acetylene-inhibition. Soil Biol. Biochem. 19: 753–757.
Scholefield D., Hawkins J.M.B. and Jackson S.M. 1997a. Use of a flowing helium atmosphere incubation technique to measure the effects of denitrification controls applied to intact cores of a clay soil. Soil Biol. Biochem. 29: 1337–1344.
Scholefield D., Hawkins J.M.B. and Jackson S.M. 1997b. Development of a helium atmosphere incubation technique for direct measurement of nitrous oxide and dinitrogen fluxes during denitrification. Soil Biol. Biochem. 29: 1345–1352.
Searle P.L. 1984. The Berthelot or Indophenol reaction and its use in the analytical chemistry of nitrogen. Analyst 109: 549–568.
Smith K.A. and Arah J.R.M. 1990. Losses of nitrogen by denitrification and emissions of nitrogen oxides from soils. Proc. Fert. Soc. 299: 1–34.
Yoshinari T., Hynes R. and Knowles R. 1977. Acetylene inhibition of nitrous oxide reduction and measurement of denitrification and nitrogen fixation in soil. Soil Biol. Biochem. 9: 177–183.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Jarvis, S., Hatch, D. & Lovell, R. An improved soil core incubation method for the field measurement of denitrification and net mineralization using acetylene inhibition. Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems 59, 219–225 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1014401932276
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1014401932276