TITLE:
Estimating Potential Nitrogen Mineralisation Using the Solvita Soil Respiration System
AUTHORS:
Richard L. Haney, Elizabeth B. Haney
KEYWORDS:
Anaerobic N, Nitrogen Mineralisation, Soil Respiration
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Soil Science,
Vol.5 No.12,
December
23,
2015
ABSTRACT: Nitrogen
(N) mineralisation contributes considerably to crop growth in fertilized and unfertilized
fields. It is useful to be able to assess potential N mineralisation to
increase fertilizer application efficiency, prevent excessive N runoff, and
improve environmental system models. The microbes present in soil mineralize N
based on many factors, including soil temperature and moisture, tillage, and
levels of organic C and N. The measurement of soil’s ability to mineralize N is
considered a good indicator of soil quality. Many methods have been developed
to estimate N mineralisation in the laboratory and field. The 7-day anaerobic N
mineralisation method developed in the 1960’s is considered reliable and is
often used to compare new N-mineralisation testing methods. This study examines
the use of soil CO2 evolution as determined using the Solvita Soil
Respiration System (Solvita) for estimating N mineralisation by comparing it
directly to the anaerobic N mineralisation test. Measured CO2 using
Solvita was strongly correlated with anaerobic N mineralisation (r2 = 0.82). Results indicate that the Solvita Soil Respiration System can be used
to rapidly assess soil respiration and relative N mineralisation potential in
any given soil and is considerably faster and easier to perform in a laboratory
setting than the anaerobic N mineralisation test.