Effect of Green Manure Addition on Soil Organic Phosphorus Mineralisation

The mineralization of organic forms of phosphorus (P) in soil contributes significantly to plant P uptake, although quantification of organic P mineralisation has been impeded by methodological difficulties. An isotopic dilution method, based on tracer kinetic theory, was used to study the organic P flux rates for unamended and green manure amended soil in an incubation experiment carried out over 35 days. Firstly, the specific activity (SA) between two points of time as affected by dominant biological processes (under conditions of constant soil respiration rates) was determined in a series of successive labelling incubation experiments. Secondly, the instantaneous specific activity (_instSA) between two points of time was also determined by shaking an unlabelled soil with ³³P, i.e. soil samples that were not labelled with ³³P, but kept under conditions identical to the labelled soil samples. This gives the net size of the exchangeable inorganic P pool in the labelling experiments at two points of time during incubation. The SA dilution in the labelling experiments at a constant exchangeable inorganic P pool between two times was attributed to the release of non-labelled inorganic P from the organic P pool by mineralisation. The daily gross organic P mineralisation rates for the 21 days of incubation were 0.06 and 0.27 mg P kg⁻¹ day⁻¹ for unamended and green manure amended soils, respectively. The study demonstrated that green manure amendment contributed to an overall increase in soil P availability through enhanced organic P mineralisation.     

Interactions of aerobically decomposed cattle manure and nitrogen fertilizer applied to soil

Inorganic N fertiliser may be applied to soil in addition to cattle manure by smallholder farmers in developing countries: (a) to complement fertilization; (b) to control a possible immobilisation of N by the manure; and (c) to eliminate the risk of yield depression due to lack of plant available N. The aim of this study was to find out if and how much N was immobilised by cattle manure, if and when remineralisation of N will take place and, if added N has an effect on decomposition of cattle manure in soil. A laboratory study was conducted applying inorganic N fertiliser to soil (NH4NO3 equivalent to 30, 60 and 120 kg N ha-1) together with four cattle manures with different C/N ratios (9–18). CO2–C mineralisation and changes of inorganic N in soil were determined over 60 d. Immobilisation of fertiliser N occurred with manure having the lowest C/N ratio but not with the manures having a higher C/N ratios. Maximum immobilization of fertiliser N (23–36%) occurred within 21 d and thereafter N was mineralised. Carbon dioxide evolution decreased in cattle manure-amended soil at increasing rates of N fertiliser, but decomposition was still higher than from the unamended control. None of the manure treated soils had significantly different contents of inorganic N after 2 months of incubation. It was not possible to use the C/N ratio of aerobically decomposed cattle manure as a tool to predict mineralization or immobilization of N. It was concluded that aerobically decomposed solid cattle manures do not contribute to the N supply of crops in the short term but can immobilize fertiliser N applied at the same time.     

Recycling of nutrients in Japanese mint - assessment of soil fertility and crop yield

The efficiency of mint-residue, composted alone and amended with starter nutrients, microbial culture and soil suspension (hereafter termed amended compost) was compared with farm yard manure and inorganic fertilizer on the yield of Japanese mint (Mentha arvensis L.) and improvement of soil fertility. Herbage, essential oil yield, nutrient uptake of Japanese mint and soil available nutrients were significantly enhanced due to application of amended compost as compared to nonamended compost, farm yard manure and inorganic fertilizer. Organic fertilized soils maintained significantly higher available nutrients throughout the crop growth period as compared to inorganic fertilized soils. No additional improvement in yields and soil fertility was recorded with combined application of compost and inorganic fertilizer in 1:1 ratio as against addition of compost alone. Advantage of such combinations was recorded in case of farm yard manure. Results of the study suggested possibilities for nutrient recycling through composted mint-residue for supplementing the fertilizers requirement of Japanese mint.     

Decomposition in the field of residues of oilseed rape grown at two levels of nitrogen fertilisation. Effects on the dynamics of soil mineral nitrogen between successive crops

The decomposition of oilseed rape residues of different quality and its effects on the mineral N dynamics of the soil in the period between crops were studied in situ. The residues studied were obtained by growing an oilseed rape crop at two levels of N fertilisation, 0 and 270 kg N ha^-1. The study was carried out using two types of experiment: field plots and cylinders filled with disturbed soil and inserted into the soil. The decomposition of the residues was followed using an approach involving the dynamics of both carbon and nitrogen, the parameters measured being the CO₂ emitted from the soil, the soil mineral N content, the C present in soluble form or in the form of microbial biomass, and the C and N present in the form of plant residues.The two residues studied, of similar biochemical composition, and differing only in their N content, were rapidly mineralised: approximately 50% of the carbon in the residues was decomposed during the first two months following incorporation into the soil. The carbon mineralised in the form of CO₂ was largely related to the C present in the residues, no relationship having been found with the C present in soluble form or in the form of microbial biomass.Calculation of net N mineralisation from the residues using a model of mineralisation and leaching has provided evidence of an immobilisation phase for soil mineral N, during the first steps of residues decomposition. Labelling the high-N residues with ¹⁵N has moreover enabled us to demonstrate the low availability of the organic N from this residue, 20.8% of the organic N being mineralised in the course of 18 months of experimentation. Eventually, only the highest-N content residue resulted in a mineral N surplus in the soil, equivalent to 9 kg N ha^-1, by comparison with the control soil. Finally, this study has provided good evidence of the complementarity between the two experimental methods. The cylinders of disturbed soil gave a precise measurement of the decomposition of the residues, especially by means of monitoring soil respiration. The field plots were used to monitor the dynamics of soil mineral N which were calculated with the aid of a mathematical model of mineralisation and leaching of nitrogen in the presence and absence of residues.     

Effect of long-term application of inorganic fertilizer and organic amendments on soil organic matter and microbial biomass in three subtropical paddy soils

Soil organic matter (SOM), microbial carbon (C_mic), and microbial nitrogen (N_mic) status affected by the application of inorganic fertilizer and organic amendments in subtropical paddy soils were investigated. Soil samples were collected from the plow layer of three long-term (17 years) field experiments at Xinhua, Ningxiang, and Taojiang counties in Hunan Province, China. Results showed that, compared to the control, application of inorganic fertilizer alone showed no significant effect on soil organic C (SOC), total N (N_tot), C_mic and N_mic. The application of inorganic fertilizer along with manure or straw significantly increased SOC and N_tot and soil C_mic and N_mic contents for all three sites, while following an application of inorganic fertilizer along with straw only for two sites. C_mic and N_mic were closely correlated with SOC and N_tot, respectively. In conclusion, application of inorganic fertilizer along with manure or straw is an effective way of enhancing SOM and microbial biomass in subtropical paddy soils.     

Manure and fertilizer contributions to soil mineral nitrogen and the yield of forage maize

Fifteen field trials were conducted to evaluate soil mineral N measurement as a means for quantifying the total N supply to forage maize and so to form the basis for fertilizer recommendations on a crop-specific basis. In every trial, 4 rates of cattle manure N (nominally 0, 80, 160, 240 kg N per ha) and 4 rates of ammonium nitrate (0, 50, 100, 150 kg N per ha) were factorially combined. Soil mineral N measurements were made before manure application, at the time of maize drilling, 7-10 weeks after drilling and after harvest. Measurements on control treatments which received no manure or ammonium nitrate showed extensive net mineralisation of soil N (mean 140 kg N per ha) in the 7-10 weeks after drilling followed by a decrease due to crop uptake, and probably net immobilisation, of approximately the same amount by harvest. This net mineralisation was probably the reason why only one trial showed a significant dry-matter yield response to ammonium nitrate. Results indicated that , to be useful for N recommendations, soil mineral N measurements should be taken 7-10 weeks after drilling. Only if the amount of mineral N at this time is less than expected crop N offtake should fertilizer N be applied. A mean of around 64% of the N applied in ammonium nitrate could be accounted for in soil mineral N after harvest of the maize, although this was reduced to 24% in the single trial where a dry-matter response to ammonium nitrate was recorded.     

Inorganic N Dynamics from Soils Amended with Low-P Manure from Genetically Modified Pigs (EnviropigTM)

Genetically modified pigs have been developed to enable them to use phosphorus (P) in the feed more efficiently and thereby reduce the amount of P excreted in the manure. However, there is no information available about how improved P digestibility affects nitrogen (N) and carbon contents in the pig manure and the subsequent dynamics that occur when the manure is applied to soil. An 8-week incubation study was conducted to determine the changes in inorganic N contents of two soils (a clay loam and a sandy loam) treated with pig manure (115 mg N kg⁻¹ soil) from these transgenic pigs as well as from conventional pigs. In addition, both the transgenic and conventional pigs were fed either a low-P diet or a conventional P diet and the effects of diet type on N contents in the manure and the subsequent soil dynamics were examined. There was no difference in total manure N content between transgenic and conventional pigs. However, the ammonium content was lower and the soluble carbon level was greater in manure produced by transgenic pigs than by conventional pigs. The manure excreted by pigs fed with low-P diet contained more total N and ammonium N than the manure from pigs fed with conventional-P diet. Ammonium-N was nitrified completely in the first week of incubation in manure-amended clay loam, while the nitrification process took 4 weeks to complete in manure-amended sandy loam soil. Manure from transgenic pigs not only contained less inorganic N but this N was more rapidly immobilized and/or denitrified compared to the inorganic N produced by conventional pigs.     

Application of liquid cattle manure and inorganic fertilizers affect dry matter,nitrogen accumulation,and partitioning in maize

Efficient use of N applied in the form of organic and inorganic fertilizers is important in maize (Zea mays L.) production to maximize producer’s economic returns and maintain soil and water quality. A field study was conducted for three consecutive years (2003–2005) in Thessaloniki, Greece to investigate whether liquid cattle manure can be used to replace inorganic fertilizers and also whether inorganic fertilizer can be applied preplant or as a combination of preplant and sidedress and can affect maize growth, development and N use efficiency. The treatments were control (unfertilized), liquid dairy cattle manure (Manure), application of 260 kg N ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ as basal dressing (N-single), application of 130 kg ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ N as basal dressing before sowing and 130 kg N ha⁻¹ when plants were at the eight-leaf stage (V8) (N-split). In 2 out of the 3 years of the study there was a significant positive effect of fertilizer application on maize growth, development, N uptake, and partitioning compared with the control. Dry matter production was increased by an average of 39% during the 2 years in plots fertilized either with manure or inorganic fertilizers than the control plots. Also from the yield components kernel weight per ear and number of kernels per ear were increased by an average of 35% and 32%, respectively in the fertilized plots compared with the control plots. Chlorophyll level was affected as it was increased by an average of 18%, 14%, and 18% at the ten-leaf stage (V10), silking and milk stage, respectively in the fertilization treatments compared with the control. Similar trend was observed in the other parameters that were studied. No differences were found between the manure and the different times of N application which indicates that manure can be used to replace inorganic fertilizer. Applying N either preplant in a single application or in split application (half of N preplant and half as sidedress) did not have any effect on any characteristics that were studied indicating that preplant application can be used as it is more cost effective. The present study indicates that liquid cattle manure can be used to replace inorganic fertilizers and also that there was no difference between preplant and sidedress application of N.     

Co‐composting an animal fatty‐proteinaceous waste with a solid lignocellulosic by‐product from the olive oil industry (‘alperujo’)

BACKGROUND: The production of biodegradable wastes and their disposal cause a major financial problem in many industrial activities. Co‐composting was thought to be a feasible alternative for disposing of a strongly alkaline waste from the pharmaceutical industry (AW), mainly consisting of animal fats and partially hydrolysed proteins in a stable emulsion. The AW was added gradually, during the early phase of the composting process, to a substrate made up of ‘alperujo’ (AL), the wet, lignocellulosic, solid by‐product of the olive oil industry, and fresh horse manure, which was added to improve the physical structure of the composting substrate. RESULTS: The addition of AW reduced organic matter degradation during composting, enriched the amount of organic compounds in the water‐ and alkali‐soluble fractions and increased mineral salt contents. Thus, significantly higher electrical conductivity, humification indices and contents of organic matter, P, K and Na were recorded in the end‐composts resulting from AW treatments. However, the application of one AW‐based compost led to soil N immobilisation, as revealed by an incubation experiment, which must be considered in order to avoid potential N starvation in the short term. CONCLUSION: According to these results, composting can be used as a disposal alternative for AW, leading to end‐products with potential uses as organic amendments or fertilisers for agricultural systems. In addition, these composts could be used to produce alternative liquid organic fertilisers, based on the extraction of their humic‐like fraction. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry     

Predicting nitrogen leaching with the modified LEACHM model: validation in soils receiving long-term application of animal manure composts

A variety of process-based models have been developed for predicting nitrogen (N) dynamics in agro-ecosystem; however, no reliable models have been validated for N leaching from soils receiving a long-term application of different types of animal manure composts. The Leaching Estimation and Chemistry Model (LEACHM) was recently modified by incorporating the basic structure of Rothamsted Carbon Model for extending its ability to describe soil organic matter decomposition and subsequent N leaching in soils rich in organic matter. We evaluate the applicability of the modified LEACHM in cropped Yellow soils receiving 10-year application of cattle or swine manure compost in addition to chemical fertilizers, where high-frequency field monitoring data of soil water contents, soil N contents and leachate N concentrations were available for the last 3 years. Particular attention was paid to determine all input parameters from independent measurements, parameterization from known soil properties or databases without optimisation to fit the measured field data. The model reasonably predicted temporal changes in the soil NH₄-N and NO₃-N contents, and inorganic N concentrations in the leachate as well as their differences due to different manure compost/chemical fertilizer applications. The simulations of leached N concentration yielded a Willmott index of agreement (IA) of 0.62–0.68, with those for soil moisture, soil nitrate content and crop N uptake all within an acceptable IA range. In view of the good performance without site-specific calibrations, the modified LEACHM appears to be a valuable tool for predicting N leaching from cropped soils receiving long-term manure compost applications.     

Identification of opportunities for improved nitrogen management in sugarcane cropping systems using the newly developed Canegro-N model

Sugarcane (Saccharum spp. L.) cropping systems require the application of substantial amounts of fertiliser nitrogen (N), especially under irrigated conditions and in areas where rainfall is sufficient for high dry matter production. Inadequate N applications can reduce yields, while excess N or inappropriately timed applications can result in the export of significant quantities of N to the environment as a pollutant. An N subroutine has now been included into the Canegro crop model which is based in the DSSAT (Decision Support System for Agrotechnology Transfer) framework. Data from a field and lysimeter trial conducted in Pongola, South Africa were used to calibrate and evaluate the model, following which the model was used to investigate two potential approaches to improve fertiliser N management. Findings were, firstly, that measured and simulated results show on-farm monitoring of soil inorganic N levels and adjusting fertiliser applications accordingly has considerable potential for reducing fertiliser requirements and N losses. Secondly, during the periods between active crop growth cycles, significant amounts of inorganic N can accumulate in a soil as a result of mineralisation. Accounting for this N enables fertiliser N application to be delayed to some time after planting or commencement of ratoon growth, thereby significantly reducing the risky period during which applied N may be leached. For the system modelled in this study, inorganic N made available through organic matter mineralisation was sufficient to match initial crop demand for ~55 days following ratooning. When ammonium-based fertilisers are used, lower volatilisation losses can also be expected with this strategy. These findings now need to be confirmed in field trials. Modelling, combined with adequate measured data for calibration purposes, can be a powerful tool to identify improved N management practices for a particular cropping system. In its current form, Canegro-N can be used to improve our understanding of N dynamics in sugarcane production systems and to guide management practices and future research.     

Effects of Organic and N Fertilizers on Methane Production Potential in a Chinese Rice Soil and its Microbiological Aspect

An incubation experiment to determine the effects of organic and chemical N fertilizers on methane (CH₄) production potential in a Chinese flooded rice soil was conducted. Organic matter, added as rice straw and organic manure, increased CH₄ production rate significantly. Chemical N fertilizers such as ammonium bicarbonate (AB), modified ammonium bicarbonate (MAB), and urea (U) did not show a clear effect when they were applied with rice straw. Field results may be very different because of the involvement of rice plants. Organic manure showed different promoting effects on CH₄ production rate. Pig manure stimulated the production rate most, followed by chicken and cattle manure. This difference in organic manure was not related to either total C added to the system or to C/N. The study on bacteria groups related to CH₄ production indicated that the different effects of organic matter may be closely related to content of easily decomposable organic matter. A significant linear relationship between CH₄ production and the logarithm of the number of zymogenic bacteria was found with an r value of 0.96. This finding suggests that the number of zymogenic bacteria may be used as an index to predict CH₄ production potential in flooded rice fields and other wetlands.     

Synchrony of net nitrogen mineralization and maize nitrogen uptake following applications of composted and fresh swine manure in the Midwest U.S.

Understanding how the quality of organic soil amendments affects the synchrony of nitrogen (N) mineralization and plant N uptake is critical for optimal agronomic N management and environmental protection. Composting solid livestock manures prior to soil application has been promoted to increase N synchrony; however, few field tests of this concept have been documented. Two years of replicated field trials were conducted near Boone, Iowa to determine the effect of composted versus fresh solid swine manure (a mixture of crop residue and swine urine and feces produced in hoop structures) on Zea mays (maize) N uptake, in situ soil net N mineralization, and soil inorganic N dynamics. Soil applications of composted manure increased maize N accumulation by 25?% in 2000 and 21?% in 2001 compared with fresh manure applications (application rate of 340?kg?N?ha^?1). Despite significant differences in net N mineralization between years, within year seasonal total in situ net N mineralization was similar for composted and fresh manure applications. Partial N budgets indicated that changes in soil N pools (net N mineralization and soil inorganic N) in the surface 20?cm accounted for 67?% of the total plant N accumulation in 2000 but only 16?% in 2001. Inter-annual variation in maize N accumulation could not be attributed to soil N availability. Overall, our results suggest that composting manures prior to soil application has no clear benefit for N synchrony in maize crops. Further work is required to determine the biotic and abiotic factors underlying this result.     

Effects of plant residues on crop performance, N mineralisation and microbial activity including field CO2 and N2O fluxes in unfertilised crop rotations

The impacts of crop rotation and input of organic matter in the form of green manure crops, straw residues and incorporation of catch crops on crop yield, nitrogen uptake, microbial biomass and activity were studied in unfertilised crop rotations differing in input of plant residues, i.e., high-input rotations with a grass-clover crop and catch crops included and low-input cereal rotations without catch crops. The parameters studied included substrate induced respiration (SIR), hydrolysis of fluorescein diacetate (FDA), arylsulfatase activity (ASA), N mineralisation, N₂O emission, and soil respiration. These parameters were measured in bare soil plots, to estimate the effects of previous years' crops and input of plant residues. In neighbouring plots crop performances were registered by measuring yields, above-ground biomass and nitrogen uptake during the growing season. Generally, all measured parameters were significantly higher in the high-input than in low-input rotations. Estimates of metabolic quotients indicated that the microbial communities in the low-input rotations were less efficient in utilising the C sources than those in the high-input rotations. Calculations of N₂O emission factors indicate that the current IPCC methodology for estimating N₂O emission from plant residues needs to be improved.     

Effect of different sources of iron and sulphur on nutrient concentration and uptake by groundnut

The C and N mineralization characteristics of two organic N fertilizers were determined in a soil-less incubation system at three temperature regimes. Protox (derived from activated sewage sludge) initially degraded more rapidly by microbial action compared with dried blood. However, dried blood released more CO₂-C and inorganic N towards the end of the incubation periods. The rate of microbial degradation increased with temperature. Mineralization characteristics of protein-based N sources are discussed in relation to organic N nutrition of vegetable crops.     

Kinetics of net nitrogen mineralisation from soil-applied grape residues

In viticulture, the long-term balance of organic matter in vineyard soil is often only ensured by the annual recycling of grape residues. The decay of soil-applied grape pomace contributes to a slow but steady input of nitrogen (N). This input path is commonly neglected in the annual fertiliser recommendation because little is known about N mineralisation from grape residues. In order to parameterise a simulation model to describe this process, a multi-temperature (4°C, 20°C, 28°C and 36°C) 14-month laboratory incubation experiment at constant moisture level was performed with residues from both hand-picked (complete clusters) and machine-harvested (destemmed) grapes applied to three different vineyard soils (7, 13 and 24% clay). 15.9 ± 5.8% of the total N of the pomace made from hand-picked grapes was released on average from a slowly decomposing pool (half-life t₅₀ = 1,119 d at 10°C), while 24.0 ± 8.2% of the total N was estimated to be released from the same pool of destemmed grape pomace (t₅₀ = 1,227 d). A rapidly decomposing pool could not be determined. Rapid decomposition was presumably inhibited due to the high content of polyphenol in the pomace, causing a temperature-dependent delay. The net N mineralisation of complete grape cluster residues was retarded for 12.4 days (10°C) on average, whereas destemmed grapes started to release N on average 5.5 days (10°C) later than the control soil. The inhibitory effect was much smaller at higher temperatures. A suitable approach that takes this effect into consideration in a model is presented.     

Effect of digested sewage sludge on the efficiency of N-fertilizer applied to barley

Enhanced microbial activity following sewage sludge land application may affect soil N cycling and, therefore, plant available N. We studied the effect of anaerobically treated sewage sludge on N-fertilizer efficiency and on some aspects of the soil N cycling. Field plots (3 m × 9 m) sown with barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) in November were amended with a) sludge (80 mg ha-¹) and ammonium nitrate (150 kg N ha-¹), b) ammonium nitrate (150 kg ha-¹) only, c) or left unamended. Monthly soil samples were taken from 0 to 20-and 20 to 50-cm depths to determine soil inorganic N (NH₄ ⁺, NO₃-). Denitrification in the upper 20-cm horizon was estimated by measuring N₂O+N₂ emission from undisturbed soil samples by the acetylene-inhibition technique. Crop yield parameters were analysed before harvesting, and grain production was recorded. With respect to the control, the yield increase for the N-fertilizer treatment was 85% and 45% for the sludge + N-fertilizer treatment. The decrease of N-fertilizer efficiency in sludge amended plots was presumably due to a decrease in spring plant available N. Presumably, microbial immobilisation and denitrification in organic amended treatments were responsible for the decrease in N-fertilizer efficiency. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Effect of the integrated use of legume residue,poultry manure and inorganic fertilizers on maize yield,nutrient uptake and soil properties

Identification of a sustainable integrated soil fertility management option in the tropics will not only salvage the degraded soils but also enhances the attainment of the goal of food security. This study was conducted in 2004 and 2005 on a degraded tropical Alfisol in south western Nigeria to evaluate the effect of legume residue, poultry manure and inorganic fertilizers on maize yield, nutrient uptake and soil properties. The treatments consisted of two rates of poultry manure (0 and 5 t ha⁻¹), three rates of N fertilizer (0, 50 and 100 kg N ha⁻¹ applied as urea), three rates of P fertilizer (0, 30 and 60 kg P ha⁻¹ applied as single super phosphate) and two soybean treatments (with or without incorporation of legume residue) in various combinations as a factorial experiment in Randomized Complete Block design with three replicates. Results showed that poultry manure alone led to significant increase in maize yield (60%) and soil organic matter (45%). In contrast, legume residue incorporation gave significantly lower increase in yield (7%) and soil organic matter (11%). However, the combined application of poultry manure and legume incorporation led to 72% increase in maize yield as opposed to 63 and 10% increase recorded when manure alone or legume alone were incorporated, respectively. Optimal maize yield was achieved when manure application was integrated with P fertilizer application. The interaction of P fertilizer and legume incorporation indicated that soil phosphorus and maize P concentration were significantly increased with the application of the P fertilizer and legume incorporation. Hence, the application of P fertilizer alone is most likely to be economical compared with its integration with legume incorporation.     

Nutrient transformation in soil due to addition of organic manure and growing crops

Maintaining organic pools of nitrogen (N) in soil is important for providing a steady flux of N in soil solution. Bioslurry, which is the product obtained from anaerobically digested (methanised) farm yard manure (FYM), is an efficient source of organic manure with capability to supply nutrients, particularly N to crops. A study was conducted to see the equilibrium relationship between the inorganic and organic N fractions as affected by application of bioslurry and fertilizer N in a maize (Zea mays L.) — mustard (Brassica campestris) crop sequence. Results obtained revealed that 75.7 percent of the total soil N was in the hydrolyzable N fraction. Among the hydrolyzable fractions, aminoacid N, unidentified N and hydrolyzable NH ₄ ⁺ constituted 25.8, 25.7 and 18.6 percent of the total N, respectively. Ammonium fixed in clay lattice constituted 19.1 percent of the total N. Application of bioslurry @ 13.32 t ha^–1 under N-unfertilized conditions increased NO₃-N, fixed NH ₄ ⁺ , aminoacid N, hexosamine N and hydrolyzable NH ₄ ⁺ . The magnitude of increase in total hydrolyzable and inorganic N fractions was 31.4 and 15.2 percent, respectively. Growing crops decreased N in the inorganic fractions. Transformation reaction of organic N to inorganic N was evident after second crop in the sequence. Fertilizer N application encouraged build-up of N in organic fractions, particularly in aminoacid, hydrolyzable NH ₄ ⁺ and unidentified N fractions. Application of bioslurry maintained higher status of N in both organic and inorganic N fractions. Linear regression relationship between N content in different fractions and bioslurry applied both under fertilized and unfertilized conditions assisted in developing prediction models on the rate of bioslurry to be applied to arrive at the desired N content in different fractions. Significant intercorrelation coefficients (r²) between different fractions indicated free mobility between the N fractions under limited N conditions suggesting a dynamic equilibrium between them. Path coefficient analysis showed that exchangeable NH ₄ ⁺ and NO₃-N had substantial direct positive effect on N uptake by mustard with bioslurry application. Under untreated conditions exchangeable NH ₄ ⁺ , hexosamine and hydrolyzable NH ₄ ⁺ fractions had higher direct contribution to meet mustard N requirement. Most of the hydrolyzable N fractions contributed to N uptake by mustard by first transforming to exchangeable NH ₄ ⁺ and NO₃—N and thus setting an equilibrium condition for maintaining the steady flux of N to plants.Part of Ph.D. Thesis of the senior author     

Pruning management effects on soil carbon and nitrogen in contour-hedgerow cropping with Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) De Wit on sloping land in Haiti

Application of hedgerow prunings to the soil in alley cropping ispracticed to sustain crop yield but information is lacking on effects ofhedgerow management on soil C and N dynamics under continuous cropping.Cumulative effects of 3.5 years of leucaena [Leucaenaleucocephala (Lam.) De Wit] hedgerow management on soil organic CandN and potential C and N mineralization were determined in an alley croppingexperiment in Haiti. Treatments were combinations of pruning uses and pruningregimes in a 3 × 3 factorial with a no-tree control (rock walls) in arandomized complete block design with 3 replicates. A hedgerow + fertilizertreatment in an adjacent trial was included for comparison. Soil samplescollected at 0–5, 5–10 and 10–20 cm depths weresealed in mason jars and incubated at 25 °C for 30 days.Organic C and N and inorganic N were measured before the incubation. InorganicNand respired CO₂-C were measured after the incubation. After 3.5years, surface soil samples with prunings applied as mulch or incorporated atplanting had, respectively, 20 and 16% higher organic C, 34 and 18% higherorganic N concentrations, higher potential C and N mineralization and higherrelative N mineralization than with prunings removed. Soil C and N dynamicsweresimilar between pruning application methods. The two-cut regime with a longerregrowth period after cutting (0–40 DAP) had highest organic C in the0–20 cm soil layer whereas two-cut with a shorter regrowthperiod (0–30 DAP) had highest C turnover. Within soil layers, pruningapplication had higher organic C and N and potential C and N mineralizationthanthe no-tree control and alley plots with prunings removed in the 0–5cm layer whereas the latter treatments had similar C and Ndynamicsat all depths. Addition of N-P-K fertilizer in presence of fresh prunings didnot increase soil organic C and N but enhanced N dynamics in the surface soil.