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Quantification of seasonal soil nitrogen mineralization for corn production in eastern Canada

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Abstract

Precise estimation of soil nitrogen (N) supply to corn (Zea mays L.) through N mineralization plays a key role in implementing N best management practices for economic consideration and environmental sustainability. To quantify soil N availability to corn during growing seasons, a series of in situ incubation experiments using the method of polyvinyl chloride tube attached with resin bag at the bottom were conducted on two typical agricultural soils in a cool and humid region of eastern Canada. Soil filled tubes were retrieved at 10-d intervals within 2 months after planting, and at 3- to 4-week intervals thereafter until corn harvest. Ammonium and nitrate in the soil and resin part of the incubation tubes were analyzed. In general, there was minimal NH +4 -N with ranges from 1.5 to 7.3 kg N ha−1, which was declined in the first 30 d and fluctuated thereafter. Nitrate, the main form of mineral N, ranged from 20 to 157 kg N ha−1. In the first 20–50 d, main portion of the NO −3 -N was in the soil and thereafter in the resin, reflecting the movement of NO −3 in the soil, which was affected by rainfall events and amount. Total mineralized N was affected by soil total N and weather conditions: There was more total mineralized N in the soil with higher total N, and rainy weather stimulated N mineralization. The relationship between the accumulated mineral N and accumulated growing degree-days (GDD) fitted well into first order kinetic models. The accumulated mineralized soil N during corn growing season ranged from 96 to 120 kg N ha−1, which accounted for 2–3% of soil total N. Corn plants took up 110–137 kg N ha−1. While the mineralized N and crop uptake were in the same magnitude, a quantitative relationship between them could not be established in this study.

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Abbreviations

Growing degree-days:

GDD

Total mineralized N:

TMN

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Acknowledgement

The excellent technical assistance of L. Evenson, D. Balchin, K. Subedi, and V. Deslauriers is gratefully acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Eastern Cereal and Oilseed Research Centre (ECORC), Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Central Experimental Farm, 960 Carling Avenue, Ottawa, ON, Canada, K1A 0C6

    Tian-Yun Wu & B. L. Ma

  2. Environmental Canada, 19th Floor, Place Vincent Massey, 351 St. Joseph Blvd., Hull, QC, Canada, K1A 0H3

    B. C. Liang

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  1. Tian-Yun Wu
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  2. B. L. Ma
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  3. B. C. Liang
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Correspondence to B. L. Ma.

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Wu, TY., Ma, B.L. & Liang, B.C. Quantification of seasonal soil nitrogen mineralization for corn production in eastern Canada. Nutr Cycl Agroecosyst 81, 279–290 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10705-007-9163-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10705-007-9163-x

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