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Forms and nature of organic N in soil

  • Chapter
Nitrogen Economy in Tropical Soils

Part of the book series: Developments in Plant and Soil Sciences ((DPSS,volume 69))

Abstract

Most of the N in surface soils occurs in organic forms. The organic N in soil plays a key role in plant nutrition and soil fertility through its effects on microbial activity and nutrient availability. Typically, about one-third of the fertilizer N applied to temperate-zone soils is immobilized and retained in organic forms at the end of the growing season. A significant portion of this newly immobilized N is no more available to microorganisms and plants than the native humus N. Stabilization processes, probably involving polymerization of amino compounds and polyphenols, result in incorporation of N into humic substances with a concurrent reduction in N availability. This paper presents an account of the forms and nature of organic N in soil, emphasizing possible formation pathways, chemical characterization of humic substances through conventional and solid-state techniques, and the fate and composition of newly immobilized N in soil.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Land and Water Sciences, TVA Environmental Research Center, P.O. Box 1010, Muscle Shoals, AL, 35660-1010, USA

    K. R. Kelley

  2. Department of Agronomy, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA

    F. J. Stevenson

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  1. K. R. Kelley
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  2. F. J. Stevenson
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad W.I.

    N. Ahmad (Chairman, Organizing Committee) (Chairman, Organizing Committee)

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Kelley, K.R., Stevenson, F.J. (1995). Forms and nature of organic N in soil. In: Ahmad, N. (eds) Nitrogen Economy in Tropical Soils. Developments in Plant and Soil Sciences, vol 69. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-1706-4_1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-1706-4_1

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