New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research abstracts
Evaluation of simple quick tests for determining the nitrogen
mineralisation potential in soils in controlled environments
S. Mishra
H. J. Di*
K. C. Cameron
Centre for Soil and Environmental Quality
P.O. Box 84
Lincoln University
Canterbury, New Zealand
R. Monaghan
AgResearch
Invermay
Private Bag 50 034
Mosgiel
Dunedin, New Zealand
A. Carran
AgResearch
Private Bag 11 008
Palmerston North, New Zealand
*Author for correspondence
Abstract Four simple quick test methods were
evaluated for their ability to predict the N mineralisation potential
of six pastoral soils under controlled glasshouse or incubation
conditions. Soil samples were taken to determine N mineralisation
potential and extractable NH4+ by different
extractants. The relationships between N mineralisation potential and
extractable NH4+ were assessed. Autoclave
extracted-NH4+ (R2 = 0.70; P
< 0.001), HCl extracted-NH4+ (R2
= 0.83; P < 0.001) and NaHCO3 (R2
= 0.81; P < 0.001) methods were the best indicators of
N mineralisation rate. The potential of these simple quick tests to be
used as rapid, simple indices of N mineralisation rate in pastoral
soils need to be further evaluated under field conditions where inputs
of N fertiliser and farm effluents occur.
Keywords nitrogen; soils; availability indices;
quick test; mineralisation
A04052; Received 11 May 2004; accepted 18 May 2005; Online
publication date 8 August 2005
New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research, 2005, Vol. 48:
359–366
0028–8233/05/4803–0359 © The Royal Society of New Zealand 2005
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