Summary
The hypothesis that water and temperature interact to influence the rate of soil N mineralization was studied in laboratory incubation experiments with two contrasting soils. Small sample rings (10 mm tall, 50 mm diameter) were packed to uniform bulk density with 1–2 mm aggregates of Plano silt loam and Wacousta silty clay loam. Samples were brought to five different water potentials (−0.1, −0.33, −0.5, −1.0, −3.0 bars) using pressure-plate techniques, and the undisturbed sample rings were then incubated at 10–35°C for 3, 10 or 14 days. The concentration of soil exchangeable NH4 +-N and NO3 −-N was measured at the end of each incubation period on replicate samples. The Q10 of N mineralization was approximately 2 for all tested water potentials. Soil N mineralization was linearly related to water content or log water potential, but no water-temperature interaction was evident. The Q10 was constant with water content, and the scaled water content-N mineralization relationship was constant with temperature. We recommend the use of scaling approaches for assessing interactive effects between water and other environmental factors on N turnover in soils.
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Kladivko, E.J., Keeney, D.R. Soil nitrogen mineralization as affected by water and temperature interactions. Biol Fert Soils 5, 248–252 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00256909
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00256909