University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU) - Research portal
Selected Publication:
Inselsbacher, E; Peticzka, R.
(2021):
Diffusive fluxes and water-extractable concentrations of different nitrogen forms in a temperate agricultural soil
SOIL RES. 2021; 59(8): 848-853.
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- Abstract:
- Synchronising nitrogen (N) fertiliser inputs and crop N demand is a major goal in intensive agriculture. However, assessing how much and in which form N arrives at the root surfaces remains a major challenge. Microdialysis has been introduced as a suitable technique to face this challenge and, in this study, we applied microdialysis to assess in situ diffusive N fluxes in a temperate agricultural field. Additionally, soil N concentrations were estimated by water extractions to compare different approaches for measuring plant-available N. Concentrations and diffusive fluxes of N did not correlate and differed significantly regarding the relative contribution of different N forms to total N. Nitrate was the dominant N form (similar to 80%) in water extracts while diffusive fluxes of NO3-, NH4+ and free amino acids were similar (38%, 34% and 28%, respectively). Extractable N and diffusive N fluxes varied strongly across the entire field, with a higher variability at smaller scales. Our results suggest that diffusive N fluxes are affected by a complex network of abiotic and biotic factors, either directly controlling diffusion or indirectly by affecting soil N production and consumption rates. We therefore recommend that future efforts should be directed into including such factors in more complex modelling approaches to assess plant-available N in agricultural fields.
- Authors BOKU Wien:
- Inselsbacher Erich
- Find related publications in this database (Keywords)
- agriculture
- amino acids
- corn (Zea mays)
- inorganic nitrogen
- microdialysis
- nitrogen fertiliser
- soil diffusive fluxes
- soil extraction
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