Occurrence and simulation of nitrification in two contrasting sugarcane soils from the Australian wet tropics
E. A. Meier A B C , P. J. Thorburn A and M. E. Probert AA CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems, 306 Carmody Road, St Lucia, Qld 4067, Australia.
B The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Qld 4072, Australia.
C Corresponding author. Email: elizabeth.meier@csiro.au
Australian Journal of Soil Research 44(1) 1-9 https://doi.org/10.1071/SR05004
Submitted: 7 January 2005 Accepted: 21 November 2005 Published: 10 February 2006
Abstract
The concentration of ammonium-nitrogen (NH4+-N) frequently exceeds that of nitrate-N (NO3−-N) in Australian wet tropical sugarcane soils. The amount of mineral N in soil is the net result of complex processes in the field, so the objective of this experiment was to investigate nitrification and ammonification in these soils under laboratory conditions. Aerobic and saturated incubations were performed for 1 week on 2 wet tropical soils. Net NO3−-N increased significantly in both soils during both types of incubation. A second series of aerobic incubations of these soils treated with NH4+-N and inoculated with subtropical nitrifying soils was conducted for 48 days. Nitrification in the wet tropical soils was not significantly affected by inoculation, and virtually all added N was nitrified during the incubation period. Mineral N behaviour of the 48-day incubations was captured with the APSIM-SoilN model. As nitrification proceeded under laboratory conditions and was able to be captured by the model, it was concluded that nitrification processes in the wet tropical soils studied were not different from those in the subtropical soils. Processes that remove NO3− from the soil, such as leaching and denitrification, may therefore be important factors affecting the proportions of NH4+-N and NO3−-N measured under field conditions.
Additional keywords: north Queensland, ammonification, nitrification, APSIM.
Acknowledgments
Funding for this activity was provided by an Australian Postgraduate Award, the CRC for Sustainable Sugar Production, and the sugar industry and the Commonwealth Government through the Sugar Research and Development Corporation, and is gratefully acknowledged. The research on which this article was based was conducted while the senior author was enrolled in a PhD program at The University of Queensland.
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