Influence of temperature and moisture on the relative contributions of heterotrophic and autotrophic nitrification to gross nitrification in an acid cropping soil

R Liu; H Suter; J He; H Hayden; D Chen

Journal article

Influence of temperature and moisture on the relative contributions of heterotrophic and autotrophic nitrification to gross nitrification in an acid cropping soil

R Liu, H Suter, J He, H Hayden, D Chen

Journal of Soils and Sediments | SPRINGER HEIDELBERG | Published : 2015

DOI: 10.1007/s11368-015-1170-y

Abstract

Purpose: Nitrate can be produced through autotrophic and heterotrophic nitrification. Soil temperature and moisture are key factors affecting nitrification; however, how they influence the relative importance of autotrophic and heterotrophic nitrification is still unknown. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of soil temperature and moisture on autotrophic and heterotrophic nitrification in an acid cropping soil. Materials and methods: An acid cropping soil (pHH2O 4.5) with high organic matter content (6.2 %) was collected from a wheat cropping system and used in a laboratory incubation experiment. Nitrogen as 15NH4Cl and K15NO3 was applied to soil samples which were then incub..

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University of Melbourne Researchers

Helen Suter Author

Jim He Author

Helen L. Hayden Author

Deli Chen Author

Grants

Funding Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge the financial support of Incitec Pivot Limited and the Australian Government Department of Agriculture through the Grains Research and Development Corporation.