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The effects of agronomy on the carbon and nitrogen contained in the soil biomass

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

T. McM. Adams  and
R. J. Laughlin
T. McM. Adams
Affiliation:
Agricultural and Food Chemistry Department, The Queen's University of Belfast, and Agricultural and Food Chemistry Research Division, Department oj Agriculture for Northern Ireland, Newforge Lane, Belfast BT9 5PX
R. J. Laughlin
Affiliation:
Agricultural and Food Chemistry Department, The Queen's University of Belfast, and Agricultural and Food Chemistry Research Division, Department oj Agriculture for Northern Ireland, Newforge Lane, Belfast BT9 5PX
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Summary

Soils of various agronomic histories were fumigated with chloroform, and the resultant increased production of CO2 and mineral-N measured and expressed as biomass C and the flush of mineral-N production (FN), respectively. Biomass C and FN contents of grassland soils were greater than those of arable soils, and significant correlations with macro organic-matter content were found. Biomass C contents varied from 7 to mg C/100 g soil in arable soil and from 31 to 222 mg C/100 g soil in grassland or woodland. The proportion of soil organic C that was contained within the biomass ranged from 0·3 to 4·0%, whilst FN comprised from 1·0 to 11·7% of total soil N. FNcontents ranged from 1·1 to 13·2mg N/1OOg soil for arable soils, and from 2·5 to 31·7 mg N/100 g soil for grassland and woodland. Application of organic manures increased biomass C and FN contents in grassland soil.

Information

Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , Volume 97 , Issue 2 , October 1981 , pp. 319 - 327
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1981

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