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Abstract

An in situ nitrogen mineralization experiment was conducted to assess the response of chicken and cow manure application at two different rates (5 and 10 Mg DM ha(-1)) on net N mineralization in a maize-bean rotation experiment in Nicaragua. The field study was carried out over four consecutive growing seasons. Soil samples of the top soil (0-0.3 m) were taken every 30 days within the season in inserted plastic tubes. The samples were analysed for content of soil mineral N and total organic N. Net N mineralization was estimated as the difference in soil mineral N over time. The net N mineralization rate in the treatment with chicken manure applied at the high rate (CHH) was on average 24.5 g N m(-2) season(-1) and significantly higher than all the other treatments and the unfertilized control, except during the first season. From season two to season four, the net N mineralization of cow manure at both high and low application rates were similar to that of low application rate of chicken manure. In the control, the net N mineralization was significantly lower than in all fertilisation treatments and on average 9.9 g N m(-2) season(-1). It also decreased significantly over time and did not show any indication to increase in the season following the N-2 fixating crop. Only the CHH treatment showed such a tendency. The soil total organic N did not show any clear pattern over neither time nor treatment. Consequently, the variation in specific net N mineralization per unit of total organic soil N was similar to that of net N mineralisation and ranged from 1.6 - 2.9 10(-3) 30d(-1) in the control to 4.4 - 6.7 10(-3) 30 d(-1) in CHH

Keywords

Soil organic matter. low input tropical agriculture; Zea Mays L.; Phaseolus vulgaris L

Published in

Scientific Research and Essays
2008, volume: 3, number: 7, pages: 280-286
Publisher: ACADEMIC JOURNALS

SLU Authors

UKÄ Subject classification

Agricultural Science

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/21653