ISSN 2167-0447
International Journal of Agricultural Sciences ISSN: 2167-0447 Vol. 9 (7), pp. 001-005, July, 2019. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Mineralization of nitrogen from 15N labeled crop residues at varying temperature and clay content
M. De. Roy1,2*, P. K. Chhonkar1 and A. Patra1
1Division of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi–12, India.
2STL, Pulses and Oilseed Research Station, Berhampore, West Bengal.
Accepted 24 March, 2019
Abstract
A laboratory incubation experiment was carried out for 85 days to monitor the N mineralization during the decomposition of 15N labeled wheat and rice straws incorporated at 5 g kg-1 soil at varying temperatures and with soils of varying clay content. Results have shown that N mineralization surpass immobilization 40th day onwards. Irrespective of temperature and clay content, mineralization of rice residue N was found to be significantly higher than that of wheat residue throughout the incubation period. Increasing temperature and clay content both had positive effect on residue N mineralization. At 85th day after incubation N mineralization from the residues was found to be 13 - 14%. Clay content, temperature, composition of the residues are important factors controlling plant residues decomposition under laboratory conditions.
Key words: Rice and wheat residues, straw, N-mineralization, immobilization.