Journal article

Authors list: Tan, Chuandong; Du, Yadan; Hu, Xiaotao; Li, Xiaoyan; Wang, Yuming; Yan, Tinglin; Zhang, Jinbo; Niu, Wenquan; Gu, Xiaobo; Müller, Christoph; Siddique, Kadambot HM

Publication year: 2024

Journal: Soil & Tillage Research

Volume number: 242

ISSN: 0167-1987

eISSN: 1879-3444

DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2024.106140

Publisher: Elsevier

Abstract: 
Aerated irrigation (AI) significantly influences soil nitrogen (N) dynamics and biochemical characteristics, which are crucial for enhancing N absorption and utilization efficiency. However, AI's potential effects and mechanisms on gross soil N transformations remain unclear. In this study, a 15N tracing incubation experiment was conducted with four treatments, each receiving an equivalent N input (150 kg N ha-1): (1) AINPK, chemical fertilizer under AI; (2) AIOM, organic fertilizer (OM) under AI; (3) AINPK+OM, chemical fertilizer (75 % of applied N) with organic fertilizer (NPK+OM) under AI; (4) NPK, chemical fertilizer (NPK) under traditional drip irrigation. The results revealed that AINPK significantly increased crop yield by 12.42 %, gross N mineralization by 2.58-fold, and gross nitrification by 1.27-fold compared to NPK. The AIOM and AINPK+OM significantly increased yield by 18.74-12.34 %, gross N mineralization by 1.14-1.27-fold, and autotrophic nitrification by 1.05-1.11-fold compared to AINPK. The AIOM exhibits the highest rate of NH4+ immobilization, being 1.16-1.26-fold greater than the other three treatments. Moreover, AINPK significantly reduced the turnover time of organic N compared to NPK, and the turnover time of organic N of AIOM and AINPK+OM was shorter than AINPK. Overall, AI increased gross N mineralization and gross nitrification rates, enhancing soil N availability. AINPK and AIOM elevated the NH4+ immobilization rates compared to NPK, while the AIOM and AINPK+OM also enhanced NO3- immobilization rates, stimulating inorganic N retention capacity. Therefore, based on the N transformation dynamics observed in this study, AIOM and AINPK+OM, which accelerate organic N turnover, enhance N availability and retention capacity, and increase crop yields, are recommended for crop production in greenhouse tomato.

Harvard Citation style: Tan, C., Du, Y., Hu, X., Li, X., Wang, Y., Yan, T., et al. (2024) Aerated irrigation improves soil gross nitrogen transformations in greenhouse tomato: Insights from a 15N-tracing study, Soil & Tillage Research, 242, Article 106140. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2024.106140

APA Citation style: Tan, C., Du, Y., Hu, X., Li, X., Wang, Y., Yan, T., Zhang, J., Niu, W., Gu, X., Müller, C., & Siddique, K. (2024). Aerated irrigation improves soil gross nitrogen transformations in greenhouse tomato: Insights from a 15N-tracing study. Soil & Tillage Research. 242, Article 106140. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2024.106140