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1 February 2014 Nitrogen mineralization assessment using PRS™ probes (ion-exchange membranes) and soil extractions in fertilized and unfertilized pine and spruce soils
D. J. Harrison, D. G. Maynard
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Abstract

Harrison, D. J. and Maynard, D. G. 2014. Nitrogen mineralization assessment using PRS™ probes (ion-exchange membranes) and soil extractions in fertilized and unfertilized pine and spruce soils. Can. J. Soil Sci. 94: 21-34. Several assay approaches that measure mineralizable nitrogen (N) have been used, with varying success, to assess the N supply power of soil. We compared Plant Root Simulators (PRS™ probes, Western Ag Innovations, Inc., Saskatoon, SK) with chemical extractions in an incubation to evaluate how these methods quantify N-mineralization activity of forest soils. Nitrogen mineralization was compared in spruce- and pine-forest soils that had varying N status and had been subjected to 14 yr of N-based fertilization. We paired the assays to determine how the measures co-varied after 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 wk of incubation. Significant correlations existed between PRS probes and extractable ammonium (cjss2012-064ileq1.gif) in the spruce (r=0.567, P<0.001) and pine (r=0.730, P<0.001) soils, although trendlines differed by soil type. Nitrate (cjss2012-064ileq1.gif)- PRS relationships were evident only in the spruce soils (r=0.916, P<0.001), as the pine soils produced minimal cjss2012-064ileq2.gif. Both assays provide opportunities for assessing N-mineralization processes in forest soils and differences between assays appear to be related to soil N availability. The PRS probes responded primarily to factors affecting ion mobility because of the cumulative nature of the PRS probes; whereas the static soil extractions were more sensitive to variations in mineralization and immobilization fluxes.

D. J. Harrison and D. G. Maynard "Nitrogen mineralization assessment using PRS™ probes (ion-exchange membranes) and soil extractions in fertilized and unfertilized pine and spruce soils," Canadian Journal of Soil Science 94(1), 21-34, (1 February 2014). https://doi.org/10.1139/CJSS2013-017
Received: 31 May 2012; Accepted: 1 November 2013; Published: 1 February 2014
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KEYWORDS
Ammonium
Ammonium
forest soils
incubation en laboratoire
inorganic N
laboratory incubation
N inorganique
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