Shifts in the nitrogen cycle under different fertilizer management practices

Authors

  • Florina Botez Department of Systems Ecology and Sustainability, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, Splaiul Independenței no. 91-95, District 5, Bucharest, Romania, Postal code: 050095 Author
  • Carmen Postolache Department of Systems Ecology and Sustainability, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, Splaiul Independenței no. 91-95, District 5, Bucharest, Romania, Postal code: 050095 Author
  • Horia Domnariu Department of Systems Ecology and Sustainability, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, Splaiul Independenței no. 91-95, District 5, Bucharest, Romania, Postal code: 050095 Author
  • Alexandra Leonte Agricultural Research and Development Station Secuieni Neamț, Str. Principală, no. 377, Com. Secuieni, Neamț County, Romania, Postal code 617415 Author
  • Andreea-Gabriela Dulă Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, Splaiul Independenței no. 91-95, District 5, Bucharest, Romania, Postal code: 050095 Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.25083/rbl/28.4/4068.4076

Keywords:

nitrogen biogeochemistry, soil enzymatic activity, nitrate reductase, soil microbiota, long term fertilizer experiments

Abstract

Human population is dependent on agricultural production, but these activities pose multiple threats to soil health and indirectly to ecological sustainability. Synthesis of fertilizers proved to be a miraculous solution to enhance soil productivity, but this advancement came with many unseen risks. Long-term research stations that have decades long experiments with fertilizers additions are paramount in better understanding long-term impact of fertilizer use. Our study focused on ammonium and nitrate levels found in soils in an experiment of inorganic nitrogen addition than began in 1975. We further directed our attention to soil mineralization potential, nitrate reductase activities and densities of two major microbial functional groups: ammonifiers and denitrifiers. Our data suggests that ammonium has a stronger tendency of soil buildup than nitrate and that increased levels of inorganic nitrogen species also impacted molecular compartments and processes such as mineralization potential, soil microbiota and enzymatic activities. Another result indicates that analysed soils reached a storage limit for phosphorus which threatens to overburden other ecosystems.

Author Biography

  • Horia Domnariu, Department of Systems Ecology and Sustainability, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, Splaiul Independenței no. 91-95, District 5, Bucharest, Romania, Postal code: 050095

    Soil Biology Laboratory, National Research and Development Institute for Soil Science, Agrochemistry and Environment – ICPA, Bd. Mărăști, no. 61, Bucharest, Romania, Postal code: 0114643

RBL284_6

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Published

2024-09-12