Evaluating Chemical and Physical Indices of Nitrogen Mineralization Capacity with an Unequivocal Reference

• DOI: 10.2136/sssaj2001.652368x
• Publication Date: 2010-07-27T23:30:33Z
• Authors: Weijin Wang; Chris J. Smith; Phillip M. Chalk; Deli Chen
• Keywords: Nitrogen Cycle

After decades of searching for a rapid method to estimate the N mineralization capacity soil, there is still no consistent recommendation. It legitimate examine causes often‐conflicting results in literature. The efficacy various references that have been used as benchmarks assessing chemical and physical indices literature critically reviewed this paper. Gross consumption during waterlogged aerobic incubations were estimated wide range soils. was found equivalent 17 90 23 59% mineralized consumed incubations, respectively. As net production rate represents balance between N‐producing N‐consuming processes, it appears difficult find simple could be predict effect several concurrent processes. We gross reference criterion ability. Total organic N, water‐soluble alkali‐hydrolyzable acid‐hydrolyzable hot salt‐hydrolyzable light matter fraction assessed against criterion. All except significantly related mineralization. Water‐soluble had highest correlation all tested. None chemically hydrolyzed fractions consistently showed closer relationships with than total suggesting these methods are ineffective extracting biologically labile soil N.