Publication on the spatial variability of nitrate production in soil now available

Within the project "VaRea - Temporal and spatial variability of reaction fronts in the critical zone" scientists of the Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR) investigated how fast ammonium is converted to nitrate in soil. The aim was to record the variability of the nitrification and to understand the soil properties that control it.
The BGR research team applied isotopically labeled nitrogen molecules to the study sites using a new developed sprinkler system. This allowed to be achieved a very homogeneous labeling in the field and to determine nitrification rates in situ. The gross rates found were low compared to previous measurements, which are commonly carried out in the laboratory. One explanation is the temperatures prevailing during the field investigations, which were significantly lower than the 20°C normally used in the laboratory. In addition, a dependence on the C/N-ratio was observed, i.e. the higher the N content in the humus, the higher the nitrification rate. The results of the study are published in the Journal Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems. It is freely accessible in accordance with the BGR's open access strategy.

Irrigation system of the project VaRea Source: BGR