ISSN:
1573-5036
Keywords:
maize
;
nitrogen availability tests
;
soil nitrate
;
UV absorbance
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Agriculture, Forestry, Horticulture, Fishery, Domestic Science, Nutrition
Notes:
Abstract The ability of several chemical soil N availability indexes to predict the N supplying capability (NSC) of soils to maize in the field was evaluated in 49 field experiments over 3 years in Pennsylvania. Two recently proposed indexes based on the amount of NH4 + released by treating soil with 2 M KCl at 100°C for 4 hr or with a pH 11.2 phosphate-borate buffer for 8 min were not good predictors of NSC (r=0.484 and 0.254, respectively). The absorbance of a 0.01 M NaHCO3 extract at 260 nm was also poorly correlated with field-measured NSC (r=0.412). The pre-sidedress soil NO3 − test (PSNT), the soil NO3 − concertration in the surface 20 cm of soil at planting, and the UV absorbance at 200 nm of a 0.01 M NaHCO3 extract of at planting soils were all moderately well correlated with NSC (r=0.672, 0.750, and 0.737, respectively). The latter two indexes are very simple, rapid, and inexpensive to perform and offer the possibility of improving the prediction of NSC in heavily manured fields.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00009929