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The differential assimilation of nitrogen fertilizer compounds by soil microorganisms.

Authors :
Charteris AF
Knowles TDJ
Mead A
Reay MK
Michaelides K
Evershed RP
Source :
FEMS microbiology letters [FEMS Microbiol Lett] 2024 Jan 09; Vol. 371.
Publication Year :
2024

Abstract

The differential soil microbial assimilation of common nitrogen (N) fertilizer compounds into the soil organic N pool is revealed using novel compound-specific amino acid (AA) 15N-stable isotope probing. The incorporation of fertilizer 15N into individual AAs reflected the known biochemistry of N assimilation-e.g. 15N-labelled ammonium (15NH4+) was assimilated most quickly and to the greatest extent into glutamate. A maximum of 12.9% of applied 15NH4+, or 11.7% of 'retained' 15NH4+ (remaining in the soil) was assimilated into the total hydrolysable AA pool in the Rowden Moor soil. Incorporation was lowest in the Rowden Moor 15N-labelled nitrate (15NO3-) treatment, at 1.7% of applied 15N or 1.6% of retained 15N. Incorporation in the 15NH4+ and 15NO3- treatments in the Winterbourne Abbas soil, and the 15N-urea treatment in both soils was between 4.4% and 6.5% of applied 15N or 5.2% and 6.4% of retained 15N. This represents a key step in greater comprehension of the microbially mediated transformations of fertilizer N to organic N and contributes to a more complete picture of soil N-cycling. The approach also mechanistically links theoretical/pure culture derived biochemical expectations and bulk level fertilizer immobilization studies, bridging these different scales of understanding.<br /> (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of FEMS.)

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
1574-6968
Volume :
371
Database :
MEDLINE
Journal :
FEMS microbiology letters
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
38849295
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1093/femsle/fnae041