Effect of microbial activity and nitrogen mineralization on free-living nitrogen fixation in permanent grassland soils - Bioemco
Journal Articles Journal of Agronomy and Crop Science Year : 2007

Effect of microbial activity and nitrogen mineralization on free-living nitrogen fixation in permanent grassland soils

Ashok Patra
  • Function : Author
  • PersonId : 841871
Xavier Le Roux
P. Loiseau
Frédérique Louault

Abstract

Free-living nitrogen (N) fixation can be important for sustainable soil fertility, particularly in extensively managed soils with low abundance of leguminous plant species. However, the factors affecting free N-2-fixation in situ are still poorly documented. We investigated the role of microbial active biomass activity, particularly substrate-induced respiration (SIR) and net N mineralization, on the free-living N-2 fixation in soils under a semi-natural grassland ecosystem in France. Analysis of replicated bulk soil and rhizospheric soil samples obtained from sites experiencing contrasting grazing regimes revealed highly significant negative relationships (P < 0.01) between free-living N-2-fixation and SIR or N-mineralization with a significant rhizosphere effect. The study has demonstrated that the activity of free-living N-2-fixers is more important in soils having low active microbial biomass and low N-mineralization rates in these permanent grasslands.
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Dates and versions

bioemco-00166647 , version 1 (08-08-2007)

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  • HAL Id : bioemco-00166647 , version 1

Cite

Ashok Patra, Xavier Le Roux, Luc Abbadie, Annie Clays-Josserand, Franck Poly, et al.. Effect of microbial activity and nitrogen mineralization on free-living nitrogen fixation in permanent grassland soils. Journal of Agronomy and Crop Science, 2007, pp.153-156. ⟨bioemco-00166647⟩
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