Competition of plants and microorganisms for added nitrogen in different fertilizer forms in a semi-arid climate

Koch M. Akshalov K. Carstens J.F. Shibistova O. Stange C.F. Thiedau S. Kassymova A. Sauheitl L. Meinel T. Guggenberger G.
December 2021 MDPI

Agronomy
2021 #11 Issue 12

In nitrogen (N)-limited agricultural systems, a high microbial immobilization of applied fertilizer-N can limit its availability to plants. However, there is scarce information on the effect of the form of fertilizer used on the plant–microorganism competition in clay-rich soils under a severe semi-arid climate. In a field study, we investigated the wheat–microorganism competition after the direct application of NH₄¹⁵ NO₃ closely to seeds in arable fields in North Kazakhstan, documenting the effect of the use of liquid versus granular fertilizer and mini-tillage versus no-tillage. Our results barely showed any fertilizer-N translocation in the soil. Plants outcompete microorganisms for fertilizer-N during the vegetation period. Microbial-to-plant¹⁵ N ratios revealed a predominant fertilizer-¹⁵ N uptake by plants. The strong competition for N was mainly related to the placement of the fertilizer close to the seeds. Moreover, the long time interval between fertilization and sampling enhanced the competition for N, meaning that previously microbially immobilized N became available to plants through the death of microorganisms and their subsequent mineralization. The fertilizer distribution between microorganisms and plants did depend on the form of fertilizer used, owing to the good solubility of granular fertilizer. The smaller fertilizer-N uptake under the no-tilling condition was probably due to the more intense soil compaction, which caused a reduction in plant growth. The application of fertilizer close to the seeds and the small fertilizer translocation during the vegetation period ultimately resulted in a high level of plant N being derived from the fertilizer.

¹⁵ N , Ammonium nitrate , Granular fertilizer , Liquid fertilizer , Mini-till , No-till

Text of the article Перейти на текст статьи

Institute of Soil Science, Leibniz University Hanover, Herrenhäuser Str. 2, Hanover, 30419, Germany
Department of Geoecology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, von-Seckendorff-Platz 4, Halle, 06120, Germany
Scientific and Production Center for Grain Farming Named after A. I. Baraev, Baraev Str. 15, Shortandy, 021601, Kazakhstan
Technische Universität Clausthal, Adolph-Roemer-Straße 2A, Clausthal-Zellerfeld, 38678, Germany
VN Sukachev Institute of Forest, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Krasnoyarsk, 660036, Russian Federation
Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR), Stilleweg 2, Hannover, 30655, Germany
JSC Atameken-Agro, Estern Industrial Zone Driveway 20, Building 30, Kokschetau, 020000, Kazakhstan
Amazonen-Werke H. Dryer GmbH & Co. KG, Am Amazonenwerk 9-13, Hasbergen, 49205, Germany

Institute of Soil Science
Department of Geoecology
Scientific and Production Center for Grain Farming Named after A. I. Baraev
Technische Universität Clausthal
VN Sukachev Institute of Forest
Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR)
JSC Atameken-Agro
Amazonen-Werke H. Dryer GmbH & Co. KG

10 лет помогаем публиковать статьи Международный издатель

Книга Публикация научной статьи Волощук 2026 Book Publication of a scientific article 2026