1.

Record Nr.

UNINA9910349503703321

Autore

Charteris Alice Fiona

Titolo

15N Tracing of Microbial Assimilation, Partitioning and Transport of Fertilisers in Grassland Soils / / by Alice Fiona Charteris

Pubbl/distr/stampa

Cham : , : Springer International Publishing : , : Imprint : Springer, , 2019

ISBN

3-030-31057-4

Edizione

[1st ed. 2019.]

Descrizione fisica

1 online resource (289 pages) : illustrations

Collana

Springer Theses, Recognizing Outstanding Ph.D. Research, , 2190-5053

Disciplina

577.145

574.52636

Soggetti

Analytical chemistry

Environmental chemistry

Agriculture

Analytical Chemistry

Environmental Chemistry

Lingua di pubblicazione

Inglese

Formato

Materiale a stampa

Livello bibliografico

Monografia

Nota di bibliografia

Includes bibliographical references.

Nota di contenuto

Introduction -- Sites, sampling, materials and methods -- Compound-specific amino acid 15N stable isotope probing of nitrogen assimilation by the soil microbial biomass using gas chromatography-combustion- isotope ratio mass spectrometry -- Biosynthetic routing, rates and extents of microbial fertiliser nitrogen assimilation in two grazed grassland soils -- Microbial fertiliser nitrogen assimilation in the field as compared with the laboratory incubation experiments -- 15N tracing of the partitioning and transport of nitrate under field conditions -- Overview and future work.

Sommario/riassunto

This book presents innovative research on soil nitrogen cycling and nitrate leaching with a view to improving soil management and fertiliser nitrogen use efficiency and reducing nitrogen leaching losses. In this regard, nitrogen-15 (15N)-labelled fertiliser was used as a biochemical and physical stable isotope tracer in laboratory and field experiments. The major outcome of the research was the development, validation and application of a new compound-specific amino acid 15N stable



isotope probing method for assessing the assimilation of fertiliser nitrogen by soil microbial biomass. The novelty of the method lies in its tracing of incorporated nitrogen into newly biosynthesised microbial protein in time-course experiments using gas chromatography-combustion-isotope ratio mass spectrometry. The approach provides previously unattainable insights into the microbial processing of different nitrogen fertilisers in different soils. Further, it identifies the mechanistic link between molecular-scale processes and observations of field-scale fertiliser nitrogen immobilisation studies. The method and the results presented here will have far-reaching implications for the development of enhanced recommendations concerning farm-based soil management practices for increasing soil productivity and reducing nitrogen losses, which is essential to minimising environmental impacts.