Hindered nitrification potential in a loamy soil amended with glucose

Abstract

The time course of the nitrification potential (NP) of a fertilized loamy soil amended with glucose has been measured during a 30 days incubation experiment. Following the addition of 100 mg‐N/kg‐soil of ammonium sulfate soil samples not amended with glucose showed a rapid increase of NP indicating a relatively fast growing nitrifying population. NP of soils samples amended with glucose showed a much lower response to the ammonium fertilizer with no response at all in the case amended with the maximum rate of glucose. Nitrogen balance showed a mineral nitrogen deficiency proportional to the rate of glucose addition probably to be attributed to partial immobilization of the fertilizer. Data analysis indicates a hindered growth of nitrifiers in soil samples amended with glucose.

Key words:

• Nitrifier growth rate
• ammonium immobilization