Absorption of nitrogen by Japanese mint from mineralization and immobilization by the soil microbial biomass

Abstract

Laboratory incubation and greenhouse experiments were conducted with two soils having contrasting physico‐chemical characteristics to evaluate nitrogen (N) mineralization, immobilization in soil microbial biomass, and accumulation in Japanese mint (Mentha arvensis L.) using labeled (¹⁵NH₄)₂SO₄, applied at 0, 50, and 100 mg#lbkg^‐1 soil. Rate of mineralization in soils varied from 0.08 to 2.21 μg#lbg^‐1#lbday^‐1. Fertilizer application increased the mineralization of native soil N. About 22 to 60% of the applied ¹⁵N was recovered in the soil microbial biomass during the growth period of mint (January‐June). Relative contribution of fertilizer ¹⁵N towards total N uptake by mint at maturity was 42–54% in soil I and 35 to 55% in soil II. Contribution of soil N towards total N accumulation increased with the doses of ¹⁵N application.