Purwanto  , S. Minardi, Supriyadi  

Show more
Soil Science Department, Agriculture Faculty, Sebelas Maret University, Surakarta, Indonesia.
Show less

Abstract: Introduction: Nitrogen (N) fertilizer is the most widely used fertilizer (300 - 350 Kg/Ha) on the corn plant, mean while it has mobile character, so it becomes the lowest utilization (40% - 50%) compared to other nutrient elements. Aims: The aim of this research is to examine the effect of various qualities and dose of litter on the dynamics of N mineral soil and soil nitrification potential on maize cultivation system. Method: The treatment is set by Randomized Completely Block Design (RCBD). Four kinds of litter is chosen to represent the groups of low quality (Tectona grandis and Pterocarpus indicus) and the groups of high quality (Oryza sativa and Eupatorium inulifolium) are given on four doses: 4, 8, 12 and 16 mg/Ha. All treatments are fertilized with urea 150 kg/Ha. Variables measured include the soil concentration of NH₄^- and NO₃^-, potential nitrification conducted in 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 weeks after planting the corn. Result: The research shows that the addition of low-quality litter is influenced very significantly by release of NH₄^-, formation of NO₃^- and potential nitrification of soil. Others results show that the content of litter (lignin, polyphenol and C/N ratio) has the most powerful influence as regulator of NH₄^- released (p < 0.01), the formation of NO₃^- (p < 0.01) and potential nitrification of soil (p < 0.01) rather than the content of lignin, polyphenol and C/N ratio of litter separately. Conclusion: The conclusion of this research is that the management of litter quality input can be applied in the field to regulate the process of nitrification in soil and potential to increase N used efficiency of corn plant.

Keywords: Litter Quality, NH₄^-, NO₃^-, Biological Nitrification Inhibition, Corn Plant

Cite this paper:  , P. , Minardi, S. and  , S. (2015) Optimization of Nitrogen Fertilization Input on Zea mays L. Cultivation through the Biological Inhibition of Nitrification. Agricultural Sciences, 6, 201-207. doi: 10.4236/as.2015.62019.

References

[1]   Verchot, L.V., Hutabarat, L., Hairiah, K. and Van Noordwijk, M. (2007) Nitrogen Availability and soil N2O Emissions Following Conversion of Forests to Coffee in Southern Sumatra. Global Biochemical Cycles, 20, (In press).

[2]   Van Noordwijk, M. and de Willigen, P. (1987) Root as Sinks and Sources of Carbon and Nutrient in Agricultural Systems. In: Brussaard, L. and Ferrera-Cerrato, R., Eds., Soil Biology in Sustainable Agricultural Systems, CRC Lewis Publication, Boca Raton, 71-89.

[3]   Taiz, L. and Zeiger, E. (2002) Plant Physiology (Third Edition). Sinauer Associates, Inc., Publishers, Sunderland, 67-86.

[4]   Raun, W.R and Johnson, G.V. (1999) Improving Nitrogen Use Efficiency for Cereal Production (Review & Interpretation). Agronomy Journal, 91, 357-363.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2134/agronj1999.00021962009100030001x

[5]   James, M.G., Robertson, D.S. and Myers, A.M. (1995) Characterization of the Maize Gene Sugary 1, a Determinant of Starch Composition in Kernels. The Plant Cell, 7, 417-429.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1105/tpc.7.4.417

[6]   Myrold, D.D. (1999) Transformation of Nitrogen. In: Sylvia, D.M., Jeffry, J.F., Peter, G.H. and David, A.Z., Eds., Principles and Application of Soil Microbiology, Prentice Hall, New Jersey, 259-294.

[7]   Bardgett, R.D. (2002) The Biology of Soil. A Community and Ecosystem Approach. Oxford University Press Inc., New York, 242.

[8]   Aarnio, T. and Martikainen, P.J. (1995) Mineralization of C and Nitrification in Scot Pine Forest Soil treated with Nitrogen Fertilizers Containing Different Proportions of Urea and Its Slow-Releasing Derivative, Ureaformaldehyde. Soil Biology & Biochemistry, 27, 1325-1331.

[9]   Erickson, A.J., Ramsewak, R.S., Smucker, A.J. and Nair, M.G. (2000) Nitrification Inhibitors from the Roots of Leucaena leucocephala. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 48, 6174-6177.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1105/tpc.7.4.417

[10]   Paul, E.A. and Clarck, F.E. (1989) Soil Microbiology and Biochemistry. Academic Press, Inc., Waltham.

[11]   Filali, A., Fayolle, Y., Peu, P., Philippe, L., Nauleau, F. and Gillot, S. (2013) Aeration Control in a Full-Scale Activated Sludge Wastewater Treatment Plant: Impact on Performances, Energy Consumption and N₂O Emission. Proceedings of the 11ème Conférence IWA sur l’instrumentation, le controle et l’automatisation, Narbonne, 18-20 September 2013, 4.

[12]   Anderson, J. and Ingram, J. (1993) Tropical Soil Biology and Fertility: A Handbook of Methods. Second Edition, CABI, Wallington, 221.

[13]   Alves, J.R., Boodey, R.M. and Urquiga, S.S. (1993) A Rapid and Sensitive Flow Injection Technique for the Analysis in Soil Extract. Communication Soil Science Plant Analysis, 24, 277-284.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00103629309368798

[14]   Kandeler, E. (1995) Potential Nitrification. In: Schinner, F., Kandeler, E., Ohlinger, R. and dan Margesin, R., Eds., Methods in Soil Biology, Spinger-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg, Berlin, 146-149.

[15]   Handayanto, E. (1994) Nitrogen Mineralization from Legume Tree Prunings of Different Quality. Thesis for Doctor of Philosophy, Department of Biological Sciences, Wye College, University of London, London, 176 p.

[16]   Palm, C.A. and Sanchez, P.A. (1991) Nitrogen Release from Some Tropical Legumes as Affected by Lignin and Polyphenol Contents. Soil Biology Biochemistry, 23, 83-88.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0038-0717(91)90166-H

[17]   Brady, N.C. and Weil, R.R. (2002) The Nature and Properties of Soils. Thirteenth Edition, Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, 960.

[18]   Tate, R.L. (1995) Soil Microbiology. Wiley, New York.

[19]   Madigan, M.T., Martinko, J.M. and Parker, J. (2000) Biology of Microorganisms. Ninth Edition, Pearson Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, 991.

[20]   McColl, J.G. (1995) Forest Clear-Cutting, Soil Response. In: Lederberg, J., Ed., Encyclopedia of Microbiology, Academic Press, Inc., Waltham, 959-1103.

[21]   Wolf, B. and Snyder, G.H. (2003) Sustainable Soils the Place of Organic Matter in Sustaining Soils and Their Productivity. Food Product Press, Haworth Press, Inc., New York.