Plant Species and Defoliation Efects on Soil Nitrogen Mineralization in a Semiarid Rangeland of Argentina
The objective of this study was to evaluate the efects of moderate defoliation and grass species on soil nitrogen (N) mineralization in a semiarid grassland of northeastern Patagonia, Argentina. Studied species were Poa ligularis and Nassella tenuis (desirable/preferred by cattle) and Amelichloa amb...
| Autores: | , , , , , , |
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| Tipo de recurso: | artículo |
| Estado: | Versión publicada |
| Fecha de publicación: | 2021 |
| País: | Argentina |
| Institución: | Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas de la Provincia de Buenos Aires |
| Repositorio: | CIC Digital (CICBA) |
| Idioma: | inglés |
| OAI Identifier: | oai:digital.cic.gba.gob.ar:11746/11335 |
| Acceso en línea: | https://digital.cic.gba.gob.ar/handle/11746/11335 |
| Access Level: | acceso abierto |
| Palabra clave: | Agronomía, reproducción y protección de plantas Poa ligularis Nassella tenuis Amelichloa ambigua Perennial grasses Inorganic soil N |
| Sumario: | The objective of this study was to evaluate the efects of moderate defoliation and grass species on soil nitrogen (N) mineralization in a semiarid grassland of northeastern Patagonia, Argentina. Studied species were Poa ligularis and Nassella tenuis (desirable/preferred by cattle) and Amelichloa ambigua (undesirable/non preferred). Two defoliations were made to a 5 cm stubble height during the growing season. Hypotheses were that (1) net N mineralization and N availability in the soil are increased by a moderate defoliation and greater species forage quality, and (2) potential N mineralization is higher in the soil beneath the desirable than undesirable species. In 2013 and 2014, in situ net N mineralization was estimated using the tube incubation technique under feld conditions. Potential N mineralization was estimated by long-term laboratory incubations. Defoliation treatments did not afect the soil inorganic N dynamics. The soil under A. ambigua showed a greater in situ net N mineralization than other species, but only in 2013. Poa ligularis presented the highest initial inorganic N and potentially mineralizable N values. However, the opposite was recorded in this specie for the mineralization constant rate. These results demonstrated that moderate defoliations did not afect soil N availability, and presence of the desirable perennial grasses increased the potential N mineralization pool. Sustainable management practices that promote the persistence of these species in plant community are important to maintain soil fertility on semiarid grasslands. |
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