The relationship of particle size and nitrogen content to decomposition of wheat straw in soil

Smith, J.H. and Douglas, C.L. (1967) The relationship of particle size and nitrogen content to decomposition of wheat straw in soil. Agronomy Abstracts. 59:93.

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Abstract

Straw samples of different particle size and N content
were selected from three spring wheat (Triticum aestivum)
varieties; added to Walla Walla, Palouse, and Portneuf silt
loam soils at 0.5 and 2.0% rates; and incubated. At the 0.5%
addition rate, straw samples containing 0.2 to 0.7% N decomposed
at the same rate. When 2.0% straw was added to
soil, the decomposition rates increased with increasing N
percentage. The N- supplying capacity of the soil apparently
influenced decomposition at the higher straw rates. After
incubation, considerable nitrate was found in the soil with 0.5%
straw but little was found in the soil with 2.0% straw. Different
particle sizes of straw with the same N contents decomposed
at approximately the same rate. Soil nitrate concentrations
were lower for each successively smaller straw particle size
after incubation.

Item Type:	Article
NWISRL Publication Number:	0117
Subjects:	Soil > Chemistry > Nitrogen Mass Import - autoclassified (may be erroneous)
Depositing User:	Dan Stieneke
Date Deposited:	20 Nov 2010 21:50
Last Modified:	15 Mar 2017 21:30
Item ID:	181
URI:	https://eprints.nwisrl.ars.usda.gov/id/eprint/181