Nitrogen Isotopic Fractionation Related to Nitrification Capacity in Agricultural Soils

A laboratory-based aerobic incubation was conducted to investigate nitrogen(N) isotopic fractionation related to nitrification in five agricultural soils after application of ammonium sulfate((NH4)2SO4). The soil samples were collected from a subtropical barren land soil derived from granite(RGB),three subtropical upland soils derived from granite(RQU),Quaternary red earth(RGU),Quaternary Xiashu loess(YQU) and a temperate upland soil generated from alluvial deposit(FAU). The five soils varied in nitrification potential,being in the order of FAU > YQU > RGU > RQU > RGB. Significant N isotopic fractionation accompanied nitrification of NH+4. δ15N values of NH+4 increased with enhanced nitrification over time in the four upland soils with NH+4 addition,while those of NO-3 decreased consistently to the minimum and thereafter increased. δ15N values of NH+4 showed a significantly negative linear relationship with NH+4-N concentration,but a positive linear relationship with NO-3-N concentration. The apparent isotopic fractionation factor calculated based on the loss of NH+4 was 1.036 for RQU,1.022 for RGU,1.016 for YQU,and 1.020 for FAU,respectively. Zero- and first-order reaction kinetics seemed to have their limitations in describing the nitrification process affected by NH+4 input in the studied soils. In contrast,N kinetic isotope fractionation was closely related to the nitrifying activity,and might serve as an alternative tool for estimating the nitrification capacity of agricultural soils.