Rapid Estimation of Potentially Mineralizable N in Early Spring Following Fall Biosolids Applications to Winter Wheat

The amount of potentially mineralizable nitrogen (PMN) in early spring is critical to winter wheat production because maximum nitrogen (N) uptake begins then. We evaluated the Haney-Brinton CO2-burst method for quantifying PMN in early spring from biosolids fall-applied to soft red winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Anaerobically digested and lime stabilized biosolids were fall-applied at 0, 50 and 100 kg PAN ha(-1) at six locations in the Virginia Coastal Plain in 2013. The Haney-Brinton CO2-burst method did not provide an accurate estimation of spring PAN for biosolids applied in the fall for no-till winter wheat. The sum of preplant soil inorganic N and PMN of the unamended soil was better related to grain yield than PMN alone. The Haney-Brinton CO2-burst method is inadequate for use in no-till management but may provide an accurate mid-season estimate of winter wheat yield potential when used in combination with pre-plant soil inorganic N.