Basic Biological Factors of Soil Carbon and Nitrogen

Carbon is essential for life. Soil organic matter (SOM) contains the nutrients and energy organisms and plants need.

+ Plants take up inorganic nitrogen (NH+, NO3-). 4 + At harvest, nitrogen may leave the farm in commodities or can be + Precipitation adds small amounts of nitrogen to the soil. + N2 gas in the atmosphere is converted to NH+ by 4
biological processes (nitrogen fixation).

Light

O2 C6H12O6 (sugar)

Photosynthesis
Through the process of photosynthesis, plants absorb CO2 from the atmosphere, transform it into plant carbon, and sequester it in either above- or below-ground biomass and/or soil carbon. C6H12O6 + 6 O 2 + 6 H2O

returned if livestock consume the crops and the manure is returned to the fields.

CO2 O2 CO2 Litter Organic Horizons Soil Reactions

CO 3, HCO3

CO2

chemical and

CO2

Crop Residues

+ Crop residues and green and animal manures contain organic N.

Above-Ground Crop Grain Export N2 - Air

Animal Manure

H2O

H2O

Microbial Activity Microbial Activity Carbon Dioxide Leaching Losses

6 CO2 + 12 H2O + Light

za inerali M

tion

The Soil Food Web

Kristina A. Goings National Soil Survey Center, NRCS, USDA, Lincoln, Nebraska Soil organisms are responsible for the transformation of plant material to humus. Plant and animal residue make up a large portion of organic matter (OM) in soil. SOM or humus is the glue that helps hold soil into aggregates. Plant cover helps stop both wind and water erosion as does the aggregation effect of SOM. Burrowing animals, insects, and earthworms mix, help form aggregates, and add nutrients to the soil. When animals die, they decompose returning nutrients to the soil. Insects chop up plant and animal residue which increases the surface area available to microorganisms for decomposition.
Insects Animals Birds
Volatiliz
De nit

N-f

R ixat h i z o b ia ion

Dead Crop Biomass Roots Microorganisms

+ CO2, through photosynthesis, is converted to plant material.

Soil Organic Matter

Carbon / Nitrogen Ratio

Carbon / Nitrogen (C/N) ratios are important. Plant and animal residues that have a C/N of 30:1 and over, have too little N to allow for rapid decomposition. Therefore, the microorganisms will take ammonium and nitrate out of the soil to fuel decomposition. This depletes the soil of nitrate and ammonium. Plants and animal residues with low C/N ratios (20:1 and less) have sufficient N for the microorganisms to decompose the residues without taking from the soil.

rif ica tio n

Fertilizer

Fungi

+ The conversion of organic N to inorganic N is mineralization. + The opposite of mineralization is immobilization. + Nitrification is the conversion of + 4 (ammonia) to NO3 NH Animals

(nitrate), carried out by two microorganisms -- Nitrosomonas and Nitrobacter.

Organic Matter: waste, residue, and metabolites of plants, animals, and microorganisms
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Worms

Bacteria

+ Ammonia can be volatilized (turned to gas) and lost to the atmosphere. + When NO3 is converted to nitrous oxide, it is called denitrification. + Nitrate is mobile in soil and therefore easily leached. + Erosion and runoff remove N from the agricultural field.

ation

Nitrate Nitrification Ammonia

+ When the crop is harvested and removed from the farm, carbon is lost. If livestock consume the crop, the carbon may be returned to the soil in the form of manure. + Crop residue, roots, and manure are a carbon (energy) source for microorganisms.

Nitrosomonas Nitrobacter

Mic

rg roo

ani

sms

Leached Nitrate

+ Converting organic carbon to CO 2 is mineralization of carbon. When microorganisms respire, CO2 is released to the atmosphere. + Short-term SOM is residue that is readily decomposed. Short-term SOM is a source of nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulfur for plants. Short-term SOM lasts 1 to 3 years. + Long-term SOM (humus) is the carbon form that resists decomposition and may last for greater than 1000 years. + Soil carbon losses are exacerbated through erosion and, to a lesser extent, may be lost through leaching of dissolved organic carbon (DOC). + The basic processes of the carbon cycle are: CO 2 in through photosynthesis, and CO 2 out through decomposition.

High C/N ratio Low C/N ratio Corn Legume

+ Decomposition is slower. + Microorganism will deplete soil

of nitrate and ammonium until they die and release nitrate and ammonium.

+ Decomposition is rapid due to higher

nitrogen within the plant.

+ Microorganisms are satisfied with

plant N. When microorganisms die, nitrate and ammonia are released, increasing soil N.