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The effects of liming and soil pH on carbon and nitrog contained in the soil biomass

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

T. McM. Adams  and
S. N. Adams
T. McM. Adams
Affiliation:
Department of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, Queen's University of Belfast, and Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland, Newforge Lane, Belfast, BT9 5PX
S. N. Adams
Affiliation:
Department of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, Queen's University of Belfast, and Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland, Newforge Lane, Belfast, BT9 5PX
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Summary

The C and N in the biomass of soils from eight grassland field experiments where lime had been applied was determined by the chloroform fumigation method. Lime application increased C and N in the biomass by approximately 30% overall, although there was no effect at two sites. In the unlimed plots basal CO2 production, biomass C, and flush of mineral N production (FN) increased with soil pH. Biomass C and FN were correlated with total N content but not with organic C.

Differences in the apparent C/N ratio of the biomass were found in unlimed soils of pH ≤ 4·5 and in those of pH > 4·5, the ratios being 4·2 and 5·8 respectively. For limed soils the ratio was 5·2. It is probable that the chloroform fumigation method is not suited to soils of very low pH, and that the C/N ratio obtained in soils of pH < 4·5 is artificially low.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , Volume 101 , Issue 3 , December 1983 , pp. 553 - 558
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1983

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