Files
Abstract
Carbon and nitrogen mineralization from soil organic matter are important components of nutrient cycling and crop nutrient availability. The objective of this study was to determine effects of repeated wetting and drying of soils on rates of C and N mineralization. The study compared mineralization rates in three soils, utilizing cotton leaves or compost residues. One set of treatments was subjected to repeated drying and rewetting and the other was kept at constant moisture content. Rates of C mineralization were measured in the treatment containers. Mineralized N was measured by leaching with 0.01 M CaCl2 periodically, for 185 d. Carbon mineralization rates were not significantly affected by moisture regime. Both residue and soil type affected rates of C mineralization. For N mineralization, moisture effect was not significant in control soils with no residue, but did significantly affect mineralization from residue.