The semi-arid region of Chiapas is dominated by N2 -fixing shrubs, e.g., Acacia angustissima. Urea-fertilized soil samples under maize were collected from areas covered and uncovered by A. angustissima in different seasons and N2O and CO2 emissions were monitored. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of urea and of the rainy and dry season on gas emissions from semi-arid soil under laboratory conditions. Urea and soil use had no effect on CO2 production. Nitrons oxide emission […]

There are several regions of the world where soil N analysis and/or N budgets are not used to determine how much N to apply, resulting in higher than needed N inputs, especially when manure is used. One such region is the North Central “La Comarca Lagunera”, one of the most important dairy production areas of Mexico. We conducted a unique controlled greenhouse study using 15N fertilizer and 15N isotopic-labeled manure that was labeled under local conditions to monitor N cycling […]

Leaching of N added to soils as ammonium or as other forms that transform into it depends partially on nitrification because ammonium is retained by the soil negative charges, while nitrate remains completely in the soil solution. Since the decrease of the soil pH at fertilized sites can negatively affect nitrification, our study aimed to evaluate the effect of adding an acidifying phosphate together with nitrogen fertilizers on nitrogen leaching in an acid soil. The experiment was carried out in […]

Nitrous Oxide (N2O) plays an important role in the greenhouse effect, owing to its high global warming potential and a long half-life in the atmosphere. A large portion of the natural N2O flux is oceanic and the remaining results mainly from the contribution of microbiological processes (nitrification and denitrification) that occur in tropical soils. The availability of nitrogen (N) for metabolic processes by microorganisms may be an important factor controlling N2O in such soils. The goal of this study was […]