Influence of nitrogen on atrazine and 2,4 dichlorophenoxyacetic acid mineralization in blackwater and redwater forested wetland soils

• Published in: Biology and fertility of soils Vol. 29; no. 4; pp. 348 - 353
• Main Author: Entry, J.A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin Springer 01-08-1999
• Subjects: 2,4-D; Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; application rate; atrazine; Biochemistry and biology; biological activity in soil; Biological and medical sciences; biomass; Chemical, physicochemical, biochemical and biological properties; degradation; forest soils; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Microbial ecology; Microbiology; mineralization; nitrogen fertilizers; Physics, chemistry, biochemistry and biology of agricultural and forest soils; Soil; soil bacteria; soil fungi; Soil science; soil types; USA, Florida; wetland soils; Florida; United States; North America; America; Microbial activity; Nitrogen fertilization; 2,4-D; Pesticides; Forest soil; Nitrogen; Microbial biomass; Herbicide; Mineralization; Triazine derivatives; Alkanoic acid; Nutrient; Water pollution; Phytohormone; Ultisols; Bioremediation; Aryloxyacetic acids; Wetland; Atrazine
• ISSN: 0178-2762; 1432-0789
• DOI: 10.1007/s003740050564

Microcosms were used to determine the influence of N additions on active bacterial and fungal biomass, atrazine and dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) mineralization at 5, 10 and 15 weeks in soils from blackwater and redwater wetland forest ecosystems in the northern Florida Panhandle. Active bacterial and fungal biomass was determined by staining techniques combined with direct microscopy. Atrazine and 2,4-D mineralization were measured radiometrically. Treatments were: soil type, (blackwater or redwater forested wetland soils) and N additions (soils amended with the equivalent of 0, 200 or 400 kg N ha(-1) as NH(4)NO(3)). Redwater soils contained higher concentrations of C, total N, P, K, Ca, Mn, Fe, B and Zn than blackwater soils. After N addition and 15 weeks of incubation, active bacterial biomass in redwater soils was lower when N was added. Active bacterial biomass in blackwater soils was lower when 400 kg N ha(-1), but not when 200 kg N ha(-1), was added. Active fungal biomass in blackwater soils was higher when 400 kg N ha(-1), but not when 200 kg N ha(-1), was added. Active fungal biomass in redwater soils was lower when 200 kg N ha(-1), but not when 400 kg N ha(-1), was added. After 15 weeks of incubation 2,4-D degradation was higher in redwater wetland soils than in blackwater soils. After 10 and 15 weeks of incubation the addition of 200 or 400 kg N ha(-1) decreased both atrazine and 2,4-D degradation in redwater soils. The addition of 400 kg N ha(-1) decreased 2,4-D degradation but not atrazine degradation in blackwater soils after 10 and 15 weeks of incubation. High concentrations of N surface runoff and groundwater resulting from agricultural operations may have resulted in the accumulation of N in many wetland soils. Large amounts of N accumulating in wetlands may decrease mineralization of toxic agricultural pesticides.