Rolf Nieder1, Zaur Jumshudov1, Viridiana Alcántara2, Axel Don2, Reinhard Well2
1Institute of Geoecology, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Langer Kamp 19c, Braunschweig 38106,
Germany, r.nieder@tu-bs.de
2Thünen Institute of Climate-Smart Agriculture, Bundesallee 50, Braunschweig 38116, Germany
Abstract
On average 45 years after the deep ploughing operation, deep ploughed soils contained 24±5% more total N compared to conventionally ploughed reference soils. However, the mean N stock in the new topsoils was still 8% lower compared to the reference soils. This indicates a long-term N accumulation potential lasting more than 4-5 decades. The potential N mineralization and nitrification capacities of loamy deep ploughed soils were higher compared to sandy deep ploughed soils. All sites showed very low N mineralization potentials and nitrification capacities in the buried Ap material compared to surface Ap horizons.