Nitrogen Dynamics Following the Break-up of Grassland on Three Different Sandy Soils

Nitrogen Dynamics Following the Break-up of Grassland on Three Different Sandy Soils

Nitrogen (N) is accumulated under grassland depending on factors such as soil type, management, and fertiliser input. Break-up of grassland stimulates mineralisation of organic N and may lead to increased soil mineral N and leaching losses (Lloyd, 1992). The objective of this study was to find out how site factors, e.g. soil, previous management and sward age, the following crop and the new level of N fertiliser affect the amount of inorganic N in autumn and the preceding mineralisation processes when grassland is ploughed in spring.