Effect of elevated temperature on soil microbial activity and nitrogen transformations in wheat crop (Triticum aestivum)

BHAWANA JOSHI; SHIVA DHAR SINGH; B MEGALA DEVI; HIMANSHU PATHAK; D K SHARMA; ANITA CHAUDHARY

doi:10.56093/ijas.v87i2.67546

Authors

BHAWANA JOSHI Centre for Environmental Science and Climate Resilient Agriculture (CESCRA), Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi 110 012
SHIVA DHAR SINGH Centre for Environmental Science and Climate Resilient Agriculture (CESCRA), Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi 110 012
B MEGALA DEVI Centre for Environmental Science and Climate Resilient Agriculture (CESCRA), Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi 110 012
HIMANSHU PATHAK Centre for Environmental Science and Climate Resilient Agriculture (CESCRA), Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi 110 012
D K SHARMA Centre for Environmental Science and Climate Resilient Agriculture (CESCRA), Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi 110 012
ANITA CHAUDHARY Centre for Environmental Science and Climate Resilient Agriculture (CESCRA), Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi 110 012

https://doi.org/10.56093/ijas.v87i2.67546

Keywords:

Denitrification, Elevated temperature, Mineralization, N-cycling bacteria, Nitrification.

Abstract

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), a major staple crop in India is susceptible to climatic variability including elevated temperature and altered precipitation patterns. The increase in atmospheric temperature has a profound impact on wheat crop production as well as below ground nutrient transformations. Field experiment was conducted under elevated temperature conditions, to understand the possible effects of elevated temperature on soil microbial activity, biomass and soil nitrogen transformations in wheat crop. The experimental crop was grown in four separate tunnels having an average per degree increase in temperature in each tunnel up to 3Â°C Â± 0.5Â°C above the atmospheric temperature. Various biological and physical parameters of soil, including N-cycling microbial population (ammonifiers and nitrifiers), microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and nitrogen (MBN), soil organic carbon (SOC), soil NH₄+-N and NO_3−-N, potential nitrogen mineralization (PNM), denitrification, along with crop yield and grain nitrogen were determined at different phases of crop growth. Although, any significant variation in N cycling microbial populations(ammonifiers and nitrifiers) was not observed with respect to elevated temperature but rise in soil NO₃--N, PNM, MBC by 27, 21, and 18%, respectively, was recorded in T4 treatment(+ 3Â°C elevation). Denitrification as indicated by nitrate reductase activity increased by two-fold under the warmer conditions. Our results suggest that the warmer climatic conditions favour net N mineralization rather than its immobilization in soil system.

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