For more than a century, farmers have been concerned about nitrogen. It is one of the main nutrients necessary for crops to grow.

Without it, wheat plants will remain short and pale. With a healthy amount of nitrogen, they will thrive and grow strong, filling grain bins everywhere.

But nitrogen doesn’t just belong to plants. There is life in the soil too. Billions of microorganisms live in the ground near plant roots, and they also need nitrogen.

Every time farmers fertilize their fields, a silent competition begins. Which will get there first: plants or microbes? New research shows that one factor can tip the balance: soil acidity.

Soil acidity changes everything

Soil pH indicates the acidity or alkalinity of the soil. Although it may seem like a trivial detail in a lab report, pH has an important effect on how nutrients work. Here, it affects the competition for nitrogen between wheat and wheat. microorganisms.

The two forms primarily absorbed by plants are ammonium and nitrate. These forms can also be absorbed by microorganisms.

Researchers conducted a controlled experiment in a laboratory environment. They grew wheat on two fields. At first it was acidic. The second one was calcareous and more alkaline.

The researchers used nitrogen isotopes to precisely track where fertilizer nitrogen went over time. This made it possible to measure nitrogen uptake by wheat plants and soil microorganisms.

“Our results show that soil pH fundamentally changes how wheat acquires nitrogen and the strength of its competition with microbial nitrogen. plant for this important nutrient,” said corresponding author Ting Lan from Sichuan Agricultural University.

“Understanding these interactions is essential to developing more efficient and sustainable fertilization strategies.”

Different soil and fertilizer strategies

Wheat did not behave the same in both environments soil. In calcareous soils, plants showed a strong preference for nitrate within the first 24 h after nitrogen application.

In acidic soils, wheat showed no clear preference between ammonium and nitrate during the same period. Overall, wheat absorbed nitrogen more efficiently in calcareous soils than in acidic soils.

The difference goes back to basic soil chemistry. Nitrification rate was high in calcareous soil. Simply put, more ammonium is converted to nitrates, which wheat tends to prefer.

Acidic soil created conditions that helped microorganisms retain nitrogen better. result? The shape of the earth type that has become dominant.

Microorganisms first capture nitrogen

Immediately after the fertilizer fell into the soil, microorganisms invaded it. Immediately after fertilization, microorganisms dominated nitrogen absorption. They showed a quick response and a strong short-term advantage.

However, that lead did not last. Within 48 hours, wheat outpaced microbial nitrogen uptake in both soil types. of crops Even if microbes bite first, they will recover more nitrogen over time.

Still, the level of competition depended on pH. In acidic soils, microbial nitrogen assimilation remained significantly higher than in calcareous soils.

Under acidic conditions, the microorganisms captured about the same amount of nitrogen as wheat. This indicates stronger competition under lower pH conditions.

Microbial competition was weak in calcareous soils. Wheat controlled nitrogen uptake more effectively.

Soil pH reduces fertilizer loss

Nitrogen fertilizers feed billions of people. However, they are often used inefficiently. Most are not used as crops. Instead, they end up in waterways or escape into the air as greenhouse gases.

If soil pH affects the amount of nitrogen a crop can demand, pH management becomes more than just an incidental issue. It turns into a practical tool.

Adjusting soil acidity through liming or other methods can help farmers balance microbial activity and crop uptake.

Improved balance may reduce waste. fertilizer. This means lower costs for farmers and less pollution for others.

After all, increasing wheat yields can rely as much on acidity management as on adding fertilizer. The underground contest is real. And now we know that pH can help determine the winner.

The hidden timing of soil biology

This study also focuses on forgetfulness. Soil is more than just soil. It’s a dynamic system. Plant roots and microorganisms respond quickly to changes in nutrients.

Their strategies vary depending on soil chemistry and timing. The 48-hour grace period can change the outcome of who gets what.

Understanding timing and chemical reactions provides new insights for scientists and farmers. This allows us to design fertilization methods that work with soil biology rather than against it.

The entire study was published in the journal nitrogen cycle.

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