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Advances in understanding nitrogen flows and transformations: gaps and research pathways

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 September 2013

C. MÜLLER  and
T. J. CLOUGH
C. MÜLLER*
Affiliation:
School of Biology and Environmental Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland Department of Plant Ecology, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 26, 35392 Giessen, Germany
T. J. CLOUGH
Affiliation:
Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Lincoln University, New Zealand
*
*To whom all correspondence should be addressed. Email: Christoph.Mueller@bot2.bio.uni-giessen.de
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Summary

The nitrogen (N) cycle is one of the best studied elemental cycles. However, the N flows and transformations, in particular in aggregated soils, at small scales and in plant–soil systems are not yet fully understood. Analytical and molecular techniques are now available to address N dynamics at small scales. The methodological advances should go hand in hand with the development of suitable mathematical models addressing the small scale and the full complexity of the many interacting effects. The importance of denitrification within the N cycle is highlighted and used as an example of the progress achieved in recent times. Research gaps and possible research pathways are outlined.

Type
Nitrogen Workshop Special Issue Papers
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , Volume 152 , Supplement S1: Special Issue from the 17th International Nitrogen Workshop , December 2014 , pp. 34 - 44
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2013 

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