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Nitrogen
Special Issues
Soil Nitrogen Cycling—a Keystone in Ecological Sustainability
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Soil Nitrogen Cycling—a Keystone in Ecological Sustainability

A special issue of Nitrogen (ISSN 2504-3129).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 July 2025 | Viewed by 4819

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Ji Liu

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Guest Editor
1. State Key Laboratory of Loess and Quaternary Geology, Institute of Earth Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xi’an 710061, China
2. Hubei Province Key Laboratory for Geographical Process Analysis and Simulation, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, China
Interests: ecological stoichiometry; agricultural sustainability; nitrogen loss; phosphorus loss; landscape ecology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Hanqing Wu

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Guest Editor
Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changsha 410125, China
Interests: soil nitrogen cycling; virus–host interactions; soil microbial ecology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Cong Wang

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Guest Editor
Guangxi Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Conservation, State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, College of Forestry, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
Interests: soil nitrogen cycling; soil microbial ecology; greenhouse gas emissions; agricultural sustainability
Dr. Peng Wu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Agriculture, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu 030801, China
Interests: nitrogen emission; climate change; agricultural crop productivity
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We welcome the contributions of original research and review articles from researchers around the globe in this vital field to this Special Issue.

Nitrogen, a fundamental building block of life, is a critical element for all living organisms. In the context of ecosystems, particularly agricultural and natural ecological systems, the cycling of nitrogen is a complex yet indispensable process. It involves the transformation and movement of nitrogen among soil, plants, microorganisms and the atmosphere. The proper management of soil nitrogen cycling not only enhances crop growth and yield, but also plays a significant role in reducing environmental pollution, particularly in mitigating greenhouse gas emissions and combating global warming.

We are looking for submissions covering a range of topics, including, but not limited to:

  1. Biogeochemical processes of soil nitrogen cycling;
  2. The role of nitrogen cycling in agricultural ecosystems;
  3. Impacts of nitrogen management strategies on ecosystems and crop yields;
  4. Interactions between nitrogen cycling and global changes such as climate change and land use change;
  5. Innovative methodologies and technologies in the study of nitrogen cycling.

This Special Issue aims to gather insights and findings from diverse perspectives, offering a platform for sharing innovative research in the Soil Nitrogen Cycling field.

Please prepare your manuscript according to the Nitrogen journal's submission guidelines and submit it via our online system. The submission deadline is [31 July 2025].

We eagerly await your contributions, which will undoubtedly enrich our understanding of the significance of soil nitrogen cycling in ecological sustainability.

Dr. Ji Liu
Dr. Hanqing Wu
Dr. Cong Wang
Dr. Peng Wu
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Nitrogen is an international peer-reviewed open access quarterly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1000 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • biogeochemical processes
  • ecosystems
  • crop yields
  • global changes
  • agricultural sustainability

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue polices can be found here.

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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12 pages, 1337 KiB  
Article
Removal of Nitrogen, Phosphates, and Chemical Oxygen Demand from Community Wastewater by Using Treatment Wetlands Planted with Ornamental Plants in Different Mineral Filter Media
by José Luis Marín-Muñiz, Gonzalo Ortega-Pineda, Irma Zitácuaro-Contreras, Monserrat Vidal-Álvarez, Karina E. Martínez-Aguilar, Luis M. Álvarez-Hernández and Sergio Zamora-Castro
Nitrogen 2024, 5(4), 903-914; https://doi.org/10.3390/nitrogen5040058 - 5 Oct 2024
Viewed by 1443
Abstract
This study aimed to explore the impact of various ornamental plants (Heliconia psittacorum, Etlingera elatior, Spatyphilum walisii) grown in different filter media (porous river rock (PR) and tepezyl (TZ)) on the removal of pollutants in vertical-subsurface-microcosm treatment wetlands (TWs). [...] Read more.
This study aimed to explore the impact of various ornamental plants (Heliconia psittacorum, Etlingera elatior, Spatyphilum walisii) grown in different filter media (porous river rock (PR) and tepezyl (TZ)) on the removal of pollutants in vertical-subsurface-microcosm treatment wetlands (TWs). This study also sought to assess the adaptability of these plant species to TW conditions. Twenty-four microcosm systems were utilized, with twelve containing PR and twelve containing TZ as the filter media. Each porous media type had three units planted with each species, and three were left unplanted. Rural community wastewater was treated in the TWs. The results showed no significant differences in the effects of the porous media on pollutant removal performance (p > 0.05). However, it was noted that while both porous media were efficient, TZ, a residue of construction materials, is recommended for sites facing economic constraints. Additionally, the removal efficiency was found to be independent of the type of ornamental plant used (p > 0.05); however, the measured parameters varied with plant spp. The adaptation of the plants varied depending on the species. H. psittacorum grew faster and produced a larger number of flowers compared to the other species (20–22 cm). S. wallisii typically produced 7–8 flowers. E. elatior did not produce flowers, and some plants showed signs of slight disease and pests, with the leaves turning yellow. In terms of plant biomass, the type of porous media used did not have a significant effect on the production of above (p = 0.111) or below-ground biomass (p = 0.092). The removal percentages for COD in the presence and absence of plants were in the ranges of 64–77% and 27–27.7%, respectively. For TN, the numbers were 52–65% and 30–31.8%, and for N-NO3, they were 54–60% and 12–18%. N-NH4 saw removal rates of 67–71% and 28–33%, while P-PO4 saw removal rates of 60–72% and 22–25%. The difference in removal percentages between microcosms with and without plants ranged from 30 to 50%, underscoring the importance of plants in the bio-removal processes (phytoremediation). These results reveal that incorporating ornamental plants in TWs with TZ for wastewater in rural areas holds great promise for enhancing the visual appeal of these systems and ultimately gaining public approval. Our findings also enable us to offer recommendations for selecting suitable plants and substrates, as well as designing combinations for TWs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Nitrogen Cycling—a Keystone in Ecological Sustainability)
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14 pages, 3157 KiB  
Article
Evaluating the Effects of Reduced N Application, a Nitrification Inhibitor, and Straw Incorporation on Fertilizer-N Fates in the Maize Growing Season: A Field 15N Tracer Study
by Zhi Quan, Shanlong Li, Zhifeng Xun, Chang Liu, Dong Liu, Yanzhi Wang, Xinghan Zhao, Ming Yang, Caiyan Lu, Xin Chen and Yunting Fang
Nitrogen 2024, 5(3), 584-597; https://doi.org/10.3390/nitrogen5030039 - 5 Jul 2024
Viewed by 1139
Abstract
Reducing fertilizer-N rate, applying a nitrification inhibitor (NI), and incorporating straw are widely recommended to improve N use efficiency of crops and decrease N losses. A field 15N tracer study was conducted to compare their effectiveness on fertilizer-N fates during the maize [...] Read more.
Reducing fertilizer-N rate, applying a nitrification inhibitor (NI), and incorporating straw are widely recommended to improve N use efficiency of crops and decrease N losses. A field 15N tracer study was conducted to compare their effectiveness on fertilizer-N fates during the maize growing season in Northeast China. The following six treatments were used: (1) no N fertilization (control); (2) 200 kg urea-N ha−1 (100%N); (3) 200 kg urea-N ha−1 and straw (100%N + S); (4) 160 kg urea-N ha−1 (80%N); (5) 160 kg urea-N ha−1 and NI (Nitrapyrin in this study) (80%N + NI); and (6) 160 kg urea-N ha−1, NI, and straw (80%N + NI + S). The results showed that the five N fertilization treatments yielded 16–25% more grain and 39–60% more crop N uptake than the control, but the differences among the five treatments were not statistically significant. Compared with the 100%N, 20% fertilizer-N reduction (80%N) decreased the 15N concentration in topsoil and plant pools but increased the proportion of plant 15N recovery at harvesting (NUE15N, 60% vs. 50%). Compared with the 80%N, NI co-application (80%N + NI) delayed soil nitrification and increased soil 15N retention at harvesting (52% vs. 36%), thereby decreasing NUE15N significantly. Straw incorporation decreased fertilizer-N retention in soil compared with NI co-application because it promoted NUE15N significantly. In conclusion, the results demonstrate that NI and straw additions are efficient strategies for stabilizing fertilizer-N in soils and potentially minimizing N loss; however, their effects on NUE15N vary and the related mechanism must be further clarified in long-term trials. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Nitrogen Cycling—a Keystone in Ecological Sustainability)
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Review

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14 pages, 5509 KiB  
Review
Balance of Nitrate and Ammonium in Tropical Soil Conditions: Soil Factors Analyzed by Machine Learning
by Risely Ferraz-Almeida
Nitrogen 2024, 5(3), 732-745; https://doi.org/10.3390/nitrogen5030048 - 19 Aug 2024
Viewed by 1326
Abstract
The nitrogen/N dynamic is complex and affected by soil management (i.e., residue accumulation and correction/fertilization). In soil, most of the N is combined with organic matter (organic forms), but the N forms absorbed by plants are ammonium/NH4+ and nitrate/NO3− [...] Read more.
The nitrogen/N dynamic is complex and affected by soil management (i.e., residue accumulation and correction/fertilization). In soil, most of the N is combined with organic matter (organic forms), but the N forms absorbed by plants are ammonium/NH4+ and nitrate/NO3− (inorganic forms). The N recommendation for agriculture crops does not observe the N available in the soil (organic or inorganic), indicating a low efficiency in nitrogen management in soil. Based on the hypothesis that the stocks of NO3− and NH4 can be used as indicative of N status in soil but with high variation according to soil factors (soil uses and management), the objective of the study was to (i) analyze the balance of nitrate and ammonium in tropical soil with different uses and management and (ii) use machine learning to explain the nitrogen dynamic in soil and the balance of nitrate and ammonium. The results showed that soil N stocks and pH promoted the formation of three clusters with the similarity between Cluster 1 (clay texture) and Cluster 2 (loam texture), represented by higher contents of nitrate as a result of high nitrification rate and lower contents of ammonium in soil. Cluster 3 (sand texture) was isolated with different N dynamics in the soil. In agricultural soils, the content of NO3− tends to be higher than the content of NH4+. There is a high nitrification rate in clay soil explained by higher organic matter and clay content that promotes soil biology. Based on the results of machine learning, for clay and loam soil, the contents of NO3 can be used as indicative of N status as a final result of nitrification rate and higher variation in soil. However, in sandy soil, NO3 can not be used as indicative of N status due to N losses by leaching. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Nitrogen Cycling—a Keystone in Ecological Sustainability)
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