Division: SSSA Division: Soil Biology and Biochemistry

Title: Symposium--Soil Organic Amendments and N Cycling: Strategies to Improve Nitrogen Use Efficiency, Reduce Synthetic Fertilizer Input, Nitrate Leaching, and Nitrous Oxide Emissions

Lead Community Sponsor:
Cosponsor: SSSA Division: Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrition, SSSA Division: Soil and Water Management and Conservation
Community Cosponsor: Animal Agriculture and the Environment Community
Format: Oral Symposium
Keywords: nitrate leaching, nitrogen cycling, nitrous oxide emissions and soil organic amendments

Session Description: In recent years, soil organic amendments, e.g. cover crop, manure, compost and biochar, have been adapted to increase soil fertility and general soil health. However, the complex interactions between these organic amendments and N cycling processes such as N immobilization and mineralization, and N₂O production pathways is not well understood but are needed to guide management practices with the goal of mitigating emissions and increasing soil productivity and sustainability. In this session the drivers, mechanisms and significance of different N cycling processes as affected by soil organic amendments, as well as the strategies to maximum the benefits of organic amendment application will be presented and discussed.