Detection of nitrification in a stagnohumic-gley soil

Three different nitrification assays (short-term nitrifier activity, assimilatory nitrate reductase activity of Lolium perenne, and nitrate accumulation in the absence of plants) were performed either on soil from a naturally acidic stagnohumic-gley or on leaves from L. perenne grown in this soil. Before the investigation the soil was limed and fertilised in a manner consistent with established agricultural pasture improvement strategies. Short-term nitrifier activity was only detected in soils above pH 5.6. However, nitrate reductase activity and nitrate accumulation both showed a near linear increase between soil pH 3.8 and 6.8. These findings are attributed to the nature of the assays, each of which considers a different component of the soil nitrifier population.