However the net nitrogen mineralization was
considerably dominated by nitrification in grassland
soils (Zhang et al., 1998) as a result enhancing N2O
emission due to higher nitrification rates and organic
carbon availability that is used as an energy source
for heterogeneous microorganisms. The influence of
drying-rewetting frequencies on overall ecosystem
nutrient budgets is still unclear. In this connection,
an effort was made to quantify the impact of various
drying rewetting cycles (DWC) on grassland and
arable soils, specifically in relation to CO2
and N2O
emissions, NH4
+
and NO3
-
contents at different stages
by means of a microcosm experiment under
controlled conditions.