Critical Review on the Inclusion of the Measurement of Nitrogen Produced in Short Incubations (Nan) in the Diagnostic Protocol of Nitrogenous Fertility in Cordoba (Argentina)

Abstract

N is the nutrient that is applied in the greatest quantity to increase crop yields. Having a soil analysis that allows estimating the N needs of the crop would have economic and environmental benefits. The measurement of total C, total N and the content of N-nitrates are part of the analytical protocol that is carried out in pre-sowing for diagnostic purposes. However, the relationship between these measurements and actual N mineralization in the field is only approximate. To improve the estimation of N availability, it is necessary to consider the initial inorganic N and the mineralized N (Nmin) during the growing season. The search for an accurate predictor of Nmin that can be done quickly in the laboratory has sparked interest in measuring N in short anaerobic incubations or Nan. In this article, the soil properties that intervene in the N mineralization process that affect the measurement of Nan are exposed to know the scope: advantages and disadvantages of the inclusion of Nan in the routine protocol for diagnostic purposes for its use as a predictor of mineralized N during the crop cycle.