ABSTRACT
In order to predict the rates and amounts of gaseous emission from soils, it is necessary to quantify dynamics of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) in soils. Most investigations aimed at understanding the dynamics of C and N in agroecosystems in the Cryoboreal regions of Alberta have been conducted in the field at a scale of 1 to 100 m2 and have included annual crops and long-term rotations established in 1930. This chapter focuses on experiments which were conducted on two pedogenically different soils, a Typic Cryoboroll at the Ellerslie research station and a Typic Cryoboralf at the University of Alberta Breton plots. One of the simplest methods to study the kinetics of mineralization of C and N from soil is to incubate soil samples under aerobic or anaerobic conditions for extended periods. This approach was originally proposed by Stanford and Smith has been widely used to assess the effect of cropping practices, soil types and different environments.
