HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Owens, L. D. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Owens, L. D. Agricola Articles by Owens, L. D.

Nitrogen Movement and Transformations in Soils as Evaluated by a Lysimeter Study Utilizing Isotopic Nitrogen¹

ABSTRACT

A lysimeter experiment was conducted to determine the fate of N applied to soils several months prior to cropping. Ammonium sulfate, labeled with N¹⁵, was applied to soils in lysimeters at the rate of 120 pounds of N per acre during each winter of the 2 years that the experiment was conducted. Each year, three moisture rates, 12, 18 and 24 inches were established on the soils during the 5 months prior to crop seeding. Total and labeled N were determined in the leachates, crops, and soils at the end of the experiment.

An average of 33 ± 6% of the applied N was unaccounted for at the end of 2 years and was assumed to have been denitrified. Denitrification losses were not affected by the moisture treatment imposed. Leaching losses were directly proportional to the amount of water moving through the profile and ranged from 5 to 20% from the low to high moisture rates. Losses of fertilizer N by leaching occurred largely at the expense of crop uptake. The amount of fertilizer N remaining in the soils at the end of the experiment was around 38% and not affected by moisture treatment.

Contribution from the Department of Agronomy, Illinois Agr. Exp. Sta., Urbana. Published with approval of the Director of the Illinois Agr. Exp. Sta. This research was supported in part by a grant-in-aid from Nitrogen Division, Allied Chemical Co. The N¹⁵ analyses were performed by the Division of Physical Chemistry of the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering. Presented before Div. IV, Soil Science Society of America, Nov. 19, 1959, at Cincinnati, Ohio.

² Formerly Research Assistant, now Soil Scientist, Soil and Water Conservation Research Division, ARS, USDA, Beltsville, Md.

Received for publication December 28, 1959. Accepted for publication May 10, 1960.