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 Schwartzbeck, R. A. Articles by Schmidt, E. L. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Schwartzbeck, R. A. Articles by Schmidt, E. L. Agricola Articles by Schwartzbeck, R. A. Articles by Schmidt, E. L.

Gaseous Nitrogen Losses from Nitrogen Fertilized Soils Measured With Infrared and Mass Spectroscopy¹

ABSTRACT

The evolution of nitrogen gases from four soils was studied by total soil nitrogen analysis, the mass spectrometer with N¹⁵-labeled nitrogen carriers, and with infrared spectroscopy. The type and amount of nitrogen gas evolved was influenced by a number of factors. Soil type was important in that the Nicollet and Fargo soils resulted in the evolution of more N₂ and N₂O than did the Fayette and Laredo soils. Soil properties had little effect on the total N₂ evolved from NH₄NO₃, but greater differences occurred from soils treated with HNO₃. The type of nitrogen carrier influenced the nature of the gaseous nitrogen released. NH₄NO₃ treatment favored N₂O evolution and HNO₃ treatment favored N₂. Only small amounts of N₂ and N₂O were evolved from soils treated with NH₄Cl or urea. Nitrogen applied at 1080 pounds per acre always resulted in larger losess of N₂O and N₂ than that applied at 360 pounds per acre. However, in both the Nicollet and Fargo soils at water saturation, the percentage of applied nitrogen that was lost was about the same at both low and high rates of treatment. Substantial gaseous losses of applied fertilizer occurred mainly when water-saturated conditions prevailed. Small losses did occur from soils at field moisture capacity. N₂O evolution was influenced by the ammonium to nitrate ratio of the nitrogen treatment.

¹ Paper No. 4439 Scientific Journal Series, Minnesota Agr. Exp. Sta., University of Minnesota, St. Paul. Presented before Div. II, Soil Science Society of America, Nov. 17, 1959, at Cincinnati, Ohio.

² Formerly Research Assistant, Department of Soils, present address Dow Chemical Co., Washington, D. C.; Professor, Department of Soils; Associate Professor, jointly Department of Soils and Department of Bacteriology, respectively.

Received for publication July 22, 1960. Accepted for publication September 30, 1960.