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Some Aspects of Ammonia Sorption by Soil Surfaces¹

ABSTRACT

Rates of sorption of NH₃ through soil surface boundaries, the extent of penetration into thin surface strata, and relative sorbing capacities of surface layers were determined for soil materials from several Coastal Plain and Piedmont soils. NH₃ sorption through soil surface boundaries was rapid from aerial applications ranging from 1.3 to 1.9 mg. NH₃-N per cm.² of surface area. Specific rate of sorption was directly proportional to the concentration of NH₃ remaining above the soil surface. NH₃ nitrogen sorbed by soil in the surface strata did not penetrate more than 10–20 mm. into the soil when applied at rates ranging from 0.17 to 1.00 mg. NH₃-N per cm.² of surface. The depth distribution of NH₃ changed with time of contact with NH₃ without appreciable change in total NH₃ sorbed. In general clay soils sorb more efficiently than sandy soils, soils with low pH more efficiently than those with high pH, and soils with high organic matter contents were less efficient than mineral soils with similar cation-exchange capacities.

¹ Contribution from the Dept. of Soil Science, North Carolina Agr. Exp. Sta., North Carolina State College, Raleigh. Published with the approval of the Director as Paper No. 1650 of the Journal Series.

² Formerly Graduate Assistant, now Professor of Soil Chemistry, Wisconsin State University, Platteville, Wis., and Professor of Soil Science, North Carolina State College.

Received for publication September 23, 1963. Accepted for publication March 18, 1964.