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 Porter, L. K. Articles by Stewart, B. A. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Porter, L. K. Articles by Stewart, B. A. Agricola Articles by Porter, L. K. Articles by Stewart, B. A.

The Thermal Release of Ammonium Nitrogen from Ammonium Chloride-Treated and Nontreated Soils¹

ABSTRACT

Comparisons were made of the thermal release of NH₄⁺-N from soils and NH₄⁺-saturated soils. Fixed NH₄⁺-N was lost from untreated and NH₄Cl-treated soil samples when the samples were subjected to temperatures above 400C. A treatment of 800C for 5 min generally released more than 85% of the fixed NH₄⁺-N. However, small amounts of indigenous fixed NH₄⁺-N, 25 to 30 ppm N, may be retained by some soils when they were subjected to a temperature treatment of 1,000C for 5 min.

Release of exchangeable NH₄⁺-N was essentially completed when samples were subjected to a treatment of 500C for 5 min. The nontreated surface soils exhibited sharp increases, three- to sixfold, in their exchangeable NH₄⁺-N when samples were heated at 250 or 300C for 5 min. It is suggested that these increases were derived from NH₄⁺-N being released as soil organic matter decomposed.

¹ Contribution of the Northern Plains Branch, Soil and Water Conservation Research Division, ARS, USDA, in cooperation with the Colorado Agr. Exp. Sta.

² Research Soil Scientists, USDA, Fort Collins, Colo.

Received for publication November 22, 1965. Accepted for publication January 13, 1966.