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Ammonia Volatilization as Influenced by Calcium Carbonate Particle Size and Iron Oxides¹

ABSTRACT

Most ammonia volatilization studies have focused mainly on specific fertilizers, management, and environmental factors associated with N loss. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of particle size of both added and native CaCO₃ and the modifying effects of Fe oxides on NH₃ volatilization. Samples of calcareous and noncalcareous Lebanese soils were adjusted to field capacity, treated with (NH)₂SO₄, and incubated for 24 hours. Nitrogen loss was significantly related to pH, cation exchange capacity, and CaCO₃ but was more closely related to clay-sized CaCO₃ than to total CaCO₃. When ground limestone of different particle sizes was added to noncalcareous soils, N loss was directly related to the clay-sized fraction. Volatilization was greatly reduced when calcareous soils were pretreated with FeCl₂ solutions. Though the results suggest that CaCO₃ particle size and Fe oxides may significantly influence N volatilization in synthetic laboratory studies, these factors may be of little or no consequence in the field.

¹ Contribution from the Dep. of Soils, Irrigation, & Mechanization, American Univ. of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon. Journal no. 522B, Science Paper Series no. 295.

² Associate Professor, former Assistant Professor (currently Research Associate, Faculty of Agriculture, University College, Dublin, Ireland), and Graduate Student, respectively.

Received for publication August 21, 1979. Accepted for publication October 29, 1980.