Nitrogen Recoveries from Applications of Ammonium Chloride, Phosphate, and Sulfate and Outgo of Complementary Ions in Rainwater Leachings through a Six‐foot Soil‐subsoil Column

Abstract

The objectives of the 12‐year lysimeter study were to determine (a) annual recoveries of nitrogen as NH3, NO2, and NO3 from ammonium chloride, phosphate, and sulfate applications to a 1‐foot stratum of Cumberland silt loam underlain by a 5‐foot column of red clay subsoil, and (b) attendant outgo of exchanged Ca, Mg, and K and recoveries of additive CI and SO4.Quantity of nitrogen input, the soil‐subsoil column used in lysimeter triplicates, and the experimental procedure were those described in a 10‐year study in which nitrates of Na, Ca, and Mg were applied (2).Leachings of NH4 were nil to meager; nitrites appeared in the leachings throughout the first 3 years. Largest outgo of engendered NO3 occurred in the second, third, and fourth years, in descending order, and respective totals for the initial 6 years were virtually the same as the totals for the 12 years. The applied NH4 was recovered chiefly as engendered NO3, but substantial fractions were lost through reduction processes and/or fixation. Recoveries of N from chloride, phosphate, and sulfate were 79%, 74.8%, and 86%, respectively.Chlorine recoveries were 73% in the second year, 93% in the second and third years together, 97% after 4 years, and complete in 12 years.Sulfate recoveries from the (NH4)2SO4 were only 8.3%. The phosphate caused a significant increase in outgo of SO4 from native supplies, but the chloride did not.Calcium Outgo: That induced by the chloride was largest in the second year;That induced by the sulfate occurred chiefly in the second and third years;That induced by the phosphate was highest in the third year and indicated the early development of dicalcium and dimagnesium phosphates in the upper strata of the soil‐subsoil.The outgo of Ca as chloride was twice the outgo induced by the phosphate and 1.4 that induced by the sulfate.Magnesium exchange exerted by the three ammonium salts was in the order found for the exchange of calcium, but the mean for Mg exchange was only 52% of the mean for Ca exchange.Potassium exchange was evidenced by the second year's leachings and by those of the next 3 years; but K‐exchange totals were small in relation to the totals for exchanged Ca and Mg. K‐exchange was largest from the chloride and least from the phosphate.The enhancements in outgo of K, Ca, and Mg were induced by the passage of engendered nitrates.Sodium outgo was uniform in the first 4 years and was not determined thereafter.It seems certain that heavy applications of nitrogen as ammonium chloride, phosphate, or sulfate to a heavy soil, in fallow, will not be recovered completely in the rainwater leachings that pass through strata of clay subsoil.

Effect of Irrigation and Rate and Time of Nitrogen Application on Temporary Winter Grazing1

“…The application cost of top dressing can be eliminated, and the fertilizer distribution can be programmed more easily by the dealer. The irrigation studies strongly indicate that the loss of N by leaching is not so great as has been suggested ( 6,7,8). These studies also give evidence that where an abundance of water may have caused a downward movement of N, apparently the N tended to move back up during droughty weather and was almost completely recovered by the plant.…”

Dissolved Constituents in Agricultural Drainage Waters

“…However, the concentration of Clin Iowa drainage waters is much lower than the concentrations of HCO 3and NO 3because most of the Clin naturally occurring minerals has already been weathered away (Murray, 2004) and atmospheric deposition becomes negligible with increasing distance from the ocean (Gribble, 2003;Junge and Werby, 1958;Kafkafi et al, 2001). Anthropogenic sources of Cl -, such as nitrification inhibitors and Cl fertilizers, can temporarily increase the leaching rate of Cl -(MacIntire et al, 1952). Similar to Cl -, Na + concentrations are also low as a result of few natural and anthropogenic sources.…”

“…In the soil profile, electrolyte dissolution is a function of the percolation rate and groundwater flow path, both of which are influenced by the intensity and frequency of rainfall events, soil structure, soil type and geochemistry, tillage, cover, evapotranspiration, and cropping system (Bower, 1974;Daigh et al, 2014;Gribble, 2003;Liard et al, 2010;Thomas and Phillips, 1979;Trudgill et al, 1983;Stauffer and Rust, 1954). While the concentrations of leached ions are highly dependent on the characteristics of the percolating groundwater, they are also influenced by chemical ion-pair formations (Oster and McNeal, 1971), availability and solubility of exchangeable bases (Liard et al, 2010;MacIntire et al, 1952), soil pH (Kafkafi et al, 2001;White and Broadley, 2001;Zereini and Hötzl, 2008), ion affinity to the soil, and drainage water exposure to the atmosphere (Rhoades et al, 1973).…”

Exploration of Ion Species in Agricultural Subsurface Drainage Waters

“…However the concentration of Clin Iowa drainage waters is much lower than HCO3and NO3because most of the Clin naturally occurring minerals has already been weathered away (Murray, 2004) and atmospheric deposition becomes negligible with increasing distance of from the ocean (Gribble, 2003;Junge & Werby, 1958;Kafkafi, 2001). Anthropogenic sources of Cl -, such as nitrification inhibitors and Cl-fertilizers, can temporarily increase the leaching rate of Cl - (MacIntire et al, 1952). Like, Cl -, Na + concentrations are also low as a result of few natural and anthropogenic sources.…”

“…In the soil profile, electrolyte dissolution is a function of percolation rate and ground-water flow path, both of which are influenced by the intensity and frequency of rainfall events, soil structure, soil type, tillage, cover, evapotranspiration, and cropping system Gribble, 2003;Liard et al, 2010;Thomas & Phillips, 1979;Trudgill et al, 1983;Stauffer & Rust, 1954). While the concentration of ions leached is highly dependent on the characteristics of percolating groundwater, it is also a influenced by chemical ion-pair formations (Oster & Mcneal, 1971), availability and solubility of exchangeable bases (Liard et al, 2010;Macintire et al, 1952), soil pH (Kafkafi, 2001;White & Broadley, 2001;Zereini, 2008), ion affinity to the soil (Buckman & Brady, 1922), and drainage water exposure to the atmosphere (Rhoades et al, 1973).…”