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Simultaneous nitrification and diffusion in soil. I. The effects of the addition of a low level of ammonium chloride
Author(s) -
DARRAH P. R.,
WHITE R. E.,
NYE P. H.
Publication year - 1985
Publication title -
journal of soil science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.244
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1365-2389
pISSN - 0022-4588
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2389.1985.tb00332.x
Subject(s) - nitrification , loam , ammonium , chemistry , diffusion , chloride , ammonium chloride , adsorption , homogeneous , ion , inorganic chemistry , soil water , environmental chemistry , soil science , nitrogen , thermodynamics , geology , organic chemistry , physics
SUMMARY The nitrification of NH 4 + and the simultaneous diffusion of NH 4 + , NO 3 − and H + following the addition of ammonium chloride to a fine sandy loam soil was analysed experimentally and theoretically. Experimentally, the concentration profiles of mineral N and pH were analysed 140h and 284 h after the homogeneous addition of 11 μmoles NH 4 Cl cm −3 of soil to one part of a composite soil column. The mathematical model presented includes a kinetic model of nitrifier growth and activity, the adsorption equilibria of NH 4 + and soil acidity with the soil solid phase and the influence of other ions on the diffusion characteristics of each diffusing ion. The predictions of the model were generated using parameters derived from independent experiments so that the predictions did not depend on data derived from the experimental concentration profiles. Good agreement was found between experimental and predicted profiles. The use of the model for predicting the penetration of NH 4 + and NO 3 − into the soil is demonstrated.