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Improved Technique for Marking and Sampling Band‐Applied Fertilizers and Pesticides 1
Author(s) -
Hendrickson L. L.,
Keeney D. R.,
Lesczynski D. B.,
Walsh L. M.
Publication year - 1978
Publication title -
agronomy journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.752
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1435-0645
pISSN - 0002-1962
DOI - 10.2134/agronj1978.00021962007000030036x
Subject(s) - nitrification , fertilizer , sampling (signal processing) , pesticide , environmental science , soil water , agronomy , soil science , soil test , nitrogen , chemistry , biology , computer science , organic chemistry , filter (signal processing) , computer vision
One of the most difficult problems in field studies of the fate of band‐applied fertilizers and pesticides is obtaining a valid sample of the application zone. During the course of investigations to estimate the rate of nitrification and the recovery of N from banded fertilizers treated with a nitrification inhibitor, improved techniques for marking and sampling the band were developed. The band was marked by applying prilled elemental S at the point of fertilizer release. With this approach the band was easily detected many months after fertilizer application. The sampler was constructed of stainless steel and was 15 ✕ 15 ✕ 40 cm long. It was inserted into the soil above the previously located band and then removed and disassembled, and the soil subsectioned for a vertical profile of constituents in the band. The expanded dimensions of the sampler reduced sample variability, yet still allowed sufficient sampling efficiency to obtain adequate replication. These techniques provided more accurate estimates of nitrification and recovery of applied N and should find application in monitoring other fertilizers or pesticides on easily penetrated soils devoid of rocks.