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Nitrogen Source Effect on Nitrate and Ammonium Leaching and Runoff Losses from Greens 1
Author(s) -
Brown K. W.,
Thomas J. C.,
Duble R. L.
Publication year - 1982
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/agronj1982.00021962007400060005x
Subject(s) - leachate , loam , leaching (pedology) , surface runoff , nitrate , ammonium , environmental science , peat , nitrogen , infiltration (hvac) , agronomy , chemistry , environmental chemistry , soil water , soil science , ecology , geography , meteorology , organic chemistry , biology
The use of sandy rooting media with rapid infiltration rates in the construction of golf greens provides the potential for N pollution of nearby water supplies. This study was designed to measure the effects of different N sources on NO − 3 and NH + 4 concentrations in leachate and runoff from golf greens constructed with various rooting media. Individual golf greens with USGA‐type profiles were constructed in the field with upper 30 cm layers consisting of sand‐peat, sandsoil‐peat and sandy loam soil mixtures. All profiles were equipped with subsurface tile drains over a plastic sheet and were treated sequentially with the following N fertilizers: NH 4 NO 4 , ureaformaldehyde, 12‐12‐12, Milorganite, and IBDU. Leachate and runoff were collected and analyzed for NO − 3 and NH + 4 . Nitrate concentrations in leachate from sand, mixed, and soil greens fertilized with quick release materials ranged from 45 to 326, 8 to 314 and 8 to 170 mg liter −1 , respectively and remained in this range for a 3‐week period. Runoff concentrations from the greens constructed of sandy loam soil exceeded 30 mg liter −1 . No runoff was collected from sand or mixed greens. Nitrate N losses from various sources were in the order of NH 4 NO 3 > 12‐12‐12 > Milorganite > Isobutylenediurea (IBDU) > Ureaformaldehyde. lsobutylenediurea provided a very uniform release rate. Milorganite had a 25 to 30 day delay before NO − 3 appeared in the leachate. Soluble sources, NH 4 NO 3 , and 12‐12‐12 exhibited leaching within 5 days after application. It appears that regular moderate applications of slow release N sources would provide minimum NO − 3 loss while supplying a continuous N supply. Ammonium losses ranked from greatest to smallest were NH 4 NO 3 > Ureaformaldehyde > Milorganite > 12‐12‐12 > IBDU. Ammonium losses contributed very little to the total N losses from golf greens. Highest total N loss was 23% of the applied N.