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Nitrogen and Sulfur in Precipitation and Sulfur Dioxide in the Atmosphere in Wisconsin
Author(s) -
Hoeft R. G.,
Keeney D. R.,
Walsh L. M.
Publication year - 1972
Publication title -
journal of environmental quality
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.888
H-Index - 171
eISSN - 1537-2537
pISSN - 0047-2425
DOI - 10.2134/jeq1972.00472425000100020025x
Subject(s) - sulfur , precipitation , environmental science , atmosphere (unit) , nitrogen , sulfur dioxide , deposition (geology) , environmental chemistry , zoology , chemistry , geography , meteorology , geology , biology , inorganic chemistry , organic chemistry , paleontology , sediment
A monitoring program to determine the seasonal distribution of sulfur and nitrogen from the atmosphere and a greenhouse experiment to evaluate the absorption of atmospheric SO 2 by alfalfa (Medicago sativa) was conducted. Atmospheric SO 2 levels at all rural and urban locations were low in the summer months and increased markedly in the winter months and, on the average, the values in urban areas were about twice those in rural areas. The SO 2 collected 2 km from an industrial location was 10 to 15 times as high as the urban locations. At a distance of 5 km this value dropped to levels comparable to urban areas and to rural levels at 10 km. Sulfur (as SO 4 ) in precipitation followed the same seasonal and location trends as did SO 2 with 16, 42, and 168 kg of S/ha per yr being deposited in rural, urban and industrial locations, respectively. An overall state average of 30 kg S/ha per yr was estimated. Sulfur‐deficient alfalfa plants grown in a greenhouse at Madison from January to May obtained as much as 73% of their S from the atmosphere. The amount of NH 4 ‐N and organic N deposited by precipitation was highest during the spring months and lowest during the winter months. Both NH 4 ‐N and organic‐N were higher in areas adjacent to barnyards than in areas removed from the barnyard. However, NO 3 ‐N deposition was relatively constant for all locations and was slightly lower in the winter months. Total N additions ranged from 13 to 30 kg/ha per yr, and an overall state average of about 20 kg/ha per yr was estimated.