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Movement of Nitrate Nitrogen in Some Grassland Soils of Southern Alberta
Author(s) -
Sommerfeldt Theron G.,
Smith A. Douglas
Publication year - 1973
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/jeq1973.00472425000200010018x
Subject(s) - bromus inermis , agronomy , loam , agropyron cristatum , bouteloua gracilis , festuca arundinacea , bromus , soil water , environmental science , leaching (pedology) , phalaris arundinacea , fertilizer , grazing , poaceae , biology , soil science , ecology , wetland
The downward movement of NO 3 ‐N in dryland soils under native grass [ Agropyron smithii Rydb., Bouteloua gracilis (HBK.) Lag., and Stipa comata Trin. & Rupr.] 6 to 8 years after N was applied at rates up to 976 kg/ha reached a depth of 180 cm. Phosphorus fertilizer did not affect NO 3 ‐N movement. Under seeded grasses, there was no evidence of NO 3 ‐N accumulation 2 years after a single application of N at rates up to 944 kg/ha. After repeated annual applications of N that totaled up to 3776 kg/ha over a 4‐year period, NO 3 ‐N accumulations were found to depths of 90 to 120 cm. The depth of NO 3 ‐N movement under bromegrass ( Bromus inermis Leyss.) was similar to that under crested wheatgrass [ A. cristatum (L.) Gaertn.], but more NO 3 ‐N accumulated in the soil under the bromegrass. In irrigated soil underlaid by drains, NO 3 ‐N leaching was greater in a loam soil over till growing a mixture of bromegrass and alfalfa ( Medicago sativa L.) than in a loam soil over sandy loam‐loamy sand growing an irrigated pasture‐grass mixture [ A. elongatum (Host) Beauv. and Festuca arundinacea Schreb.]. These studies indicate that, with good management, fertilizer N on grassland soils is not an important contributor to pollution in semiarid southern Alberta.