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Disposition of 15 N‐Labeled Fertilizer Nitrate Applied During Corn Culture in Field Lysimeters
Author(s) -
Chichester F. W.,
Smith S. J.
Publication year - 1978
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/jeq1978.00472425000700020015x
Subject(s) - lysimeter , agronomy , nitrate , tillage , surface runoff , denitrification , environmental science , leaching (pedology) , soil water , fertilizer , nitrogen balance , nitrogen , chemistry , zoology , soil science , biology , ecology , organic chemistry
Calcium nitrate [Ca(NO 2 ) 2 ] labeled with 5.5% 15 N was applied 336 kg/ha nitrogen (N) to each of two conventional tillage and two mulch minimum tillage field lysimeters continuously cropped to corn ( Zea mays L.). Disposition of the labeled N was followed for 3 years, particularly relative to its effect on water quality. Soil profile samples were taken prior to and at the end of the experiment. Runoff was sampled by event, and percolate was sampled twice weekly. The corn crop was sampled at harvest each year. Samples were analyzed for inorganic and/or total N and percent 15 N. An accounting of applied 15 N for the study period showed that <2% moved in runoff, approximately 30% was leached in percolate, 25 to 30% was recovered by the corn crop, and from 10 to 30% remained in the soil. On the basis of a balance sheet constructed from the data, 15 N gaseous loss (presumably mainly by denitrification) was estimated to range from 6 to 26% of that applied. The magnitude of gaseous loss of N appeared to vary as a function of lysimeter management history, with the systems under improved soil fertility management exhibiting less gaseous loss due to greater immobilization of 15 N in the soil organic fraction.