Premium
Distribution of Nitrogen Forms in Soil Receiving Cattle Feedlot Waste
Author(s) -
Smith S. J.,
Mathers A. C.,
Stewart B. A.
Publication year - 1980
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/jeq1980.00472425000900020010x
Subject(s) - feedlot , loam , nitrate , zoology , sorghum , soil fertility , chemistry , agronomy , ammonium , biosolids , mineralization (soil science) , nitrite , environmental chemistry , nitrogen , environmental science , soil science , environmental engineering , soil water , biology , organic chemistry
Information is limited on changes in distribution of organic and inorganic soil N forms brought about by large applications of feedlot waste. Such information is needed, however, both from an environmental and soil fertility standpoint. This study involves irrigated, continuous, grain sorghum plots ( Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) on Pullman clay loam (fine, mixed, thermic Torrertic Paleustolls) which received a total of 176 to 1,614 metric tons/ha of feedlot waste over an 8‐year period. Differences in N forms and amounts observed among plots were confined mainly to the surface 30‐cm soil layer. Increasing waste applications tended to increase the total N content, organic C content, nitrate content, N mineralization, and general biological activity of the respective plots. However, in most cases Duncan's multiple range test indicates the increases were statistically significant ( P = 0.05) only at the higher rates. Moreover, chemical patterns of soil organic N forms and C/N ratios remained fairly constant, indicating the overall N distribution was being maintained. In addition, nitrite, exchangeable ammonium, and fixed ammonium contents changed little. Under proper management, any likelihood of long‐term adverse soil N effects appears small.