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Sorption of Atmospheric Ammonia by Soil and Perennial Grass Downwind From Two Large Cattle Feedlots
Author(s) -
Hao Xiying,
Chang Chi,
Janzen H. Henry,
Clayton George,
Hill Brett R.
Publication year - 2006
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/jeq2005.0308
Subject(s) - sorption , transect , environmental science , feedlot , manure , perennial plant , pasture , nitrate , environmental chemistry , agronomy , hydrology (agriculture) , zoology , chemistry , ecology , geology , biology , adsorption , geotechnical engineering , organic chemistry
Livestock manure in feedlots releases ammonia (NH 3 ), which can be sorbed by nearby soil and plants. Ammonia sorption by soil and its effects on soil and perennial grass N contents downwind from two large cattle feedlots in Alberta, Canada were investigated from June to October 2002. Atmospheric NH 3 sorption was measured weekly by exposing air‐dried soil at sampling points downwind along 1700‐m transects. The amount of NH 3 sorbed by soil was 2.60 to 3.16 kg N ha −1 wk −1 near the source, declining to about 0.25 kg N ha −1 wk −1 1700 m downwind, reflecting diminishing atmospheric NH 3 concentrations. Ammonia sorption at a control site away from NH 3 sources was much lower: 0.085 kg N ha −1 wk −1 Based on these rates, about 19% of emitted NH 3 is sorbed by soil within 1700 m downwind of feedlots. Field soil and grass samples from the transect lines were analyzed for total N (TN) and KCl‐extractable N content (soil only). Nitrate N content in field soil followed a trend similar to that of atmospheric NH 3 sorption. Soil TN contents, because of high background levels, showed no clear pattern. The TN content of grass, downwind of the newer feedlot, followed a pattern similar to that of NH 3 sorption; downwind of the older feedlot, grass TN was correlated to soil TN. Our results suggest that atmospheric NH 3 from livestock operations can contribute N to local soil and vegetation, and may need to be considered when determining fertilizer rates and assessing environmental impact.