Premium
Studies on Nitrogen Fertilizer Utilization Using N15
Author(s) -
MacVicar Robert,
Garman William L.,
Wall Robert
Publication year - 1951
Publication title -
soil science society of america journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.836
H-Index - 168
eISSN - 1435-0661
pISSN - 0361-5995
DOI - 10.2136/sssaj1951.036159950015000c0061x
Subject(s) - citation , foundation (evidence) , library science , fertilizer , section (typography) , computer science , operations research , history , mathematics , archaeology , chemistry , organic chemistry , operating system
' I HE value of tracer techniques in studying the absorp-•tion of plant nutrients and in detecting changes in the distribution of various elements among fractions of the soil has long been recognized. Far more extensive use in soil investigations has been made, however, of the radio-active isotopic tracers than of the stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen. Among those workers who have used such techniques, Norman and Werkman (3) employed organic matter labeled with N to determine the nitrogen recovered from plant materials decomposing in the soil. Norman and Krampitz (2) used tracer techniques in studying the relative rates of utilization of various sources and amounts of combined nitrogen. More recently, this type of study has been extended to field-type investigations. Bartholomew, Nelson, and Werkman (1) have studied the efficiency of ammonium sulfate fertilizers applied to oats in field culture at differing stages of maturity. One problem of importance in the Southwest is a suitable method for disposing of wheat straw following combining of grain crops. In studies on this problem at the Oklahoma Station, it was felt that valuable information could be obtained by means of isotopic tracers using the heavy isotope of nitrogen. In the course of this investigation, it became necessary to produce organic matter which contained a N ratio above the normal. It appeared that, in growing plants to produce this organic matter, it might also be possible to secure additional information on the efficiency of use of nitrogen fertilizer by growing the plants under controlled conditions of fertilization and environment. This paper reports the incidental study on efficiency of use of nitrogen fertilizer.