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Ammonia Volatilization from Surface Applications of Ammonium Compounds to Calcareous Soils: VI. Effects of Initial Soil Water Content and Quantity of Applied Water
Author(s) -
Fenn L. B.,
Escarzaga R.
Publication year - 1977
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/sssaj1977.03615995004100020038x
Subject(s) - soil water , calcareous , loam , chemistry , ammonium , water content , irrigation , ammonia volatilization from urea , fertilizer , environmental chemistry , environmental science , soil science , agronomy , geology , paleontology , geotechnical engineering , organic chemistry , biology
Ammonia losses from (NH 4 ) 2 SO 4 (AS) and NH 4 NO 3 (AN) applied to the surface of initially wet and initially dry soils, when followed by irrigation, were generally greater from the initially wet soils, especially when water application rates were < 2.5 cm. The greatest NH 3 loss occurred at the lowest water addition and the least loss at the highest water addition. The addition of 20.3 cm of water to a Harkey silty clay loam did not reduce NH 3 loss below that found with the addition of 5.1 cm of water. Ammonium was moved deeper into the soil by water in the initially wet soil than into the initially dry soil. Approximately a twofold increase in NH 3 loss was observed following the application of AS and AN to the soil through irrigation water compared with NH 3 loss following broadcast fertilizer application and subsequent irrigation. Again, initial soil water content influenced total NH 3 loss with greater loss occurring from initially wet soil. A direct relationship was found between the loss of water and NH 3 in sand. This relationship was not changed by placing a barrier to capillary water and N movement in the soil profile. The barrier greatly reduced absolute NH 3 and H 2 O losses but did not influence the ratio of NH 3 to H 2 O loss.