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Urea Fertilizer Effects on Dissolved Nutrient Concentrations in Some Forest Soils
Author(s) -
OtchereBoateng J.,
Ballard T. M.
Publication year - 1978
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/sssaj1978.03615995004200030026x
Subject(s) - soil water , urea , nitrification , chemistry , fertilizer , nutrient , cation exchange capacity , nitrate , organic matter , environmental chemistry , nitrogen , podzol , zoology , agronomy , environmental science , soil science , biology , organic chemistry
Nutrient concentrations in soil solutions near the surface and below the root zone were measured for 8 months after fall application of urea (448 kg N/ha) to four soils under second‐growth forest in southwestern British Columbia. Surface soil solution pH increased due to ureolysis within a few days, while concentrations of some cations were reduced, with Ca and Mg decreasing more than K and Na. Nitrate concentrations peaked at least 3 months after fertilization. With pH decline accompanying nitrification in fertilized plots, concentrations of Ca and Mg increased substantially over concentrations in unfertilized control plots whereas K and Na showed smaller increases. Effects on Ca, Mg, K, and Na are consistent with interpretations based on pH‐dependent cation exchange capacity and Donnan equilibria. Maximum total N, NO 3 ‐N, and Ca concentrations below the root zone were 11.2, 11.0, and 10.0 mg/liter, respectively, and occurred with a recently afforested, coarse‐textured soil which was low in incorporated organic matter and lacked a forest floor.