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Nitrate Movement Under Corn and Fallow Conditions
Author(s) -
Long F. Leslie,
Huck Morris G.
Publication year - 1980
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/sssaj1980.03615995004400040026x
Subject(s) - nitrate , loam , zea mays , leaching (pedology) , nitrogen , agronomy , field corn , environmental science , zoology , soil horizon , chemistry , soil water , soil science , biology , organic chemistry
Nitrate movement under corn ( Zea mays L.) and fallow conditions was studied in a simulated field soil profile of Dothan loamy sand (Plinthic Paleudults) in the Auburn rhizotron. The rates of N applied were 250 and 500 kg N/ha. The nitrate movement was monitored by analysis of soil solution samples taken at 48‐ to 72‐hour intervals over a 120‐day period from the 20‐, 40‐, 60‐, 80‐, 100‐, and 140‐cm depths. Nearly all the nitrate applied to the surface of fallow plots moved with percolating water and was leached below the 100‐cm depth within 65 days; this was true for both N rates. Actively‐growing corn roots intercepted nitrate from the 250 kg N/ha treatment before it reached the 80‐cm depth and from the 500 kg N/ha treatment before it reached the 100‐cm depth. At maturity the above‐ground portion of the corn contained 20% more N than was applied at the 250 kg N/ha rate and 75% of that applied at 500 kg N/ha. Corn roots effectively prevented leaching of nitrate.