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Modeling Ammonia Volatilization from Biosolids Applied to Semiarid Rangeland
Author(s) -
Harmel R. D.,
Zartman R. E.,
Mouron C.,
Wester D. B.,
Sosebee R. E.
Publication year - 1997
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/sssaj1997.03615995006100060035x
Subject(s) - volatilisation , biosolids , ammonia volatilization from urea , environmental chemistry , chemistry , environmental science , ammonia , zoology , environmental engineering , organic chemistry , biology
One fate of N from land‐applied biosolids is NH 3 volatilization. This study was conducted to: (i) quantify NH 3 volatilization from anaerobically digested, dewatered biosolids; and (ii) develop equations to predict volatilization losses. Ammonia was collected under natural field conditions with semi‐open, dynamic collection systems. Volatilization was measured using a phenol‐nitroprusside method for 210 h following biosolid applications of 0.0, 6.7, and 17.9 dry Mg ha ‐1 . Volatilization studies using two soils (a Ustollic Calciorthid and a Ustollic Haplargid) with similar chemical properties but with different surface gravel contents were conducted under hot (20–36°C), intermediate (6–23°C), and cool (−4–14°C) temperature regimes. Volatilization followed a diurnal fluctuating pattern for both the hot and intermediate temperature regime trials and was significantly reduced 3 d after application for all trials. Cumulative volatilization losses ranged from 11.5 kg NH 3 ‐N ha ‐1 in the cool‐season trial for the 6.7 dry Mg ha ‐1 application rate to 35.5 kg NH 3 ‐N ha ‐1 in the hot‐season trial for the 17.9 dry Mg ha ‐1 rate. The influence of gravel content on NH 3 volatilization was not statistically significant ( P = 0.01). Empirical equations were developed to predict volatilization losses as a function of site‐ and season‐specific potential evapotranspiration, biosolid NH 3 ‐N content, application rate, and time after application. The prediction equations for NH 3 volatilization from applied biosolids as affected by temperature had a range of r 2 values of 0.90 to 0.97.