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Nitrogen Recoveries from Applications of Ammonium Chloride, Phosphate, and Sulfate and Outgo of Complementary Ions in Rainwater Leachings through a Six-foot Soil-subsoil Column¹

ABSTRACT

The objectives of the 12-year lysimeter study were to determine (a) annual recoveries of nitrogen as NH₃, NO₂, and NO₃ from ammonium chloride, phosphate, and sulfate applications to a 1-foot stratum of Cumberland silt loam underlain by a 5-foot column of red clay subsoil, and (b) attendant outgo of exchanged Ca, Mg, and K and recoveries of additive CI and SO₄.

Quantity of nitrogen input, the soil-subsoil column used in lysimeter triplicates, and the experimental procedure were those described in a 10-year study in which nitrates of Na, Ca, and Mg were applied (2).

Leachings of NH₄ were nil to meager; nitrites appeared in the leachings throughout the first 3 years. Largest outgo of engendered NO₃ occurred in the second, third, and fourth years, in descending order, and respective totals for the initial 6 years were virtually the same as the totals for the 12 years. The applied NH₄ was recovered chiefly as engendered NO₃, but substantial fractions were lost through reduction processes and/or fixation. Recoveries of N from chloride, phosphate, and sulfate were 79%, 74.8%, and 86%, respectively.

Chlorine recoveries were 73% in the second year, 93% in the second and third years together, 97% after 4 years, and complete in 12 years.

Sulfate recoveries from the (NH₄)₂SO₄ were only 8.3%. The phosphate caused a significant increase in outgo of SO₄ from native supplies, but the chloride did not.

Calcium Outgo: That induced by the chloride was largest in the second year;

That induced by the sulfate occurred chiefly in the second and third years;

That induced by the phosphate was highest in the third year and indicated the early development of dicalcium and dimagnesium phosphates in the upper strata of the soil-subsoil.

The outgo of Ca as chloride was twice the outgo induced by the phosphate and 1.4 that induced by the sulfate.

Magnesium exchange exerted by the three ammonium salts was in the order found for the exchange of calcium, but the mean for Mg exchange was only 52% of the mean for Ca exchange.

Potassium exchange was evidenced by the second year's leachings and by those of the next 3 years; but K-exchange totals were small in relation to the totals for exchanged Ca and Mg. K-exchange was largest from the chloride and least from the phosphate.

The enhancements in outgo of K, Ca, and Mg were induced by the passage of engendered nitrates.

Sodium outgo was uniform in the first 4 years and was not determined thereafter.

It seems certain that heavy applications of nitrogen as ammonium chloride, phosphate, or sulfate to a heavy soil, in fallow, will not be recovered completely in the rainwater leachings that pass through strata of clay subsoil.

¹ Presented before Section II, Soil Science Society of America, State College, Pa., August 29, 1951.

² The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tenn.