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Ammonia Volatilization and Soil Nitrogen Changes after Urea and Ammonium Nitrate Fertilization of Pinus Taeda L.¹

ABSTRACT

From 3.9 to 13.1% of the nitrogen (N) was lost to the atmosphere when 200 kg/ha of N as (NH₂)₂CO were applied to an undisturbed forest soil during each of the four annual seasons. There were no measurable losses from a comparable NH₄NO₃ treatment. The majority of the loss occurred within the first 2 weeks after fertilizer application. During this time volatilization of NH₃ from the (NH₂)₂CO-amended soils appeared to depend more on moisture in the soil and time and amount of precipitation after fertilizer application than on season of fertilizer application. Conditions of light precipitation providing adequate moisture for (NH₂)₂CO hydrolysis but insufficient to leach the (NH₂)₂CO resulted in the greatest NH₃ losses. Heavy precipitation leached the urea or NH₃ deeper into the soil profile where it was retained. Although differences were not significant among seasons, winter loss < fall < summer spring. Precipitation trends and seasonal temperature differences may be responsible for these differences.

Ammonium-N from (NH₂)₂CO remained in the forest floor and top few centimeters of mineral soil. In contrast, the NH₄+ produced by the ionization of NH₄NO₃ was carried deeper into the soil profile.

¹ Contribution from the Southeastern Forest Exp. Stn., USDA-FS, Asheville, NC 28802.

² Soil Scientist, Southeastern Forest Exp. Stn., Forestry Sciences Laboratory, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709; and Professor, Dep. of Soil Science, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27650.

Received for publication May 4, 1981. Accepted for publication September 2, 1981.

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