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The Movement of Ammonium Nitrate into Unsaturated Soil During Unsteady Absorption

Plant Physiology Div., Dep. of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR), Private Bag, Palmerston North, New Zealand

T. J. Sauer

Soil Science Dep. Massey Univ., Palmerston North, New Zealand

* Corresponding author.

ABSTRACT

An approximate theory for multi-dimensional transport of inert tracer and reactive chemical during transient wetting of soil is presented. One-dimensional, unsteady absorption experiments with a free-water solution of KBr and NH₄NO₃ were carried out in two contrasting soils. The silt loam had an ammonium solution-sorbed distribution coefficient, K_D, of 5 L/kg, while the fine sand had K_D = 2.6 L/kg. These adsorption data were derived from steady-state, miscible displacement experiments. The dispersion profiles of Br^-, NO^-₃, and NH⁺₄ were reasonably described by the theory in its one-dimensional form. Time-dependency observed in NH⁺₄ adsorption, yet ignored by the theory, is considered to have led to an under-prediction of dispersion.

Contribution from Plant Physiology Div., DSIR, and Soil Science Dep., Massey Univ.

Received for publication April 2, 1987.