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Nitrogen Transport During Drip Fertigation with Urea

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

T. J. Sauer

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

* Corresponding author.

ABSTRACT

Urea added to drip irrigation water will be rapidly hydrolyzed in the soil to ammonium and then oxidized to nitrate. An approximate theory is presented for the unsteady, three-dimensional transport of water and N through unsaturated soil around a dripper discharging a urea solution. The results were compared with measurements from laboratory experiments with repacked silt loam. Water and solute movement in the course of the irrigation cycle and during the subsequent redistribution are considered. The theory successfully located the penetration of both the inert nitrate and reactive ammonium derived from the applied urea. It was possible to predict the direction, and approximate the magnitude of pH changes proximal to the emitter.

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

Received for publication April 2, 1987.