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Water-Leachable Nutrients from Frozen or Dried Prairie Vegetation¹

ABSTRACT

Runoff from agricultural lands in South Dakota is mainly from melting snow and spring rains. Nutrient enrichment of this water may be enhanced during the fall and winter by the rupturing of plant cells by freezing. Native prairie vegetation and mulch were sampled in late summer, early fall, and spring to determine the effect freezing, in comparison to drying, would have on nutrient release to water. Release of Ca, Mg, K, P, NO₃-N, and NH₄-N by freezing was related to stage of growth or decomposition of the vegetation. Freezing increased nutrient release if the vegetation were growing when it was frozen. Soil genesis, ecological relations between plant species, and runoff water quality could be affected by the relative release of different kinds of nutrients.

Key Words: biocycling • runoff-water quality • prairie soil genesis

¹ Presented before Div. S-5, Soil Science Society of America New York, August 19, 1971. Approved for publication by the Director of the South Dakota Agr. Exp. Sta. as Journal Series No. 1031.

² Professor, Plant Science Department (Soils), South Dakota State Univ., Brookings 57006.

Received for publication March 13, 1972.