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Movement of Nitrate Nitrogen in Some Grassland Soils of Southern Alberta¹

ABSTRACT

The downward movement of NO₃-N in dryland soils under native grass [Agropyron smithii Rydb., Bouteloua gracilis (HBK.) Lag., and Stipa comata Trin. & Rupr.] 6 to 8 years after N was applied at rates up to 976 kg/ha reached a depth of 180 cm. Phosphorus fertilizer did not affect NO₃-N movement. Under seeded grasses, there was no evidence of NO₃-N accumulation 2 years after a single application of N at rates up to 944 kg/ha. After repeated annual applications of N that totaled up to 3776 kg/ha over a 4-year period, NO₃-N accumulations were found to depths of 90 to 120 cm. The depth of NO₃-N movement under bromegrass (Bromus inermis Leyss.) was similar to that under crested wheatgrass [A. cristatum (L.) Gaertn.], but more NO₃-N accumulated in the soil under the bromegrass. In irrigated soil underlaid by drains, NO₃-N leaching was greater in a loam soil over till growing a mixture of bromegrass and alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) than in a loam soil over sandy loam-loamy sand growing an irrigated pasture-grass mixture [A. elongatum (Host) Beauv. and Festuca arundinacea Schreb.]. These studies indicate that, with good management, fertilizer N on grassland soils is not an important contributor to pollution in semiarid southern Alberta.

Key Words: leaching of fertilizer

¹ Contribution from Canada Dept. of Agr. Res. Sta., Lethbridge, Alberta, TIJ 4B1.

² Research Scientists.

Received for publication April 21, 1972.