HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Perrin, T. S. Articles by Norton, J. M. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Perrin, T. S. Articles by Norton, J. M. Agricola Articles by Perrin, T. S. Articles by Norton, J. M.

Decreasing Nitrogen Leaching from Sandy Soil with Ammonium-Loaded Clinoptilolite

Department of Plants, Soils, and Biometeorology, Utah State Univ., Logan, UT 84322-4820.

^* Corresponding author (jlboett{at}cc.usu.edu).

ABSTRACT

Nitrogen (N) loss from irrigated cropland, particularly sandy soils, significantly contributes to nitrate (NO^–₃) levels in surface and groundwaters. In this study, as a preface to a plant growth study, we compared N leaching from NH⁺₄-loaded clinoptilolite (A-Cp) and (NH₄)₂SO₄ (AS) in two media: a rounded quartz sand and a sandy soil. We hypothesized that quartz sand or soil amended with A-Cp would leach significantly less N than these media amended with AS, and that more N would leach from smaller A-Cp size fractions than from larger A-Cp size fractions. Ammonium sulfate, or one of the three A-Cp size fractions, small (<0.25 mm), medium (0.25–2 mm), or large (2–4 mm), was banded at a depth of 5 cm in leaching columns filled with inert quartz sand at a rate of 112, 224, or 336 kg N ha^–1. The experiment was repeated with sandy soil in greenhouse pots at rates of 112 and 224 kg N ha^–1. The columns and pots were leached for about 40 d with a simulated irrigation water. Significantly more N, as NH⁺₄ and NO^–₃, leached from AS amendments than any of the A-Cp amendments in both experiments. Results indicated that the larger the A-Cp size fraction, the slower NH⁺₄ is released from A-Cp. Ammonium-Cp slowly releases N and could significantly minimize N leaching from sandy soils compared to AS.

This research was supported by the Utah Agric. Exp. Stn., Utah State Univ., Logan, UT 84322-4820, USDA Coop. State Res. Serv. Special Water Quality Grant 93-34214-8903, and Utah Mineral Lease Funds. Approved as UAES Journal no. 5067.

Received for publication April 8, 1997.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				L. Zotarelli, J. M. Scholberg, M. D. Dukes, and R. Munoz-Carpena Fertilizer Residence Time Affects Nitrogen Uptake Efficiency and Growth of Sweet Corn J. Environ. Qual., May 1, 2008; 37(3): 1271 - 1278. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]