Summary
Ammonia volatilization from urea-treated soils was estimated under field and laboratory conditions. Acid-washed filter papers were hung in the air in a spruce stand treated with N and P fertilizers in a factorial design. In the laboratory, moss sods were incubated to quantify ammonia volatilization.
Ammonia volatilization increased with the level of N applied and more ammonia was absorbed by filter papers at 0.6 m above the ground than those at 1.2 m. Maximum rates of ammonia volatilization in urea-treated plots were observed between the third and fourth day after fertilizer application and similar absorption patterns were observed in areas not treated with urea. It is, therefore, suggested that ammonia volatilized from urea-treated plots can move to untreated areas. Addition of P along with urea significantly reduced ammonia volatilization under field conditions.
Laboratory experiments showed that addition of urea to moss sods increased the pH of the organic layer from about 3.6 to 8.8. Sphagnum moss sods volatilized more ammonia (about 1.7 per cent of the added material) than feather moss sods (about 0.8 per cent). At higher incubation temperatures, however, the rate of ammonia volatilization decreased in sphagnum moss sods but increased in feather moss sods.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Allison F. E., The fate of nitrogen applied to soils. Advances Agron.18, 219–258 (1966).
Bernier B., Carrier D., and Smirnoff W. A., Preliminary observations on nitrogen losses through ammonia volatilization following urea fertilization of soil in a jack pine forest. Naturaliste Can.96, 251–255 (1969).
Bhure N. D., Nitrogen losses by volatilization from urea applied to forest soils. Can. Dept. Fish. For. Bi-mon. Research Notes26, 30–31 (1970).
Blasco M. L., and Cornfield A. H., Votatilization of nitrogen as ammonia from acid soils. Nature212, 1279–1280 (1966).
Bremner J. M., Inorganic forms of nitrogen. p. 1179–1237.In Methods of Soil Analysis, Part 2. Chemical and microbiological properties. C. A. Black et al. eds. Agronomy 9. Amer. Soc. Agron., Wisc. (1965).
Carrier D., and Bernier B., Pertes d'azote par volatilisation ammoniacale après fertilisation en forêt de pin gris. Can. J. Forest Research1, 69–79 (1971).
Hanawalt R. B., Soil properties affecting the sorption of atmospheric ammonia. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. Proc.33, 725–729 (1969).
Mahendrappa M. K., Smith R. L., Christiansen A. T., Nitrifying organisms affected by climatic region in western United States. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. Proc.30, 60–62 (1966).
Malo B. A., and Purvis E. R., Soil absorption of atmospheric ammonia. Soil Sci.97, 242–247 (1964).
Meyer R. D., Olson R. A., and Rhodes H. F., Ammonia losses from fertilized Nebraska soils. Agron. J.53, 241–244 (1961).
Overrein L. M., Lysimeter studies on tracer nitrogen in forest soil: 1. Nitrogen losses by leaching and volatilization after addition of urea-N15. Soil Sci.106, 280–290 (1968).
Overrein L. M., Lysimeter studies on tracer nitrogen in forest soil: 2. Comparative losses of nitrogen through leaching and volatilization after the addition of urea-, ammonium-, and nitrate-N15. Soil Sci.107, 149–159 (1969).
Porter L. K., Viets F. G.Jr., and Hutchinson G. L., Air containing nitrogen-15: Foliar absorption by corn seedlings. Science175, 759–761 (1972).
Roberge M. R., and Knowles R., Ureolysis, immobilization, and nitrification in black spruce (Picea mariana Mill.) humus. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. Proc.30, 201–204 (1966).
Salonius P. O., Microbiological response to fertilizer treatments in organic forest soils. Soil Sci.114, 12–19 (1972).
Tamm C. O., Growth, yield and nutrition in carpets of a forest moss (Hylocomium splendens). Medd. Statens Skogsforsk. Inst., Stockholm43, 1–140 (1953).
Volk G. M., Gaseous loss of ammonia from prilled urea applied to slash pine. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. Proc.34, 513–516 (1970).
Way J. T., The atmosphere as a source of nitrogen to plants; being an account of recent researches on this subject. J. Roy. Agr. Soc. England16, 249–267 (1855).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Mahendrappa, M.K., Ogden, E.D. Patterns of ammonia volatilization from a forest soil. Plant Soil 38, 257–265 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00779010
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00779010