Summary and conclusions
1. Studies of the transformation of urea and ammonium sulphate in the Sudan Gezeira soil, when incubated under field conditions in polythene bags, were carried out with two rates of nitrogen, different moisture levels and frequency of wetting and drying during the winter and summer months.
2. The pattern of the transformation was nearly the same for the two levels of nitrogen added but there was a difference in magnitude. Urea hydrolysis was arrested during the first week in the open-bag system in the summer months. A low recovery of ammonia with ammonium sulphate and urea was associated with early ammonia volatilization losses.
3. There was a marked accumulation of nitrite in the first two weeks especially in moist closed bags, thereafter it decreased to low values.
4. Nitrate accumulated gradually under winter conditions, more so with closed bags than open ones. By contrast, little nitrate nitrogen was formed during the hot summer months, this being associated with high ammonia accumulation throughout the incubation period.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Aleem, M. I. H. and Alexander, M., Nutrition and physiolgy ofNitrobacter agilis. Appl. Microbiol.8, 80–84 (1960).
Chapman, H. D. and Liebig, C. F., Field and laboratory studies of nitrite accumulation in soils. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. Proc.16, 276–282 (1952).
Clark, F. E., Beard, W. E., and Smith, D. H., Dissimilar Nitrifying capacities of soils in relation to losses of applied nitrogen. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. Proc.24, 50–54 (1960).
Court, M. N.et al., Nitrite toxicity arising from the use of urea as a fertilizer. Nature194, 1263–1265 (1962).
Eno, C. F., Nitrate production in the field by incubating the soil in polythene bags. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. Proc.24, 277–279 (1960).
Hauck, R. D., and Stephenson, H. F., Nitrogen source, size and pH of the granule and concentration. J. Agr. Foofd Chem.13, 486–492 (1965).
Jagnow, G., Ann. Rep. Gezeira Agricultural Research Station (1959/60) 1960.
Jewitt, T. N., Nitrification in Sudan Gezeira Soil. J. Agr. Sci.36, 264–271 (1945).
Lees, H., and Quastel, J. H., Biochemistry of nitrification in soil. I. Kinetics of, and the effects of poisons on soil nitrification, as studied by a soil perfusion technique. Biochem. J.40, 603–815 (1946).
Musa, M. M. Ann. Rep. Gezeira Agr. Research Sta. (1964/65), 1965.
Musa, M. M., Ann. Rep. Gezeira Agr. Research Sta. (1965/66), 1966.
Paul, J. L., and Polle, E., Nitrite accumulation related to Lettuce growth in slightly alkaline soil. Soil Sci.100, 292–297, (1965).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Musa, M.M. Nitrogenous fertilizer transformations in the Sudan Gezira soil. Plant Soil 29, 1–8 (1968). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01393906
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01393906