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Loss of nitrate nitrogen in the soil surface layer in Japanese grassland during the heavy rainfall season and its enhancement by the root mat

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Summary

Measurement of nitrate and chloride in the soil profile have been made in a grassland field at the National Grassland Research Institute, Tochigi, which received heavy applications at the rate of 60 kg/ha of nitrogen and chloride as potassium nitrate and calcium chloride respectively, at 5 days intervals in the summer wet season. The chloride anion was utilized as a tracer of the nitrate anion. Compared with the plots without a root-mat zone (0–2.5 cm), those with a root-mat zone had a lower NO3−N/Cl ratio in the soil surface layer (0–15 cm). Under intensive rainfall (17th July to 5th Sept., 519 mm) and high temperature (23°C), the surface root zone of the grass sward was assumed to be in a significantly reducing condition. From the change of NO3−N/Cl ratio in the soil profile and the plant uptake of nitrogen and chloride, considerable reduction of NO3−N and its loss from the root-mat zone was suggested.

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Author notes

  1. N. Ae

    Present address: Division of Environment, Chugoku Agricultural Experiment Station, Fukuyama, 721, Hiroshima, Japan

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Environment, National Grassland Research Institute, 329-27, Nishinasuno, Tochigi, Japan

    N. Ae

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  1. N. Ae
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Ae, N. Loss of nitrate nitrogen in the soil surface layer in Japanese grassland during the heavy rainfall season and its enhancement by the root mat. Plant Soil 55, 147–151 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02149718

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02149718

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