Seasonal dynamics of nitrate and ammonium ion concentrations in soil solutions collected using MacroRhizon suction cups

• Published in: Environmental monitoring and assessment Vol. 189; no. 7; p. 304
• Main Authors: Kabala, Cezary, Karczewska, Anna, Gałka, Bernard, Cuske, Mateusz, Sowiński, Józef
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cham Springer International Publishing 01.07.2017; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Ammonium; Ammonium compounds; Ammonium Compounds - analysis; Ammonium nitrate; Ammonium nitrogen; Annual variations; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Biological fertilization; Cups; Dosage; Dynamics; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecology; Ecotoxicology; Environment; Environmental Management; Environmental monitoring; Environmental Monitoring - instrumentation; Environmental Monitoring - methods; Environmental science; Fertilization; Fertilizers; Fertilizers - analysis; Growing season; Ions; Leachates; Leaching; Monitoring/Environmental Analysis; Nitrates; Nitrogen; Nitrogen - analysis; Nitrogen Oxides - analysis; Saccharides; Seasons; Sediment concentration; Slow release fertilizers; Soil; Soil - chemistry; Soil conditions; Soil contaminants; Soil dynamics; Soil Pollutants - analysis; Soil solution; Soil suction; Soils; Solutions; Sorghum; Suction; Sugar; Urea; Nitrogen fertilization; Nitrates; Groundwater; Soil solution; Suction cups; Monitoring
• ISSN: 0167-6369; 1573-2959
• DOI: 10.1007/s10661-017-6022-3

The aims of the study were to analyse the concentration of nitrate and ammonium ions in soil solutions obtained using MacroRhizon miniaturized composite suction cups under field conditions and to determine potential nitrogen leaching from soil fertilized with three types of fertilizers (standard urea, slow-release urea, and ammonium nitrate) at the doses of 90 and 180 kg ha −1 , applied once or divided into two rates. During a 3-year growing experiment with sugar sorghum, the concentration of nitrate and ammonium ions in soil solutions was the highest with standard urea fertilization and the lowest in variants fertilized with slow-release urea for most of the months of the growing season. Higher concentrations of both nitrogen forms were noted at the fertilizer dose of 180 kg ha −1 . One-time fertilization, at both doses, resulted in higher nitrate concentrations in June and July, while dividing the dose into two rates resulted in higher nitrate concentrations between August and November. The highest potential for nitrate leaching during the growing season was in July. The tests confirmed that the miniaturized suction cups MacroRhizon are highly useful for routine monitoring the concentration of nitrate and ammonium ions in soil solutions under field conditions.