Degradation of 14C-zinc ammonium acetate in soils as influenced by soil types, soil sterilization, and carriers

• Published in: Journal of plant nutrition Vol. 29; no. 5; pp. 797 - 807
• Main Authors: Liu, A, Malzer, G.L, Rehm, G.W, Jones, R.J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Philadelphia, NJ Taylor & Francis Group 01.01.2006; Taylor & Francis
• Subjects: agrochemicals; Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; anhydrous ammonia; Biological and medical sciences; calcium chloride; carbon dioxide; chemical degradation; clay loam soils; corn; Economic plant physiology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; gas emissions; incubation experiment; Metabolism; Metabolism. Physicochemical requirements; microbial activity; Nutrition. Photosynthesis. Respiration. Metabolism; plant cultural practices; Plant physiology and development; recovery; sandy soils; silty soils; soil microorganisms; Soil science; soil sterilization; water; Zea; Zea mays; zinc ammonium acetate; zinc ammonium acetate (ZAA); Incubation; Radiolabelling; Carbon dioxide; zinc ammonium acetate (ZAA); Carbon Isotopes; PLANT NUTRITION; Radioisotope; Recovery; Zinc; Degradation; Soils; Group IIB metal; C-14; Soil types; Sterilization; incubation experiment; CO2 recovery; Influence factor
• ISSN: 0190-4167; 1532-4087
• DOI: 10.1080/01904160600649179

Zinc ammonium acetate (ZAA), typically applied to soils in anhydrous ammonia as a carrier, has been used to improve corn (Zea maysL.) productivity. This study aimed to determine the fate of ZAA in soils as influenced by soil type (sandy, silt, and clay loam), sterilization (sterile and non-sterile), and two carriers (H2O and NH4OH). A 16 d laboratory incubation experiment with 14C-ZAA showed that total recovery of carbon-14 (14C) from 14CO2 trap and soil extraction by CaCl2 ranged from 72% to 94% in the first 8 d for sterilized soils. However, < 17% 14C was found in non-sterilized soils. Most 14C recovered in sterilized soil was associated with soil extraction, and relatively little was found in the CO2 traps. All sterilized soils provided similar 14C recoveries except the sandy loam. Slightly more 14C was extracted from the soil when NH4OH was the ZAA carrier rather than water. Conversely, recovery of 14CO2 continued to increase during the 16 d incubation, but started faster when water was the ZAA carrier. Microbial activity appeared to be instrumental in the assimilation and disappearance of ZAA.