Retention of solutes by clayey Coastal Plain soils

• Published in: Journal of soil and water conservation Vol. 49; no. 1; pp. 90 - 96
• Main Authors: Hubbard, R.K, Sheridan, J.M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ankeny, IA Soil and Water Conservation Society 01.01.1994; Soil & Water Conservation Society
• Subjects: Absorption; AGRICULTURAL SOILS; Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; AZOTE; Biological and medical sciences; BROME; BROMINE; BROMO; Chemicals; CLAY SOILS; CULTURAL SOIL TYPES; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; MOVEMENT IN SOIL; NITRATE; NITRATES; NITRATOS; NITROGEN; NITROGENO; Physical properties; Physics, chemistry, biochemistry and biology of agricultural and forest soils; PHYSIOGRAPHIC SOIL TYPES; PROCESOS DE TRANSPORTE EN EL SUELO; Soil absorption and adsorption; Soil conservation; Soil science; SOIL TRANSPORT PROCESSES; Soils; SOL ARGILEUX; SOLUTE; SOLUTES; SOLUTO; SUELO ARCILLOSO; TIPOS DE SUELOS CULTIVABLES; TIPOS FISIOGRAFICOS DE SUELOS; TRANSPORT DANS LE SOL; TYPE DE SOL DE CULTURE; TYPE DE SOL GEOMORPHOLOGIQUE; Water and solute dynamics; Georgia; United States; North America; America; USA, Georgia; Bromine; Soil horizons; Mobility; Clay soil; Nitrates; Solutes; Nitrogen; Retention; Inorganic element; Depth; Physicochemical properties; Tracers
• ISSN: 0022-4561; 1941-3300

A study was conducted to determine solute retention and movement rates under bare soil conditions on two clayey coastal plain soils, Faceville sandy loam and Greenville sandy clay loam. Both soils have high clay contents in the subsoil, but the Faceville is sandier at the surface. Nitrate (NO 3 -N) and bromide (Br) sources were applied at the rate of 125 kg/ha. Replicate samples were taken over time by depth from each soil and analyzed for NO 3 -N and Br. Under natural rainfall, 45 to 95 percent of these highly soluble chemicals were retained in the top meter of soil nine months after application. After one and a half years the solutes had moved to a depth of about one meter. The study showed that agrichemicals were retained for an extended period of time in the top meter of these clayey soils. High background NO 3 -N levels found in the Faceville soil indicated that an N buildup may occur in the root zone of clayey coastal plain soils under commonly used N application rates.