Nitrogen mineralization and transformation from composts and biosolids during field incubation in a sandy soil

Journal Article · Tue Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 2000 · Soil Science

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1097/00010694-200002000-00007· OSTI ID:20062529

He, Z L; Alva, A K; Yan, P; Li, Y C; Calvert, D V; Stoffella, P J; Banks, D J

Field evaluation of nutrient release from composts is important to estimate nutrient contribution to crops, potential leaching of nutrients, and, ultimately, to determine optimum application rates, timing, and placement of composts. Field incubation and laboratory analyses were conducted to evaluate the mineralization rate and transformation of N in biosolids (BSD), yard waste (YW), and West Palm Beach co-compost (WPCC). Each of the composts or biosolids was packed into PVC columns and inserted vertically into the upper layer of an Oldsmar fine sand of raised citrus beds. The top end of the PVC column was capped to prevent excessive leaching of nutrients from the columns. The moisture equilibrium between the incubated sample and the soil in the field was attained through the bottom and four side holes of each column, which were separated from the contacting soil by 400-mesh nylon screen. A set of the incubated columns was removed at monthly intervals, and the soil underlying each column was sampled to analyze for KCl-extractable NH{sub 4}-N and NO{sub 3}-N. Total C and N of the incubated samples were determined at the end of the 1-year incubation.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Florida, Gainesville, FL (US)
• OSTI ID: 20062529
• Journal Information: Soil Science, Journal Name: Soil Science Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 165; ISSN SOSCAK; ISSN 0038-075X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AMMONIUM COMPOUNDS
BENCH-SCALE EXPERIMENTS
COMPOST
FIELD TESTS
LEACHING
MINERALIZATION
NITRATES
SOILS