Nitrogen and sulfur in precipitation and sulfur in the atmosphere in Wisconsin

Journal Article · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1972 · J. Environ. Qual.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2134/jeq1972.00472425000100020025x· OSTI ID:5443458

Hoeft, R G; Keeney, D R; Walsh, L M

A monitoring program to determine the seasonal distribution of sulfur and nitrogen from the atmosphere and a greenhouse experiment to evaluate the absorption of atmospheric SO/sub 2/ by alfalfa (Medicago sativa) was conducted. Atmospheric SO/sub 2/ levels at all rural and urban locations were low in the summer months and increased markedly in the winter months and, on the average, the values in urban areas were about twice those in rural areas. The SO/sub 2/ collected 2 km from an industrial location was 10 to 15 times as high as the urban locations. At a distance of 5 km this value dropped to levels comparable to urban areas and to rural levels at 10 km. Sulfur (as SO/sub 4/) in precipitation followed the same seasonal and location trends as did SO/sub 2/ with 16, 42, and 168 kg of S/ha per yr being deposited in rural, urban, and industrial locations, respectively. An overall state average of 30 kg S/ha per yr was estimated. Sulfur-deficient alfalfa plants grown in a greenhouse at Madison from January to May obtained as much as 73% of their S from the atmosphere. The amount of NH/sub 4//sup -n/ and organic N deposited by precipitation was highest during the spring months and lowest during the winter months. Both NH/sub 4//sup -n/ and organic n were higher in areas adjacent to barnyards than in areas removed from the barnyard. However, NO/sub 3//sup -n/ deposition was relatively constant for all locations and was slightly lower in the winter months. Total N additions ranged from 13 to 30 kg/ha per yr, and an overall state average of about 20 kg/ha per yr was estimated.

• OSTI ID: 5443458
• Journal Information: J. Environ. Qual.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Environ. Qual.; (United States) Vol. 1; ISSN JEVQA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

500200* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
560303 -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology-- Plants-- (-1987)
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ADSORPTION
AIR POLLUTION
ALFALFA
AMMONIUM COMPOUNDS
ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATIONS
BUILDINGS
CHALCOGENIDES
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ELEMENTS
FEDERAL REGION V
GREENHOUSES
INDUSTRY
LEGUMINOSAE
NITRATES
NITROGEN
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NONMETALS
NORTH AMERICA
NUTRIENTS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PLANTS
POLLUTION
RURAL AREAS
SEASONAL VARIATIONS
SORPTION
SULFATES
SULFUR
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SULFUR DIOXIDE
SULFUR OXIDES
URBAN AREAS
USA
VARIATIONS
WISCONSIN