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Title: Nitrogen mineralization potential and nitrogen transformations of sludge-amended soil

Conference · · Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J.; (United States)
OSTI ID:6047548

A clayey soil (Glendale, a Typic Torrifluvent) and a sandy soil (Latene, a Typic Calciorthid) were amended with three rates (0.15, and 30 g kg ) of gamma irradiated, dried, anaerobically digested sewage sludge. Before incubation and periodically during incubation, the soils were leached with 0.01M CaCl2 and the leachate analyzed for NH4 , NO2 , and NO3 . Cumulative (NO3 + NO2 )-N at the end of 32 weeks was dependent on sludge rate, but not on soil type or the soil type-sludge rate interaction. Mineralization rates decreased rapidly the first two weeks, followed by a slower decrease with time. Rates were higher in sludge-amended soil than in unamended soil. The best estimates for sludge-amended soil were obtained by modelling N mineralization as the sum of two exponentials. Total and net mineralization were greater in the Glendale soil than in the Latene soil. Total mineralization increased with sludge addition, but net mineralization decreased with sludge addition. Denitrification losses probably accounted for the discrepancies between total and net mineralization. Denitrification increased with sludge addition and was greater in the Glendale than the Latene soil.

Research Organization:
New Mexico State Univ., Las Cruces
OSTI ID:
6047548
Journal Information:
Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J.; (United States), Vol. 48:5; Conference: 48. annual meeting, Soil Science Society of America, Las Vegas, NV, USA, 25-30 Nov 1984
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English