The Influence of Various Forms of Nitrogen Fertilization and Meteorological Factors on Nitrogen Compounds in Soil under Laboratory Conditions

• Main Authors: Rūta Dromantienė, Irena Pranckietienė, Darija Jodaugienė, Aurelija Paulauskienė
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2020-12-01
• Series: Agronomy
• Subjects: nitrogen; ammonium nitrate; urea; temperature; soil moisture
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/10/12/2011

Nitrogen is one of the main factors that shapes soil fertility and the productivity of crops, although its abundance can also cause damage to the environment. The aim of this study is to evaluate the influences of different forms of nitrogen fertilizers, soil temperature, and precipitation on the changes of nitrogen compounds (N-NH₄⁺, N-NO₃⁻, and N_min) in two soil layers. Two pot experiments are performed, involving simulated precipitation levels of 10- and 20 mm. Urea and ammonium nitrate fertilizers are used for fertilization. The soil samples are stored in pots in a climate chamber at different temperatures of 5, 10, 15, and 20 °C. After seven days, the changes of nitrogen compounds (N-NH₄⁺, N-NO₃⁻, and N_min) in 0–15 and 15–30 cm soil layers are analyzed. This study shows that the amount of N-NH₄⁺ nitrogen in the soil depends on the fertilizer form and soil temperature. In the temperature range of 5–20 °C, significantly more N-NH₄⁺ nitrogen is present in urea-fertilized soil. The migration of N-NH₄⁺ into the deeper 15-30 cm soil layer at both the 10- and 20-mm simulated precipitation levels is negligible. The N-NO₃⁻ contents in the 0–15 cm soil layer in the temperature range of 5–20 °C are 1.7–2.3 times lower in the urea-fertilized soil than in the ammonium nitrate-fertilized soil at a 10-mm simulated precipitation level and 1.6–2.2 times lower at 20 mm. The N_min contents in soil are directly dependent on the fertilizer form and soil temperature for both levels of simulated precipitation.