ASSIGNMENT 3: Loss of Soil N
NOTE: This assignment can only be completed after the samples are set-up and allowed to sit for 5 days. The treatments will be available for observation sometime within the next two weeks (before the end of the lecture series).
Loss of nitrogen (N) as ammonia gas (NH3) is known as volatilization. While volatilization directly from soil can occur, such loss is generally relatively small compared to the amount that can be lost from fertilizers. Volatilization losses can be significant with granular urea and urea-ammonium nitrate (UAN) sources, but the amount of loss varies greatly depending on placement of the fertilizer, soil pH, whether or not a volatilization inhibitor was used as well as several other soil factors.
Complete the assignment by determining the impact of the treatments on volatilization. Carefully smell each of the treatments and see if you can detect free ammonia, an indicator of volatilization. Mark your answers below and submit. Additional comments about what you think of the assignment are welcome.
Loss of nitrogen (N) as ammonia gas (NH3) is known as volatilization. While volatilization directly from soil can occur, such loss is generally relatively small compared to the amount that can be lost from fertilizers. Volatilization losses can be significant with granular urea and urea-ammonium nitrate (UAN) sources, but the amount of loss varies greatly depending on placement of the fertilizer, soil pH, whether or not a volatilization inhibitor was used as well as several other soil factors.
Complete the assignment by determining the impact of the treatments on volatilization. Carefully smell each of the treatments and see if you can detect free ammonia, an indicator of volatilization. Mark your answers below and submit. Additional comments about what you think of the assignment are welcome.