| Abstract: | Although water from 20 to 25% of shallow farmstead wells in northern Missouri has concentrations of nitrate (NO3/-) exceeding 10 mg L-1 as nitrogen (N), many potential sources for this NO3/- are usually present. A field experiment was designed to trace and isolate the amount of a single application of N fertilizer lost to a glacial-till aquifer and runoff from a 400 m2 corn (Zea mays L.) plot with bromide (Br-) and isotopically labeled (15N) fertilizer. Soil at the plot is a Albaquic Hapludalf of the Adco Series containing a 61 cm claypan beneath 41 to 43 cm of topsoil. Groundwater levels ranged from 0.38 to 2.40 m below the land surface. Transport of water and NO3/- to the saturated zone was not substantially retarded by the claypan. Labeled-N fertilizer accounted for as much as 8.6 mg L-1 of the NO3/- (as N) in groundwater, but only in the top 1 to 2 m of the saturated zone. After two growing seasons (16 mo), <2% of the labeled-N fertilizer was lost to runoff, about 30% was in the saturated zone, 27.3% was removed with the grain, and about 5% remained in the unsaturated zone. A large part of the remaining labeled N may have been lost in gaseous N forms. The presence of labeled NO3/- only in the top 2 m of the aquifer, slow horizontal transport, and winter recharge indicate grass crops such as wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) or rye (Secale cereale L.) might be used to extract near- surface N during the winter recharge period. Also, fall fertilizations can be expected to readily leach. Because groundwater concentrations of labeled NO3/- were still increasing after two growing seasons, rotation of crops requiring small N inputs could be expected to limit the cumulative effect of large annual fertilizer applications on groundwater. |
| Genre: | Article |
| ProdID: | 70018485 |
| Citation Author: | Blevins, D. W.; Wilkison, D. H.; Kelly, B. P.; Silva, S. R. |
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| Citation End Page: | 593 |
| Citation Issue: | 3 |
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| Citation Language: | English |
| Citation Larger Work Title: | Journal of Environmental Quality |
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| Citation Number Of Pages: | 10 |
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| Citation Publisher: | American Soc of Agronomy Inc |
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| Citation Search Results Text: | Movement of nitrate fertilizer to glacial till and runoff from a claypan soil; 1996; Article; Journal; Journal of Environmental Quality; Blevins, D. W.; Wilkison, D. H.; Kelly, B. P.; Silva, S. R. |
| Citation Start Page: | 584 |
| Citation Volume: | 25 |
| Citation Year: | 1996 |
| Type: | citation/reference |
| Text: | Movement of nitrate fertilizer to glacial till and runoff from a claypan soil; 1996; Article; Journal; Journal of Environmental Quality; Blevins, D. W.; Wilkison, D. H.; Kelly, B. P.; Silva, S. R. |
| URL (THUMBNAIL): | http://pubs.er.usgs.gov/thumbnails/outside_thumb.jpg |
| Date Other: | Mon, 1 Jan 1996 00:00 -0600 |
| Publisher: | American Soc of Agronomy Inc |
