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Title: NITRATE LEACHING FROM ILLINOIS CORN FIELDS IN DIFFERENT TILLAGE SYSTEMS

Author
item Huck, Morris
item KIM, WON - UNIV OF ILLINOIS

Submitted to: Agronomy Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/2/1995
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Movement of soil water and inorganic nitrogen compounds through a soil profile was monitored to identify the effects of tillage systems on nitrate leaching. Water content profiles in fields under no-tillage or conventional-tillage practices were measured at two commercial farms using Neutron-scattering techniques at weekly intervals throughout three growing seasons. Tillage system and amount of rainfall influenced water content of the surface soil whereas subsoil water content was more strongly affected by soil type and slope. Anhydrous ammonia was fall-applied in the October proceeding the 1992 and 1993 growing seasons, while URAN was applied in three separate applications in the spring of the 1994 season. Soil core-samples to a depth of 120 cm were collected at intervals, and sectioned into 15 cm lengths for subsequent analysis of 2M KC1 soil extracts. Colorimetric methods were used to assay for nitrate and ammonium content. Nitrate and ammonium levels were much higher in fields to which anhydrous ammonia was applied, and significant downward movement of NO3- was observed. Fields fertilized with URAN showed much lower N-levels at all depths with no significant movement of N below the top 30 cm.