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Published online 1 September 1972
Published in Agron J 64:660-664 (1972)
© 1972 American Society of Agronomy
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Nitrate-N Accumulation in the Soil Profile Under Alfalfa1

David L. Schertz and D. A. Miller2

A study was conducted to determine the influence of various levels of ammonium nitrate applications of NO3--N accumulations under alfalfa (Medicago sativa) and whether alfalfa has the ability to utilize excessive amounts of nitrate in the soil. Eight split applications of N totaling O, 224, 448, and 672 kg/ha (O, 200, 400, and 600 pounds/acre) were studied at the Agronomy South Farm, Urbana, 111. at various depths on six sampling dates. Soil was sampled at depths of O to 15, 15 to 30, 30 to 60, 60 to 90, and 90 to 105 cm or to the water table, which was never lower than 105 cm. Soil samples were dried, finely ground, and analyzed for NO3--N. NO3--N concentrations were greatest in March 1970 at the 30- to 60-cm depth. No more than 1 ppm was found at the 90- to 105-cm depth (water table) for any N treatments on Nov. 11, 1970. Highest concentrations of NO3--N were found at the 15- to 30-cm depth for all N treatments at the end of the growing season, Nov. 11. Although total amounts of NO3--N were lower in March than in November, the highest accumulations were found at the 30- to 60-cm depth in March, but at the 15- to 30-cm depth in November. The only treatment on Nov. 11 that did not show a significant difference when compared to the check was the 224 kg N/ha. Alfalfa would have some value in a rotation for reducing NO3--N, which may accumulate under continuous corn (Zea mays L.) after excessive N applications.

Key Words: Pollution • Rotation

1 A portion of this research was supported by funds from the Illinois Agricultural Experiment Station. Contribution from Department of Agronomy, University of Illinois, Urbana, 111. 61801.

2 Research Assistant (now with USDA, Soil Conservation Service) and Professor of Plant Genetics, respectively.

Received for publication February 2, 1972.




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The SCI Journals Crop Science Vadose Zone Journal
Journal of Natural Resources
and Life Sciences Education		 Soil Science Society of America Journal
Journal of Plant Registrations Journal of
Environmental Quality		 The Plant Genome
Copyright © 1972 by the American Society of Agronomy.