Typescript. / Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hawaii at Manoa, 1974. / Bibliography: leaves 160-167. / xiv, 167 leaves ill

CAPES / A adubação nitrogenada é freqüentemente observada como um eficiente fator nutricional fornecido a planta visando melhorar a produção de espécies forrageiras, necessitando ser entendido o comportamento do nitrogênio (N) no sistema. O experimento foi conduzido na área do Instituto Agronômico do Paraná (IAPAR) na estação experimental de Pato Branco, com objetivo de avaliar a dinâmica do N no sistema solo-planta em pastagem de Brachiaria plantaginea. O delineamento experimental foi o de blocos ao acaso com duas repetições. Os tratamentos foram arranjados em parcelas subdivididas. Nas parcelas foram alocados os períodos e nas sub-parcelas a combinação das três doses de N e duas intensidades de pastejo (Massa Alta e Massa Baixa), perfazendo seis tratamentos em esquema fatorial. As doses de N foram compostas de 0, 200 e 400 kg.ha-1 de N e as intensidades de pastejo preconizadas em massa baixa (MB), com 1.500 kg de MS.ha-1, e massa alta (MA) com 3.000 kg de MS.ha-1 em pastejo com lotação contínua e taxa de lotação variável. Utilizaram-se caprinos, meio sangue Bôer, com cinco meses de idade e peso médio de 21 Kg de peso vivo (PV), para definir as massas de forragem (MF) preconizadas. Avaliou-se a produção acumulada e total de biomassa aérea de papuã nos períodos experimentais, os índices nutricionais de nitrogênio, fósforo e potássio, também a curva de diluição, eficiência e recuperação do nitrogênio e o comportamento do nitrogênio no solo. A produção de forragem de B. plantaginea foi maior na dose intermediaria de N (200 kg de N.ha-1), atingindo uma produção de 19.834 kg de MS.ha-1, 31% a mais que no tratamento que não recebeu adubação nitrogenada. Os teores de N encontrados nas plantas que receberam adubação nitrogenada apresentaram valores superiores aos preconizados como críticos, resultando em conteúdos adequados deste elemento na planta, e, ao contrário, as plantas cultivadas sem adubação nitrogenadas apresentaram teores inferiores ao crítico, apontando desta forma que a curva de diluição de N é uma ferramenta adequada para diagnose de nutrição nitrogenada em pastagens. A máxima produtividade foi limitada pela falta de fósforo indicada pelo baixo índice de fósforo obtido conforme os teores do elemento na pastagem e a absorção de K aumentou com a adubação nitrogenada apresentando índices satisfatórios do elemento. A dose de 200 kg de N.ha-1 demonstrou-se a mais eficiente com taxas de recuperação de N superiores em 63% em relação a dose de 400 kg de N.ha-1. Não foi observada lixiviação das formas de nitrogênio inorgânicas estudas (nitrato e amônio) no perfil do solo e observou-se maior quantidade de nitrato e N-Mineral na menor massa de forragem após completada a quantidade de N proposta. / Nitrogen fertilization is usually noticed as an efficient nutritional factor offered to the plant with the aim to improve its production, being necessary to understand the nitrogen behave (N) in the system. The experiment was carried out at the Agronomist institute of Paraná (IAPAR), experimental unit of Pato Branco with the aim to evaluate the dynamic of N in the soil-plant system of a Brachiaria plantaginea. The experiment was laid out as random block design with two replications. The treatments were arranged in a split-plot model. At the plots were allocated the periods and at the sub-plots the combination of three levels of nitrogen and two grazing intensities (High mass and Low Mass), making six treatments in a factorial scheme. The levels of nitrogen used were composed of 0, 200 and 400 kg of N.ha-1 and the grazing intensities characterized by the low forage mass (LM) with 1.500 kg of DM.ha-1 and high forage mass (HM) with 3000 kg of DM.ha-1 in a continuous stocking rate. Were used goats half blood Boer with five months old and average life weight of 21 kg of live weight (LW) at the beginning of the experiment with the aim to adjust the forage mass (FM) wanted. Was evaluated the accumulate and total forage production of the papuã aerial biomass at the experimental periods, the nutritional indices of nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium and also the dilution curve, efficiency of N recovery and behave of nitrogen in the soil. The Brachiaria plantaginea forage production was higher at the nitrogen intermediate level (200 kg of N.ha-1), reaching an production of 19.834 kg of DM.ha-1, 31% more then treatment without nitrogen. The N levels found in the plants that received nitrogen fertilization showed higher values than the ones recognized as deficient, resulting in adequate contents of this element in the plant and, in the other hand, the plants cultivated without nitrogen showed levels below the one recognized as sufficient, showing with that the dilution curve of N is an adequate tool to diagnose the forage nitrogen nutrition. The highest production was limited by the lack of phosphorous showed by the phosphorous indices obtained according to the pasture element levels and the absorption of K increased with the nitrogen application, showing satisfactory level of the element. The 200 level of N.ha-1 showed to be the most efficient with recovery N levels 63% higher than the 400 kg.N.ha-1. There was no inorganic (NO3 - e NH4 +) N leaching found in the soil profile and was noticed higher quantities of NO3 - and mineral-N at the lower forage mass after finishing the total N applied.

CAPES / A adubação nitrogenada é freqüentemente observada como um eficiente fator nutricional fornecido a planta visando melhorar a produção de espécies forrageiras, necessitando ser entendido o comportamento do nitrogênio (N) no sistema. O experimento foi conduzido na área do Instituto Agronômico do Paraná (IAPAR) na estação experimental de Pato Branco, com objetivo de avaliar a dinâmica do N no sistema solo-planta em pastagem de Brachiaria plantaginea. O delineamento experimental foi o de blocos ao acaso com duas repetições. Os tratamentos foram arranjados em parcelas subdivididas. Nas parcelas foram alocados os períodos e nas sub-parcelas a combinação das três doses de N e duas intensidades de pastejo (Massa Alta e Massa Baixa), perfazendo seis tratamentos em esquema fatorial. As doses de N foram compostas de 0, 200 e 400 kg.ha-1 de N e as intensidades de pastejo preconizadas em massa baixa (MB), com 1.500 kg de MS.ha-1, e massa alta (MA) com 3.000 kg de MS.ha-1 em pastejo com lotação contínua e taxa de lotação variável. Utilizaram-se caprinos, meio sangue Bôer, com cinco meses de idade e peso médio de 21 Kg de peso vivo (PV), para definir as massas de forragem (MF) preconizadas. Avaliou-se a produção acumulada e total de biomassa aérea de papuã nos períodos experimentais, os índices nutricionais de nitrogênio, fósforo e potássio, também a curva de diluição, eficiência e recuperação do nitrogênio e o comportamento do nitrogênio no solo. A produção de forragem de B. plantaginea foi maior na dose intermediaria de N (200 kg de N.ha-1), atingindo uma produção de 19.834 kg de MS.ha-1, 31% a mais que no tratamento que não recebeu adubação nitrogenada. Os teores de N encontrados nas plantas que receberam adubação nitrogenada apresentaram valores superiores aos preconizados como críticos, resultando em conteúdos adequados deste elemento na planta, e, ao contrário, as plantas cultivadas sem adubação nitrogenadas apresentaram teores inferiores ao crítico, apontando desta forma que a curva de diluição de N é uma ferramenta adequada para diagnose de nutrição nitrogenada em pastagens. A máxima produtividade foi limitada pela falta de fósforo indicada pelo baixo índice de fósforo obtido conforme os teores do elemento na pastagem e a absorção de K aumentou com a adubação nitrogenada apresentando índices satisfatórios do elemento. A dose de 200 kg de N.ha-1 demonstrou-se a mais eficiente com taxas de recuperação de N superiores em 63% em relação a dose de 400 kg de N.ha-1. Não foi observada lixiviação das formas de nitrogênio inorgânicas estudas (nitrato e amônio) no perfil do solo e observou-se maior quantidade de nitrato e N-Mineral na menor massa de forragem após completada a quantidade de N proposta. / Nitrogen fertilization is usually noticed as an efficient nutritional factor offered to the plant with the aim to improve its production, being necessary to understand the nitrogen behave (N) in the system. The experiment was carried out at the Agronomist institute of Paraná (IAPAR), experimental unit of Pato Branco with the aim to evaluate the dynamic of N in the soil-plant system of a Brachiaria plantaginea. The experiment was laid out as random block design with two replications. The treatments were arranged in a split-plot model. At the plots were allocated the periods and at the sub-plots the combination of three levels of nitrogen and two grazing intensities (High mass and Low Mass), making six treatments in a factorial scheme. The levels of nitrogen used were composed of 0, 200 and 400 kg of N.ha-1 and the grazing intensities characterized by the low forage mass (LM) with 1.500 kg of DM.ha-1 and high forage mass (HM) with 3000 kg of DM.ha-1 in a continuous stocking rate. Were used goats half blood Boer with five months old and average life weight of 21 kg of live weight (LW) at the beginning of the experiment with the aim to adjust the forage mass (FM) wanted. Was evaluated the accumulate and total forage production of the papuã aerial biomass at the experimental periods, the nutritional indices of nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium and also the dilution curve, efficiency of N recovery and behave of nitrogen in the soil. The Brachiaria plantaginea forage production was higher at the nitrogen intermediate level (200 kg of N.ha-1), reaching an production of 19.834 kg of DM.ha-1, 31% more then treatment without nitrogen. The N levels found in the plants that received nitrogen fertilization showed higher values than the ones recognized as deficient, resulting in adequate contents of this element in the plant and, in the other hand, the plants cultivated without nitrogen showed levels below the one recognized as sufficient, showing with that the dilution curve of N is an adequate tool to diagnose the forage nitrogen nutrition. The highest production was limited by the lack of phosphorous showed by the phosphorous indices obtained according to the pasture element levels and the absorption of K increased with the nitrogen application, showing satisfactory level of the element. The 200 level of N.ha-1 showed to be the most efficient with recovery N levels 63% higher than the 400 kg.N.ha-1. There was no inorganic (NO3 - e NH4 +) N leaching found in the soil profile and was noticed higher quantities of NO3 - and mineral-N at the lower forage mass after finishing the total N applied.

An incubation technique was used to examine carbon mineralization and inorganic nitrogen accumulation in samples of Douglas-fir and alder forest floors developed over soils derived from granitic, ultrabasic and limestone parent materials in western British Columbia and Washington. Samples included L, F, and H or Hi horizons of Douglas-fir mor, raw moder, mull-like moder and mull forest floors and alder typical moder forest floors. Carbon dioxide production by the forest floor materials provided an estimate of gross carbon mineralization and an approximate indication of gross nitrogen mineralization. Comparison of inorganic nitrogen accumulated and gross carbon mineralized indicated that a large fraction of the mineralized inorganic nitrogen is immobilized by the microbial population and (or) lost to denitrification. The Hi horizons (organic horizons containing considerable incorporated mineral matter) accumulated more inorganic nitrogen than did the L and F horizons. Alder forest floors accumulated more inorganic nitrogen than did Douglas-fir forest floor materials. Alder L horizons tended to accumulate ammonium nitrogen while the F and Hi horizons accumulated nitrate nitrogen. Douglas-fir mor forest floors were distinguished from their mull and moder counterparts by slower decomposition and less inorganic nitrogen accumulation, and by largely accumulating ammonium nitrogen in all horizons. Irregular nitrogen accumulation curves, for some samples of Douglas-fir L and F horizons were probably due to denitrification losses. Incubation conditions favoring nitrification, with no plant sinks to remove accumulated inorganic nitrogen, may have favored denitrification losses. / Land and Food Systems, Faculty of / Graduate

Understanding the redistribution and fate of N is essential for justification of Best Management Practices (BMP). This project was conducted on a Hecla fine sandy loam (sandy, mixed, Aquic Haploboroll) soil at the BMP field site near Oakes, North Dakota. One objective of this investigation was to evaluate the residence times of N03- -N in 20 undisturbed lysimeters and its infiltration time through the soil profile to tile drains. Corn (Zea mays L.) was fertilized with 135 kg N ha -1 as ¹⁵N-enriched urea plus 13.5 and 48.1 kg N ha -1 preplant for 1993 and 1994, respectively. Urea-N was band applied to 20 and 10 undisturbed lysimeters at 2.0 and 5.93 atom percent (at %) ¹⁵N in 1993 and 1994, respectively. Average resident times of N03- -N in the lysimeters was 11.7 months. Lysimeter and tile drainage indicate the presence of preferential pathways. Residence times of N03- -N depend on frequency and intensity of precipitation events. Another objective was to determine what portion of the total N in the crop was from applied urea-N and what portion was from the native soil-N. Nitrogen plots received ¹⁵N enrichments of 4.25 and 5.93 at % ¹⁵N in 1993 and 1994, respectively. At the end of the 1993 and 1994 growing season, 41.5% and 35.7% of the labeled fertilizer N remained in the soil profile, while the total recovery of applied ¹⁵N in the soil-plant system was 86.2% and 75.4%, respectively. Low recoveries of applied N may have been the result of soil or aboveground plant biomass volatilization, or denitrification or preferential flow processes. Further research needs to be conducted with strict accountability of gaseous loss and the mechanism(s) responsible. / U.S. Bureau of Reclamation

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Free energy changes of oxidative inorganic nitrogen transformations in acid and basic media were calculated and interrelated. The free energy values of reactions involving nitrification were not always found to be in agreement with those reported in the literature. The primary reason for the deviations was that the pH of the medium had often not been considered in formulating these reactions. It was also found that thermodynamically, hyponitrous acid and nitrous oxide might well be intermediates in the process of nitrification. The existence of hydroxylamine as an intermediate between ammonia and/or ammonium ion and nitrite was not supported by the data obtained. It was shown that in acid solutions nitrite may thermodynamically undergo three reactions; it may decompose to nitric oxide, oxidize to nitrate or be reduced to nitrous oxide. In alkaline solutions nitrate seems to be the only product. Ammonia volatilization and water evaporation from the soils investigated followed different functions and may be independent of each other. The functions were not affected by differences in soil texture, soil water, speed and relative humidity of air flowing over the soil surfaces. Ammonia losses from finer-textured soils were proportional to their original soil pH's. Norfolk fine sandy loam, pH 6.7, lost most ammonia indicating that soil texture is also an important factor in ammonia volatilization. A linear relationship was observed between rate of ammonia applied (up to 600 ppm) and ammonia volatilized. The rate of ammonia volatilization followed a first-order reaction. Deviations from a first-order reaction were observed when higher levels of ammonia were applied. In regard to mechanisms of ammonia adsorption by soils it was found that at low concentrations, ammonia adsorption followed Langmuir's monomolecular adsorption theory. The differential slopes obtained for different sections of the curves were related to reactions involving "hydrogen", exchange sites and physical adsorption. The S-shaped curve obtained for high concentrations suggests the formation of polymolecular layers. Ammonia adsorption by neutral and basic soils also gave a typical Freundlich adsorption isotherm and furthermore closely simulated the behavior of a buffer medium. In fine-textured soils the amount of ammonia retained was inversely related to the original soil pH. The subsequent difference in adsorption capacity for ammonia between Yolo loam and Davidson clay, and between the buffer medium and Norfolk fine sandy loam seems to indicate that kind and amount of salt and/or weak acid may have a greater effect on ammonia adsorption than pH. Between texture groups, texture appears to exert a major influence on ammonia adsorption capacity. / Ph. D.

Fresh market broccoli (Brassica oleracea L. var italica) production is increasing in southcentral Virginia because it provides growers with a new economic opportunity while complementing the traditional tobacco-growing in that region. Little research data is available for vegetable fertilization on these southern Piedmont soils. The objectives of this study were to amend the current recommended nitrogen rates for broccoli production, and to measure plant N uptake and soil nitrate status throughout the growing season in order to develop an efficient N fertilization program for this emerging industry. A preliminary study in 1985 indicated no significant yield response to eight treatments varying in amount of total N applied from 56 to 290 kg N/ba. A more detailed study was conducted in 1986 with N treatments expanded as follows: main plot factor of base rate N at 0, 56, 112, and 168 kg N/ha, and 3 subplot factors of 0, 1, or 2 sidedressings at 56 kg N/ha each applied at 3 and 6 weeks after seeding. Yield differences for base rate N were significant at the first harvest only, while sidedressing effects on yield were significantly different for 3 of the 4 harvests and total yield. Nitrogen uptake during the first 32 days after seeding (DAS) was minimal, 0.17 kg N/ha/day, but increased to 8.05 kg N/ha/day during head formation (55 to 77 DAS). Initial soil nitrate status was 52 kg NO₃-N/ha in the top 25 cm and decreased to 10.6 kg NO₃-N/ha in the control plot by the end of the season. Total N uptake of broccoli with no fertilizer applied averaged 200 kg N/ha demonstrating the capability of these soils to supply N. These results suggest the current practice of applying the first sidedressing at 3 weeks after seeding may not be necessary. However, later sidedressings, prior to and during head formation, are recommended to maintain an adequate available nitrogen supply throughout the growing season. / M.S.