Thesis (M.S.)--Oregon State University, 2009. / Printout. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 81-86). Also available on the World Wide Web.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of North Carolina Wilmington, 2008. / Title from PDF title page (viewed May 27, 2009) Includes bibliographical references (p. 53-56)

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Aberdeen University, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references.

CAPES / Neste trabalho foram imobilizadas duas fontes de nitrogênio (ureia e caulinita intercalada com ureia) em matriz polimérica de PVA e alginato de sódio na proporção de 3:1, utilizando a metodologia de gotejamento em solução de CaCl2. Os grânulos foram submetidos ao congelamento e posterior descongelamento com o intuito de melhorar a estrutura e resistência térmica da matriz polimérica. Os grânulos foram analisados quanto a eliminação de água com o aumento dos ciclos de congelamento/descongelamento (CC/D), e caracterizados através de CHN, MEV, IVTF, DRX, TGA e DTG. Os grânulos que apresentaram as melhores formulações foram os de PVA+AS+U (PVA+alginato de sódio+ureia), pois apresentam eficiência de imobilização próximas as dos grânulos de PVA+AS+CI (PVA+alginato de sódio+caulinita intercalada com ureia), mas com maior estabilidade térmica, cerca de 200 ºC. Os grânulos ainda foram submetidos à testes de lixiviação para verificar a eliminação de nitrogênio, mas sem resultados conclusivos de detecção pelo método Kjeldahl. / In this work two nitrogen sources (urea and urea intercalated kaolinite) were immobilized in the PVA polymer matrix and sodium alginate in the ratio of 3:1, using the drip methodology in CaCl2. The granules were subjected to freezing and subsequent thawing in order to improve the structure and thermal resistance of the polymer matrix. The granules were analyzed for water removal with the increase of cycles of freeze/thaw (CC/D), and characterized by CHN, SEM, FTIR, XRD, TG and DTG. The granules that showed the best formulations were those of PVA+AS+U (PVA+sodium alginate+urea), because they present efficiency of immobilization near the granules PVA+AS+CI (PVA+sodium alginate+kaolinite intercalated with urea), but with greater thermal stability, about 200 °C. The granules were further subjected to leaching tests to verify the elimination of nitrogen, but no conclusive results of detection by the Kjeldahl method.

CAPES / Neste trabalho foram imobilizadas duas fontes de nitrogênio (ureia e caulinita intercalada com ureia) em matriz polimérica de PVA e alginato de sódio na proporção de 3:1, utilizando a metodologia de gotejamento em solução de CaCl2. Os grânulos foram submetidos ao congelamento e posterior descongelamento com o intuito de melhorar a estrutura e resistência térmica da matriz polimérica. Os grânulos foram analisados quanto a eliminação de água com o aumento dos ciclos de congelamento/descongelamento (CC/D), e caracterizados através de CHN, MEV, IVTF, DRX, TGA e DTG. Os grânulos que apresentaram as melhores formulações foram os de PVA+AS+U (PVA+alginato de sódio+ureia), pois apresentam eficiência de imobilização próximas as dos grânulos de PVA+AS+CI (PVA+alginato de sódio+caulinita intercalada com ureia), mas com maior estabilidade térmica, cerca de 200 ºC. Os grânulos ainda foram submetidos à testes de lixiviação para verificar a eliminação de nitrogênio, mas sem resultados conclusivos de detecção pelo método Kjeldahl. / In this work two nitrogen sources (urea and urea intercalated kaolinite) were immobilized in the PVA polymer matrix and sodium alginate in the ratio of 3:1, using the drip methodology in CaCl2. The granules were subjected to freezing and subsequent thawing in order to improve the structure and thermal resistance of the polymer matrix. The granules were analyzed for water removal with the increase of cycles of freeze/thaw (CC/D), and characterized by CHN, SEM, FTIR, XRD, TG and DTG. The granules that showed the best formulations were those of PVA+AS+U (PVA+sodium alginate+urea), because they present efficiency of immobilization near the granules PVA+AS+CI (PVA+sodium alginate+kaolinite intercalated with urea), but with greater thermal stability, about 200 °C. The granules were further subjected to leaching tests to verify the elimination of nitrogen, but no conclusive results of detection by the Kjeldahl method.

No abstract available. / Dissertation (MSc (Soil Science))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Plant Production and Soil Science / unrestricted

The objective of this study was to describe the dynamics of post-clearcutting forest floor N on mesic sites in the wet subzone of the Coastal Western Hemlock biogeoclimatic zone. Post-clearcutting release of N was examined by measuring the following parameters for a chronosequence of five sites ranging in age from an old-growth forest to a 26-yr-old stand: forest floor N capital; rate of in situ mineralization of forest floor; rate of decomposition of cellulose; concentrations of inorganic-N and total-N in soil solution; and adsorption of inorganic-N by ion exchange resin bags. Effects of the post-clearcutting release of N on tree growth were assessed by measuring foliar N levels and height growth of Abies amabilis (Dougl.) Forbes advanced regeneration. The following sinks for the mineralized forest floor N were investigated: accumulation in plant biomass; solution transfer of inorganic-N and total-N from the forest floor to storage in the upper mineral soil. Based on the difference between the old-growth and the 6- year-old forest floor N capitals, post-clearcutting mobilization of forest floor N was estimated to be 950 kg.N.ha⁻¹ . Although not significant (P=.05), rates of cellulose decomposition were about 3 times higher in the young clearcuts than in the old-growth stand. Indicators of N availability, including in situ rates of mineralization, soil water concentrations and ion exchange resin bags, revealed higher levels of nitrate in the forest floor and/or mineral soil in the 3- and 6-year-old clearcuts than in the other sites. Nitrate concentrations declined to pre-clearcut levels by 8-10 years after clearcutting. %N and N content of current needles, and 1983 height increment of amabilis fir regeneration reflected the pattern of N availability. Of the observed change in forest floor N (kg.N.ha⁻¹ ) over the 10 year post-clearcutting period, plant biomass accumulation accounted for 105 and solution transfer from the forest floor for 187. Together, this amounts to 1/3 of the observed decline of 950 kg.N.ha⁻¹ Potential rates of denitrification in the 5- and 12-year-old clearcut forest floors were 2-5 times greater than in the old-growth stand. The potential rates were sufficiently high to provide a plausible explanation for the post-clearcutting decline in forest floor N. / Forestry, Faculty of / Graduate

Nitrogen deposition to adjacent grassland and forested areas in the vicinity of Sabie, Mpumalanga, South Africa was studied. Total deposition amounts to the forested area are calculated to be 7l.2 kg N ha-1 yr1 and to the grassland area, 25 kg N ha· 1 yr1. The average deposition amounts are similar to or at least approach nitrogen mineralisation amounts at nearby sites of 50-70 kg N ha-1 yr1. The deposition amounts are made up of 21.4 kg N ha-1 yr1 dry deposition, 7.8 kg N ha-1 yr1 wet deposition and 42 kg N ha-1 yr1 cloud droplet deposition for the forest. For the grassland, the amounts are 7 kg N ha-1 yr1 dry deposition, 7.8 kg N ha-1 yr1 wet deposition and 10.5 kg N ha-1 yr1 cloud droplet. deposition. For both wet and cloud droplet deposition, the amount attributable to nitrate was greater than that attributable to ammonium. For wet deposition, nitrate contributed 4.1 kg N ha-1 yr1 and ammonium contributed 3.7 kg N ha-1 yr1 to both forests and grasslands. For cloud droplet deposition to forests, the amounts were 28 kg N ha-1 yr1 attributable to nitrate and 14 kg N ha-1 yr1 attributable to ammonium. For grasslands the amounts were 7 and 3.5 kg N ha-1 yr1. In both forests and grasslands, the component of dry deposition contributing the most to deposition was ammonia gas, the amounts being 14.2 and 4.3 kg N ha-1 yr1 respectively. Nitric acid contributes 3.7 and 1.9 kg N ha-1 yr1 respectively and is followed by the nitrogen dioxide component that contributes 1.6 and 0.5 kg N ha- I yr1. Ammonium and nitrate particles contribute the least to deposition. For the forests the amounts are 1 and 0.9 kg N ha-1 yr1 and for the grasslands they are 0.2 and 0.1 kg N ha-1 yr1. A strong seasonal variance in deposition amounts is apparent with maximum deposition amounts occurring in Summer and minimum amounts in Winter. Intermediate amounts are deposited in Autumn and Spring, with the latter season having slightly larger deposition amounts. The seasonal variance is strongly linked to the seasonal rainfall and cloud droplet deposition patterns. Biomass burning is indicated as a possible important factor in influencing the chemical composition of rainfall during Spring. Of the deposition amounts obtained in this study, the deposition from cloud droplets is high compared to other studies and is probably overestimated. Further research into this area is needed.

No description available.

This study assessed five fertilizer treatments (control – no fertilizer, urea, urea treated with N-(n-butyl) thiophosphoric triamide (NBPT), coated urea + NBPT (CUF), polymer coated urea (PCU) ) during two application seasons (spring, summer) to: 1) compare fertilizer nitrogen (N) losses (see Chapter 2); 2) evaluate temporal N uptake patterns of loblolly pine (see Chapter 3); and 3) evaluate fertilizer N cycling and partitioning in a loblolly pine ecosystem (see Chapter 4). Chapter 2 results showed enhanced efficiency fertilizers (EEFs) significantly reduced ammonia (NH3) volatilization losses compared to urea. Mean NH3 volatilization after spring fertilization ranged from 4% to 26% for EEFs versus 26% to 40% for urea, and 8% to 23% for EEFs versus 29% to 49% for urea in summer. Chapter 3 results showed an increase in timing and development of foliage in fertilized compared to unfertilized plots. In addition, the cumulative N uptake by loblolly pines increased over the entire growing season from N originating from fertilizer and natural sources. Chapter 4 results showed greater fertilizer N recovery for EEFs in both spring and summer (80%, 70-80% respectively) compared to urea (60%, 50% respectively) with most fertilizer N recovered from mineral soil (20% to 50%) and loblolly pines (10% to 50%). Three primary conclusions come from this research: 1) EEFs reduce NH3 volatilization after N fertilization compared to urea regardless of application timing and weather conditions (see Chapter 2); 2) N uptake by loblolly pines increases over the entire growing season after N fertilization (see Chapter 3); more fertilizer N remains in the ecosystem with EEFs compared to urea with most fertilizer N remaining in the soil (see Chapter 4). From these findings, we hypothesize that the EEFs in this study: 1) reduce ammonia volatilization which 2) translates to an increase in fertilizer nitrogen remaining in the loblolly pine plantation system that 3) increases the amount of plant available nitrogen for an extended period into the stand rotation and 4) increases fertilizer nitrogen use efficiency (FNUE) for all enhanced efficiency fertilizers investigated in this study compared to the conventional form of fertilizer N used in forestry, urea. / Ph. D.