Abstract:
Hexamethylenediamine adipate, NH 3   +  --(CH 2 ) 6  --NH 3   +  COO -  --(CH 2 ) 4  --COO -   (Nylon Salt), is a nitrogen-containing soil conditioner. Degradation of hexanediamine in the soil by bacteria and fungi releases ammonia which may be interconverted with nitrate to supply nitrogen for the growing plant.

Description:
SUMMARY 
     Studies on the use of Nylon Salt when applied to soil demonstrated its use for improvements in aggregate stability, permeability, flocculation of soil suspensions and seedling emergence of &#34;Manapal&#34; tomato. Hexamethylenediamine is degraded by soil bacteria and fungi (notably Aspergillus niger, Alcaligenes and Flavobacterium) releasing ammonia through the amine-oxidase reaction: 
     
         NH.sub.2 --(CH.sub.2).sub.6 --NH.sub.2 .sup.amine oxidase 2NH.sub.3 +CHO--(CH.sub.2).sub.4 --CHO 
    
     interconversion of ammonia with nitrite and nitrate would provide nitrogen for the growing plant. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The development of good soil structure with its beneficial effects on drainage, aeration, rooting and nutrient uptake is important to the production of agricultural crops. A synthetic chemical which would improve soil structure would be valuable for increasing yields in presently cultivated areas and for expanding production into hitherto structurally inhibiting soils. Additional benefit would be derived from such a chemical if, on degradation in the soil, an essential nutrient such as nitrogen was released. 
     Table 1 shows that when a 10% suspension of the &lt;0.045 mm fraction (clay-silt fraction) of a silt loam is treated with various concentrations of Nylon Salt, flocculating ability is statistically apparent at 75 ppm. Higher concentrations show higher flocculation. Flocculation was measured by % transmittance in a spectrophotometer at 525 nm (this wavelength was shown to exhibit minimum absorption). 
     
                       Table 1.______________________________________ Flocculation of the clay-silt fraction of a silt loam           % transmittance at 525 nm.sup.2Nylon Salt Conc. (ppm)           (after 24 hours)______________________________________0               2.8 a10              2.5 a30              3.7 a75              82.9 b150             93.5 c300             96.0 c______________________________________ .sup.2 Mean separation within columns by Student-Newman-Keule test, at 5% level. Each mean consists of 4 samples. 
    
     Table 2 indicates that when the &lt;0.25 mm fraction of a silt loam is treated with various concentrations of Nylon Salt and air-dried for five days, aggregate stability and permeability are improved. Aggregate stability refers to the erosion strength of the particles formed by the conditioner and permeability reflects drainage capabilities. Aggregate stability improves from 0.5% for distilled water to 23.4% for Nylon Salt at a concentration of 0.3% of over-dried soil. Permeability improves by about 120% -- from 10.4 ml/sq. cm./hr. to 22.6 ml/sq cm./hr. 
     
                       Table 2.______________________________________Aggregate stability and permeability of the &lt;0.25 mmfraction of a silt loam         Stable aggregates.sup.2                       Permeability         &gt;0.25 mm      &lt;0.25 mmNylon Salt Conc. (%)         (%)           (ml/sq cm/hr)______________________________________0.000         0.5 a         10.4 a0.010         0.4 a         12.9 a0.075         15.0 b        18.8 b0.300         23.4 c        22.6 b______________________________________ .sup.2 Mean separation as above, each mean consists of 3 samples. 
    
     Table 3 shows that these soil improvements may be reflected in seedling emergence. The cultivar used is &#34;Manapal&#34; and seedling emergence improved for all concentrations of Nylon Salt from 0.005% to 0.5% of air-dried soil when applied prior to sowing. All treatments were significantly higher than the distilled water treatment, but not different from each other. 
     
                       Table 3.______________________________________Germination capacity of the tomato (cultiver Manapal)treated with four concentrations of NS prior to sowingNS conc.(% air-dried soil)            Germination (%).sup.2______________________________________0.000            61.5 a0.005            81.3 b0.050            75.3 b0.250            77.5 b0.500            82.5 b______________________________________ .sup.2 Means separated within columns by Student-Neuman-Keule test, at 5% level. Each mean consists of 3 samples 
    
     Table 4 shows the identity of soil bacterial isolates capable of utilizing hexamethylenediamine as a sole nitrogen source. Aspergillus niger is known to possess an amine oxidase enzyme system so that conversion of hexamethylenediamine to the aldehyde and ammonia would occur in soils. 
     
                       Table 4.______________________________________Hexamethylenediamine as N source forsoil isolatesIsolate         Identity______________________________________  1        Aspergillus niger  2        Flavobacterium           (ferrugineum)  3        Flavobacterium spp.  4        Alcaligenes           (paradoxus)  5        Flavobacterium spp.______________________________________ 
    
     Table 5 indicates that apical nitrogen (top 2 cm) is increased in seven week old tomato plants when Nylon Salt is applied to soil at the seedling transplantation stage. 
     
                       Table 5.______________________________________ Effect of Nylon Salt on apical nitrogenNylon Salt conc. (%)             Apical nitrogen (%)______________________________________0.00              2.30.03              2.30.07              2.7______________________________________ 
    
     The preceeding studies demonstrate that Nylon Salt when applied to soils in water at low concentrations can influence aggregate stability, permeability, seedling emergence and nitrogen uptake. The flocculating ability of Nylon Salt at concentrations of 75-300 ppm in a 10% clay suspension further demonstrate its soil conditioning properties. The uniqueness of the compound for soil applications lies both in its ability to behave as a soil conditioner and, on degradation, to behave as a nitrogen fertilizer. Because of the effect of Nylon Salt on aggregate stability, this material may be applied to soils to control erosion for agricultural and non-agricultural purposes.