Nitrate in the unsaturated zone under agricultural lands
By: by P. F. Pratt. [Prepared] for Research and Monitoring, Environmental Protection Agency.
Contributors: United States. Environmental Protection Agency. Office of Research and Monitoring.
Series: Water pollution control research series
Publisher: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency]; for sale by the Supt. of Docs., U.S. Govt. Print. Off.
Published: 1972
Place of publication: [Washington
Language: eng
Number of pages: 45
Subjects: Nitrogen fertilizers.; Nitrification.; Leaching.
Description: Because of a tremendous increase in the concern for nitrate (NO₃̄) in surface and ground waters, the study of NO₃̄ leaching has become very important. The present investigation was undertaken to determine the potential contribution of fertilizer N use on citrus and row crops to the NO₃̄ in ground waters in the Santa Ana River Basin of Southern California where a deep unsaturated zone exists between the soil profile or crop-root zone and the water table or saturated zone. The objectives were to relate NO₃̄ concentrations in the unsaturated zone to N inputs, N removal by harvested crops and the volume of drainage water, to obtain some estimates of transit times for drainage water through the unsaturated zone, to estimate denitrification losses on a field basis, and to assess the probable effects of present fertilizer N recommendations on NO₃̄ in ground waters.
Notes: Bibliography: p. 41-42.
"16060 DOE 04/72."