Studies on the fractionation of soil phosphorus and the absorption and retention of ammonium nitrogen in kerala soils

Abstract

A study was undertaken with the object of finding o u t t h e retention of ammonium nitrogen in different soils of Kerala when applied in the form of ammonium sulphate and leached after one day or one week contact. Eight soils differing in texture were taken and treated with ammonium sulphate solution of three different concentrations, viz., 52.50, 10500 and 21000 ,ug.N/lOO g. of soil under the laboratory conditions. The unadsorbed nitrogen was found out by estimating nitrogen in the supernatent liquid. The ammonium nitrogen retained by the soil was estimated after leaching the soil with known volume of water. The statistical evaluation of the relation between the textural separates and the ammonium nitrogen retained was also made.