Showing papers in "Soil Science in 1921"

Nitrogen in the rainwater at Ithaca, New York

Abstract: With an average yearly rainfall of 29.31 inches between May 1, l915, and May 1, 1920, the soil received annually 12.51 pounds of nitrogen to the acre. Of this amount 11.5 pounds was in the form of ammoniacal nitrogen and 1.01 pounds in the form of nitrate nitrogen. The ammoniacal nitrogen was found to fluctuate from month to month and from year to year while the nitrate nitrogen remained more constant. The amount of total nitrogen in the rainwater was to a large extent dependent on the amount of rainfall, a high nitrogen content accompanying a correspondingly high precipitation. The rainfall during the spring and summer monthes contained more nitrogen than the rain falling during the other two seasons of the year. The ammoniacal nitrogen decreased rather suddenly during August and continued low during September and October in spite of heavy rainfalls. This decrease was probably due to the atmosphere being washed comparatively free of ammonia by previous rains. Electrical discharges did not increase the nitrate nitrogen content of the rainwater to any considerable extent. The amount of ammoniacal nitrogen brought down in the rain falling at Ithaca, New York, is somewhat larger that that reported to be present inmore » many parts of the world, while the nitrate nitrogen content is about the same.« less