Abstract
Simplified techniques for determining the volatilization of ammonia from fertilized crops or pastures without affecting the plant's environment were assessed in the field in New Zealand. The sampler, designed by Leuning et al., gave an accurate measure of the horizontal transport of ammonia at five heights ranging from 0.18m to 2.68m above the soil surface, and thus could be used to determine the vertical flux density of ammonia by the mass balance micrometeorological method. Over a five day period ammonia losses from a field fertilized with urea (100 kg N ha−1) were 13.4% of the applied nitrogen for a full profile, mass balance, reference method and 13.2% for the sampler.
The vertical flux density of ammonia could also be determined by using the sampler to measure the horizontal transport of ammonia at just one height above the fertilized field; in this application, either an empirical, or theoretical factor, is used to calculate vertical flux. Using this method the measured loss from the field was 11.6% of the applied nitrogen. Even though the sampler, when used at only one height, gave a slightly less reliable estimation of ammonia loss than the reference method, its use may be preferred because electrical power, pumps, flow meters and anemometers are not required.
The original sampler design has been improved by attaching the directional fins to the removable tail section rather than the body. This makes it easier to wash, charge, pack and store the samplers.
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Sherlock, R.R., Freney, J.R., Smith, N.P. et al. Evaluation of a sampler for assessing ammonia losses from fertilized fields. Fertilizer Research 21, 61–66 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01080531
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01080531