Influences of nitrogen treatments and irrigation methods on soil chemical properties

Abstract

Changes in soil chemical properties were investigated in conjunction with an ongoing study of fertility and irrigation relationships of cotton. Four irrigation methods and five nitrogen fertilization rates were the primary focus of the study. The four irrigation regimes studied were: high frequency center pivot, low frequency center pivot, furrow irrigated, and unirrigated. Nitrogen rates were 0, 30, 60, 90, and 120 lb N/A. Soil samples were collected from each plot in 6‐in‐ increments to a depth of 24 in. in 1982 and again in 1986 after four years of continuous cotton production. The soil samples were analyzed for pH, organic matter (OM), P, K, electrical conductivity (EC), and NO₃ ^‐‐N. All background soil characteristics were found to vary with depth with the exception of NO₃ ^‐‐N. The follow‐up sampling and testing in 1986 showed significant differences in soil properties as a function of irrigation, N‐fertilization, depth, and their interactions. Nitrates were accumulated in the 18 to 24‐in. depth under high (120 lb N/A) fertilization, and in the 0 to 6‐in. depth under the four lower treatments (0, 30, 60, and 90 lb N/A). Soil pH was highest in the furrow and high frequency center pivot irrigated regimes and lowest in the unirrigated regime. Soil pH also decreased with depth. Electrical conductivity of the soil was highest in the high frequency regime and not significantly different among the other three irrigation methods. The 0M content of the soil was greatest in the high frequency regime but not significantly different in the low frequency, furrow, or unirrigated blocks. Soil 0M was found to decrease with depth through 18 in. in all cases. The P and K status of the soil was not changed as a result of the N fertilization or irrigation treatments.