Leachability of Nitrate from Sandy Soil using Waste Amendments

Environmental issues associated with intensive use of nitrogenous fertilizers have generated an interest in alternative management systems. An experiment was conducted to mitigate nitrate leaching from sandy soil using different waste materials such as charcoal, manure, sawdust, wood ash, and control (no amendment). Urea was applied at the rate of 300 kg nitrogen (N) ha^?1. Nitrate was determined during six leaching events. During an incubation experiment, nitrate release was also determined in soil amended with charcoal at the rates of 0, 10, 20, and 40 t ha^?1. Urea was applied at the rates of 0, 100, 200, 400, and 1000 ppm N. Results indicated that urea application increased nitrate (NO₃) concentration in leachate. Soil amendments substantially reduced NO₃ in leachates irrespective of the type of material used. Waste amendments differed for NO₃ leaching as follows: charcoal < wood ash < sawdust < manure. Leaching of NO₃ enhanced up to the fourth leaching event and thereafter reduced significantly. Nitrate retention in soil varied among material in the order of manure > charcoal > wood ash > sawdust. Nitrate accumulation occurred in the lower layer (25–50 cm) of soil column after the leaching process. Application of charcoal retained greater NO₃ level as compared to control soil during an incubation. Enhanced urea applications also enhanced NO₃ release. This experiment suggests that waste material can be viably recycled to mitigate NO₃ concentration in water.