Simulated sheep urine causes the formation of acidic subsurface layers in soil under field conditions
Jason R. Condon
A B D , A. Scott Black A and Mark K. Conyers C
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A School of Agricultural and Wine Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Locked Bag 588, Wagga Wagga, NSW 2678, Australia.
B Graham Centre for Agricultural Innovation (Charles Sturt University and NSW Department of Primary Industries), Locked Bag 588, Wagga Wagga NSW 2678, Australia.
C Retired, formerly NSW Department of Primary Industries, PMB Pine Gully Road Wagga Wagga 2650, Australia.
D Corresponding author. Email: jcondon@csu.edu.au
Soil Research 58(7) 662-672 https://doi.org/10.1071/SR20120
Submitted: 23 April 2020 Accepted: 8 July 2020 Published: 6 August 2020
Abstract
This study aimed to ascertain whether application of sheep urine led to the development of acidic subsurface layers of a pasture soil. Deionised water or simulated urine solution delivering urea-nitrogen (N) at 44.8 g m–2 and potassium at 25 g m–2 was applied to soil in either winter or spring. Treatments were applied to the soil surface within 10.3 cm internal diameter PVC tubes inserted 20 cm into the soil either under ryegrass or kept bare. Main sampling times corresponded to the completion of various soil N transformations as determined by periodic sampling. Main samplings involved the collection of above ground plant material and soil sampling in 2 cm depth increments in 0–10 cm and 5 cm intervals in 10–20 cm depths. Following treatment application, urea and ammonium-N moved to a depth no greater than 20 cm but the extent of movement was greater in winter than spring due to the influence of initial soil moisture. Following urea hydrolysis, soil pH increased in the 0–15 cm depth. Subsequent nitrification significantly acidified soil under pasture by 0.8–1.0 pH units in the 2–8 and 2–6 cm depths in winter and spring respectively. This created a net acidic subsurface layer of 0.2–0.4 pH units compared with soil at the beginning of the experiment. Subsurface acidification was 0.5–0.7 pH units greater in bare soil compared with the presence of pasture. Transformations of N resulting from application of simulated urine solution formed acidic subsurface layers in the field regardless of the season of application.
Additional keywords: acidification, acidity, nitrogen transformations, pastures, stratification, urine.
References
Anon (2001) Nutrient balance in regional farming systems and soil nutrient status. A National Land and Water Resources Audit – Final report. pp. 11–15.Black AS (1992) Soil acidification in urine- and urea-affected soil. Australian Journal of Soil Research 30, 989–999.
| Soil acidification in urine- and urea-affected soil.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Black AS, Cameron KC (1984) Effect of leaching on soil properties and lucerne growth following lime and gypsum amendments to a soil with an acid subsoil. New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research 27, 195–200.
| Effect of leaching on soil properties and lucerne growth following lime and gypsum amendments to a soil with an acid subsoil.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Black AS, Sherlock RR, Cameron KC, Smith NP, Goh KM (1985) Comparison of three field methods for measuring ammonia volatilisation from urea granules broadcast on to pasture. Journal of Soil Science 36, 271–280.
| Comparison of three field methods for measuring ammonia volatilisation from urea granules broadcast on to pasture.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Bolan NS, Hedley MJ, White RE (1991) Processes of soil acidification during nitrogen cycling with emphasis on legume based pastures. Plant and Soil 134, 53–63.
| Processes of soil acidification during nitrogen cycling with emphasis on legume based pastures.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Bronson KF, Sparling GP, Fillery IRP (1999) Short term N dynamics following application of 15N-labelled urine to a sandy soil in summer. Soil Biology & Biochemistry 31, 1049–1057.
| Short term N dynamics following application of 15N-labelled urine to a sandy soil in summer.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Buckthought LE, Clough TJ, Cameron KC, Di HJ, Shepherd MA (2016) Plant N uptake in the periphery of a bovine urine patch: determining the ‘effective area’. New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research 59, 122–140.
| Plant N uptake in the periphery of a bovine urine patch: determining the ‘effective area’.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Burns HM, Norton MR, Tyndall P (2017) Reduced nodulation of faba bean on acidic soils; role of topsoil pH stratification. In ‘Doing More with Less. Proceedings of the 2017 Australian Agronomy Conference, Ballarat, Australia’. (Eds GJ O’Leary, RD Armstrong, LZ Hafner) (Australian Society of Agronomy: Melbourne) Available online at htttp://www.agronomyaustraliaproceedings.org/images/sampledata/2017/53_ASA2017_Burns_Helen_Final.pdf [verified 24 July 2020].
Condon JR, Black AS, Conyers MK (2004) The role of N transformations in the formation of acidic subsurface layers in stock urine patches. Australian Journal of Soil Research 42, 221–230.
| The role of N transformations in the formation of acidic subsurface layers in stock urine patches.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Condon JR, Black AS, Conyers MK (2005) The influence of potassium and defoliation of ryegrass on the formation of acidic subsurface layers in stock urine patches. Australian Journal of Soil Research 43, 213–223.
| The influence of potassium and defoliation of ryegrass on the formation of acidic subsurface layers in stock urine patches.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Conyers MK, Uren NC, Helyar KR (1995) Causes of change in pH in acidic mineral soils. Soil Biology & Biochemistry 27, 1383–1392.
| Causes of change in pH in acidic mineral soils.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Conyers MK, Heenan DP, Poile GJ, Cullis BR, Helyar KR (1996) Influence of dryland agricultural management practices on the acidification of a soil profile. Soil & Tillage Research 37, 127–141.
| Influence of dryland agricultural management practices on the acidification of a soil profile.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Conyers MK, Uren NC, Helyar KR, Poile GJ (1997) Temporal variation in soil acidity. Australian Journal of Soil Research 35, 1115–1129.
| Temporal variation in soil acidity.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Conyers MK, Heenan DP, McGhie WJ, Poile GP (2003) Amelioration of acidity with time by limestone under contrasting tillage. Soil & Tillage Research 72, 85–94.
| Amelioration of acidity with time by limestone under contrasting tillage.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Crooke WM, Simpson WE (1971) Determination of ammonium in Kjeldahl digests of crops by an automated procedure. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture 22, 9–10.
| Determination of ammonium in Kjeldahl digests of crops by an automated procedure.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Doak BW (1952) Some chemical changes in the nitrogenous constituents of urine when voided on pasture. The Journal of Agricultural Science 42, 162–171.
| Some chemical changes in the nitrogenous constituents of urine when voided on pasture.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Evans CM, Conyers MK, Black AS, Poile GJ (1998) Effect of ammonium, organic amendments, and plant growth on soil pH stratification. Australian Journal of Soil Research 36, 641–653.
| Effect of ammonium, organic amendments, and plant growth on soil pH stratification.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Haynes RJ (1986) The decomposition process: mineralization, immobilization, humus formation, and degradation. In ‘Mineral nitrogen in the plant-soil system’. (Ed. RJ Haynes) pp. 52–126. (Academic Press: New York)
Helyar KR (1976) Nitrogen cycling and soil acidification. Journal of the Australian Institute of Agricultural Science 42, 217–221.
Helyar KR, Porter WM (1989) Soil acidification, its measurement and the processes involved. In ‘Soil acidity and plant growth.’ (Ed. AD Robson) pp. 61–102. (Academic Press: Sydney)
Helyar KR, Cregan PD, Godyn DL (1990) Soil acidity in New South Wales - Current pH values and estimates of acidification rates. Australian Journal of Soil Research 28, 523–537.
| Soil acidity in New South Wales - Current pH values and estimates of acidification rates.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Henriksen A, Selmer-Olsen AR (1970) Automatic methods for determining nitrate and nitrite in water and soil extracts. Analyst (London) 95, 514–518.
| Automatic methods for determining nitrate and nitrite in water and soil extracts.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Isbell RF (1996) ‘The Australian classification.’ (CSIRO Publishing: Melbourne)
Kennedy IR (1992) ‘Acid soil and acid rain.’ (Wiley: Brisbane)
Li GD, Conyers MK, Helyar KR, Lisle CJ, Poile GJ, Cullis BR (2019) Long-term surface application of lime ameliorates subsurface soil acidity in the mixed farming zone of south-Eastern Australia Geoderma 338, 236–246.
| Long-term surface application of lime ameliorates subsurface soil acidity in the mixed farming zone of south-Eastern AustraliaCrossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Mulvaney RL, Bremner JM (1979) A modified diacetyl monoxime method for colorimetric determination of urea in soil extracts. Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis 10, 1163–1170.
| A modified diacetyl monoxime method for colorimetric determination of urea in soil extracts.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Paul KI, Black AS, Conyers MK (2001) Influence of fallow, cereal crop and legume pasture on pH within an initially mixed surface soil in the field. Biology and Fertility of Soils 33, 41–52.
| Influence of fallow, cereal crop and legume pasture on pH within an initially mixed surface soil in the field.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Paul KI, Black AS, Conyers M (2003) Development of acidic subsurface layers of soil under various management systems. Advances in Agronomy 78, 187–214.
| Development of acidic subsurface layers of soil under various management systems.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Phillips IR, Black AS, Cameron KC (1988) Effect of cation exchange on the distribution and movement of cations in soils with variable charge. II. Effect of lime or phosphate on potassium and magnesium leaching. Fertilizer Research 17, 31–46.
| Effect of cation exchange on the distribution and movement of cations in soils with variable charge. II. Effect of lime or phosphate on potassium and magnesium leaching.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Pinkerton A, Simpson JR (1986a) Responses of some crop plants to correction of subsoil acidity. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 26, 107–113.
| Responses of some crop plants to correction of subsoil acidity.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Pinkerton A, Simpson JR (1986b) Interactions of surface drying and subsurface nutrients affecting plant growth on acidic soil profiles from an old pasture. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 26, 681–689.
| Interactions of surface drying and subsurface nutrients affecting plant growth on acidic soil profiles from an old pasture.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Purnomo E, Black AS, Conyers MK (2000) The distribution of net nitrogen mineralisation within surface soil. 2. Factors influencing the distribution of net N mineralisation. Australian Journal of Soil Research 38, 643–652.
| The distribution of net nitrogen mineralisation within surface soil. 2. Factors influencing the distribution of net N mineralisation.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Rappaport BD, Axley JH (1984) Potassium chloride for improved urea fertilizer efficiency. Soil Science Society of America Journal 48, 399–401.
| Potassium chloride for improved urea fertilizer efficiency.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Ridley AM, Slattery WJ, Helyar KR, Cowling A (1990) The importance of the carbon cycle to acidification of a grazed annual pasture. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 30, 529–537.
| The importance of the carbon cycle to acidification of a grazed annual pasture.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Sabey BR (1969) Influence of soil moisture tension on nitrate accumulation in soils. Soil Science Society of America Journal 33, 263–266.
| Influence of soil moisture tension on nitrate accumulation in soils.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Scott BJ, Conyers MK, Poile GJ, Cullis BR (1997) Subsurface acidity and liming affect yield of cereals. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 48, 843–854.
| Subsurface acidity and liming affect yield of cereals.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Selbie DR, Buckthought LE, Shepherd MA (2015) The challenge of the urine patch for managing nitrogen in grazed pasture systems. Advances in Agronomy 129, 229–292.
| The challenge of the urine patch for managing nitrogen in grazed pasture systems.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Sherlock RR, Goh KM (1984) Dynamics of ammonia volatilization from simulated urine patches and aqueous urea applied to pasture I. Field experiments. Fertilizer Research 5, 181–195.
| Dynamics of ammonia volatilization from simulated urine patches and aqueous urea applied to pasture I. Field experiments.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Soil Survey Staff (2014) ‘Soil taxonomy: a basic system of soil classification for making and interpreting soil surveys.’ (USDA: Washington, DC)
von Uexkull HR, Mutert E (1995) Global extent, development and social impact of acid soils. In ‘Plant-soil interactions at low pH: principles and management’. (Eds RA Date, NJ Grundon, GE Rayment, ME Probert) pp. 5–19. (Kluwer Academic Publishers: Dordrecht, The Netherlands)
Wachendorf C, Taube F, Wachendorf M (2005) Nitrogen leaching from 15N labelled cow urine and dung applied to grassland on a sandy soil. Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems 73, 89–100.
| Nitrogen leaching from 15N labelled cow urine and dung applied to grassland on a sandy soil.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Williams PH, Haynes RJ (1994) Comparison of initial wetting pattern, nutrient concentrations in soil solution and the fate of 15N- labelled urine in sheep and cattle urine patch areas in pasture soils. Plant and Soil 162, 49–59.
| Comparison of initial wetting pattern, nutrient concentrations in soil solution and the fate of 15N- labelled urine in sheep and cattle urine patch areas in pasture soils.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Young SR, Black AS, Conyers MK (2002) Distribution of nitrification within surface soils under pasture. Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis 33, 1507–1518.
| Distribution of nitrification within surface soils under pasture.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
