Nitrogen Leaching from Osmocote-Fertilized Pine Bark at Leaching Fractions of 0 to 0.4

Abstract

Pine bark-filled PVC columns with 1 g Osmocote (14N-6.3P-11.6K)(14-14-14) per column were irrigated five days a week for 12 weeks with a leaching fraction (LF) of 0, 0.2, or 0.4. Every two weeks cumulative N content of collected leachate and medium solution N concentration (pour-through method) were determined. The total amount of N leached from bark at 0.4 LF was 61% greater than at 0.2 LF. Medium solution NO 3 -N concentrations of 0 LF were four to eight times greater than at 0.4 LF for all sampling dates. After 84 days, there was no difference in amount of N remaining in Osmocote prills for the LF treatments.