Nitrogen leaching from forest soil cores after amending organic recycling products and fertilizers

Abstract

The effects of adding organic recycling products and fertilizers on patterns of nitrate and ammonium patterns to the soil were investigated. Organic fertilizers that have undergone composting processes caused only minor increases of nitrate and ammonium in the soil and the leachate. Uncomposted sewage sludge products resulted in elevated nitrate concentrations. Fertilizations with N-rich fertilizers decreased microbial mass and basal respiration.