BEHAVIOUR IN THE SOIL 



21 



between the application of the ammonia salts and the next 

 running of the drain pipes was sufficient to prevent the 

 appearance of more than traces of ammonia in the drainage 

 water. The amount of chlorides and nitrates found is shown 

 in the following table. The composition of the drainage 

 waters on January gth, the last running before the application 

 of the manures, is also given so as to show in a clearer manner 

 the influence of the manures on the drainage waters. 



TABLE II. 

 COMPOSITION OF THE DRAINAGE WATERS FROM PLOTS 8, 9, 



AND 10, IN THE RoTHAMSTED WHEAT FlELD, BEFORE AND 

 AFTER THE APPLICATION OF AMMONIA SALTS AND NlTRATE 



OF SODA. 



Chlorine per Million of Water. 



Nitrogen as Nitrates per Million of Water. 



Plot 8, Ammonia salts 

 Plot 9, Nitrate of Soda 

 Plot 10, Ammonia salts 



102 14-1 



lO'o 119-2 



91 15-2 



In the case of the two plots receiving ammonia salts we 

 find the same result as before ; that is, a great discharge of 

 chlorides, and doubtless of sulphates, in the first running of 

 the drainage water, accompanied with only a small increase 

 in the proportion of nitrates ; while afterwards (as shown in 

 plot 10) the chlorides diminish, and the nitrates largely 

 increase. 



Where nitrate of soda had been applied the results are 

 quite different ; here the nitrate is from the first ready formed, 

 and comes through in immense quantity in the first discharge 

 of the drain-pipes. The advantage of ammonia salts over 



