Oct. 8, 1917 
Nitrate-Nitrogen Accumulation in Soil 
55 
Table VI .—Nitrate accumulation in soil in a sealed container compared with soil with 
its surface exposed to the atmosphere 
[Results expressed as gain or loss in milligrams of NO3 per 100 gm. of soil] 
IO 
15 
20 
2 5 
28 
Gain or loss. 
Water per 100 gm. of soil. 
Condition. 
Open Stoppered 
bottle. bottle. 
C. c. 
Loose. 
Medium.... 
Compact... 
0. 60 
1. 40 
0. 2C 
0. 25 
Loose. 
13. 40 
O. 82 
Medium.... 
13. 00 
7. OO 
Compact... 
5. 80 
— 2. OO 
Loose. 
Medium.... 
54*40 
62. 20 
IO. OO 
28 . OO 
Compact... 
43.00 
** 2. OO 
Loose. 
98. 00 
2. 50 
Medium.... 
122. 00 
— 2. OO 
Compact... 
43.00 
Loose. 
Medium.... 
Compact.. . 
— 14. 40 
— 14. 40 
It is evident, therefore, that the nitrate accumulation herein reported 
was possible only through the atmospheric oxygen diffusing into those 
depths wherein such accumulations have occurred. The results above 
reported were somewhat surprising, and it was deemed advidable to at* 
tempt a somewhat similar study of undisturbed soil columns, it being 
possible that the manipulations through which the soil was carried might 
facilitate aeration even after such vigorous repacking. Accordingly 
columns were taken of the same soil as used above to a depth of 12 inches 
and incubated in glass cylinders at room temperature, as indicated in 
Table VII. This soil had been thoroughly cultivated the previous season 
to a depth of 7 inches. 
Table VII .—Nitrate accumulation in unbroken soil columns as compared with broken 
columns 
[Results expressed as gain or loss in milligrams of NO3 per 100 gm. of soil] 
Sample 
No. 
Condition. 
Water. 
Sample from 
depth of— 
Gain or 
loss. 
Initial. 
Final. 
Inches. 
Surface ; 
25. 65 
I. 
Natural position, unbroken. 
28 
26 
< 8 
r" 78 
12 
5 - 7 ° 
- x 38 
Surface 
3 * 57 
2. 
Inverted, unbroken. 
28 
26 j 
8 
<■— r* t t 
12 
\J* i 1 
~ 2. 64 
Surface 
II. 09 
3 . 
Natural position, sieved. 
28 
24 f 
8 
4 * 5 6 
12 
2.63 
1 
Surface 
2. 30 
4. 
Inverted, sieved. 
28 
22 
8 
8 6 c 
i 
12 
12. 33 
