Effect of Lime Application on the Movement of Atrazine and Nitrate-Nitrogen Through Undisturbed-Saturated Soil Columns

Abstract

A study was conducted to determine the effects of three application rates of agricultural lime (0, 5, and 10 Mg ha−1) on atrazine (2-chloro-4-ethylamino-6-isopropylamino-1,3,5 triazine) and nitrate-nitrogen (NO3-N) transport through undisturbed-saturated soil columns. The soil columns were saturated with CaSO4 solution before leaching them with two pore volumes of a solution containing CaCl2 (0.005 M), atrazine (2000 μg a.i atrazine L−1), and KNO3 (200 mg-N L−1). Leachate samples were collected at the bottom of soil columns for the analysis of pH, NO3-N, and atrazine. The results of this study showed that with the increase in the lime application rates a significant increase and then a decrease in the leachate flow rate and volume was observed. The concentration of NO3-N in the leachate water increased with an increase in lime application rate. An increase in the application rate of lime had no significant effect on the pH values of the leachate. Also, an increase in the application rate of lime resulted in higher concentrations of atrazine in the leachate water.