Environmental Factors Influencing the Sorption of Atmospheric Ammonia by Soils

Abstract

Abstract Under conditions of controlled temperature and atmospheric ammonia concentration, the sorption rate for atmospheric ammonia by six soils from New Jersey decreased only slightly over exposure periods up to 4 days and averaged 55 to 74 kg of NH 3 ‐N/ha/year. The ammonia sorption rate for these soils increased rapidly with increasing ammonia concentration and moderately with increasing temperature. Calculated energies of activation suggest that sorbed ammonia is held by chemical bonds rather than by physical adsorption. Increasing the velocity of gas flow across the soil surface brings more ammonia into contact with the soil and thus enhances the sorption rate. Soils sorb significant amounts of ammonia from the atmosphere which under some environmental conditions may constitute a major mechanism in the transfer of nitrogen form the atmosphere to soils.