Journal of the Indian Society of Soil Science
SCOPUS
  • Year: 2002
  • Volume: 50
  • Issue: 2

Influence of heavy metals on urea transformation in a saline soil

  • Author:
  • Sanjay K. Gupta1, M.L. Chaudhry
  • Total Page Count: 6
  • Page Number: 158 to 163

Department of Soil Science, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, Haryana, 125004

1Present address: All India Soil & Land Use Survey, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, 380007

Abstract

A laboratory experiment was conducted to study the effect of four heavy metals, viz. Ni, Zn, Pb and Hg on urea transformation in a saline soil at 15 and 30°C. In this saline soil, urea was completely hydrolysed within 3rd and 7th day at 30°C. Low temperature along with heavy metals delayed the hydrolysis of urea, significantly. The NH4+-N persisted for a longer period in this soil at low temperature. Higher concentration of metal ions (400 mg kg−1 soil) further delayed the nitrification in the order: Hg > Zn > Ni > Pb. Transformation of NH4+-N to NO3−-N was affected both by metal ions and temperature.

Keywords

Saline soil, heavy metals, urea hydrolysis, ammonification, nitrification