Laserfiche WebLink
December 16,2002 <br /> Job Number: LG02-213 <br /> Page 10. <br /> Nitrates from Agriculture <br /> " Leaching losses of nitrate fertilizer occur when soils have more incoming water(rain or <br /> irrigation)than the soil can hold. As water moves through the soil, the nitrate (NO3_) that is in <br /> soil solution moves.along-with the water. 'Ammonium (NH4}) forms of N have a positive-charge <br /> and are held by the negative sites on the clay in the soil;therefore, NHq' forms of N leach very <br /> little. In sands where there is very little-clay, ammonium fonds of N can leach. Coarse-textured <br /> sands and some muck soils are the only soils where.ammonium leaching may be significant. <br /> One way.to minimize N leaching and;denitrification is to minimize the time the Nis in the soil- <br /> before plant"uptake.'This cuts down on the time.when conditions are favorable for losses.9"Proper <br /> management of agricultural property significantly reduces the potential nitrate impact to ground <br /> .. water. <br /> The orchard management of the property"is-conduced,by the occupant of the residence. <br /> Our office understands that no application of fertilizer has been used for the orchard. The" <br /> orchard apparently teceives'its nutrients from the shallow ground water which exists at a depth of <br /> 2 <br /> feet:—The orchard appears"to be in good and healthy condition. Since the application of <br /> orchard fertilizers does not occur-within the orchard, fertilizers will not be considered in the <br /> nitrate balance. <br /> Nitrate Loading Analysis <br /> The nitrate loadinganalysis was erformed for the full Phase II development with no <br /> . Y performed p <br /> residence. The result of the analysis indicated that the Nc,value was 4.0 mg/L-N." The water <br /> quality goal of less than 10 mglL (Nc} is recommended fair the percolating effluent for the <br /> project. The calculated Nc.value for the project was found to be well'below the maximum <br /> contaminate"level of 10.mglL-N'based on the assumptions discussed. A summary of the nitrate <br /> loading analysis is presented next. <br /> 9 Vitosh;M.L.;J.W.Johnson and D_B.Mengel,July 1995:.Tri-state Fertiliwr.Recommendations for <br /> Corn,Soybeans,Wheat and Alfalfa,Extension Bulletin E-2567. <br /> r <br />