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rr�Because septic effluent is composed predominately of ammonium (NHA the pH, along with the <br /> EC, are significant influences on ammonium molecules. The pH of the soil is alkaline which may <br /> have an effect on ammonium formation and stability. The CEC measures the ability of the soil to <br /> theoretically trap and hold ammonium molecules. Cation Exchange Capacities of the soil samples <br /> are comparatively high due to the clay content. This means there is a high potential for the retention <br /> of ammonium molecules for microbial uptake, and denitrification potential. This is what may be <br /> occurring at the 24 to 40 inch depths, and the 59 to 77 inch depths noted by the decrease in nitrate- <br /> nitrogen concentration. <br /> NLS§ 3.3, SSS 5.3. Table 1 below summarizes the surface and subsurface soil characteristics <br /> encountered from three sail samples, illustrating the particularly high clay content percentages <br /> from each sample: <br /> TABLE 1 <br /> SUR., PROFILE CHARACTERISTICS AND <br /> ANALYTICAL TEST RESULTS y, <br /> SAMPLE LOCATION, SAND,SILT AND SOH, SOIL NITROGEN pH AND <br /> SAMPLE DEPTH AND,,. -CLAY CLASSIFICATION .-CONTENT CATION ExChANGE <br /> (SAMPLE NUMBER)', PERCENTAGES : TKN CONTENT.. . CAPACITY_ <br /> AR <br /> DISPOSAL FIELD 30%,32%,37% Clay Loam 12 ppm NO3 N 7.3 16.3 meq/100g <br /> AREA <br /> SURFACE 2223 mg/kg <br /> (SURF.) <br /> DISPOSAL FIELD 30%, 32%,37% Clay Loam 16 ppm NO3-N 7.9 57.9 meq/100g <br /> AREA <br /> 24 IN DEPTH 771 mg/kg <br /> (24 IN) <br /> DISPOSAL FIELD 36%,28%,35% Clay Loam 11 ppm NO3-N 8.5 29.8 meq/100g <br /> AREA <br /> 40 IN DEPTH 461 mg/kg <br /> (40 IN) <br /> DISPOSAL FIELD 30%,42%,28% CIay Loam 22 ppm NO,-N 8.2 23.1meq/100g <br /> AREA <br /> 59 IN DEPTH 522 mg/kg <br /> (5 5 IN) <br /> DISPOSAL FIELD 16%,56%,28% Silt Loam 9 ppm NO3 N 8.7 24.7 meq/IOOg <br /> AREA <br /> 77 IN DEPTH 307 mg/kg <br /> (77 IN) <br /> 4 <br /> Chesney Consulting <br />