NITRIFICATION POTENTIAL OF 5 SOILS AMENDED WITH UREA AND AMMONIUM-SULFATE

Nitrification potential of five soils of north Kamataka viz., black so il, red soil, paddy soil, forest soil and a sodic soil amended with ur ea and ammonium sulphate (@ 4 mg NH+4-N 10 g-1 soil) was studied. Both the fertilizers significantly enhanced the nitrification potential of all the soils. Addition of urea enhanced nitrification potential sign ificantly over addition of ammonium sulphate in all die soils except r ed soil. The lowest nitrification potential was recorded in forest soi l irrespective of the addition of ammoniacal fertilizers. The change i n nitrification potentials of soils with respect to physico-chemical p roperties are also discussed.