Determination of Nitrogen and Phosphorus in Soil

Hannah Nordby, Sonam Nhasang, Alexander Berhe

Saint Olaf College, Northfield, Minnesota 55057

Abstract

Introduction
The soil levels of nitrogen and phosphorus have always been a curiosity. Too
much of these two substances could lead to malnourishment to surrounding plants and
even animals. In Canada, the Abbotsford-Sumas Aquifer has been being contaminated
with multiple nitrates. The researchers think that the cause of these nitrates is due to the
agricultural productions in the fields (Zebarth 2015). Manure and compost are said to aid
these crops in field growth. Unfortunately, the nitrogen and phosphorus accumulate and
become a hazard to this growth (Eghball and Power 1999). These levels are concerning
because too much of each of the substances can be detrimental not only to the plant and
or crop, but also to the animal who might in ingesting the plant.
In our study, we wanted to base it on the topic of nitrogen and phosphorus levels.
Our group selected three different locations (outside of Regents Hall, Natural Lands by
Skoglund Pond, Clover field by the Art Barn) on the St. Olaf college campus to
determine which area would have a higher contamination level of nitrogen and
phosphorus. At each location, we took three samples. Our group hypothesized that out of

the three locations; the clover field would carry the highest concentration of nitrogen and
phosphorus due to surrounding aspects, such as root systems and how much they absorb.
Lange (2014) stated that nitrogen and phosphorus levels would be higher in an
agriculture field rather then in another soil source. Wang (2015) also stated the same
results as Lange (2014) did. Wang (2015) said that the closer to a water source the higher
the concentration of both nitrogen and phosphorus would be.

Methods and Materials

Collection
The Art Barn collected three samples of each soil from Skoglund Pond, Regents
Hall and a clover field. In order to collect the samples at Skoglund pond, the plant matter
had to be scraped to successfully scoop the soil. Five grams of soil was collected from a
five foot radius,. The soil from the clover field by the Art Barn was also collected in the
same manner but the clover had to be moved out of the way in order to collect the right
amount of samples. The samples collected outside of Regents, were very muddy and the
samples mainly consisted of small rocks and a great amount of a clay substance.
Preparation
The nine samples in total were dried in the oven and weighed. The centrifuge
tubes were filled up with 40 ml of deionized water and five grams of soil was added to
each of the centrifuge tubes. The tubes were shaken every two minutes for 30 minutes.
Centrifuge and Filtering
The centrifuge tubes were placed in the centrifuge at 3000 rpm for three minutes.
Once the centrifuge process was complete, the tubes were then filtered with clean
centrifuge tubes, a filter and a funnel. The soil mixture was still opaque and was put in

the centrifuge again at 4000 rpm for eight minutes. The soil mixture was then placed in a
vacuum filter and then a fine pore vacuum filter.
Standard Solutions
The nitrogen standard was created using various types of dilutions. 10 ppm of
pure nitrogen was diluted with 50 ml of nitrogen then filled with deionized water. This
was diluted to 2 ppm of nitrogen. Using four 250 ml flasks the solution was created. They
ranged from 0.0 ppm with no nitrogen, 0.5 ppm with 25 ml of pure nitrogen, 1.0 with 50
ml of pure nitrogen to 1.5 ppm with 75 ml of pure nitrogen. The phosphorus solution was
created almost the same way. Using five 250 ml flasks, the 10 ppm of phosphorus and the
solution ranged from 0.0 ppm to 0.8 ppm.
Results
The Natural Lands percent moisture per each sample ranged from 36.4 grams,
which was two of the samples percent and then 61.4 grams then the average was 44.8
grams. Regents percent moisture per sample ranged from 52.7 grams, 50.2 grams, and
52.0 grams. The average was 51.7 grams. The Clover Field percent moisture per sample
ranged 52.9 grams, 51.0 grams and 38.6 grams. The average was 47.5 grams (Table 1)
(Figure 1).
The Natural Lands nitrogen levels ranged from 0.075 ppm, 0.026 ppm, and 0.058
ppm. The average was 0.053 ppm. Regents nitrogen levels ranged from 0.118 ppm,
0.059 ppm and 0.125 ppm. The average was 0.100 ppm. The Clover Field nitrogen levels
ranged from 0.407 ppm, 0.066 ppm, and 0.086 ppm. The average was 0.041 ppm (Table
1) (Figure 2).

The Natural Lands phosphorus levels ranged from 0.407 ppm, 0.066 ppm, and
0.086 ppm. The average was 0.186 ppm. Regents phosphorus levels ranged from 0.474
ppm, 0.841 ppm and 0.424 ppm. The average was 0.580 ppm. The Clover Field
phosphorus levels ranged from 0.486 ppm, 0.074 ppm and 0.318 ppm. The average was
0.293 (Table 1) (Figure 3).

Discussion
Our results did not match our hypothesis to the least bit. The hypothesis that we
came up with was that the Clover Field would ultimately have the highest levels of
nitrogen and phosphorus. To our surprise, this was not the case. After examining our
results carefully, outside of Regents Halls actually had the highest levels of both nitrogen
and phosphorus. Wang (2015) stated that soil located next to a water source would have
the higher levels of nitrogen. This however was not the case in our situation.
Since it was raining the day we collecting, the data could have been skewed to the
more negative. When we were collecting in front of Regents Hall, we took our sample
right next to the sidewalk where there was some water build up. The run off from the
concrete could have alternated our data. Robinson (2009) conducted an experiment using
an old parking lot and she found that the concrete and asphalt were carrying the higher
levels of both nitrogen and phosphorus was polluting the surrounding areas. Our results
were similar to what Robinson found, in that both of our nitrogen and phosphorus levels
were higher in an area that was right next to concrete. Vitousek (1997) stated that her and
her team of researchers noticed that the higher nitrogen levels lead to more greenhouse
gases found in the soil. Our results suggest the same thing that Vitousek was researching.
Outside of Regents Hall had a higher level of nitrogen and phosphorus; this could have

been a result of the grass being more maintained and always getting fertilized unlike the
natural lands and the clover field that was also in our study.
The percent moisture was also substantially higher than the other areas that we
collected the samples. Collecting from the different areas, lead to this dramatic
difference. When collecting the samples from the Natural Lands, the soil was being
protected from organisms and plants that were providing some sort of umbrella so that
the water didnt really penetrate the ground. Schwartz (2015) researched during a rainy
year that nitrogen levels decreased the more it rained, this was not the case in our study as
the nitrogen levels in the soil in from of Regents was higher then our other samples.

Annotated Bibliography

(Zebarth et al. 2015)

Zebarth, B. J., M. C. Ryan, G. Graham, T. A. Forge, and D. Neilsen. 2015.
Groundwater Monitoring to Support Development of BMPs for
Groundwater Protection: The Abbotsford-Sumas Aquifer Case
Study. Ground Water Monitoring and Remediation 35:82-96.
The Abbotsford- Sumas Aquifer, located in Canada, is highly
contaminated with nitrates. The cause of the contamination is
from agricultural production in the fields. This was discovered
through different monitoring of the contaminated groundwater
has been done throughout the years. The researchers
determined that the sand and gravel based soils have higher
levels of the nitrogen from the aquifer. In addition, the changing
of agricultural practices has not changed the outcome of the
nitrogen levels in the aquifer. If we find higher nitrogen levels in
our samples, it might lead to an aquifer that might be containing
the higher nitrogen levels affecting water quality. It is important
because people drink the water out of aquifers.
(Eghball and Power 1999)
Eghball, B., and J. F. Power. 1999. Phosphorus- and nitrogen-based
manure
and compost applications: Corn production and soil phosphorus.
Soil Science Society of America Journal 63:895-901.
Manure and compost are said to aid crops in field growth.
However, nitrogen and phosphorus accumulate and become a
hazard. The application of manure or compost does increase the
corn production compared to the non-fertilized soil. The
phosphorus based manure resulted in almost the same crop
production just as the nitrogen had done. If we check the clover
field, and it contains higher levels of both nitrogen and
phosphorus, we can link our results to how the researchers might
have put manure or compost on top of the agriculture. It is
important to us because people eat these crops and possess
them in their households.

(Vitousek et al. 1997)

Vitousek, P. M., J. D. Aber, R. W. Howarth, G. E. Likens, P. A. Matson, D.
W. Schindler, W. H. Schlesinger, and D. Tilman. 1997. Human
alteration of the global nitrogen cycle: Sources and
consequences. Ecological Applications 7:737-750.
Nitrogen is a low level element that helps contribute to diversity
and many other functioning elements of an ecosystem. Many of
these animals have adapted to low levels of nitrogen, yet
agriculture and the burning of many fossil fuels have slowly
altered the levels the animals are used to. With this said, the
nitrogen levels has doubled and has also increased the
greenhouse gases and decreased soil nutrients. Finding higher
levels of nitrogen would tell us that there might be more
greenhouse gases in the soil. It is important to us because we do
not want animals and other organisms dying from over exposure
to these greenhouse gases and the increased levels of nitrogen.
(Lange et al. 2014)
Lange, K., C. R. Townsend, R. Gabrielsson, P. C. M. Chanut, and C. D.
Matthaei. 2014. Responses of stream fish populations to farming
intensity and water abstraction in an agricultural catchment.
Freshwater Biology 59:286-299.
The nitrogen levels in agriculture, have been affecting many
streams and other bodies of water in the world. In low rainfall,
the researchers calculated the percent of the farming intensity in
a certain area and discovered that different landscapes had
varying numbers. Farming had showed a stronger negative
relationship with fish and other such organisms. This relates to
our study because if we find dead organisms or high nitrogen
levels, we can link our results to changes in agriculture. People
eat fish and other such things, and we dont want them infected
with these high levels of Nitrogen.
(Wang et al. 2015)

Wang, Y. H., L. Zhang, and Y. Haimiti. 2015. Study on Spatial Variability

of Soil Nutrients in Ebinur Lake Wetlands in China. Journal of
Coastal Research:59-63.
In China, three samples were chosen in the Ebinur Lake wetlands.
Researchers analyzed the variability of the soil nutrients and chemical
levels of each of the samples obtained. The soil nitrogen and the
available phosphorus depended on the region where the samples were
taken. This also factored on the type of soil that was collected. If our
samples are higher in our Natural Lands sample, we will assume that it
is because it was located in a wetland. This is important because it will
tell us what soil contains the higher levels of both nitrogen and
phosphorus.

Average
(Nitrogen):
Natural Lands
Regents
Clover Field

Average (Phosphorus):
0.053
0.100
0.041

Natural Lands
Regents
Clover Field

0.186
0.580
0.293

Average %
Moisture:
Natural Lands
Regents
Clover Field

Table 1: Averages of Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Percent Moisture in three different

locations.
54.0
52.0
50.0
48.0
46.0
44.0
Percent Moisture (g) 42.0
40.0

Location

44.8
51.7
47.5

0.120
0.100
0.080
0.060
0.040
Nitrogen Levels (ppm) 0.020
0.000

Location

Figure 1: Percent moisture average measured in grams at

each location.

Figure 2: Nitrogen level averages measured in ppm for each location.

0.700
0.600
0.500
0.400
0.300
Phosphorus Levels (ppm)

0.200
0.100
0.000

Location

Figure 3: Phosphorus Level averages measured in ppm for

each location.

C
Figure 4: Locations where samples were collected. A was the Natural
Lands, B was the Clover Field and C was Regents Hall.