NITROGEN STUDIES ON THE IRRIGATED SOILS OF THE SUDAN GEZIRA

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Abstract
Summary: The seasonal variation in the organic‐ and nitrate‐nitrogen content of Gezira soil under irrigated rotational cropping has been studied over six successive years. Accent so far has been placed on the cotton phase of the rotations and statistical analysis of the results has shown that the organic‐nitrogen content of the soil is not increased by rotational cropping beyond an equilibrium value which is presumably a function of the environmental conditions.Increase of organic nitrogen in Gezira soil appears to be a function of seasonal conditions. Loss of organic nitrogen in marked excess of what could conceivably be explained by crop uptake is a definite feature. The loss occurs gradually throughout the whole season, giving a minimum organic‐nitrogen content in the soil during the hot dry period of February to May.Accumulation of nitrate‐nitrogen, on the other hand, is dependent on the nature of the rotation and the period of the year. Nitrate accumulates at the beginning of the rainy season when it is rapidly leached to lower soil depths; it also accumulates on the bare fallows during the hot dry season. This latter finding is in accord with the statements of other workers.

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