Definition

Ammonium (NH₄+) is rapidly taken up in the soil by soil life and then converted to nitrate (NO₃-).

Occurrence in soil

The proportion of ammonium in soil is generally low. Higher levels are, for example, found after applying animal manure, and slow-acting fertilisers often also show higher ammonium levels.

Soil and plant interaction

A crop can absorb ammonium. Ammonium could also attach to the clay humus complex (CEC), but this is unusual because soil life converts it too quickly

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