Nutrient degradation in red soils III:nutrient leaching losses from red soils and plants

Under natural and anthropogenic conditions, the concentration of P in the leachates of red soils was very low, whereas the concentration of NO - 3-N increased rapidly with the proceeding of nitrification. The concentration of K was in between. NH + 4-N was not detected in the leaching water when NH + 4-N fertilizer was applied. The main nutrient leached out by rain from plants and plant residuals was K, but P was also considerable.