Leaching of N,P and glyphosate from two soils after herbicide treatment and incorporation of a ryegrass catch crop

During 2005–2007, studies were carried out in two field experiments in southwest Sweden with separately tile‐drained plots on a sandy soil (three replicates) and on a clay soil (two replicates). The overall aim was to determine the effects of different cropping systems with catch crops on losses of N, P and glyphosate. Different times of glyphosate treatment of undersown ryegrass catch crops were examined in combination with soil tillage in November or spring. Drainage water was sampled continuously in proportion to water flow and analysed for N, P and glyphosate. Catch crops were sampled in late autumn and spring and soil was analysed for mineral N content. The yields of following cereal crops were determined. The importance of keeping the catch crop growing as long as possible in the autumn is demonstrated to decrease the risk of N leaching. During a year with high drainage on the sandy soil, annual N leaching was 26 kg/ha higher for plots with a catch crop killed with glyphosate in late September than for plots with a catch crop, while the difference was very small during 1 yr with less drainage. Having the catch crop in place during October was the most important factor, whereas the time of incorporation of a dead catch crop did not influence N leaching from either of the two soils. However, incorporation of a growing catch crop in spring resulted in decreased crop yields, especially on the clay soil. Soil type affected glyphosate leaching to a larger extent than the experimental treatments. Glyphosate was not leached from the sand at all, while it was found at average concentrations of 0.25 μg/L in drainage water from the clay soil on all sampling occasions. Phosphorus leaching also varied (on average 0.2 and 0.5 kg/ha/yr from the sand and clay, respectively), but was not significantly affected by the different catch crop treatments.     

Catch crop strategy and nitrate leaching following grazed grass-clover

Cultivation of grassland presents a high risk of nitrate leaching. This study aimed to determine if leaching could be reduced by growing spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) as a green crop for silage with undersown Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) compared with barley grown to maturity with or without an undersown conventional catch crop of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.). All treatments received 0, 60 or 120 kg of ammonium‐N ha^?1 in cattle slurry. In spring 2003, two grass‐clover fields (3 and 5 years old, respectively, with different management histories) were ploughed. The effects of the treatments on yield and nitrate leaching were determined in the first year, while the residual effects of the treatments were determined in the second year in a crop of spring barley/perennial ryegrass. Nitrate leaching was estimated in selected treatments using soil water samples from ceramic cups. The experiment showed that compared with treatments without catch crop, green barley/Italian ryegrass reduced leaching by 163–320 kg N ha^?1, corresponding to 95–99%, and the perennial ryegrass reduced leaching to between 34 and 86 kg N ha^?1, corresponding to a reduction of 80 and 66%. Also, in the second growing season, leaching following catch crops was reduced compared with the bare soil treatment. It was concluded that the green barley/Italian ryegrass offers advantages not only for the environment but also for farmers, for whom it provides a fodder high in roughage and avoids the difficulties with clover fatigue increasingly experienced by Danish farmers.     

Nitrogen effects of non-legume catch crops

Nitrate leaching during the winter period can be reduced and often prevented by growing catch crops after the harvest of a main crop. However, catch crops which effectively take up residual nitrogen do not necessarily show good nutrient effects on a succeeding main crop. The objective of this experiment was to investigate how the content of soil mineral nitrogen in spring was affected by the time of incorporation of non-legume catch crops and how the yield and nitrogen uptake of a succeeding main crop was influenced. The yield of spring sown onion and white cabbage was significantly increased by catch crop growing the previous autumn. The nitrogen effect of Italian ryegrass corresponded to 50–100 kg N per ha in the vegetables. However, the yield of spring barley was not significantly affected by the nitrogen released from decomposing catch crops. During decomposition of non-legume catch crops, grown at a high level of nitrogen fertility, nitrogen immobilization did not occur.     

Nitrate leaching as affected by long-term N fertilization on a coarse sand

Abstract. A field experiment on a coarse sand (1987–92) was conducted with spring barley ( Hordeum vulgare L.), in order to evaluate the effects of increasing N fertilization on nitrate leaching under temperate coastal climate conditions. The N fertilizer levels were 60 and 120 kg N/ha. The experiment was conducted on a 19-year old permanent field trial with continuous spring barley, initiated in 1968, and included treatments with ploughing in autumn or spring, with or without perennial ryegrass ( Lolium perenne L.) as a catch crop undersown in spring. Prior to 1987, the low and high levels of N fertilizer were 70 and 150 kg N/ha, respectively. To calculate nitrate leaching, soil water samples were taken from a depth of 0.8 m using ceramic cups. The average annual nitrate leaching from plots with 60 and 120 kg N/ha was 38 and 52 kg N/ha/y, respectively. The increased leaching associated with increasing fertilizer application was not caused by inorganic N in the soil at harvest, but rather by greater mineralization, mainly in autumn. Growing of a catch crop was relatively more efficient for reducing nitrate leaching than a long-term low fertilizer application. A 50% reduction in N application decreased average yield by 26%, while nitrate leaching decreased by 27%.     

Incorporation time of nitrogen catch crops influences the N effect for the succeeding crop

The significance of incorporation date of a catch crop on the nitrogen supply for the subsequent crop, the N effect (N_eff), was examined. Winter rye was grown as a catch crop for 3 years during the autumn, and incorporated on five dates, two in the autumn and three in the spring. Two of the winters had high precipitation, and the N_eff was small at the early autumn incorporation date, but increased when incorporation was delayed into late autumn and further increased by early spring incorporation. In the third winter, which was very dry, the N_eff was negative at all incorporation dates, with the negative effect gradually increasing in value the later the incorporation date. In all 3 years the N_eff was reduced when incorporation was delayed from early spring until later in the spring. The main processes determining this pattern were found to be (1) the risk of leaching of N mineralized after catch crop incorporation, which can reduce the N_eff at early incorporation under wet conditions, (2) pre-emptive competition which can reduce the N_eff when incorporation is delayed until later in the spring, and in dry conditions is already apparent during the autumn, and (3) catch crop growth leading to carbon gain and increased C/N ratio which decreases mineralization and thus the N_eff after delayed incorporation in the spring. Lack of time for catch crop N uptake prior to early incorporation, or lack of time for N mineralization after late incorporation which might also reduce the N_eff did not appear to be important in our experiment. The results show that catch crops grown in high rainfall areas on sandy soils should be incorporated later than those in low rainfall areas on nitrate retentive soils.     

Nitrate leaching: modifying the loss from mineralized organic matter

The impact on nitrate leaching of agronomic practices designed to immobilize nitrogen in autumn and winter was investigated over 4 years. Experimental treatments (reducing tillage depth, incorporating harvest residues, reducing fertilizer N by growing unfertilized grass or by spring-sown rather than autumn-sown crops) were compared with a control treatment in which autumn crops were sown after burning harvest residues, mouldboard ploughing and seedbed preparation. Winter cover cropping was also compared with winter fallowing. In the first year, incorporation of harvest residues or reducing tillage depth significantly decreased nitrate leaching compared with the control. Unfertilized grass did not affect leaching in the first winter but significantly decreased it in years 2 and 3. When winter cover crops were grown, nitrate leaching was never less than that under an autumn-sown cereal, and in the subsequent year leaching could be significantly greater. Winter fallowing caused the most nitrate leaching over the year. In the winter following a spring-sown crop, leaching under an autumn-sown crop greatly increased. Summed over 4 years, most leaching occurred with the winter fallow—spring cropping treatment; it was 18% more than where a winter cover crop preceded the spring crop. Reducing tillage depth or incorporating harvest residues did not significantly decrease leaching. Unfertilized grass ley followed by an autumn-sown cereal in the fourth year was the only treatment that significantly decrease leaching. Unfertilized grass ley followed by an autumn-sown cereal in the fourth year was the only treatment that significantly reduced leaching loss compared with the control. Incorporating harvest residues resulted in a balance between annual N inputs and outputs. All other treatments required substantial net annual N mineralization to balance annual inputs and outputs.     

Ergebnisse von Simulationsrechnungen mit einem Bodenstickstoffmodell zur Düngung und zum Zwischenfruchtbau in Trinkwasserschutzgebieten

Results of computer simulations on fertilization and catch cropping problems in water protection areas by means of a soil nitrogen model A simple model of the nitrogen turnover in soil is presented. The model was validated by field experiment time series. The simulation results showed that dividing of the mineral nitrogen fertilization during spring for root crops or maize as well as shortening the first spring nitrogen fertilization for winter cereals diminished the leaching of nitrate only in extremely wet springs on sandy soils. The great importance of winter catch cropping in a cereal-root crop or a cereal-maize rotation on all soils and the necessity to avoid liquid manuring during late summer and early autumn, especially on sandy soils without catch cropping, are demonstrated. The results underline the predominant influence of the weather conditions on nitrate leaching.     

Nitrogen conserving potential of successive ryegrass catch crops in continuous spring barley

Abstract. The nitrogen (N) conserving effects of Italian ryegrass ( Lolium multiflorum L.) undersown as a nitrate catch crop in spring barley ( Hordeum vulgare L.) were evaluated over a ten-year period in outdoor lysimeters (1.5 m deep, diam. 1 m) with sandy loam soil. Spring barley grown every year received 11.0 or 16.5 g N m⁻² before planting or was kept unfertilized. The N was given either as calcium ammonium nitrate or as ammoniacal N in pig slurry. From 1985 to 1989, ryegrass was undersown in the barley in half of the lysimeters while barley was grown alone in the remaining lysimeters. The grass sward was left uncut after barley harvest and incorporated in late winter/early spring. From 1990 to 1994 all lysimeters were in barley only.
Barley dry matter yields and crop N offtakes were not affected by the presence of undersown ryegrass, although grain yields appeared to be slightly reduced. After termination of ryegrass growing, N offtake in barley (grain+straw) was higher in lysimeters in which catch crops had been grown previously.
The loss of nitrate by leaching increased with N addition rate. Regardless of N dressing, ryegrass catch crops halved the total nitrate loss during 1985–1989, corresponding to a mean annual reduction in nitrate leaching of 2.0–3.5 g N m⁻². From 1990 to 1994, lysimeters previously undersown with ryegrass lost more nitrate than lysimeters with no history of ryegrass. The extra loss of nitrate accounted for 30% of the N retained by ryegrass catch crops during 1985–1989.
It is concluded that a substantial proportion of the N saved from leaching by ryegrass catch crops is readily mineralized and available for crop offtake as well as leaching as nitrate. To maximize benefits from ryegrass catch crops, the cropping system must be adjusted to exploit the extra N mineralization derived from the turnover of N incorporated in ryegrass biomass.     

北方设施菜地夏季不同填闲作物的吸氮效果比较研究

为筛选出吸氮效果明显的北方设施菜地夏季填闲作物,在北京郊区设施菜地,以甜玉米、高丹草、红叶苋菜、空心菜和小麦等5种不同作物为处理设置试验小区,开展田间监测、土壤和植株样品采集及检测,进行试验数据和资料的统计分析。结果表明,5种作物中,甜玉米生物量大、吸氮量大且速率快,阻控硝酸盐向深层土壤淋溶能力强。本试验条件下,甜玉米生物量和吸氮量分别达到92335kg·hm^-2和330kg·hm^-2;种植甜玉米后,0-120cm土层的硝酸含量减少近140kg·hm^-2,均显著大于同等种植条件下的其他4种作物（P〈0．05）。就减少土壤硝态氮淋失的效果而言,甜玉米是北方设施菜地夏季填闲作物的较好选择。     

甜玉米作为填闲作物对北方设施菜地土壤环境及下茬作物的影响

在北方设施菜地雨季休闲敞篷期种植填闲作物（甜玉米）,通过现场采样及室内分析测试,研究了正常施肥条件下休闲和填闲前后NO3--N的淋失状况、土壤电导率的变化以及对下茬作物产量和品质的影响。结果表明,种植填闲作物较休闲处理0～100cm土壤硝态氮表观损失量减少了28.4kg·hm-2,剖面NO3--N的累积峰也低于休闲处理;种植填闲作物可以显著降低表层土壤（0～20cm）的电导率,较正常休闲处理低41.4%;种植填闲作物并未造成下茬作物产量的降低,同时可显著降低下茬作物果实中硝酸盐含量,较休闲处理降低了28.9%。从降低NO3--N淋失的角度看,雨季敞篷休闲期种植填闲作物可以作为减少氮素淋失的一种有效手段,同时,对提高下茬作物品质,降低可食部分硝酸盐含量有明显的作用。     

Changes in soil properties under high- and low-input cropping systems in Lithuania

Abstract. To determine the effects of low-input agriculture on soil properties, we compared several forms of arable land management in a rotation experiment lasting 8 years on a Cambisol in Lithuania. Conventional arable cropping with applications of inorganic fertilizers increased the potassium (K) status of the soil, but resulted in losses of nitrogen (N) from the soil by mineralization and leaching. With ley–arable integrated cropping, a similar fertilizer regime based on farmyard manure (FYM) augmented with inorganic fertilizers increased the phosphorus (P), K, organic matter and N in the soil, as well as increasing N loss by leaching. These two high-input regimes were compared to three systems with less or no input. A reference treatment with no input, which produced small crop yields, maintained its nutrient status and organic matter. An organic regime receiving FYM and green manure lost only P, but maintained its K and N status, while a second organic regime in which the FYM was replaced by composted sewage maintained its fertility. The microbial activity varied somewhat from treatment to treatment, with the largest numbers of almost all groups of microorganisms in the reference treatment. All treatments led to decreases in fulvic acid, and the soil managed conventionally lost humic acid, too. The content of humic acid increased in the treatments where FYM was applied and in the reference soil, and the fraction bound to calcium increased in the integrated and the first organic treatments. The soil structures under the integrated cropping and second organic regime were the most stable. Of the low-input systems, the second organic regime seemed the most sustainable.     

Nitrate leaching as influenced by soil tillage and catch crop

Because of public and political concern for the quality of surface and ground water, leaching of nitrate is of special concern in many countries. To evaluate the effects of tillage and growth of a catch crop on nitrate leaching, two field trials were conducted in spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) under temperate coastal climate conditions. On a coarse sand (1987–1992), ploughing in autumn or in spring in combination with perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) as a catch crop was evaluated. Furthermore, rotovating and direct drilling were included. The experiment was conducted on a 19-year-old field trial with continuous production of spring barley. On a sandy loam (1988–1992), ploughing in autumn or in spring in combination with stubble cultivation and perennial ryegrass, in addition to minimum tillage, was evaluated in a newly established field trial. For calculation of nitrate leaching, soil water isolates from depths of 0.8 or 1.0 m were taken using ceramic cups. No significant effect of tillage was found on the coarse sand; however, a significant effect of tillage was found on the sandy loam, where leaching from autumn ploughed plots without stubble cultivation was 16 kg N ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ higher than leaching from spring ploughed plots. Leaching was significantly less when stubble cultivation in autumn was omitted. Leaching on both soil types was significantly reduced by the growth of a catch crop which was ploughed under in autumn or in spring. It was concluded that soil cultivation increased leaching on the sandy loam but not on the coarse sand, and that the growth of perennial ryegrass as a catch crop reduced leaching on both soil types, particularly when ryegrass was ploughed under in spring.     

Changes in N leaching and crop production as a result of measures to reduce N losses to water in a 6‐yr crop rotation

The effects of various measures introduced to increase nitrogen (N)‐use efficiency and reduce N losses to water in a 6‐yr crop rotation (winter wheat, spring barley, green manure, winter wheat, spring barley, spring oilseed rape) were examined with respect to N leaching, soil mineral N (SMN) accumulation and grain yield. An N‐use efficient system (NUE) with delayed tillage until late autumn and spring, direct drilling of winter wheat, earlier sowing of winter and spring crops and use of a catch crop in winter wheat was compared with a conventional system (CON) in a field experiment with six separately tile‐drained plots in south‐western Sweden during the period 1999–2011 (two crop rotation cycles). Total leaching of NO₃‐N from the NUE system was significantly 46 and 33% lower than in the CON system during the first and second crop rotation cycle, respectively, with the most pronounced differences apparently related to management strategies for winter wheat. Differences in NO₃‐N leaching largely reflected differences in SMN during autumn and winter. There was a tendency for lower yields in the NUE system, probably due to problems with couch grass. Overall, the measures for conserving N, when frequently used within a crop rotation, effectively reduced NO₃ concentrations in drainage water and NO₃‐N leaching losses, without severely affecting yield.     

Incorporation of catch crop residues does not increase phosphorus leaching: a soil column experiment in unsaturated conditions

Some studies suggest that incorporation of catch crop residues leads to increased availability of P to plants. However, little information is available on how this affects P leaching in soils with a high P load. We tested the effect of catch‐crop residue incorporation at the end of winter on the P leaching potential in a soil column experiment under unsaturated conditions using a typical sandy loam soil of NW Europe characterized by a high P load. We sampled the catch crops white mustard (Sinapis alba L.), Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum L.), black oats (Avena strigosa L.) and a perennial ryegrass‐white clover mix (Lolium perenne L.‐Trifolium repens L.) from a field trial on catch crops and soil from the plots where they were grown. Plant biomass was incorporated taking account of the differences in conditions of the plant material at the end of winter and the biomass yield of each catch crop. Incorporation of catch‐crop residues decreased P leaching compared to the fallow treatment probably through immobilization of soil P during catch crop residue decomposition. The exception was black oats, where the leaching of P was the same as for fallow soil. We observed clear differences in C/N, C/P, water soluble and total P concentration, and biodegradability between the tested catch crops, which seemed to affect the P leaching. We conclude that the incorporation of catch crop residues under typical soil and weather conditions and agricultural practices of NW Europe does not increase the potential P leaching losses.     

填闲与减少施肥措施提高华北温室种植体系中的番茄产量及土壤养分

Overuse of fertilizers and the resultant pollution and eutrophication of surface and groundwater is a growing issue in China. Consequently, improved management strategies are needed to optimize crop production with reduced nutrient inputs. Conventional fertilization (CF), reduced fertilization (RF), and reduced fertilization with maize (Zea mays L.) as a summer catch crop (RF+C) treatments were evaluated in 2008 and 2009 by quantifying tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) fruit yield and soil nutrient balance in a greenhouse tomato double-cropping system. Fertilizer nitrogen (N) application was reduced by 37% in the RF and RF+C treatments compared to the CF treatment with no significant reduction in fruit yield. Mean soil mineral N (N_min) content to a depth of 180 cm following tomato and maize harvest was lower in the RF and RF+C treatments than in the CF treatment. Residual soil Nmin content was reduced by 21% and 55% in the RF and RF+C treatments, respectively, compared to the CF treatment. Surplus phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) contents in the RF+C treatment were significantly lower than those in the RF treatment, mainly due to additional P and K uptake by the catch crop. We concluded that for intensive greenhouse production systems, the RF and RF+C treatments could maintain tomato fruit yield, reduce the potential for nitrate (NO₃^--N) leaching, and with a catch crop, provide additional benefits through increased biomass production.     

生物炭对滴灌春小麦产量及土壤肥力的影响

为了解生物炭对滴灌春小麦产量及土壤肥力的影响,通过2年田间试验对灰漠土土壤和春小麦养分及产量等进行了研究。结果表明:与CK相比,施用生物炭显著(P0.05)增加了土壤肥力,并显著(P0.05)增加春小麦对N、P和K的吸收,还对春小麦产量及构成具有积极的促进作用。与NP处理相比,NP+B6处理显著(P0.05)增加了土壤有机质、全氮和速效钾含量以及植株吸磷量。与NP+M6处理相比,NP+B6处理显著(P0.05)增加了土壤全氮、速效钾和植株养分吸收量。     

接种蚯蚓对施加秸秆的旱作稻田N2O排放的影响

通过田间试验研究了秸秆不同施用方式下接种蚯蚓(威廉腔环蚓,Metaphire guillelmi)对水稻旱作土壤N2O排放通量的影响。结果显示施加秸秆和接种蚯蚓增加了N2O的排放量。在秸秆表施的情况下,接种蚯蚓处理显著提高了N2O的排放量,从12.54 kg/hm2提高到14.94 kg/hm2 (P<0.05);但是在秸秆混施的情况下,接种蚯蚓处理未显著提高N2O的排放量。蚯蚓的存在使土壤NO3--N的含量显著提高,尤其是在混施秸秆的情况下。由于栽培期内NH4+-N变化幅度较小,不同处理NO3--N含量的变化决定了土壤矿质氮的分异。农田生态系统中蚯蚓对N2O排放的贡献主要体现在促进秸秆混入土壤,从而加快秸秆的分解和N2O的排放。     

不同施肥措施对稻田土壤氮矿化的影响

采集田间通过不同施肥处理的水稻土为研究对象,在室内采用淹水培养方法,研究不同施肥措施对水稻土氮矿化的影响。结果表明:与不施肥处理相比,施加氮肥和饼肥能提高土壤的氮矿化能力;与常规施氮处理相比,采用新型施肥措施,氮肥+木质素、一次施用的水稻缓释肥、氮肥+有机碳源均降低土壤的氮矿化作用,其中氮肥+有机碳源处理与常规施氮处理相比,土壤全氮增加了16.7%,但淹水培养期间土壤的氮矿化量却减少了18.5%,这一结果说明,采用这些新型施肥措施有利于增加土壤对氮的固持,降低氮素向环境损失的风险。     

长期调控施肥对京郊保护地土壤无机氮含量及矿化特征的影响

通过研究5年连续调控施肥保护地的土壤无机氮含量状况,结合田间原位培养的方法研究其表层土壤矿化特征,以了解不同调控施肥的土壤供氮能力,为京郊保护地氮素调控提供理论与现实依据。结果表明,不施肥和单施有机肥处理在作物生育期内,土壤表层无机氮处于耗竭状态;其它处理无机氮含量呈逐渐增长趋势,接近收获时又有所下降,表现为习惯施氮处理>1.5倍推荐施氮处理>推荐施氮处理>0.5倍推荐施氮处理,且各处理间差异显著。各处理矿化速率的差异在追肥后开始显现明显效果;至收获时,单施有机肥、推荐施氮和1.5倍推荐施氮处理累积矿化量分别达81.5、86.3和97.7 kg/hm2,已接近推荐施氮量(100 kg/hm2),习惯施氮处理达164.7 kg/hm2,较其它处理显著提高82%～438%。可见,5年调控施肥对降低土壤无机氮含量有积极作用,但土壤矿化量仍然非常高,可见,忽略土壤氮矿化量,将影响氮肥用量推荐和作物氮素平衡。     

长期施肥对水稻土碳氮矿化与团聚体稳定性的影响

水稻土有机碳、氮矿化过程对水稻土质量和作物养分吸收具有重要的作用,但是它们对施肥措施的响应及其与土壤结构之间的关系尚不清楚。本研究基于红壤性水稻土长期施肥定位试验,分析了不施肥(CK)、施用常量化肥(NPK)、2倍化肥(NPK2)和常量化肥配施有机肥(NPKOM)等处理下水稻土碳氮矿化特征,并研究了其与土壤团聚体稳定性的关系。结果表明NPKOM处理显著提高了土壤有机碳和全氮含量(P0.05),而单施化肥处理(NPK2和NPK)则同CK处理没有显著差异。土壤有机碳矿化速率、累积矿化量和矿化率均为NPKOMNPK2NPKCK处理,其中NPKOM处理显著高于其他处理(P0.05),而后3个处理间没有显著差异。土壤氮矿化速率、累积矿化量和矿化率同土壤碳矿化的规律一致,NPKOM、NPK2和NPK处理累积矿化氮量较CK处理分别提高110.0%、29.4%和8.8%,矿化率分别提高110.8%、25.6%和13.0%。单施化肥处理(NPK和NPK2)的平均质量直径(MWD)分别降低了17.1%和15.5%,而NPKOM处理则增加了19.4%。相关分析表明,土壤碳氮矿化主要取决于土壤有机碳氮含量,而与土壤团聚体水稳定性无直接关系。在今后研究中,应重点分析土壤孔隙结构与有机碳氮周转的关系。