Effects of repeated straw incorporation on crop fertilizer nitrogen requirements, soil mineral nitrogen and nitrate leaching losses

Abstract. The effects of straw disposal by burning and incorporation on soil and crop nitrogen (N) supply, were investigated on two light textured soils in central (ADAS Gleadthorpe) and eastern England (Morley Research Centre) over the period 1984 to 1995. Nitrogen balance calculations showed that after 11 years of contrasting straw incorporation versus burn treatments, the cumulative N returns in straw were c . 570kg/ha at Gleadthorpe and c . 330 kg/ha at Morley However, these N returns via straw incorporation were not reflected in increased total soil N levels in autumn 1994. There were no differences ( P > 0.05) between straw disposal treatments in autumn soil mineral N supply, readily mineralizable N or organic carbon. Similarly, there were no consistent differences between the treatments in terms of crop yield, crop N uptake or optimum fertilizer N rates. Fertilizer N applications of 200 kg N/ha/y increased topsoil organic carbon from 1.18 to 1.28% and total N content from 0.091 to 0.102% on the loamy sand textured soil at ADAS Gleadthorpe, but not at Morley. Previous fertilizer N applications increased the quantity of nitrate-N leached in drainage water by c . 20 kg/ha at Gleadthorpe and c . 60 kg/ha at Morley overwinter 1994/95, and by 10–20 kg/ha at both sites overwinter 1995/96. There was some indication overwinter 1994/95 that straw incorporation reduced nitrate-N leaching by 10–25 kg/ha, but there were no differences between treatments overwinter 1995/96.     

An empirical model for estimating nitrate leaching as affected by crop type and the long-term N fertilizer rate

Abstract. An empirical model was developed for prediction of annual average nitrate leaching as affected by the long-term rate of N fertilization and crop type. The effect of N fertilization was estimated from annual values of nitrate leaching obtained from two Danish investigations of drainage from pipe drains with four rates of N fertilization on a loamy sand and sandy clay loam from 1973-89. The effect of crop at normal N fertilization was estimated from 147 observations of annual nitrate leaching obtained from field measurements. The nitrate leaching model consists of a relative N fertilization submodel and an absolute submodel for specific combinations of crop, soil and drainage at the normal rate of N fertilization. The relative submodel is Y/Y _lN= exp[0.7l(N/ N₁– I)], where Y is the nitrate leaching (kg N/ha per year) at fertilization rate N , and Y _IN and N₁ are the corresponding values at the normal rate of N fertilization. The relative submodel is valid for cereals, root crops and grass leys fertilized with mineral fertilizer at N/N ₁ < 1.5, and on the prerequisite that the fertilization rate N has been constant for some years. To illustrate the use of the relative leaching submodel, estimated values of Y _IN corrected to mean annual drainage for 1970 to 1990 in Denmark for spring cereals and grass on sandy and loamy soils are given as input to the relative leaching submodel. The model can be used for sandy to loamy soils to estimate the mean nitrate leaching over a number of years.     

The effects of crop husbandry and nitrogen fertilizer on nitrate leaching from a shallow limestone soil growing a five course combinable crop rotation

Abstract. Nitrogen (N) leaching losses from a shallow limestone soil growing a five course combinable croprotation (oilseed rape, wheat, peas, wheat, barley) were measured from 1990 until 1995 using porous ceramic cups, at 60 cm depth, and drainage estimates. The crops were grown with three husbandry systems and two levels of N fertilizer. The husbandry systems were designed to reflect local practice (Standard), the best possible techniques to reduce N loss (Protective) and an Intermediate system which was a compromise between the two. Nitrogen was applied at full and half recommended rates. Drainage started during September in four years and November in one year, with above average drainage in three years. Losses of N were largest after peas (58 kg/ha) and oilseed rape (42 kg/ha), and least (17 kg/ha) before peas sown in spring after a cover crop. Over five years, the Protective management system, which used early sowing and shallow cultivation wherever possible, lost least N (31 kg/ha/y) and the Standard system, with conventional drilling dates and ploughing as the primary cultivation, lost most (49 kg/ha/y). Halving the N fertilizer decreased N loss by 11 kg/ha/y, averaged over the rotation. None of the treatments gave mean drainage water nitrate concentrations of less than 50 mg/l, averaged over the five years. Changes to arable cropping alone will not eliminate the need for other measures to control nitrate concen-trations in public drinking water supplies.     

A modelling study of nitrogen deposited to arable land from the atmosphere and its contribution to nitrate leaching

Abstract. Atmospheric nitrogen (N) makes a significant contribution to the N inputs to agricultural systems and is a major eutrophying and acidifying input to natural and semi-natural ecosystems. We have estimated the nitrogen deposited to arable land at Rothamsted and at two Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (NVZs) in the UK, Lichfield and the River Waveney. Using the SUNDIAL N cycle model calibrated against measured soil mineral N and leaching losses at Rothamsted, we have calculated the contribution of deposited N to nitrate leaching under a range of crops growing on the major soil series in the NVZs. Approximately 44, 46 and 28 kg N/ha per yr are deposited to arable land around Rothamsted and in the Lichfield and Waveney NVZs, respectively. Most of this is dry-deposited in oxidized forms: nitrogen dioxide and nitric acid are the main components, arising mostly from industry, home heating and vehicle emissions. SUNDIAL predicts that current total leaching losses from arable crops average 39 kg N/ha per yr in the Lichfield NVZ anti 22 kg/ha per yr in the Waveney NVZ. Atsmospheric N contributes about 28% of the N leached from arable land in the Lichfield NVZ and 17% in the Waveney NVZ, a very significant amount. There is little variation in total leaching or the atmospheric contribution to it between soil series within each NVZ, but much variation with crop type and the weather: atmospheric N can comprise over 40% of the N leached under spring cereals in some years.     

The effects of nitrogen fertilizer rate, cultivation and straw disposal on the nitrate leaching from a shallow limestone soil cropped with winter barley

Abstract. Monoculture winter barley was grown for 5 years with 80 or 160 kg/ha of fertilizer nitrogen (N) and established by either shallow cultivation (straw removed) or ploughing (straw incorporated) in a replicated 2 ± 2 split plot experiment. The lower N rate reduced average grain yield from 6.85 t/ha to 5.61 t/ha. The cultivation/straw disposal system had no effect on yield. Halving the N rate reduced the amount of N removed in the crop by an average of 40 kg/ha and reduced the amount of nitrogen leached by 11 kg/ha per year. Using a shallow cultivation system for crop establishment, following the removal of straw, initially reduced N leaching compared to ploughing in the straw, but in the later years of the experiment losses were similar. Over the five years the full N rate with ploughing system resulted in a small positive nitrogen balance of 66 kg/ha, but all other treatment combinations resulted in a negative balance.     

The effect of crop residue incorporation date on soil inorganic nitrogen, nitrate leaching and nitrogen mineralization

 Delaying cultivation and incorporation of arable crop residues may delay the release of NO₃ ^– and hence reduce leaching. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of timing of cultivation on the mineralization and leaching of NO₃ ^– from an arable crop residue. Overwinter N leaching and periodic measurements of soil inorganic N were combined to estimate net N mineralized after ploughing a crop residue into a free-draining loamy sand soil in central England on six dates from June 1994 to January 1995. The crop residue was whole green barley with approximately 2% N. N leaching in the two following winters was increased by the addition of crop residues. Early residue application also tended to increase N leached in the first winter, largely as a consequence of relatively large losses early in the drainage period. Thus, early incorporation of crop residues presents a greater leaching risk. The amount of N leached in the second (drier) winter was similar for all dates of incorporation. At the end of the first winter, inorganic N derived from the crop residue was greatest for earlier additions: June (40% N applied) > September (30% N applied) > August (20% N applied) > October (19% N applied) > November (11% N applied) > January (3% N applied). However, at the end of the experiment, there was no evidence that the residues which had mineralized least by the end of the first winter had, to any significant degree, caught up, and this was confirmed by the parameters of the equation for first-order decomposition in thermal time. These results indicate that the effect of temperature, particularly in the early stages of residue mineralization, is complex and interacts with other soil processes in terms of the fate of the N mineralized. Received: 19 July 1999     

Nitrate leaching from organic farms and conventional farms following best practice

Abstract. This paper compares nitrate leaching losses from organic farms, which depended on legumes for their nitrogen inputs (66 site years) with those from conventional farms using fertilizers under similar cropping and climatic conditions (188 site years). The conventional farms were within Nitrate Sensitive Areas in England, but sites following special practices associated with that scheme were excluded. Nitrate losses during the organic ley phase (including the winter of ploughing out) were similar (45 kg N ha^–1) to those from conventional long-term grass receiving fertilizer N inputs of less than 200 kg N ha^–1 (44 kg N ha^–1) and from the grass phase of conventional ley-arable rotations (50 kg N ha^–1). Losses from conventional grass receiving higher N inputs were greater than from organic or less intensive grass. Nitrate losses following arable crops averaged 47 and 58 kg N ha^–1 for the organic and conventional systems respectively, with part of the difference being due to the greater proportion of non-cereal break crops in the latter. Thus under similar cropping, losses from organic systems are similar to or slightly smaller than those from conventional farms following best practice.     

The influence of sub-optimal irrigation and drought on crop yield, N uptake and risk of N leaching from sugarbeet

Abstract. Variously timed sub-optimal irrigation strategies were applied to sugarbeet grown on a light soil (loamy sand or sandy loam) over four seasons (1991 to 1994) to investigate the effect on crop growth and nitrate leaching risk. Data from the two dry seasons, (1991 and 1994) are reported here. In the driest year (1991) soil mineral N levels after autumn harvest were negatively related to crop water use ( P < 0.05). In this season, there was little drainage from the soil profile, and full irrigation reduced residual soil N by 31 kg N/ha (0-90 cm) compared with the unirrigated treatment (79 kg N/ha). The potential for N leaching during the ensuing winter was consequently more than halved. In 1991 and 1994 there was a strong positive linear relationship between dry matter yield, N uptake and water use, but a negative relationship between plant N concentration and water use. These relationships were a function of the severity and not the timing of drought. The additional N uptake associated with increased irrigation and crop water use was biased towards a large concentration in the aboveground crop (tops), which are normally returned to the soil. The C:N ratio of sugarbeet tops was affected by crop water supply with droughted crops having lower values. This would also influence N release and subsequent leaching risk. However, the effects of drought on N leaching risk were relatively small when compared with other root crops such as potatoes.     

Nitrogen fertilization and nitrate leaching into groundwater on arable sandy soils

Nitrate leaching depending on N fertilization and different crop rotations was studied at two sites with sandy soils in N Germany between 1995 and 2000. The leaching of NO was calculated by using a numerical soil‐water and N model and regularly measured N_min values as input data. Also the variability of N_min values on the sandy soils was determined along transects. They reveal the high variability of the N_min values and show that it is not possible to confirm a significant N_min difference between fertilizer treatments using the normal N_min‐sampling intensity. Nitrate‐leaching calculations of five leaching periods showed that even strongly reduced N‐fertilizer applications did not result in a substantially lower NO leaching into the groundwater. Strong yield reductions of even more than 50%, however, were immediately measured. Mean NO concentrations in the groundwater recharge are >50 mg L^–1 and are mainly due to mineralization from soil organic matter. Obviously, the adjustment of the N cycle in the soil to a new equilibrium and a reduced NO ‐leaching rate as a consequence of lower N inputs need a much longer time span. Catch crops are the most efficient way to reduce the NO concentrations in the groundwater recharge of sandy soils. Their success, however, strongly depends on the site‐specific development possibilities of the catch crop. Even with all possible measures implemented, it will be almost impossible to reach NO concentrations <50 mg L^–1 in sandy soils. The only way to realize this goal on a regional scale could be by increasing areas with lower nitrate concentrations in the groundwater recharge like grassland and forests.     

Nitrogen mineralization and availability of mixed leguminous and non-leguminous cover crop residues in soil

Whereas non-leguminous cover crops such as cereal rye (Secale cereale) or annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorium) are capable of reducing nitrogen (N) leaching during wet seasons, leguminous cover crops such as hairy vetch (Vicia villosa) improve soil N fertility for succeeding crops. With mixtures of grasses and legumes as cover crop, the goal of reducing N leaching while increasing soil N availability for crop production could be attainable. This study examined net N mineralization of soil treated with hairy vetch residues mixed with either cereal rye or annual ryegrass and the effect of these mixtures on growth and N uptake by cereal rye. Both cereal rye and annual ryegrass contained low total N, but high water-soluble carbon and carbohydrate, compared with hairy vetch. Decreasing the proportion of hairy vetch in the mixed residues decreased net N mineralization, rye plant growth and N uptake, but increased the crossover time (the time when the amount of net N mineralized in the residue-amended soil equalled that of the non-amended control) required for net N mineralization to occur. When the hairy vetch content was decreased to 40% or lower, net N immobilization in the first week of incubation increased markedly. Residue N was significantly correlated with rye biomass (r=0.81, P<0.01) and N uptake (r=0.83, P<0.001), although the correlation was much higher between residue N and the potential initial N mineralization rate for rye biomass (r=0.93, P<0.001) and N uptake (r=0.99, P<0.001). Judging from the effects of the mixed residues on rye N Concentration and N uptake, the proportion of rye or annual ryegrass when mixed with residues of hairy vetch should not exceed 60% if the residues are to increase N availability. Further study is needed to examine the influence of various mixtures of hairy vetch and rye or annual ryegrass on N leaching in soil. Received: 10 March 1997     

Impact of pig slurry on soil properties, water salinization, nitrate leaching and crop yield in a four-year experiment in Central Spain

Abstract. The repeated application of pig slurry to agricultural soils may result in an accumulation of salts and a risk of aquifer pollution due to nitrate leaching and salinization. Under Mediterranean conditions, a field experiment on a sandy loam soil (Typic Xerofluvent) was performed with maize (Zea mays) in 1998, 1999 and 2001 to study the effects of applying optimal (P1) and excessive rates (P3) of pig slurry on soil salinization, nitrate leaching and groundwater pollution. The rate of pig slurry was established considering the optimal N rate for maize in this soil (170, 162 and 176 kg N ha^?1 for 1998, 1999 and 2001, respectively). Pig slurry treatments were compared to an optimal N rate supplied as urea (U) and a control treatment without N fertilizer (P0). The composition of the slurries showed great variability between years. Mean NO₃^? leaching losses from 1998 to 2001 were 329, 215, 173 and 78 kg N ha^?1 for P3, P1, U and P0 treatments, respectively. The amount of total dissolved salts (TDS) added to the soil in slurry application between 1998 and 2001 was 2019 kg TDS ha^?1 for the P1 treatment and 6058 kg TDS ha^?1 for the P3 treatment. As a consequence, the electrical conductivity (EC) of the slurry‐treated soils was greater than that of the control soil. The EC correlated significantly with the sodium concentration of the soil solution. Over the entire experimental period, 2653, 2202 and 2110 kg Na ha^?1 entered the aquifer from the P3, P1 and P0 treatments, respectively. The P3 treatment did not significantly increase grain production in 1999 and 2001 compared with that achieved with the optimal N rate treatment (P1). This behaviour shows the importance of establishing application guidelines for pig slurry that will reduce the risk of soil and groundwater pollution.     

The effect of grassland renovation on soil mineral nitrogen and on nitrate leaching during winter

Renovation of grassland may increase the mineralization of organic material and leads to a high amount of mineral N in soil which can be leached in the winter period. Soil mineral N (SMN) in autumn and calculated nitrate leaching during winter were measured after the renewal of 8 y–old cut grassland on a sandy soil in NW Germany in 1999 to 2002. Several factors, which may influence the intensity of N mineralization, were investigated in the 2 years following renewal: the season of renovation (spring or late summer/early autumn), the technique (rotary cultivator or direct drilling), and the amount of N fertilization (0 or 320 kg N ha^–1 y^–1 in the 7 years before the renovation). Calculated nitrate‐N leaching losses during winter were significantly higher following renewal in early autumn (36–64 kg N ha^–1) compared to renewal in spring (1–7 kg N ha^–1). This effect was only significant in the first, not in the second winter after renovation. The renovation technique had a significant effect on the nitrate‐N leaching losses only in the first year after the renovation. Direct drilling led to higher leaching losses (35 kg N ha^–1) than the use of a rotary cultivator (30 kg N ha^–1) in the same year. Calculated nitrate losses (on average over 60 kg N ha^–1) were highest after renewal of N‐fertilized grassland in late summer/early autumn. To minimize N leaching losses, it would be more effective to plan grassland renewal in spring rather than in late summer/autumn. Another, however, less effective option is to reduce N fertilization before a renovation in autumn.     

不同施磷量对蔬菜地土壤硝态氮淋失的影响

【目的】在两种蔬菜地土壤上研究不同磷肥施用量对土壤硝态氮淋失的影响,为武汉城郊蔬菜合理施用磷肥和安全生产提供理论依据。【方法】利用大型原状土柱渗漏装置,2种实验土壤(粉质粘土和粉质粘壤土)均为武汉城郊典型蔬菜土壤,分别采自华中农业大学校内蔬菜基地和湖北新洲。试验期间共种植了四种蔬菜(小白菜、 辣椒、 苋菜及萝卜)。试验设置了4个P2O5水平处理(0、 125、 250、 375 kg/hm2),氮肥施用量均为N 750 kg/hm2,钾肥施用量均为K2O 500 kg/hm2。试验期间年降雨量为1043.0 mm,各土柱总灌溉量为120.1 L。秋冬季每15天、 春夏季每10天收集一次淋洗液,另外根据天气和降雨情况适当调节,每次收集淋洗液时记录淋洗液体积并测定淋洗液硝态氮浓度。在每季蔬菜生长成熟后将蔬菜收获称重,烘干后测定蔬菜中氮素含量。【结果】1)与不施磷肥相比,施用磷肥显著增加了两种土壤上小白菜、 苋菜、 萝卜产量以及四季蔬菜总产量,其产量随磷肥施用量增加而增加或显著增加,在磷肥施用量最大时产量达到最大值。粉质粘土上的产量显著低于粉质粘壤土上的产量,粉质粘壤土总产量约是粉质粘土总产量的1.63~2.36倍。2)施用磷肥显著增加了小白菜、 苋菜氮素吸收累积量以及四季蔬菜总吸收累积量,且两种土壤上总氮素吸收累积量均在磷肥施用量最大时达到最大值。粉质粘壤土上氮素总吸收累计量显著高于粉质粘土上氮素总吸收累积量。3)磷肥水平对土壤总渗漏液体积并无显著影响(粉质粘壤土P2O5 125 kg/hm2处理除外),粉质粘土渗漏水量显著大于粉质粘壤土。4)施用磷肥降低或显著降低土壤淋失液硝态氮浓度(粉质粘土苋菜季除外),随着磷肥施用量的增加硝态氮淋失浓度不断降低,4季蔬菜平均淋失浓度最大降低了38.6%(粉质粘土)和28.8%(粉质粘壤土)。5)磷肥施用显著降低了两种土壤上硝态氮淋失量(苋菜季除外),且在粉质粘土上随着磷肥施用量的增加硝态氮淋失量不断降低,而在粉质粘壤土上硝态氮淋失量先降低后上升。粉质粘土硝态氮淋失量显著大于粉质粘壤土,磷肥施用降低硝态氮淋失量分别达到达26.4%~33.7%和23.5%~39.9%。【结论】磷肥施用增加了蔬菜产量和作物氮素吸收累积量,从而显著降低了两种土壤上硝态氮的淋失; 土壤质地对硝态氮淋失有较大影响,质地较轻的粉质粘壤土硝态氮淋失显著小于质地较重的粉质粘土; 粉质粘壤土上施用P2O5量为250 kg/hm2时能提高产量同时减少硝态氮淋失,而粉质粘土上施用P2O5量为375 kg/hm2时能获得较大产量和较少硝态氮淋失量。     

Measured and simulated availability and leaching of nitrogen associated with frequent use of catch crops

Abstract. Results are presented from three years (1992-1995) of a field leaching experiment on a sandy soil in south-west Sweden. Plots of spring cereals, either with or without an undersown perennial ryegrass catch crop, were compared for nitrogen leaching and nitrogen status in soil. Both treatments were ploughed in spring, and other tillage regimes were also identical. Measurements of nitrogen leaching from drains, nitrogen uptake in crops and mineral nitrogen in the soil were made. Two coupled, simulation models, which describe water flow and nitrogen transformations and transport in soil, were used to interpret data and to calculate the nitrogen budget and nitrogen mineralization in the soil.
Nitrogen leaching was 40 50% less in the catch crop treatment compared with the control during years when the establishment of the catch crop succeeded. In the third year of the experiment nitrogen leaching was actually greater in the catch crop treatment (7 kg N/ha). This increase was caused by a poorly established catch crop coinciding with enhanced mineralization of previous catch crop residues. There was no simulated change in soil organic nitrogen in either of the treatments. Simulations showed increased nitrogen mineralization during April-July after incorporation of plant material in spring, especially in the catch crop treatment. However, the increased nitrogen mineralization probably occurred too late for the released nitrogen to be fully available to the main crop.     

Critical drainage and nitrate leaching losses from manures applied to freely draining soils in Great Britain

Abstract. Pig slurry was applied by open-slot injection to experimental plots on a sandy loam site at ADAS Gleadthorpe, Nottinghamshire. Volume and distribution of over-winter drainage were adjusted through the use of rainfall exclusion covers or irrigation. The resultant slurry N leaching over the range of drainage values tested (up to 300 mm) could be satisfactorily described by curve-fitting, using a quadratic or exponential function. Initial simulations of slurry N leaching using the manure nitrogen decision support system manner (v. 3.0) compared poorly with the experimental data, predicting both earlier and greater amounts of nitrate leaching. However, the lack of fit could be explained by consideration of the likely ammonia emissions following slurry injection, the actual volumetric soil moisture capacity at the experimental site and the likely time delay for the nitrification of slurry N following application. Good agreement between modelled and observed data was achieved when these factors were taken into account. The manner model was used to simulate nitrate leaching beyond the range of drainage treatments tested in the experiments and the anticipated sigmoidal relationship between nitrate leaching and drainage was observed. The model was then used to study the effects of manure application timing and the likely impact on nitrate leaching, across the range of rainfall conditions found in Great Britain. Simulations for a range of manure types were undertaken, with manures applied at rates up to the limit of permitted N loading on freely draining sandy loams. Rainfall inputs for these simulations were based on long-term average climatic data. Results are presented for two contrasting manure types, cattle slurry and poultry manure, both of which are subject to controls in Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (NVZs) in Great Britain.     

Progress in studies of nitrate leaching from grassland soils

Abstract. The large input of research effort on aspects of nitrate leaching over the last two decades has produced many innovative scientific and practical results. The MAFF Nitrate Programme has enabled considerable progress to be made in unravelling much of the complexity of the grassland nitrogen (N) cycle, and identifying gaps as essential first stages in providing improved managements for N in grassland systems. From a practical standpoint, there have been key outputs which have allowed the identification of options for policy, and which should allow grassland farmers to increase the efficiency of N use throughout their farming system and thereby improve the sustainability of their enterprises. As well as quantifying N transformations, transfers and losses, other important outcomes have been the development of user-friendly models of N cycling (NCYCLE and variants) and an easy to use field kit to determine mineral N in pasture soils. The use of modelling to produce fertilizer recommendations with a Decision Support System and of new approaches developed within the Programme, in particular system synthesis desk studies, and 'farmlet' investigations to determine the consequences of modifying N flows and losses, have allowed us to produce solutions to satisfy the dual aims of meeting environmental and economic production targets.     

Zeolite influences on nitrate leaching,nitrogen-use efficiency,yield and yield components of canola in sandy soil

With regard to the low cation-exchange capacity and large saturated hydraulic conductivity of sandy soils, a field experiment was carried out in 2006–2007 to determine the impact of zeolite on nitrogen leaching and canola production. Four nitrogen (N) rates (0, 90, 180, and 270 kg ha^–1) and three zeolite amounts (3, 6 and 9 t ha^?1) were included as treatments. The results demonstrated that the highest growth parameters and seed yield were attained with 270 kg N ha^?1 and 9 t zeolite ha^?1. However, the highest and the lowest seed protein percentage and oil content were obtained with 270 kg N ha^?1 accompanied by 9 t zeolite ha^?1, respectively. Nitrate concentration in drained water was affected by nitrogen and zeolite. The lowest and highest leached nitrate values were found in control without N and zeolite (N₀Z₀) and in treatments with the highest N supply without zeolite (N₂₇₀Z₀), respectively. In general, nitrogen-use efficiency decreased with an increase in N supply. Application of 9 t zeolite ha^?1 showed higher nitrogen use efficiency than other zeolite amounts. Also, application of more N fertilizer in soil reduced nitrogen uptake efficiency. In total, application of 270 kg N ha^?1 and 9 t zeolite ha^?1 could be suggested as superior treatment.     

Effect of nitrogen inputs to cereals on nitrate leaching from sandy soils

Abstract. The effect of nitrogen fertilizer inputs to cereal crops on nitrate leaching after harvest was tested on 21 experiments on sandy soils in England. At small nitrogen fertilizer rates leaching increased very little with increasing inputs, while at high rates more than half of any additional nitrogen could be accounted for as increase in nitrate leached. In many cases the response fitted two straight lines. Nitrogen offtake in grain also fitted two straight lines, with a form which complemented the leaching response. The gradient averaged 0.52 kg N in grain for every additional 1kg N applied below the break point, but only 0.05 kg/kg above. The break points were generally close to or above the economic optimum N input. The effect of inputs on leaching could he quantitatively related to nitrogen offtake in grain, assuming a constant ratio of nitrogen in grain to total nitrogen uptake. The results show that fields receiving N inputs in excess of the economic optimum cause a disproportionately large nitrate loss. However because of uncertainty in predicting the break point in advance, modest further reduction in leaching will occur by reducing inputs to somewhat below the expected economic optimum.     

W-OH固化剂对土壤水渗漏及硝态氮淋失的影响

采用盆栽试验结合天然降雨观测,研究了不同W-OH喷施浓度(1%、3%和5%)对作物(大豆、玉米和大蒜)地土壤水渗漏及硝态氮淋失的影响。结果表明:本试验条件下W-OH的保水作用受降雨量和作物类型影响;小雨和中雨条件下,玉米地土壤水渗漏量随W-OH施用浓度的增加呈先减小后增加,浓度为3%的处理渗漏量最低,保水效益明显;当降雨量达大雨及以上级别时,W-OH的保水作用与其喷施浓度成正比;W-OH对大豆和大蒜地的保水作用不受降雨量的影响,且其对二者土壤水渗漏量的影响规律相似,与对照(不喷施WOH)相比,各处理水分渗漏量随W-OH浓度增加而增加。在作物生长初期,W-OH的保肥作用与其施用浓度成正比,经历后续降雨渗流多次淋溶,保肥作用趋于稳定;玉米和大蒜地喷施中、高浓度(3%和5%)的WOH即可减少硝态氮淋失量,大豆地1%浓度的W-OH即可减少硝态氮淋失。     

Residual effect and nitrate leaching in grass‐arable rotations: effect of grassland proportion,sward type and fertilizer history

A key point in designing grass‐arable rotations is to find the right balance between the number of cultivations and the length of the grass phase. In a field experiment, we investigated the effect of cropping history (grazed unfertilized grass–clover and fertilized [300 kg N per hectare] ryegrass, proportion of grassland and previous fertilizer use) on crop growth and nitrate leaching for 2 years following grassland cultivation. In the final year, the effect of perennial ryegrass as a catch crop was investigated. The nitrogen fertilizer replacement value (NFRV) of grassland cultivation was higher at 132 kg N per hectare in the rotation with 75% grassland compared with on average 111 kg N per hectare in rotations with 25 and 38% grassland and the NFRV of ryegrass in the rotation was higher than that of grass–clover. Nitrate leaching following cultivation was not affected by the proportion of grassland in the crop rotation or sward type. However, there was a considerable effect of having a ryegrass catch crop following the final barley crop as nitrate leaching was reduced from 60 to 9 kg N per hectare. When summarizing results from the crop rotations over a longer period (1997–2005), management strategy adopted in both the grassland and arable phases appeared to be the primary instrument in avoiding nutrient losses from mixed crop rotations, irrespective of grass proportion. In the arable phase, the huge potential of catch crops has been demonstrated, but it is also important to realize that all parts of the grass‐arable crop rotations must be considered potentially leaky.