Nitrate leaching from grazed grassland lysimeters: effects of fertilizer input, field drainage, age of sward and patterns of weather

Drained and undrained grassland lysimeter plots were established in 1982 on a clay loam of the Hallsworth series at a long-term experimental site in south-west England. The plots were continuously grazed by beef cattle, and received fertilizer at either 200 or 400 kg N ha^-1 per annum to the existing permanent sward, or at 400 kg N ha^-1 to a new sward, reseeded to perennial ryegrass following cultivation. Drainage water was monitored at V-notch weirs and sampled daily for the analysis of nitrate-N. Seven years of data are presented (five years for the reseeded swards). On the drained plots a large proportion of the rainfall was routed preferentially down large pores to the mole drains, whilst on the undrained plots, drainage was mainly by surface runoff. The average quantities of nitrate N leached per year were 38.5, 133.8 and 55.7 kg ha^-1 from the old sward that received 200 and 400 kg N ha^-1, and from the reseed that received 400 kg N ha^-1 fertilizer, respectively. Ploughing and reseeding resulted in a two-fold reduction in leaching, except during the first winter after ploughing, and twice as much leaching occurred after a hot, dry summer as after a cool, wet one. Nitrate concentrations in drainage from either drained or undrained plots were rather insensitive to rainfall intensity, such that concentration was a good predictor of nitrate load for a given drainage volume. The drainage volume determined the proportion of the leachable N that remained in the soil after the winter drainage period. Initial (peak) concentrations of nitrate N ranged, on average, from 55 mg dm^-3 for the drained old sward that received 400 kg N ha^-1 fertilizer, to 12 mg dm^-3 for the undrained sward at 200 kg N ha^-1 fertilizer input. Concentrations of nitrate N in drainage from similar, unfertilized plots rarely exceeded 1 mg dm^-3. The results suggest that manipulating the nitrate supply can lessen leaching and that the route of water through soil to the watercourse determines the maximum nitrate concentration for a given load.     

A field study of effects of contrasting methods of cultivation on soil nitrate content during autumn, winter and spring

The nitrate content of three heavy clay soils (Evesham, Denchworth and Lawford series) was examined after direct drilling or ploughing, and of another clay soil (Denchworth series) with or without mole drainage and after tine cultivation. Autumn-sown crops were grown at all these sites during the years 1973–80. Except in 1974–75, the nitrate concentration of the soil solution sampled from direct-drilled plots was less than from the ploughed plots, particularly in late autumn and early winter. By January the plots which had been ploughed contained 12–65 kg N ha^?1 more mineral nitrogen than direct-drilled plots, but differences between cultivation treatments disappeared rapidly and had gone by early March. After tine cultivation, the nitrate content of the soil profile was not affected by the contrasting drainage status of the plots with or without mole drainage. These results support the view that although denitrification can be greater in direct-drilled soil, the larger nitrate concentrations present in ploughed soil result from the soil disturbance exposing less accessible substrates to mineralization by microbes. By this means, considerable amounts of mineral nitrogen are made available at the beginning of the winter, during the establishment of autumn-sown crops.     

A study of mole drainage with simplified cultivation for autumn-sown crops on a clay soil. 4. A comparison of direct drilling and mouldboard ploughing on drained and undrained land on root and shoot growth,nutrient uptake and yield

Cereal crops were grown after direct drilling or ploughing on an undrained or drained clay soil over 4 years to examine whether crop growth after different methods of tillage is influenced by the intesiity of drainage. Winter cereals were grown in each year, wheat for 3 years and oats in the remaining year. In 3 of the years (years 1–3) the total annual precipitation was close to the long-term mean, and the mean depths of the water table during the winter in the undrained and drained land were about 20 and 40 cm, respectively. In the 3rd year, an unusually wet autumn also caused very wet topsoil at sowing time, which persisted throughout the winter. The 4th year was much drier than average, and the water tables remained below drain depth.An interaction between the intensity of drainage and the method of tillage occurred only in the 3rd year, with the wet autumn, when completion of ploughing, seed-bed preparation and sowing of the oats were delayed. This disadvantaged the direct-drilled crop on the undrained land, where seedlings experienced pre-emergence waterlogging so that the plant population was 20 m⁻² and yield was only 55% of the crop grown after ploughing; on drained land, there was little difference in establishment or yield between the tillage treatments.Drainage did not affect yield in the 2 drier years, the 1st and 4th, and in the latter year the grain yield of winter wheat was 11.5 t ha⁻¹. In the 2nd year, drainage increased yield by about a quarter, when root growth and nutrient uptake were restricted on the undrained treatment. Averaged over the whole duration of this experiment, 4 years reported here and 2 years already published, the mean increase in grain yield of winter cereals due to drainage was 13% (0.9 t ha⁻¹).On average, the 3 direct-drilled winter wheat crops yielded 4% more grain than crops grown on ploughed land due to an advantage in one year. Root extension in winter was slightly faster after direct drilling than after ploughing, but the difference subsequently diminished or disappeared.     

Fate of fertilizer nitrogen applied to grassland. I. Field leaching results

Results are presented from a 3 year investigation into nitrate leaching from isolated 0.4 ha grassland plots fertilized with 250, 500 and 900 kg N ha^?1 a^?1. Cumulative nitrate leaching over the 3 years was equivalent to 1.5%, 5.4% and 16.7% of the fertilizer applied at 250, 500 and 900 kg N ha^?1 rates respectively. Over a whole drainage season, mean nitrate leachate concentrations at 250 kg N ha^?1 did not exceed 4 mgl^?1, although maximum values of 13.3 mgl^?1 were observed. In contrast, at 900 kg N ha^?1, the mean nitrate leachate concentration in two of the years exceeded 90 mgl^?1. Mineral nitrogen balances constructed for the 1979 growing season indicated that leaching at 250 kg N ha^?1 was low because net mineralization of soil organic nitrogen was small, and crop nitrogen uptake almost balanced fertilizer application. Although the pattern of nitrate leaching suggested that by-passing occurred in the movement of water down the soil profile, it was not possible to confirm this using simulation models of leaching. Possible reasons for this, including the occurrence of rapid water flow down gravitationally drained macropores, are discussed.     

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.     

Net mineralization, net nitrification and potentially available nitrogen in the subsoil beneath a cultivated crop and a permanent pasture

The brigalow clay soils of central Queensland in eastern Australia contain large quantities of nitrate-N in the subsoil beneath shallow rooting cultivated crops. A laboratory incubation study was conducted to determine whether nitrate accumulation at depth beneath these crops was due to in situ nitrogen mineralization. Intact soil cores, 5 cm long and 5 cm diameter, were obtained at four depths to 120 cm beneath cultivated black gram (Vigna mungo) and green panic (Panicum maximum var trichoglume) permanent pasture and incubated for 12 weeks at 60% water-filled pore space and 25°C. Net mineralization of organic N occurred in all soil cores obtained from under black gram with values ranging from 4.3 to 9 mg N kg^?1 soil at 12 weeks. Beneath the pasture, net mineralization had not commenced by the end of 12 weeks. Potentially available nitrogen (N_a) ranged from 1.2 to 62.7 kg N ha^?1 under black gram, and from 10.2 to 136.9 kg N ha^?1 under pasture. A significant relationship was observed between N_a and total N beneath both crops, and between N_a and total C under the pasture. Leaching of N mineralized in the surface layers of soil appears to be the main avenue of nitrate build-up in the subsoil beneath black gram, with subsoil mineralization making only a partial contribution to the accumulated nitrate pool.     

A study of mole drainage with simplified cultivation for autumn-sown crops on a clay soil. 5. Losses of nitrate-N in surface run-off and drain water

Direct drilling of autumn-sown cereal crops reduced the loss of nitrate in drainage. Losses of nitrate nitrogen in water draining from arable land have been measured for 4 seasons, 1980–1984. The field experiment was on a mole-drained clay soil in southern England. Autumn-sown cereal crops were established by direct drilling or after ploughing and traditional seed-bed preparation. Losses ranged from 3 to 75 kg N ha⁻¹ year⁻¹, with an average of 34 kg N ha⁻¹ year⁻¹. Most of the loss (about 90%) was removed via the mole-drain system. Measured loss of nitrate from the direct-drilled soil was 76% (range 48–89%) of that lost from the ploughed soil. Mole drains apparently increased loss of nitrate directly to the river system. In the absence of mole drains, nitrate loss in surface drainage averaged 6 kg N ha⁻¹, compared with 4 kg N ha⁻¹ in the presence of drains. However, in one year, exceptionally high amounts of nitrate (80 kg N ha⁻¹) were lost from undrained, direct-drilled land because of poor crop establishment; deep leaching of nitrate in the undrained soil was not measured. Approximate calculations show that up to half the autumn-applied fertiliser-N was lost by leaching and up to 15% of spring applications.     

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.     

上海郊区蔬菜田氮素流失的研

Nitrogen （N） leaching in vegetable fields from December 2002 to May 2003 with equal dressings of total N for a sequential rotation of Chinese flat cabbage （Brassica chinensis L. var. rosularis） and lettuce （Lactuca sativa L.） in a suburban major vegetable production base of Shanghai were examined using the lysimeter method to provide a scientific basis for rational utilization of nitrogen fertilizers so as to prevent nitrogen pollution of water resources. Results showed that leached N consisted mainly of nitrate N, which accounted for up to more than 90% of the total N loss and could contribute to groundwater pollution. Data also showed that by partly substituting chemical N （30%） in a basal dressing with equivalent N of refined organic fertilizer in the Chinese flat cabbage field, 64.5% of the leached nitrate N was reduced, while in the lettuce （Lactuca sativa L.） field, substituting 1/2 of the chemical N in a basal dressing and 1/3 of the chemical N in a top dressing with equivalent N of refined organic fertilizers reduced 46.6% of the leached nitrate N. In the twoyear sequential rotation system of Chinese flat cabbage and lettuce, nitrate-N leaching in the treatment with the highest amount of chemical fertilizer was up to 46.55 kg ha^-1, while treatment plots with the highest amount of organic fertilizer had only 17.58 kg ha^-1. Thus, partly substituting refined organic fertilizer for chemical nitrogen in the first two seasons has a great advantage of reducing nitrate-N leaching.     

Leaching and crop uptake of N, P and K from organic and conventional cropping systems on a clay soil

In this study, three types of cropping systems with different nutrient management strategies were studied on a clay soil with the aim of comparing leaching of N, P and K and obtaining knowledge on nutrient budgets. A conventional cropping system with cereals and application of mineral fertilizers (CON) was compared with two organic cropping systems, one without animal manure in which green manure crops were used for N supply (OGM) and one where animal manure (cattle slurry) was applied (OAM). Leaching and crop uptake of N, P and K, and soil mineral N were measured in pipe‐drained plots over a 6‐year period. The mean annual leaching loads of N were moderate and did not differ significantly (P > 0.05) between treatments; 13 kg N ha^?1 in CON, 11 kg N ha^?1 in OGM and 7.4 kg N ha^?1 in OAM. Average annual P leaching showed greater variation than N leaching and was significantly greater in OGM (0.81 kg ha^?1 year^?1) than in CON (0.36 kg ha^?1) and OAM (0.41 kg ha^?1). For all cropping systems, removal in harvested crops was the most important export of nutrients from the field and constituted between 80 and 94% of total N outputs (harvested and leached N). Yields of cereals in the organic systems were considerably less (15–50%) than in the CON system, leading to a less efficient use of N than in the conventional system.     

Nitrogen cycling in organic farming systems with rotational grass–clover and arable crops

Organic farming is considered an effective means of reducing nitrogen losses compared with more intensive conventional farming systems. However, under certain conditions, organic farming may also be susceptible to large nitrogen (N) losses. This is especially the case for organic dairy farms on sandy soils that use grazed grass–clover in rotation with cereals. A study was conducted on two commercial organic farms on sand and loamy sand soils in Denmark. On each farm, a 3‐year‐old grass–clover field was selected. Half of the field was ploughed the first year and the other half was ploughed the following year. Spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) was sown after ploughing in spring. Measurements showed moderate N leaching during the pasture period (9–64 kg N ha^?1 year^?1) but large amounts of leaching in the first (63–216 kg N ha^?1) and second (61–235 kg N ha^?1) year after ploughing. There was a small yield response to manure application on the sandy soil in both the first and second year after ploughing. To investigate the underlying processes affecting the residual effects of pasture and N leaching, the dynamic whole farm model farm assessment tool (FASSET) was used to simulate the treatments on both farms. The simulations agreed with the observed barley N‐uptake. However, for the sandy soil, the simulation of nitrate leaching and mineral nitrogen in the soil deviated considerably from the measurements. Three scenarios with changes in model parameters were constructed to investigate this discrepancy. These scenarios suggested that the organic matter turnover model should include an intermediate pool with a half‐life of about 2–3 years. There might also be a need to include effects of soil disturbance (tillage) on the soil organic matter turnover.     

Variables controlling denitrification from earthworm casts and soil in permanent pastures

Summary Denitrification (using the acetylene block method) was determined in earthworm casts and soils from permanent, drained or undrained pasture plots fertilized with 0 or 200 kg N ha^-1 year^-1 as ammonium nitrate. Rates of N₂O production from soil cores were about three times higher from the fertilized than from the unfertilized plots while drainage had a relatively small effect. Denitrification rates from casts were 3–5 times higher than those from soil irrespective of the drainage treatment. Casts generally had higher NO _inf3 ^sup- , NH _inf4 ^sup+ , and moisture contents, and higher microbial respiration rates than soil. Rates of N₂O production were determined primarily by NO _inf3 ^sup- supply, secondarily by moisture; available C did not appear to limit denitrification in these pastures. Estimates of the potential contribution of casts to denitrification ranges from 10.1% of 29.3 kg ha^-1 year^-1 from the unfertilized, drained plot to 22% of 82.5 kg ha^-1 year^-1 from the fertilized undrained plot.     

Assessment of tillage strategies to decrease nitrate leaching in the Brimstone Farm Experiment, Oxfordshire, UK

Tillage may influence nitrate losses from agricultural soils. Losses of nitrate were measured in drainflow at 60 cm depth and in combined surface runoff and interflow in the A horizon (=surface layer flow) on hydrologically sealed plots with a two-year comparison (1988–1990) of shallow-tine cultivation vs. mouldboard ploughing. Ploughing increased concentrations and loadings of nitrate in drainflow and surface layer flow, especially in the first year. After these two years the shallow-tined plots were ploughed to plant winter beans (Vicia faba L.), and nitrate in drainflow then increased over the next three winters, slightly exceeding that from the plots which had been ploughed throughout for winter cereals. The composition of the surface layer flow did not show this effect, however. Calculations of net winter mineralisation of soil organic nitrogen showed that shallow-tine cultivation may have decreased mineralisation slightly compared with ploughing in the first two years. These calculations did not indicate any increase in mineralisation for two winters after the minimally cultivated plots were ploughed in autumn 1990, probably because the soil was then very dry. This increase was apparently delayed until the fifth winter (1992/1993), which was much wetter than any since autumn 1990. In the previous eight years (1980–1988) half of the plots had been ploughed and half had been direct drilled. Averaged over the five winters 1988/1989–1992/1993, the five measures of nitrate loss in drainflow from plots previously direct drilled were 6–57% more than from plots previously ploughed, and winter mineralisation was 20% more, with no evidence of any decline in either with time. The nitrate produced by mineralisation of organic matter conserved by the eight years of direct drilling was mainly lost by leaching or denitrification; it was of little or no benefit to the crops. The results suggest that in the long term more nitrate is leached from land subject to periods of minimal or zero tillage and ploughing than from land ploughed every year.     

N-Source Effects on Temporal Distribution of NO3-N Leaching Losses to Subsurface Drainage Water

Understanding the temporal distribution of NO₃-N leaching losses from subsurface drained ‘tile’ fields as a function of climate and management practices can help develop strategies for its mitigation. A field study was conducted from 1999 through 2003 to investigate effects of the most vulnerable application of pig manure (fall application and chisel plow), safe application of pig manure (spring application and no-tillage) and common application of artificial nitrogen (UAN spring application and chisel plow) on NO₃-N leaching losses to subsurface drainage water beneath corn (Zea mays L.)–soybean (Glycine max L.) rotation systems as a randomized complete block design. The N application rates averaged over five years ranged from 166 kg-N ha^?1 for spring applied manure to 170 kg-N ha^?1 for UAN and 172 kg-N ha^?1 for fall applied manure. Tillage and nitrogen source effects on tile flow and NO₃-N leaching losses were not significant (P?<?0.05). Fall applied manure with CP resulted in significantly greater corn grain yield (10.8 vs 10.4 Mg ha^?1) compared with the spring manure-NT system. Corn plots with the spring applied manure-NT system gave relatively lower flow weighted NO₃-N concentration of 13.2 mg l^?1 in comparison to corn plots with fall manure-CP (21.6 mg l^?1) and UAN-CP systems (15.9 mg l^?1). Averaged across five years, about 60% of tile flow and NO₃-N leaching losses exited the fields during March through May. Growing season precipitation and cycles of wet and dry years primarily controlled NO₃-N leaching losses from tile drained fields. These results suggest that spring applied manure has potential to reduce NO₃-N concentrations in subsurface drainage water and also strategies need to be developed to reduce early spring NO₃-N leaching losses.     

Uptake of labelled nitrate by roots of winter barley on a direct-drilled or ploughed silt loam soil

This work investigated the availability to cereal crops of inorganic nitrogen at differing soil depths at different growth stages. Experiments were done in the field on a silt loam soil on which winter barley was grown after direct drilling or conventional seed-bed preparation after ploughing.At three growth stages (Zadoks 25, 31 and 45) nitrogen labelled with the isotope ¹⁵N was introduced to microplots (area 707 cm²) at depths 7.5, 15, 30 and 50 cm. After an interval of 2 or 3 days to allow uptake of this nitrate by the roots, the herbage growing on the microplots was harvested and tracer-nitrogen content measured.Labelled-nitrogen adsorption was greatest from 7.5 cm depth, and uptake approximately halved for each depth increment. This decline with depth was more pronounced on the ploughed plots. Irrespective of cultivation method, total tracer-nitrogen adsorption averaged over all depths was much the same at growth stages 25 and 31 (mid-March and April), but at growth stage 45 (late May) the uptake on the direct-drilled treatment was almost twice that on the ploughed. Nitrogen concentration was significantly smaller in the direct-drilled crop particularly at the May harvest (Zadoks 45) and this starvation may have been responsible for the greater utilization by the direct-drilled crops of a fresh supply of nitrogen.     

Nitrate leaching and residual soil nitrogen supply following outdoor pig farming

Abstract. Large nitrogen (N) inputs to outdoor pig farms in the UK can lead to high nitrate leaching losses and accumulation of surplus N in soil. We investigated the residual effects of three contrasting outdoor pig systems as compared to an arable control on nitrate leaching and soil N supply for subsequent spring cereal crops grown on a sandy loam soil during 1997/98 and 1998/99 harvest seasons. Previously, the pig systems had been stocked for 2 years from October 1995 and were designated current commercial practice (CCP, 25 sows ha^?1 on stubble), improved management practice (IMP, 18 sows ha^?1 on undersown stubble) and best management practice (BMP, 12 sows ha^?1 on established grass). Estimated soil N surpluses by the end of stocking in September 1997 were 576, 398, 265 and 27 kg ha^?1 N for the CCP, IMP, BMP and continuous arable control, respectively. Nitrate leaching losses in the first winter were 235, 198, 137 and 38 kg ha^?1 N from the former CCP, IMP and BMP systems and the arable control, respectively. These losses from the former pig systems were equivalent to 41–52% of the estimated soil N surpluses. Leaching losses were much smaller in the second winter at 21, 14, 23 and 19 kg ha^?1 N, respectively. Cultivation timing had no effect (P>0.05) on leaching losses in year 1, but cultivation in October compared with December increased nitrate leaching by a mean of 14 kg ha^?1 N across all treatments in year 2. Leaching losses over the two winters were correlated (P<0.001) with autumn soil mineral N (SMN) contents. In both seasons, spring SMN, grain yields and N offtakes at harvest were similar (P>0.05) for the three previous pig systems and the arable control, and cultivation timing had no effect (P>0.05) on grain yields and crop N offtake. This systems study has shown that nitrate leaching losses during the first winter after outdoor pig farming can be large, with no residual available N benefits to following cereal crops unless that first winter is much drier than average.     

Effects of tillage and reseeding on phosphorus transfers from grassland

Pasture tillage and reseeding is part of the normal rotation cycle of grassland systems in the UK and a process that could increase the rate of phosphorus (P) transfer to water, thus potentially contributing to eutrophication. The effect of tillage and reseeding on P transfer was investigated at two scales: from drained and undrained 1 ha hydrologically isolated pasture plots within the Rowden Drainage Experiment in Devon, during a 6‐month winter drainage period in 1998–1999, and in replicated soil box experiments during simulated rainfall ‘events’. At the plot scale, total P exports of 3.75 kg P ha^?1 were determined over a 16‐day period, indicating that soil and P were most vulnerable to detachment and mobilization during rainfall and run‐off in this period. Once the sward had developed, and the vulnerability to soil detachment reduced, reseeded swards with pipe drainage transferred less P (approx. 0.3 kg P ha^?1 yr^?1) to water than is commonly measured on permanent grassland (approx. 1 kg P ha^?1 yr^?1). Soil box experiments showed that tilled soil transferred more P > 0.45 μm but P < 0.45 μm was retained. Sward cover is critical to reducing detachment and resulting P transfer from surface soil, and therefore careful consideration should be taken for the need to reseed. The effects of tillage and reseeding on phosphorus transfers from grassland can be potentially significant and ought to be mitigated against using low‐till practices to reduce potential contribution to water quality.     

Subsoil retention of organic and inorganic nitrogen in a Brazilian savanna Oxisol

Abstract. Nitrogen (N) loss by leaching poses great challenges for N availability to crops as well as nitrate pollution of groundwater. Few studies address this issue with respect to the role of the subsoil in the deep and highly weathered savanna soils of the tropics, which exhibit different adsorption and drainage patterns to soils in temperate environments. In an Anionic Acrustox of the Brazilian savanna, the Cerrado, dynamics and budgets of applied N were studied in organic and inorganic soil pools of two maize (Zea mays L.) – soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) rotations using ¹⁵N tracing. Labelled ammonium sulphate was applied at 10 kg N ha^?1 (with 10 atom%¹⁵N excess) to both maize and soybean at the beginning of the cropping season. Amounts and isotopic composition of N were determined in above‐ground biomass, soil, adsorbed mineral N, and in soil solution at 0.15, 0.3, 0.8, 1.2 and 2 m depths using suction lysimeters throughout one cropping season. The applied ammonium was rapidly nitrified or immobilized in soil organic matter, and recovery of applied ammonium in soil 2 weeks after application was negligible. Large amounts of nitrate were adsorbed in the subsoil (150–300 kg NO₃^?‐N ha^?1 per 2 m) matching total N uptake by the crops (130–400 kg N ha^?1). Throughout one cropping season, more applied N (49–77%; determined by ¹⁵N tracers) was immobilized in soil organic matter than was present as adsorbed nitrate (2–3%). Most of the applied N (71–96% of ¹⁵N recovery) was found in the subsoil at 0.15–2 m depth. This coincided with an increase with depth of dissolved organic N as a proportion of total dissolved N (39–63%). Hydrophilic organic N was the dominant fraction of dissolved organic N and was, together with nitrate, the most important carrier for applied N. Most of this N (>80%) was leached from the topsoil (0–0.15 m) during the first 30 days after application. Subsoil N retention as both adsorbed inorganic N, and especially soil organic N, was found to be of great importance in determining N losses, soil N depletion and the potential of nitrate contamination of groundwater.     

Alysimeter study of the effects of a ryegrass catch crop, during a winter wheat/maize rotation, on nitrate leaching and on the following crop

The effects of an intercrop catch crop (Italian ryegrass) on (i) the amounts and concentrations of nitrate leached during the autumn and winter intercrop period, and (ii) the following crop, were examined in a lysimeter experiment and compared with that from a bare fallow treatment. The catch crop was grown in a winter wheat/maize rotation, after harvest of the wheat, and incorporated into the soil before sowing the maize. A calcium and potassium nitrate fertilizer labelled with ¹⁵N (200 kg N ha^?1; 9.35 atom per cent excess) was applied to the winter wheat in spring. Total N uptake by the winter wheat was 154 kg ha^?1 and the recovery of fertilizer-derived N (labelled with ¹⁵N) was 60%. The catch crop (grown without further addition of N) yielded 3.8t ha^?1 herbage dry matter, containing 43 kg N ha^?1, of which 4.1 % was derived from the ¹⁵N-labelled fertilizer. Two-hundred kg unlabelled N ha^?1 was applied to the maize crop. During the intercrop period the nitrate concentration in water draining from the bare fallow lysimeters reached 68 mg N1^?1, with an average of 40 mg N1^?1. With the catch crop, it declined rapidly, from 41 mg N I^?1 to 0.25 mg N I^?1, at the end of ryegrass growth. Over this period, 110 kg N ha^?1 was leached under bare fallow, compared with 40 kg N ha^?1 under the catch crop. ¹⁵N-labelled nitrate was detected in the first drainage water collected in autumn, 5 months after the spring application. The quantity of fertilizer-N that was leached during this winter period was greater under bare fallow (18.7% of applied N) than when a catch crop was grown (7.1 %). In both treatments, labelled fertilizer-N contributed about 34% of the total N lost during this period. With the ryegrass catch crop incorporated at the time of seedbed preparation in spring, the subsequent maize grain-yield was lowered by an average of 13%. Total N-uptake by the maize sown following bare fallow was 224 kg N ha^?1, compared with 180 kg ha^?1 with prior incorporation of ryegrass; the corresponding values for uptake of residual labelled N were 3% (bare fallow) and 2% (ryegrass) of the initial application. Following the maize harvest, where ryegrass was incorporated, 22.7% of the previous year's labelled fertilizer addition was present in an organic form on the top 30 cm of lysimeter soil. This compares with 15.7% for the bare fallow intercropping treatment. Tracer analyses showed overall recoveries of labelled N of 91.7% for the winter wheat/ ryegrass/maize rotation and 97% for the winter wheat/bare fallow/maize rotation. The study clearly demonstrated the ecological importance of a catch crop in reducing N-leaching as well as its efficient use of fertilizer in the plant-soil system from this particular rotation. However, the fate of the organic N in the ploughed-down catch crop is uncertain and problems were encountered in establishing the next crop of maize.