Nitrate leaching in an organic dairy/crop rotationas affected by organic manure type, livestock densityand crop

Abstract. In dairy farming systems the risk of nitrate leaching is increased by mixed rotations (pasture/arable) and the use of organic manure. We investigated the effect of four organic farming systems with different livestock densities and different types of organic manure on crop yields, nitrate leaching and N balance in an organic dairy/crop rotation (barley–grass-clover–grass-clover–barley/pea–winter wheat–fodder beet) from 1994 to 1998. Nitrate concentrations in soil water extracted by ceramic suction cups ranged from below 1 mg NO₃-N l^?1 in 1^st year grass-clover to 20–50 mg NO₃-N l^?1 in the winter following barley/pea and winter wheat. Peaks of high nitrate concentrations were observed in 2^nd year grass-clover, probably due to urination by grazing cattle. Nitrate leaching was affected by climatic conditions (drainage volume), livestock density and time since ploughing in of grass-clover. No difference in nitrate leaching was observed between the use of slurry alone and farmyard manure from deep litter housing in combination with slurry. Increasing the total-N input to the rotation by 40 kg N ha^?1 year^?1 (from 0.9 to 1.4 livestock units ha^?1) only increased leaching by 6 kg NO₃-N ha^?1. Nitrate leaching was highest in the second winter (after winter wheat) following ploughing in of the grass-clover (61 kg NO₃-N ha^?1). Leaching losses were lowest in 1^st year grass-clover (20 kg NO₃-N ha^?1). Averaged over the four years, nitrate concentration in drainage water was 57 mg l^?1. Minimizing leaching losses requires improved utilization of organic N accumulated in grazed grass-clover pastures. The N balance for the crop rotation as a whole indicated that accumulation of N in soil organic matter in the fields of these systems was small.     

Nitrate leaching from organic arable crop rotations: effects of location, manure and catch crop

Abstract. Nitrate leaching from crop rotations supporting organic grain production was investigated from 1997 to 2000 in a field experiment at three locations in Denmark on different soil types. Three experimental factors were included in the experiment in a factorial design: (1) proportion of N₂-fixing crops in the rotation (crop rotation), (2) catch crop (with and without), and (3) manure (with and without). Three, four-course rotations were compared, two at each location. The nitrate leaching was measured using ceramic suction cells. Leaching losses from the crop rotation with grass–clover green manure and without catch crops were 104, 54 and 35 kg N ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ on the coarse sand, the loamy sand, and the sandy loam, respectively. There was no effect of manure application or time of ploughing-in the grass–clover green manure crop on the accumulated nitrate leaching from the entire rotation. Catch crops reduced nitrate leaching significantly, by 30–38%, on the sandy soils. At all locations catch crops reduced the annual averaged nitrate concentration to meet drinking water quality standards in the crop rotation with green manure. On the coarse sand there was a time lag between the onset of drainage and the start of N-uptake by the catch crop.     

牛粪堆肥过程中有机态氮的动态变化

利用外源微生物进行牛粪高温好氧堆肥试验,研究堆肥过程中不同形态有机态氮组分的变化规律。结果表明,全氮与酸水解氮均呈下降趋势,与不加外源微生物处理相比,外源微生物处理只是加速全氮与酸水解氮含量的降低,并没有引起氮素过多的损失;氨基酸态氮呈现先降低后增加的趋势,堆肥结束时,外源微生物处理含量明显高于不加微生物处理;酰胺态氮与氨基糖态氮各处理含量都在升温期、高温期增加,然后随着堆肥温度的下降而降低,在腐熟期则呈现较平稳的走势。在堆肥的不同时期,外源微生物处理酰胺态氮含量明显低于不加微生物处理,而氨基糖态氮则相反。     

Nitrate leaching from a shallow limestone soil growing a five course combinable crop rotation: the effects of crop husbandry and nitrogen fertilizer rate on losses from the second complete rotation

Abstract. The field experiment tested the effects of three management systems on nitrate leaching losses from a five crop rotation on the Lincolnshire Limestone in Eastern England. The Standard system was similar to farming practice in the area. The Protective system integrated individual practices which were expected to decrease nitrate losses (e.g. cover crops, cultivation delay in autumn and reduced intensity, manipulation of drilling dates and, during the first few years of the first rotation, straw incorporation). The Intermediate system was a compromise between the two extremes. All crops were grown at full and half recommended nitrogen rates. This paper reports data from the second full rotation (years 6–10), thus enabling the medium-term effects of continued management practices to be investigated. Average annual nitrogen leaching losses at 49, 35 and 25 kg N ha^–1 for Standard, Intermediate and Protective systems, respectively, were significantly different. The respective flow-weighted average NO₃ concentrations were 167, 131 and 96 mg l^–1. Thus, adopting nitrate retentive practices through the rotation was able to substantially decrease losses. The Protective system was as effective as in the first full rotation, demonstrating that 10 years of such practices had not failed in the medium-term. However, continued minimal cultivation caused serious problems of weed build-up. The cost of weed control and yield loss caused by grass weeds made cereal production uneconomic in some years. Thus, rules for nitrate leaching control need to be tempered with practical and agronomic considerations. Also, few (if any) management techniques tested guaranteed that nitrate losses would be small in all years, as the interaction with winter weather, particularly rainfall, was of vital importance.     

Performance of spring barley varieties and variety mixtures as affected by manure application and their order in an organic crop rotation

Abstract

In order to obtain a high and stable yield of organic spring barley, production should be optimized according to the specific environment. To test the performance of spring barley varieties under varying cropping conditions, a field experiment was carried out in 2003 and 2004 in a six-field mixed organic crop rotation. We investigated the choice of variety, the order in a rotation, and the application of manure (slurry and farmyard manure; 0 to 120 total-N ha^?1) on grain yields of six selected varieties with different characteristics grown in either pure stands or in two spring barley mixtures, each consisting of three varieties.

Average grain yield of the barley varieties varied between 3.3 t DM ha^?1 and 4.1 t DM ha^?1. Grain yields of the two mixtures were 4.0 and 3.6 t DM ha^?1, respectively. The varieties/mixtures interacted with crop order and year. Foliar diseases were more severe in the barley following grass-clover with large annual differences in the individual diseases. Despite different rooting depths and nutrient uptake patterns, there was no interaction between variety/mixture and the manure input regarding grain yield.

In the 1^st year after grass-clover, one of the two mixtures gave higher grain yield than the average yield of the individual varieties in the mixture. This was not the case in the 4^th year after grass-clover and for the second variety mixture. Thus, although the present results did not indicate that some barley varieties were better adapted to conditions with low manure input than others, variety mixtures that give a robust and stable organic production may potentially be developed.     

Potassium retention and leaching in an organic crop rotation on loamy sand as affected by contrasting potassium budgets

Abstract. In organic farming, potassium (K) deficiency may become a significant problem due to nutrient import restrictions. Knowledge about potential K leaching in systems with different K budgets is therefore important for effective agricultural management. We investigated the effect of four organic farming systems (two livestock densities in combination with two types of organic manure) on crop yields, K leaching and K balances in a six course crop rotation from 1993/94 to 1997/98. Average K concentrations in soil water extracted by means of ceramic suction cups at 1 m depth were 0.6 mg K l⁻¹ corresponding to a K leaching loss of 1.5 kg ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ which was less than expected from values reported in the literature. Variation in K budgets from −12 to +30 kg ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ did not affect K leaching. In an additional experiment with application of 988 kg K ha⁻¹ as KCl, K leaching accounted for only 0.2% of the applied K although 40% of the accompanying Cl was leached. The main part of the applied K was retained in the topsoil. It was concluded that K leaching was a result of the fertilizer history rather than of the current K budget.     

Manure management practices applied to a seven‐course rotation on a sandy soil: effects on nitrate leaching

This experiment tested whether it was possible to incorporate broiler litter (BL) or cattle farmyard manure (FYM) into a 7‐yr arable rotation on a sandy soil without causing an increase in nitrate‐nitrogen (NO₃‐N) leaching. Four manure treatments (with adjusted fertilizer inputs), varying in frequency and timing of application, were imposed on the rotation and compared with a control that received inorganic fertilizer according to recommended rates. Over seven winters, the annual average NO₃‐N leached from the inorganic fertilizer treatment (control) was 39 kg/ha in 183 mm drainage. Total manure N loadings over the period of the experiment ranged between 557 and 1719 kg/ha (80–246 kg/ha/yr) for the four treatments. Three of the four manure treatments significantly increased NO₃‐N leaching over the rotation (P < 0.001). Annual applications of FYM (1719 kg/ha manure N or 246 kg/ha/yr) increased NO₃‐N leaching by 39%. We hypothesize that this was due to increased mineralization of the organic N accumulating from repeated FYM applications. BL applied each year (1526 kg/ha manure N or 218 kg N/ha/yr) increased NO₃‐N leaching by 52% above the control; BL applied 5 of 7 yr (972 kg/ha manure N or 139 kg N/ha/yr on average) and including inadvisable autumn applications increased leaching by 50%. BL applied in late winter or early spring every 2–3 yr (557 kg/ha manure N or 80 kg N/ha/yr on average) resulted in NO₃‐N leaching similar to the control. This suggests that to avoid additional NO₃‐N leaching from manure use in an arable rotation, manure should not be applied every year and autumn applications should be avoided; there are real challenges where manure is used on an annual basis.     

Nitrate leaching following autumn and winter application of animal manures to grassland

Abstract. Under a UK Government consultation procedure announced in 2001, it was proposed that measures agreed within already designated Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (NVZ 's) would be extended to include a considerably increased area of England, Wales and Scotland. Since existing NVZ 's in the UK have included relatively little grassland, it is important to examine how nitrate losses from grassland areas, especially from animal manures, one of the major potential sources of nitrate loss, can be minimized. Experiments were carried out on freely draining grassland soils at four sites (Devon, Hampshire, Shropshire and N Yorkshire) representative of a wide range of climatic and farming conditions across lowland England, over a four year period, 1990/91 to 1993/94. Slurry was applied to experimental plots over a range of times (including June and then monthly, from September to January) at a target rate of 200 kg N ha^–1. Nitrogen leaching over the four years ranged from 0 to >50% of applied slurry N, with the largest losses occurring following applications in the September to November period. The use of a nitrification inhibitor with slurry applied in November failed to provide consistent reduction in nitrate leaching.
A strategy to reduce the risk of N leaching from manures applied to freely draining grassland soils must take account of the characteristics of the manure, in particular its N content, the application rate and the amount of excess rainfall following application. The experimental results suggest that slurry applications to freely draining grassland, in September, October and November should generally be avoided, the rationale for this being dependent on the amount of excess rainfall subsequent to application. Farmyard manure represents a lower risk and does not justify the restrictions on application timing that appear to be necessary with slurry.     

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.     

Residual nitrogen effect of a dairy crop rotation as influenced by grass-clover ley management, manure type and age

Abstract Forecasting crop nitrogen (N) demand is important for maximizing productivity and minimizing losses to the environment, and includes taking into account residual effects. The residual N effect was estimated in a dairy crop rotation (spring barley undersown with grass-clover, first and second year ley, spring barleylpeas undersown with ryegrass, oats undersown with ryegrass and fodder beet) with different management (grazed or cut) and manure type (slurry or deep litter) by anaerobic incubation and plant N-uptake in a pot experiment and in the field. For comparison a 10-year-old grass-clover ley was included. Type of animal manure did not affect the residual N effect. Crop rotations with grazed grassland had a residual N effect that on average was 13% higher than the same rotation without grazing. Ploughing of grassland clearly increased residual N effects for several years, but age of grassland at ploughing was of little importance. Thus, the residual N effect of 10-year-old grass-clover ley only marginally exceeded that of undersown grass-clover, despite considerable difference in estimated N-surplus. The results indicate that organic N is easier to mineralize the more recently it has been formed. Good correlations existed between soil inorganic N in the spring, N released during anaerobic incubation, and plant-available N. However, chemical analyses may be difficult to implement in practical farming due to difficulty of achieving representative samples in systems characterized by huge spatial variability.     

长期大量施肥增加设施菜田土壤可溶性有机氮淋溶风险

可溶性有机氮比较活跃,在氮素转化和生态环境安全方面都有重要作用。该文研究了长期不同施肥处理（不施肥、施有机肥、传统施氮、优化施氮和秸秆还田）对设施菜田土壤矿质氮和可溶性有机氮含量及其在剖面累积的影响。结果表明,设施菜田土壤0～180 cm可溶性有机氮含量范围为29.1～88.9 mg/kg,占可溶性总氮的27%～50%;与不施肥处理相比,有机肥和氮肥的施用显著增加土壤可溶性有机氮的含量,并且随着化肥氮投入的增加可溶性有机氮含量也相应增加;其中,有机肥处理比不施肥处理可溶性有机氮在0～180 cm土层累积增加了1132 kg/hm2,传统施氮比单施有机肥处理累计增加了1505 kg/hm2,秸秆的施用显著降低土壤无机氮累积量,但是对可溶性有机氮没有影响。综上所述,可溶性有机氮是设施菜田氮素重要的损失形态,其对环境的影响值得关注。     

Dicyandiamide application improved nitrogen use efficiency and decreased nitrogen losses in wheat-maize crop rotation in Loess Plateau

Inhibition of nitrification as a mitigation tool to abate nitrogen (N) losses and improve N use efficiency (NUE) is a promising technology. Nitrification inhibitor (dicyandiamide, DCD) was evaluated in two consecutive wheat-maize rotations (2015–2017), with two different N fertilizer levels applied in wheat (160, 220 kg N ha^?1) and maize (180, 280 kg N ha^?1). More NH₄⁺-N contents (101% and 102% in wheat and 74% and 73% in maize) and less NO₃^–-N contents (37% and 43% in wheat and 46% and 57% in maize) were observed at both N levels treated with DCD compared to without DCD. Higher pH, lower EC and reduced NO₃^–-N accumulation were the other benefits of DCD. The NO₃^–-N accumulation within the 0–200 cm soil profile was significantly less at both N levels with DCD (66 mg kg^?1 and 121 mg kg^?1) compared to without DCD (96 mg kg^?1 and 169 mg kg^?1). Application of DCD also improved the growth and yield in both crops. Increase in NUE from 38% to 49% in wheat and 27% to 33% in maize with DCD at higher N level was also observed. Overall, the effectiveness of DCD in retarding the nitrification process was higher in wheat than maize.     

雨养烟叶种植田无机氮淋溶特征

为了解烤烟种植下土壤氮淋溶与大田作物差异,评价烟田常规养分管理,探寻烟田无机氮淋溶的阻控策略。以贵州龙岗长期定位试验为平台,于2015—2017年开展常规管理下烟田氮素淋失及其影响因素研究。试验设5个处理:不施肥(CK)、化肥(NPK)、化肥+厩肥(NPK+M)、化肥+连作(NPK+L)、化肥+生物有机肥(NPK+BM)。结果表明,烟田全年无机氮淋溶量为3.62～6.08 kg/hm2,氮肥净淋溶率为0.09%～3.29%。无机氮的淋溶损失主要发生在烤烟生长季,尤其是5—6月,其占总淋溶量的40.33%～65.86%。烟田淋溶液中氮素形态主要是有机态,无机氮的比例平均仅为29.83%,缓苗期和旺长期(5—6月)淋溶液中无机氮比例高于烤烟成熟期(7—8月),前者无机氮比例平均33.00%,后者其平均为26.67%。降雨是影响烟田淋溶损失的主要因素,无机氮淋溶量与月降雨量呈非线性相关。施用化肥导致无机氮淋溶显著升高,有机肥配施化肥降低了土壤溶液淋溶,降低了氮肥淋溶损失。与烤烟玉米轮作处理相比,烤烟连作处理显著降低了土壤水淋溶,使氮肥净淋溶率降低59.57%。综上,目前烤烟常规管理下,雨养农...     

有机肥氮素矿化及影响因素研究进展

本文综述了有机肥氮素矿化和影响因素的研究进展。有机肥氮素矿化的研究方法主要有室内培养法和田间原位培养法。非淋洗通气培养法和原状土柱培养法虽不破坏土壤结构,但可能低估有机氮的矿化潜力;间歇淋洗通气培养法可模拟植物吸收不断移除矿质氮,适合大批样品的快速测定,但可能高估有机氮的矿化潜力。田间原位培养法包括聚乙烯袋培养法、顶盖埋管培养法和离子交换树脂法。聚乙烯袋培养法目前使用最广泛,但具有不透水、破坏土壤结构、矿质氮损失等缺点,顶盖埋管培养法虽可透水且不易被损坏,但可引起矿化氮流失。离子交换树脂芯法在不破坏土壤原状的条件下进行培养,虽费时、费力,但对土壤温度、湿度、通气状况反应灵敏,并可消除矿质氮累积的影响。影响有机肥氮素矿化的因素主要包括有机肥特性、温度、水分、土壤质地、施肥等因素。关于畜禽粪便的种类、熟化程度、C/N比、碳氮化合物组成等影响有机肥的矿化量和矿化动力学特征的研究较多。用有效积温来表示有机肥的矿化与温度之间的关系更为合理。目前,关于水分的影响,主要集中在干湿交替对有机氮矿化的影响;关于土壤质地的影响,主要集中在研究粘粒含量与有机质矿化的关系;关于施肥的影响,则重点研究氮肥、钾肥对有机氮矿化和粘土矿物固定氮的影响。今后,研究重点应放在有机肥矿化与有机氮组分关系、与植物有效性关系、有机肥替代化肥当量和替代率以及室内研究结果如何应用到田间指导合理施肥。     

有机无机肥配施模式对氮素淋失的影响

为了探索农田氮素淋失低风险的有机无机肥配施模式,该研究收集了331个有效农田有机肥化肥配施数据对,分析了施肥总量、施肥结构（有机肥替代比）、施肥时间（基追施）、有机肥种类等因素对氮素淋失的总体影响。结果表明：与单施化肥相比,有机肥配施化肥中氮素总量较低时（N<200 kg/hm2）,农田总氮（Total Nitrogen,TN）、硝态氮（NO3--N）淋失分别减少36.77%、65.05%;有机肥替代比高于70%,虽然可减少TN淋失（39.64%）,但增加了溶解性有机氮（DON）淋失的风险（15.78%）,尤其是动物型有机肥替代化肥使DON淋失增加26.31%;氮肥基施可显著降低TN、NO3--N淋失（43.58%、70.51%,P<0.05）。碱性旱地土壤上有机肥配施化肥可有效抑制TN、NO3--N淋失,但增加了26.63%～42.95%的DON淋失。旱地氮素淋失以NO3--N为主,且淋失系数高于水田,提高有机肥替代比可以大幅降低旱地氮素淋失,但增强了DON淋失。因子重要性分析表明：有机肥替代比对TN淋失影响占主导作用,而施氮水平对NO3--N、DON淋失影响更为重要。因此,低施氮量、高替代比动物型有机肥可有效减少碱性旱地土壤氮素淋失。研究结果可为有机肥配施化肥的农田应用提供依据。     

Nitrate leaching losses and their control in a mixed farm system in the Cotswold Hills, England

Abstract. Nitrate leaching was measured for four years at the Royal Agricultural College 's Coates Farm in the Cotswolds, England. Coates is a typical Cotswold mixed farm with thin, well-drained calcareous soils especially prone to leaching. Over the duration of this study there were dairy, sheep and arable enterprises on the farm. A 'Farm Gate' nitrogen (N) budget was constructed. Small 120 m × 20 m 'farmlets' were sited in ten fields across the farm, covering all parts of the rotation, as the sites for detailed measurements. Each farmlet received the same management as the rest of the field in which they were situated. Using ceramic probes inserted to 60 cm, soil water was sampled every two weeks throughout the winter drainage season. The annual drainage varied from 135 mm under grassland in 1996/7 to 600 mm under cereals in 1998/9. Average N losses by leaching were determined mostly by rainfall and were 65 kg N ha^–1 yr^–1, accounting for 25% of the N inputs. Especially leaky parts of the rotation were the ploughing out of a lucerne ley and the grazing of stubble turnips with sheep, both typical Cotswold farm practices. The research highlights some of the difficulties in developing practicable, profitable management practices to decrease nitrate losses.     

Relationships between microbial biomass nitrogen,nitrate leaching and nitrogen uptake by corn in a compost and chemical fertilizer-amended regosol

Abstract

To determine the relationships between microbial biomass nitrogen (N), nitrate–nitrogen leaching (NO₃-N leaching) and N uptake by plants, a field experiment and a soil column experiment were conducted. In the field experiment, microbial biomass N, 0.5 mol L^?1 K₂SO₄ extractable N (extractable N), NO₃-N leaching and N uptake by corn were monitored in sawdust compost (SDC: 20 Mg ha^?1 containing 158 kg N ha^?1 of total N [approximately 50% is easily decomposable organic N]), chemical fertilizer (CF) and no fertilizer (NF) treatments from May 2000 to September 2002. In the soil column experiment, microbial biomass N, extractable N and NO₃-N leaching were monitored in soil treated with SDC (20 Mg ha^?1) + rice straw (RS) at five different application rates (0, 2.5, 5, 7.5 and 10 Mg ha^?1 containing 0, 15, 29, 44 and 59 kg N ha^?1) and in soil treated with CF in 2001. Nitrogen was applied as (NH₄)₂SO₄ at rates of 220 kg N ha^?1 for SDC and SDC + RS treatments and at a rate of 300 kg N ha^?1 for the CF treatment in both experiments. In the field experiment, microbial biomass N in the SDC treatment increased to 147 kg N ha^?1 at 7 days after treatment (DAT) and was maintained at 60–70 kg N ha^?1 after 30 days. Conversely, microbial biomass N in the CF treatment did not increase significantly. Extractable N in the surface soil increased immediately after treatment, but was found at lower levels in the SDC treatment compared to the CF treatment until 7 DAT. A small amount of NO₃-N leaching was observed until 21 DAT and increased markedly from 27 to 42 DAT in the SDC and CF treatments. Cumulative NO₃-N leaching in the CF treatment was 146 kg N ha^?1, which was equal to half of the applied N, but only 53 kg N ha^?1 in the SDC treatment. In contrast, there was no significant difference between N uptake by corn in the SDC and CF treatments. In the soil column experiment, microbial biomass N in the SDC + RS treatment at 7 DAT increased with increased RS application. Conversely, extractable N at 7 DAT and cumulative NO₃-N leaching until 42 DAT decreased with increased RS application. In both experiments, microbial biomass N was negatively correlated with extractable N at 7 DAT and cumulative NO₃-N leaching until 42 DAT, and extractable N was positively correlated with cumulative NO₃-N leaching. We concluded that microbial biomass N formation in the surface soil decreased extractable N and, consequently, contributed to decreasing NO₃-N leaching without impacting negatively on N uptake by plants.     

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.