Modeling nitrogen cycling in tomato–safflower and tomato–wheat rotations

The use of crop models to simulate the nitrogen (N) cycle in crop rotations is of major interest because of the complexity of processes that simultaneously interact. We studied the performance of the Erosion Productivity Impact Calculator (EPIC) model in simulating the N cycle in two different rotations under irrigation: tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.)–safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) and tomato–wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Processing tomatoes were grown on raised beds and furrow irrigated in 1994 in the Sacramento Valley of California, USA. Safflower and wheat were grown in 1995 and 1994–95, respectively, after the previous tomato crop. A data set from safflower grown on different plots in 1994 was used to calibrate the model for this crop. The model accurately predicted the yield, biomass and N uptake of the crops in the rotation. Soil inorganic N was also accurately simulated in the two rotations. The model predicted important amounts of N leached during the winter period of 1994–95 due to the heavy rainfall. The model was used to explore the influence of rotation type (tomato–safflower or tomato–wheat) and irrigation type (fixed amounts and dates or flexible automatic irrigation). Simulation results of the two rotations during 10 years (1986–95) predicted average losses by leaching higher than 200 kg N ha⁻¹ for each rotation period, irrespective of the rotation type. Losses were more important during the fall–winter and increased as rainfall increased above a threshold rainfall of 300 mm. The flexible automatic irrigation resulted in lower N leached during the tomato crop season. Simulation results indicated that a fallow period during the fall–winter following processing tomatoes should be avoided because of the high risk of N leaching losses. The introduction in the rotation of a deep-rooted crop, such as safflower, grown with low irrigation, drastically reduced the risk of N leaching during the following fall–winter period, without substantial yield reductions.     

Prototype decision support system based on the VegSyst simulation model to calculate crop N and water requirements for tomato under plastic cover

The simulation model VegSyst was calibrated and validated for tomato grown under plastic cover. Calibration was conducted with an autumn–winter soil-grown crop, and validation with five crops with differences in season, cropping media, and site. VegSyst accurately simulated daily dry matter production (DMP), N uptake, and ET_c. Comparing simulated and measured values by linear regression, slope and intercept values were not statistically significantly different (P < 0.05) from 1 and 0, respectively. Slopes between simulated and measured values indicated average differences of 4, 2, and ?1 % for DMP, N uptake, and ET_c, respectively. Model performance was good with autumn–winter and spring cropping cycles, and in soil and substrate. A prototype decision support system (VegSyst-DSS) based on VegSyst was developed to calculate daily irrigation and N fertilizer requirements and nutrient solution [N] for fertigated tomato. N fertilizer requirements are based on crop N uptake and consider soil mineral N, and N mineralized from manure and soil OM and the N efficiency of each N source. Irrigation requirements are based on ET_c and consider application efficiency and salinity. VegSyst-DSS requires very few inputs which are all readily available to farmers and advisors. Scenario analysis compared a scenario representative of local farming practice, where N supplied from soil is not considered, with scenarios with different amounts of N supplied from soil mineral N at planting and mineralization of soil OM and of manure. Relative to the scenario representative of farmer practice, VegSyst recommendations resulted in reductions of 34–65 % in fertilizer N.     

Evaluation of the RZWQM for the Simulation of Water and Nitrate Movement in Level-Basin,Fertigated Maize

This study concerns the evaluation of the root zone water quality model (RZWQM) to simulate the seasonal water and nitrate movement in a level basin irrigated corn field under three different nitrogen (N) fertilizer treatments. The three N treatments, superimposed over a split basal dose applied before and at planting, were: a single broadcast application of 150 kg N/ha as urea (100% amidic form), a single fertigation application of the same N as UAN (50% amidic, 25% ammonium and 25% nitrate) with the first irrigation, and multiple UAN fertigations with three irrigations. Certain variety-specific maize crop parameters in the model were obtained by fitting these parameters to field data from the single fertigation treatment. The model was then evaluated on water and N results for the treatments. The model adequately simulated the water and nitrate transport for the season, with the seasonal averages of measured and predicted values differing by less than 5%. The most significant differences between measured and simulated water and nitrate occurred near the soil surface (15 cm depth), mostly during the days when the soil was extremely wet following irrigations. With the soil hydraulic properties estimated by simple means, the model tends to overestimate downward water fluxes and related nitrate transport through a compacted layer; however, it is found to be a useful tool to study the relative impacts of alter- nate nitrogen fertilizer and irrigation practices on root zone water quality.     

Adaptive optimization of crop production and nitrogen leaching abatement under yield uncertainty

The study develops a bio-economic crop management model that internalizes the environmental cost of nitrate pollution, accounts for stochastic weather, and includes an option for split fertilization. The integrated model is designed to indicate whether a producer can benefit from applying fertilizer several times during the growing season, in response to crop needs, rather than a single time, at sowing. The model is parameterized for the cultivation of spring malting barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) in Southern Finland. The costs of negative externalities from nitrogen leaching are internalized in the landowner’s decision problem through a pollution tax. The results indicate that without a pollution tax a single application of fertilizer gauged to meet the needs of the entire season is optimal. With a tax, the benefits of split application - applying varying amounts of fertilizer at selected stages of the growing season - increase significantly. In comparison to a single application of fertilizer at sowing, split fertilization improves yields, increases the total amount of fertilizer used, and reduces nitrogen leaching.     

Water balance and nitrate leaching in an irrigated maize crop in SW Spain

During 3 consecutive years (1991–1993) a field experiment was conducted in an intensively irrigated agricultural soil in SW Spain. The main objective of this study was to determine the water flow and nitrate (N0₃) leaching, below the root zone, under an irrigated maize crop and after the growing season (bare soil and rainy period). The experiment was carried out on a furrow-irrigated maize crop at two different nitrogen (N)-fertilization rates, one the highest traditionally used by farmers in the region (about 500 kg N ha⁻¹ per year) and the other one-third of the former (170 kg N ha⁻¹ per year). The aim was to obtain data that could be used to propose modifications in N-fertilization to maintain crop yield and to prevent the degradation of the environment. The terms for water balance (crop evapotranspiration, drainage and soil water storage) and nitrate leaching were determined by intensive field monitoring of the soil water content, soil water potential and extraction of the soil solution by a combination of neutron probe, tensiometers and ceramic suction cups. Nitrogen uptake by the plant and N0₃-N produced by mineralization were also determined.The results showed that, in terms of water balance, crop evapotranspiration was similar at both N-fertilization rates used. During the irrigation period, drainage below the root zone was limited. Only in 1992 did the occurrence of rainfall during the early growing period, when the soil was wet from previous irrigation, cause considerable drainage. Nitrate leaching during the whole experimental period amounted to 150 and 43 kg ha⁻¹ in the treatments with high and low N-fertilization, respectively. This occurred mainly during the bare soil and rainy periods, except in 1992 when considerable nitrate leaching was observed during the crop season due to the high drainage. Nitrate leaching was not so high during the bare soil period as might have been expected because of the brought during the experimental period. A reduction of N-fertilization thus strongly decreased nitrate leaching without decreasing yield.     

Simulation of nitrate leaching under irrigated maize on sandy soil in desert oasis in Inner Mongolia, China

Water scarcity and nitrate contamination in groundwater are serious problems in desert oases in Northwest China. Field and ¹⁵N microplot experiments with traditional and improved water and nitrogen management were conducted in a desert oasis in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. Water movement, nitrogen transport and crop growth were simulated by the soil-plant system with water and solute transport model (SPWS). The model simulation results, including the water content and nitrate concentration in the soil profile, leaf area index, dry matter weight, crop N uptake and grain yield, were all in good agreement with the field measurements. The water and nitrogen use efficiency of the improved treatment were better than those of the traditional treatment. The water and nitrogen use efficiency under the traditional treatment were 2.0 kg m⁻³ and 21 kg kg⁻¹, respectively, while under the improved treatment, they were 2.2 kg m⁻³ and 26 kg kg⁻¹, respectively. Water drainage accounted for 24-35% of total water input (rainfall and irrigation) for the two treatments. Nitrogen loss by ammonia volatilization and denitrification was less than 5% of the total N input (including the N comes from irrigation). However, 32-61% of total nitrogen input was lost through nitrate leaching, which agreed with the ¹⁵N isotopic result. It is impetrative to improve the water and nitrogen management in the desert oasis.     

Nitrate leaching assessment in a long-term experiment under supplementary irrigation in humid Argentina

Applying high rates of nitrogen (N) fertilizer to crops has two major disadvantages: (1) the low N fertilizer use efficiency and (2) the loss of N by leaching, which may cause groundwater nitrate (NO₃⁻) pollution, especially in humid areas.The objectives of this study were to adjust and validate the LEACH-W model simulations with data observed in the field; to quantify nitrate concentrations in the soil solution; to estimate N loss by leaching; and to determine the moments during the year when greatest nitrate transport events occur beyond the rooting profile.A randomized complete block design with four replications was established on a typic Argiudoll. Crop fertilization treatments consisted of three N rates (0, 100, and 200 kg N ha⁻¹) using urea and ammonium nitrate solution (UAN) as the N source. Corn (Zea mays L.) was planted and ceramic soil-water suction samplers were installed to depths of 1, 1.5 and 2 m. Drainage was estimated by the LEACH-W model, which adjusted very well the actual volume of water in the soil profile. Nitrogen losses were statistically analyzed as repeated measure data, using the PROC MIXED procedure.Losses of nitrate-nitrogen (NO₃⁻-N) during the study increased as the rate of N applied increased. At all depths studied, statistically significant higher values were found for 200 N compared to 100 N and 0 N, and for 100 N compared to 0 N (p < 0.001).The greatest NO₃⁻-N losses through leaching occurred during crop growth. Significant differences (p < 0.05) were found between cropping and fallow in the three treatments and depths studied for seasons 4 and 5; these two seasons produced the highest drainage volumes at all depths.     

有机物对玉米田排放N2O的影响

为掌握玉米田的N2O释放规律,采用定位试验的方法,探讨增施有机肥和作物秸秆对农田N2O排放通量的影响。试验结果表明:N2O通量有明显的季节变化,夏季高于春秋两季;空地的N2O排放通量平缓;玉米的生长活动有利于N20的生成及排放;施肥能促进土壤N2O排放通量的增加。     

Studies on the nitrogen and water relations of wheat

Summary The interrelations between nitrogen and water supply on the growth and yield of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) were studied with particular attention to water use and grain yield in relation to the time of application of nitrogen to the plants. Nitrogen was applied at seeding or deferred until the double ridge-stage of development. Effects of both soil-applied and foliar-applied nitrogen were investigated under deficient or adequate water supply. The supply of water to the crop controlled the level of yield obtained and the response of the crop to applied N was markedly greater in drought-free conditions. Application of N resulted in increases in both crop leaf area duration and water use. Greater responses to N were obtained when the fertilizer was applied to the soil, rather than as a foliar spray.     

A universal agro-hydrological model for water and nitrogen cycles in the soil-crop system SMCR_N: Critical update and further validation

Agro-hydrological models have widely been used for optimizing resources use and minimizing environmental consequences in agriculture. SMCR_N is a recently developed sophisticated model which simulates crop response to nitrogen fertilizer for a wide range of crops, and the associated leaching of nitrate from arable soils. In this paper, we describe the improvements of this model by replacing the existing approximate hydrological cascade algorithm with a new simple and explicit algorithm for the basic soil water flow equation, which not only enhanced the model performance in hydrological simulation, but also was essential to extend the model application to the situations where the capillary flow is important. As a result, the updated SMCR_N model could be used for more accurate study of water dynamics in the soil-crop system. The success of the model update was demonstrated by the simulated results that the updated model consistently out-performed the original model in drainage simulations and in predicting time course soil water content in different layers in the soil-wheat system. Tests of the updated SMCR_N model against data from 4 field crop experiments showed that crop nitrogen offtakes and soil mineral nitrogen in the top 90 cm were in a good agreement with the measured values, indicating that the model could make more reliable predictions of nitrogen fate in the crop-soil system, and thus provides a useful platform to assess the impacts of nitrogen fertilizer on crop yield and nitrogen leaching from different production systems.     

水肥调控模式对滨海盐碱地水肥盐迁移及春玉米水肥利用率的影响

为了探明滨海盐碱地不同灌溉方式及氮肥施用量对水肥盐迁移过程及作物生长的影响,基于大田试验,研究不同灌溉方式及灌水量(F:漫灌,360 mm;D1:滴灌,360 mm;D2:滴灌,288 mm;D3:滴灌,216 mm)、氮肥处理(N1:280 kg/hm²;N2:196 kg/hm²;N3:112 kg/hm²)对盐碱地土壤水肥盐分布含量及对春玉米各生长指标的影响.结果表明,在滴灌模式下,同一灌水量,N1的剖面平均含水量最低,D1,D2出现洗盐点,存在适合作物生长的浅盐区;灌水后D1N1的硝态氮含量增加最显著且含量最高,滴灌处理对应的低氮处理无明显硝态氮积累点,相同灌水量下,漫灌的有效氮含量均高于滴灌,但其有效氮利用率低于滴灌处理;不同施氮对春玉米干物质的差异随灌水量增加而增加.各处理水分利用效率与肥料偏生产力之间产生明显差异,高水低氮肥料偏生产力明显提高,但其水分利用效率低下,D1N1产量最高;在考虑作物产量及水肥利用效率时,采用滴灌方式,则灌水量288~360 mm、施氮量196 kg/hm²为推荐水肥措施.     

Effect of sodium and nitrogen on yield function of irrigated maize in southern Portugal

Salinization and nitrate leaching are two of the leading threats to the environment of the European Mediterranean regions. Inefficient use of water and fertilizers has led to a nitrate increase in the aquifers and reduction in crop yields caused by salts. In this study, a triple emitter source irrigation system delivers water, salt (Na⁺), and fertilizer (N) applications to maize (Zea mays L.). The objective of the study was to evaluate the combined effect of saline water and nitrogen application on crop yields in two different textured soils of Alentejo (Portugal) and to assess if increasing salinity levels of the irrigation water can be compensated by application of nitrogen while still obtaining acceptable crop yield. Maximum yield was obtained from both soils with an application of 13 g m⁻² of nitrogen. Yield response to Na⁺ application was different in the two studied soils and depended on the total amount of Na⁺ or irrigation water applied. No significant interaction was found between nitrogen and sodium, but a positive effect on maize yield was observed in the medium textured soil for amounts of Na⁺ less than 905 g m⁻² when applied in the irrigation water.     

Sensitivity analysis and field testing of the RISK-N model in the Central Valley of Chile

We present the results from a sensitivity analysis and a preliminary short-term, site-scale performance assessment of the analytical soil and groundwater nitrate transport RISK-N. The study was carried out in the Central Valley of Chile, on a 2.6 ha corn (Zea mays L.) field underlain by a shallow unconfined aquifer during the cropping season 2000–2001. Nitrogen levels in soils as well as NO₃⁻–N irrigation water and groundwater concentrations were monitored through the crop-growing period, the latter by a network of 16 monitoring wells. A sensitivity analysis shows that both the nitrate flux from the vadose zone and NO₃⁻–N groundwater concentration are mainly influenced by the initial soil nitrogen levels, water input, and soil porosity. Also, simulated groundwater NO₃⁻–N levels are sensitive to changes on the saturated zone denitrification constant. An additional analysis further reveals the significance of the latter parameter, in conjunction with the amount of applied nitrogen fertilizer. We obtained a good agreement between observed average and simulated values. While the model performs well when spatially averaged values are used (root mean square error, RMSE = 1.4 mg l⁻¹ of NO₃⁻–N), the prediction error increases (RMSE = 1.9 mg l⁻¹ of NO₃⁻–N) when the concentration in each well is considered. This fact could be explained by the time and space scale of the experiment and the characteristics of the RISK-N model. The model is easy to use and seems appropriate for mid- and long-term studies of nitrogen contamination in groundwater for agricultural conditions in the Central Valley of Chile and under limited field data availability conditions. However, it needs to be tested for longer periods and under different climatic conditions, soil types, and aquifer characteristics, before its range of applicability can be fully established and recognized.     

拔节期淹水条件下施氮量对玉米干物质积累和氮素吸收利用的影响

[目的]揭示拔节期淹水胁迫下施氮量对玉米干物质积累分配及氮素吸收利用的影响.[方法]以春玉米"宜单629"为供试作物,采用2因素裂区田间试验,主处理为土壤水分状况,包括全生育期适宜水分(CS处理)和拔节期淹水6d(YS处理);副处理为施氮量,包括0、90、180、270 kg/hm2和360 kg/hm2,分别记为N0...     

秸秆还田配施稳定性氮肥对麦玉轮作水氮利用的影响

为探究秸秆还田配施稳定性氮肥对关中地区麦玉轮作体系作物生长及水氮利用的综合影响,并确定合理的高产高效施肥管理措施,设置两种秸秆还田模式(秸秆不还田、秸秆全量还田)和两种施氮措施(常规尿素和减量施用稳定性氮肥),以无秸秆还田且不施肥作为对照,共5个处理,研究分析作物产量、地上部生物量、土壤氨挥发累积量、土壤含水率、土壤硝态氮残留量及水氮利用效率。结果表明：秸秆还田配施氮肥会分别显著提高夏玉米和冬小麦产量28.03%～39.63%和90.10%～112.52%、地上部生物量27.88%～34.00%和78.96%～107.64%;施用稳定性氮肥较施用常规尿素分别降低夏玉米季和冬小麦季全生育期土壤氨挥发累积量50.18%～59.32%和68.21%～73.43%;秸秆还田会显著提高夏玉米季0～10 cm土壤含水率6.29%～21.38%,显著提高冬小麦季0～10 cm土壤含水率6.80%～25.06%;相同施肥措施下,秸秆还田会显著降低夏玉米与冬小麦收获期0～100 cm土壤NO^-₃-N残留量7.34%～10.78%和6.57%～11.24%,在相...     

测量作物中氮含量和精准施氮的方法

为了研究SPAD-502PLUS便携式叶绿素测定仪测量作物中氮含量和作物在缺氮的情况下,如何精准施肥,通过使用浙江托普云农科技股份有限公司生产的型号为TYS-4N型植物营养测定仪测定作物中叶绿素SPAD的值以及氮含量,推导出叶绿素SPAD的值与氮含量的关系式为N=0.3SPAD+0.525。使用SPAD-502PLUS便携式叶绿素测定仪测量作物中叶绿素SPAD的值,代入N=0.3SPAD+0.525关系式,经计算得偏差率最大为9.5%,最小为0.4%。绝大多数偏差率在5%以下,说明利用此方法可以大致估算出作物中的氮含量。使用托普云农仪器数据管理软件通过查表可以查出作物的100kg产量所吸收氮养分量及肥料氮养分含量与利用率等,可以精准计算出作物所需氮肥的量,对指导农户精准施肥具有重要意义。     

节水减氮对温室番茄生长及水氮利用率的影响

为研究番茄生长对不同生育期节水和不同施氮水平的敏感程度,通过温室小区试验,设4个灌水水平和3个施氮水平;分析番茄地上、地下生长指标对不同灌水和施氮水平的响应,并探究节水减氮对番茄水氮利用率的影响.结果表明:番茄株高、茎粗及产量均随着灌水量和施氮量的减少而减小,均在处理W1N1(常规水氮)下达到最大值;而整根特征参数随灌水量和施氮量的减少先增大后减小,在处理W2N2(苗期节水50%,施氮300 kg/hm²)下番茄总根长、细根总根长、总表面积及总体积最大,分别较W1N1 高33%,34%,46%和67%,常规灌水施氮会促进表层(0~30 cm)根系的发育,而节水减氮会使根系深扎.处理W2N2根系最发达,灌溉水利用效率最高,且有较高的氮肥偏生产力,在略有减产(8%)的同时节省了水(20%)肥(25%)资源,是本试验条件下最佳的节水减氮组合.     

Estimating deep drainage and nitrate leaching from the root zone under sugarcane using APSIM-SWIM

The Burdekin Delta (BD) is located on the dry-tropical coastal strip in North Queensland, Australia. It is one of Australia's premier sugar producing districts with approximately 40,000 ha of land under sugarcane. Because the BD borders the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area (GBRWHA), industry, community, regulatory, and environmental organisations are interested in ascertaining the magnitude of deep drainage and nitrate leaching from the root zone and potential implications for the GBRWHA.Direct measurement of deep drainage and nitrate leaching is difficult, and modelling is likely to play an ever-increasing role in guiding experimental work and decision-making. Here, we describe the collection of drainage and nitrate-leaching related data collected over two cropping seasons at a specific field site within the BD and its use in the calibration and application of a drainage and nitrate-leaching model created within the Agricultural Production Systems Simulator (APSIM) modelling framework with constituent crop-growth, soil–water, and nitrogen transformation modules (Sugar, APSIM-SWIM, Soiln2).Model application indicated that the simulated amount of drainage and nitrate leached over a cropping season compared favourably to that derived from inferred drainage and observed soil–water nitrate concentrations. Subsequent investigation of fertilizer management options using the model identified the timing and amount of both irrigation and fertilizer application as key parameters over which management control might be exploited to minimise deep drainage and flux of nitrate to groundwater.     

Simulation of nitrogen leaching from a fertigated crop rotation in a Mediterranean climate using the EU-Rotate_N and Hydrus-2D models

Two different modeling approaches were used to simulate the N leached during an intensively fertigated crop rotation: a recently developed crop-based simulation model (EU-Rotate_N) and a widely recognized solute transport model (Hydrus-2D). Model performance was evaluated using data from an experiment where four N fertigation levels were applied to a bell pepper-cauliflower-Swiss chard rotation in a sandy loam soil. All the input data were obtained from measurements, transfer functions or were included in the model databases. Model runs were without specific site calibration. The use of soil input parameters based on the same pedotransfer functions in both models resulted in a very similar simulation of soil water content in spite of the different nature of the approaches. Good correlations were found between the simulated water draining below 60 cm and that calculated by water balance. Accuracy of the predicted nitrate nitrogen (NO₃-N) contents in the 0-90 cm soil profile was acceptable with both models, with values of the mean absolute error (MAE) below the average standard deviation of the observations. The uptake of nitrate was better simulated with EU-Rotate_N where specific crop N demand algorithms are involved. In the simulations with Hydrus-2D the evapotranspiration demand was a limiting factor for N uptake, resulting in an increasing underestimation of uptake with decreasing N fertilizer rates. Simulated N leaching below a depth of 60 cm was higher with Hydrus-2D due to a higher nitrate concentration in percolated water. Comparison of the observed and predicted yield response to N applications with EU-Rotate_N demonstrated that the best fertigation strategy could be identified and the risk of nitrate leaching quantified with this model. The results showed that for a successful solving of the problem studied, Hydrus-2D probably would need a more complex calibration, and that the EU-Rotate_N model can provide acceptable predictions by adjusting basic parameters for the growing conditions. Further research with other crops and soil types will allow up-scaling the quantification of N leaching from a field level to regional and national levels, identifying best management strategies in relation to N use from an environmental and economic perspective.     

番茄叶片光合作用对水肥耦合的响应

研究了不同水肥因子对番茄叶片光合作用的影响。采用五元二次正交旋转组合设计,通过盆栽试验,建立了水分、氮、磷、钾和有机肥用量对番茄叶片光合速率的数学模型。随灌水量的增加,番茄叶片光合速率呈开口向下的抛物线状变化;光合速率随施氮量、施磷量、施钾量和有机肥用量的增加呈先减少后增加的变化规律。交互效应表现为,灌水量与施氮量和施磷量呈负的交互作用,有机肥用量与灌水量、施氮量和施钾量、施氮量与有机肥用量、施钾量与有机肥用量对光合速率的影响具有正交互作用。灌水和氮、磷、钾、有机肥施用对番茄叶片光合速率的影响既相互促进,又相互制约,只有合理的水肥管理措施才能提高番茄叶片的光合速率。