Empirical analysis and prediction of nitrate loading and crop yield for corn-soybean rotations

Nitrate nitrogen losses through subsurface drainage and crop yield are determined by multiple climatic and management variables. The combined and interactive effects of these variables, however, are poorly understood. Our objective is to predict crop yield, nitrate concentration, drainage volume, and nitrate loss in subsurface drainage from a corn (Zea mays L.) and soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) rotation as a function of rainfall amount, soybean yield for the year before the corn-soybean sequence being evaluated, N source, N rate, and timing of N application in northeastern Iowa, U.S.A. Ten years of data (1994-2003) from a long-term study near Nashua, Iowa were used to develop multivariate polynomial regression equations describing these variables. The regression equations described over 87, 85, 94, 76, and 95% of variation in soybean yield, corn yield, subsurface drainage, nitrate concentration, and nitrate loss in subsurface drainage, respectively. A two-year rotation under average soil, average climatic conditions, and 125 kg N/ha application was predicted to loose 29, 37, 36, and 30 kg N/ha in subsurface drainage for early-spring swine manure, fall-applied swine manure, early-spring UAN fertilizer, and late-spring split UAN fertilizer (urea ammonium nitrate), respectively. Predicted corn yields were 10.0 and 9.7 Mg/ha for the swine manure and UAN sources applied at 125 kg N/ha. Timing of application (i.e., fall or spring) did not significantly affect corn yield. These results confirm other research suggesting that manure application can result in less nitrate leaching than UAN (e.g., 29 vs. 36 kg N/ha), and that spring application reduces nitrate leaching compared to fall application (e.g., 29 vs. 37 kg N/ha). The regression equations improve our understanding of nitrate leaching; offer a simple method to quantify potential N losses from Midwestern corn-soybean rotations under the climate, soil, and management conditions of the Nashua field experiment; and are a step toward development of easy to use N management tools.     

Comparisons of energy balance and evapotranspiration between flooded and aerobic rice fields in the Philippines

The seasonal and annual variability of sensible heat flux (H), latent heat flux (LE), evapotranspiration (ET), crop coefficient (K_c) and crop water productivity (WP_ET) were investigated under two different rice environments, flooded and aerobic soil conditions, using the eddy covariance (EC) technique during 2008-2009 cropping periods. Since we had only one EC system for monitoring two rice environments, we had to move the system from one location to the other every week. In total, we had to gap-fill an average of 50-60% of the missing weekly data as well as those values rejected by the quality control tests in each rice field in all four cropping seasons. Although the EC method provides a direct measurement of LE, which is the energy used for ET, we needed to correct the values of H and LE to close the energy balance using the Bowen ratio closure method before we used LE to estimate ET. On average, the energy balance closure before correction was 0.72 ± 0.06 and it increased to 0.99 ± 0.01 after correction. The G in both flooded and aerobic fields was very low. Likewise, the energy involved in miscellaneous processes such as photosynthesis, respiration and heat storage in the rice canopy was not taken into consideration.Average for four cropping seasons, flooded rice fields had 19% more LE than aerobic fields whereas aerobic rice fields had 45% more H than flooded fields. This resulted in a lower Bowen ratio in flooded fields (0.14 ± 0.03) than in aerobic fields (0.24 ± 0.01). For our study sites, evapotranspiration was primarily controlled by net radiation. The aerobic rice fields had lower growing season ET rates (3.81 ± 0.21 mm d⁻¹) than the flooded rice fields (4.29 ± 0.23 mm d⁻¹), most probably due to the absence of ponded water and lower leaf area index of aerobic rice. Likewise, the crop coefficient, K_c, of aerobic rice was significantly lower than that of flooded rice. For aerobic rice, K_c values were 0.95 ± 0.01 for the vegetative stage, 1.00 ± 0.01 for the reproductive stage, 0.97 ± 0.04 for the ripening stage and 0.88 ± 0.03 for the fallow period, whereas, for flooded rice, K_c values were 1.04 ± 0.04 for the vegetative stage, 1.11 ± 0.05 for the reproductive stage, 1.04 ± 0.05 for the ripening stage and 0.93 ± 0.06 for the fallow period. The average annual ET was 1301 mm for aerobic rice and 1440 mm for flooded rice. This corresponds to about 11% lower total evapotranspiration in aerobic fields than in flooded fields. However, the crop water productivity (WP_ET) of aerobic rice (0.42 ± 0.03 g grain kg⁻¹ water) was significantly lower than that of flooded rice (1.26 ± 0.26 g grain kg⁻¹ water) because the grain yields of aerobic rice were very low since they were subjected to water stress.The results of this investigation showed significant differences in energy balance and evapotranspiration between flooded and aerobic rice ecosystems. Aerobic rice is one of the promising water-saving technologies being developed to lower the water requirements of the rice crop to address the issues of water scarcity. This information should be taken into consideration in evaluating alternative water-saving technologies for environmentally sustainable rice production systems.     

Evapotranspiration predictions of CERES-Sorghum model in Southern Italy

The purpose of this study was to modify and calibrate the CERES-Sorghum water balance model for the dry, high radiation and windy conditions in an area in Southern Italy.

The equation for estimating potential evapotranspiration (E₀) was substituted by another one, calibrated in the study site and expressed as a function of equilibrium evaporation and maximum vapour pressure deficit (defined as the difference between the saturation vapour pressure at maximum and at minimum temperatures).

To calibrate the E₀ equation included in CERES-Sorghum, two drainage lysimeters, located at the Istituto Sperimentale Agronomico experimental farm, Foggia (Italy), were used to measure weekly evapotranspiration of well-watered, irrigated fescue grass, from 1976 to 1986.

A further drainage lysimeter, located in the same farm and cropped with well-watered grain sorghum (cv. NK 121) was used to calibrate the genetic coefficients input to the modified CERES-Sorghum model during the cropping seasons 1979 and 1980.

Simulated phenological dates (anthesis and maturity), grain yield, LAI, biomass and crop evapotranspiration were then compared with the measured ones in a fourth drainage lysimeter cropped with sorghum.

The modified model simulated grain yield accurately, but simulated daily evapotranspiration did not always match well the observed value, especially early in the crop cycle. Improvements are needed to the model in its simulation of soil evaporation and in the crop response function to temperature.     

Evaluating a multi-level subsurface drainage system for improved drainage water quality

This paper describes a multi-level drainage system, designed to improve drainage water quality. Results are presented from a field scale land reclamation experiment implemented in the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area of New South Wales, Australia. A traditional single level drainage system and a multi-level drainage system were compared in the experiment in an irrigated field setting. The single level drainage system consisted of 1.8 m deep drains at 20 m spacing. This configuration is typical of subsurface drainage system design used in the area. The multi-level drainage system consisted of shallow closely spaced drains (3.3 m spacing at 0.75 m depth) underlain by deeper widely spaced drains (20 m spacing at 1.8 m depth). Data on drainage flows and salinity, water table regime and soil salinity were collected over a 2-year period.     

The use of lysimeter data for the test of two soil–water balance models: A case study

Two soil–water balance models were tested by a comparison of simulated with measured daily rates of actual evapotranspiration, soil water storage, groundwater recharge, and capillary rise. These rates were obtained from twelve weighable lysimeters with three different soils and two different lower boundary conditions for the time period from January 1, 1996 to December 31, 1998. In that period, grass vegetation was grown on all lysimeters. These lysimeters are located in Berlin‐Dahlem, Germany. One model calculated the soil water balance using the Richards equation. The other one used a capacitance approach. Both models used the same modified Penman formula for the estimation of potential evapotranspiration and the same simple empirical vegetation model for the calculation of transpiration, interception, and evaporation. The comparisons of simulated with measured model outputs were analyzed using the modeling‐efficiency index IA and the root mean squared error RMSE. At some lysimeters, the uncalibrated application of both models led to an underestimation of cumulative and annual rates of groundwater recharge and capillary rise, despite a good simulation quality in terms of IA and RMSE. A calibration of soil‐hydraulic and vegetation parameters such as maximum rooting depth resulted in a better fit between simulated and observed cumulative and annual rates of groundwater recharge and capillary rise, but in some cases also decreased the simulation quality of both models in terms of IA and RMSE. The results of this calibration indicated that, in addition to a precise determination of the soil water‐retention functions, vegetation parameters such as rooting depth should also be observed. Without such information, the rooting depth is a calibration parameter. However, in some cases, the uncalibrated application of both models also led to an acceptable fit between measured and simulated model outputs.     

耕作措施对华北农田CO_2排放影响及水热关系分析

为探讨不同耕作措施对农田土壤呼吸排放的影响及其与土壤温度、水分之间的关系,该研究利用长期定位试验研究翻耕、旋耕、免耕3种耕作措施下冬小麦、夏玉米生育期农田CO2的排放通量及其季节变化规律,并通过农田土壤温度、水分对CO2的排放通量进行回归统计分析.结果表明:不同耕作措施下农田CO2排放通量具有明显的季节排放规律,冬小麦、夏玉米生育期农田CO2排放通量:翻耕>旋耕>免耕,且处理间差异都达到显著或极显著水平.不同耕作措施对农田土壤温度及土壤含水率具有显著的影响,免耕条件下农田各层土壤温度最低,冬小麦季免耕农田土壤水分含量高于其他两处理.各处理条件下农田CO2排放通量与土壤温度具有显著的相关性,其中翻耕处理的CO2排放通量与10 cm土温相关性最高,旋耕和免耕则均与20 cm土温相关性最高.当土壤温度高于10℃时CO2排放通量与5 cm土壤含水率具有显著的相关性,此时土壤水分成为CO2排放的主要影响因素.     

霍林河下游洪泛区湿地土壤中铵态氮水平运移模拟研究

选择二百方子洪泛区湿地作为典型研究区,以NH4Cl为示踪剂,模拟研究了铵态氮在洪泛区湿地不同土层中的水平运移过程。结果表明,沼泽湿地土壤中铵态氮的运移通量随运移距离的增加呈一阶衰减指数变化;0-10cm土层中铵态氮的运移通量最小,20~60cm土层次之,10~20cm土层具有最高的铵态氮通量。各层土壤运移通量在0~6cm内最大,而后迅速下降,到18cm时3层土壤中铵态氮的运移通量相近并趋近于零。各层土壤中铵态氮的运移通量与土壤水扩散率及土壤含水量都呈一阶指数增长变化;在土壤水扩散率或土壤含水量达到一定数值前,铵态氮运移通量增长缓慢,之后则开始骤然增加。     

近60a来玛纳斯河流域气候变化趋势及突变分析

[目的]气候变化是21世纪人类面临的最大环境问题之一.其中以干旱区较为明显,而新疆是最为突出的地区之一.[方法]以中亚典型冰川融化区玛纳斯河流域为例,运用线性回归及Mann - Kendall趋势检验方法分析其1956 ～2010年气温及降水资料的变化趋势和突变点.[结果]近60a来玛纳斯河流域经历了一个增温趋湿的过程,增加幅度分别在0.44℃/10 a和12.6mm/10 a;春、夏、秋、冬四季增温幅度分别为0.50、0.21、0.52和0.52℃/10 a,降水倾向率分别为2.44、3.22、2.76和3.64 mm/10 a;趋势突变检验分析表明:流域内年平均气温在1980s明显的增温过程,突变点在1989年,四季突变点分别发生在1995、1986、1996和1987年.年降水量突变也发生在1980s后期,四季降水量M-K检验表明秋冬突变点分别发生在1983和1997年,春夏没有发生突变.[结论]研究结果对全面认识及预测干旱区年际及季节气候变化有一定借鉴意义.     

基于因子分析和熵权法的赣江源流域水资源承载力研究

以赣江源流域地区为例,运用因子分析法,从经济社会、生态环境、自然水资源和人口现状等16个指标中筛选出影响该区水资源承载力变化的4个主因子C1、C2、C3、C4,并通过熵权法对4个因子的得分赋权重,综合评价出2001～2009年该源流域水资源承载力的状况。结果表明,近10年来,该区域水资源承载力总体走向一个相对健康的方向。通过对赣江源流域水资源利用现状的分析,从水量分配、水权归属及产业结构优化等方面提出提高水资源承载能力的措施,以期为该区域经济社会发展规划和生态环境保护战略的制定,寻求可持续发展模式提供水资源承载信息的参考和保障。     

不同排水体制对内秦淮河污染负荷的比较分析

排水体制和管网系统是城市基础设施建设的重要组成部分,不同排水体制对流域水环境污染存在明显差异.理论计算结果表明,在秦淮河流域分流制条件下,全年COD、NH3-N平均入河总量分别为1 057.2 t、15.9 t,其中51.0％、48.4％来源于中雨径流雨水;合流制条件下,全年COD、NH3-N平均入河总量分别为1 517.6 t、29.9t,其中82.2％、74.9％来源于大雨污水溢流.负荷比较分析结果表明,不同排水体制在3种雨型条件下,各河段NH3-N负荷无明显差异,主要表现在中雨COD负荷不同.中雨时,分流制雨水中COD负荷约是合流制溢流污水的2～3倍;而大雨时,合流制溢流污水与分流制径流雨水负荷相近.总之,分流制雨水径流污染不容忽视,合流制溢流污水污染应结合降雨强度及其他因素综合考虑.