Nährstoffauswaschung aus Weinbergsböden an der Mittelmosel

Leaching of plant nutrients from vineyard soils Leaching of plant nutrients particularly of nitrate from vineyard, arable, and forest soils of the Middle-Mosel have been investigated over a two-year period. Nitrate concentration in the leachate of vineyards amounted to an average of 326 mg NO₃/l and was about 10 to 20 times higher than the nitrate concentration in the leachate of arable and forest soils. According to the hydro-dynamic model assumptions on groundwater flow in the slates of the Rhenish Massif, the data obtained for the groundwater recharge (158-180 mm/year as gained in spring) and leaching of nitrate (144 kg N/ha/year) must be considered as minimum values. Hydrodynamic model assumptions suggest nitrate leaching rates of about 200 kg N/ha. Main reasons for the high leaching of nutrients are heavy fertilizer application and high mineralization rates in the vineyard soils favoured by relatively high soil temperatures and a high soil permeability.