Details
Original language | English |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 185-195 |
Number of pages | 11 |
Journal | Journal of Plant Nutrition and Soil Science |
Volume | 169 |
Issue number | 2 |
Publication status | Published - Apr 2006 |
Abstract
Nitrate leaching depending on N fertilization and different crop rotations was studied at two sites with sandy soils in N Germany between 1995 and 2000. The leaching of NO3- was calculated by using a numerical soil-water and N model and regularly measured Nmin values as input data. Also the variability of Nmin values on the sandy soils was determined along transects. They reveal the high variability of the Nmin values and show that it is not possible to confirm a significant Nmin difference between fertilizer treatments using the normal Nmin-sampling intensity. Nitrate-leaching calculations of five leaching periods showed that even strongly reduced N-fertilizer applications did not result in a substantially lower NO3- leaching into the groundwater. Strong yield reductions of even more than 50%, however, were immediately measured. Mean NO3- concentrations in the groundwater recharge are >50 mg L-1 and are mainly due to mineralization from soil organic matter. Obviously, the adjustment of the N cycle in the soil to a new equilibrium and a reduced NO3--leaching rate as a consequence of lower N inputs need a much longer time span. Catch crops are the most efficient way to reduce the NO3- concentrations in the groundwater recharge of sandy soils. Their success, however, strongly depends on the site-specific development possibilities of the catch crop. Even with all possible measures implemented, it will be almost impossible to reach NO3- concentrations <50 mg L-1 in sandy soils. The only way to realize this goal on a regional scale could be by increasing areas with lower nitrate concentrations in the groundwater recharge like grassland and forests.
Keywords
- Catch crops, N fertilization, Nitrate concentrations, Nitrate leaching, Soil N
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Agricultural and Biological Sciences(all)
- Soil Science
- Agricultural and Biological Sciences(all)
- Plant Science
Sustainable Development Goals
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In: Journal of Plant Nutrition and Soil Science, Vol. 169, No. 2, 04.2006, p. 185-195.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer review
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Nitrogen fertilization and nitrate leaching into groundwater on arable sandy soils
AU - Köhler, Kai
AU - Duynisveld, Wilhelmus H.M.
AU - Böttcher, Jürgen
N1 - Copyright: Copyright 2008 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2006/4
Y1 - 2006/4
N2 - Nitrate leaching depending on N fertilization and different crop rotations was studied at two sites with sandy soils in N Germany between 1995 and 2000. The leaching of NO3- was calculated by using a numerical soil-water and N model and regularly measured Nmin values as input data. Also the variability of Nmin values on the sandy soils was determined along transects. They reveal the high variability of the Nmin values and show that it is not possible to confirm a significant Nmin difference between fertilizer treatments using the normal Nmin-sampling intensity. Nitrate-leaching calculations of five leaching periods showed that even strongly reduced N-fertilizer applications did not result in a substantially lower NO3- leaching into the groundwater. Strong yield reductions of even more than 50%, however, were immediately measured. Mean NO3- concentrations in the groundwater recharge are >50 mg L-1 and are mainly due to mineralization from soil organic matter. Obviously, the adjustment of the N cycle in the soil to a new equilibrium and a reduced NO3--leaching rate as a consequence of lower N inputs need a much longer time span. Catch crops are the most efficient way to reduce the NO3- concentrations in the groundwater recharge of sandy soils. Their success, however, strongly depends on the site-specific development possibilities of the catch crop. Even with all possible measures implemented, it will be almost impossible to reach NO3- concentrations <50 mg L-1 in sandy soils. The only way to realize this goal on a regional scale could be by increasing areas with lower nitrate concentrations in the groundwater recharge like grassland and forests.
AB - Nitrate leaching depending on N fertilization and different crop rotations was studied at two sites with sandy soils in N Germany between 1995 and 2000. The leaching of NO3- was calculated by using a numerical soil-water and N model and regularly measured Nmin values as input data. Also the variability of Nmin values on the sandy soils was determined along transects. They reveal the high variability of the Nmin values and show that it is not possible to confirm a significant Nmin difference between fertilizer treatments using the normal Nmin-sampling intensity. Nitrate-leaching calculations of five leaching periods showed that even strongly reduced N-fertilizer applications did not result in a substantially lower NO3- leaching into the groundwater. Strong yield reductions of even more than 50%, however, were immediately measured. Mean NO3- concentrations in the groundwater recharge are >50 mg L-1 and are mainly due to mineralization from soil organic matter. Obviously, the adjustment of the N cycle in the soil to a new equilibrium and a reduced NO3--leaching rate as a consequence of lower N inputs need a much longer time span. Catch crops are the most efficient way to reduce the NO3- concentrations in the groundwater recharge of sandy soils. Their success, however, strongly depends on the site-specific development possibilities of the catch crop. Even with all possible measures implemented, it will be almost impossible to reach NO3- concentrations <50 mg L-1 in sandy soils. The only way to realize this goal on a regional scale could be by increasing areas with lower nitrate concentrations in the groundwater recharge like grassland and forests.
KW - Catch crops
KW - N fertilization
KW - Nitrate concentrations
KW - Nitrate leaching
KW - Soil N
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=33645986477&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1002/jpln.200521765
DO - 10.1002/jpln.200521765
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:33645986477
VL - 169
SP - 185
EP - 195
JO - Journal of Plant Nutrition and Soil Science
JF - Journal of Plant Nutrition and Soil Science
SN - 1436-8730
IS - 2
ER -