Change of Soil Nitrogen Leaching with Summer Maize Growing Periods Under Plastic Film Mulched Cultivation in Danjiangkou Reservoir Area, China

Abstract

As an important form of agricultural non-point source pollution, soil nitrogen leaching deteriorates water quality. Compared with non-mulching cultivated land, field experiment explored the change characteristics of soil nitrogen leaching under plastic film mulching ridge-furrow in Wulongchi small watershed during summer maize growing period. The results showed that the amounts of mulching tillage soil TN and NO3--N leaching were significantly lower than those with non-mulched treatment, by 25.68% and 20.25%, respectively. With the advance of the summer maize growth period, leaching amount of mulched soil TN was highest at seedling stage, lowest at heading stage and higher in maturation period; leaching amount of mulched soil NO3--N was highest at seedling stage, lowest in maturation period; leaching amount of mulched soil NH4+-N was lower at seedling stage, increased to the peak at the jointing stage, decreased to the valley value at heading stage, and obviously increased in maturation period. Linear function relationship was found between mulched soil TN leaching and TN content, while exponential relationship was found between mulched soil NO3--N leaching and NO3--N content. In addition, there was linear function relationship of mulched soil TN and NO3--N leaching amount with soil moisture and rainfall. It was concluded that the plastic film mulched on summer maize could reduce the leaching loss of soil nitrogen, and it would have a significant effect on the reduction of reservoir area of agricultural non-point source pollution.