Effects of nitrogen levels on yield, quality and soil environment of Chinese cabbage in open field

Abstract

Field experiments were carried out to investigate the effects of different levels of nitrogen fertilization on the yield, quality, nitrogen absorption, and nitrogen loss of autumn Chinese cabbage in an open field. Results indicated that Chinese cabbage yield, quality, economic efficiency, and nitrogen utilization firstly increased and then decreased with the increase in the amount of applied nitrogen. The optimal amount of applied nitrogen that can achieve high cabbage yield, high quality, and high income was 328.2-384.5 kg hm-2, in which organic fertilizer contributed 103.2 kg N hm-2. However, the amount of residual NO3- and ammonia volatilization increased with the increase of applied nitrogen, showing a highly significant linear relationship. With the existing extensive vegetable production and management methods, such as flooding irrigation, the use of quick-released N fertilizer with surface broadcasting method, to simultaneously, achieve high yield, quality, economic return, and environmental sustainability are difficult. Therefore, comprehensive studies on the effects of nitrogen fertilization on crop yield, quality, economic, and environment are necessary, in order to obtain the crop threshold of nitrogen application and to develop the best management practices.