Evaluating the Impact of Alternative Cropping Systems on Groundwater Consumption and Nitrate Leaching in the Piedmont Area of the North China Plain

Meiying Liu,Yanjun Shen,Lin Wu,Leilei Min

doi:10.3390/agronomy10111635

Abstract

The overexploitation of groundwater and the excessive application of nitrogen (N) fertilizer under the intensive double cropping system are responsible for the groundwater level decline and potential contamination in the North China Plain (NCP). Alternative cropping systems have the potential to alleviate current groundwater and N problems in the region, while there are limited studies simultaneously focusing on the impact of a change of cropping systems on crop yields, groundwater consumption, and N leaching. In this study, Field observed experiments of double-cropping system (i.e., winter wheat–summer maize) and mono-cropping system (early sowing maize) were used to calibrate and validate the Root Zone Water Quality Model (RZWQM2). Then, the validated RZWQM2 model was used to evaluate the long-term crop growth and environmental impact under the local winter wheat–summer maize rotation system with practical irrigation (WW-SM_pi) and auto-irrigation (WW-SM_ai), and three alternative cropping systems (single early maize, SEM; winter wheat–summer maize and single early maize, WW-SM-SEM; winter wheat-summer maize and double single early maize, WW-SM-2SEM). The net consumption of groundwater and N leaching under WW-SM_pi were 226.9 mm yr−1 and 79.7 kg ha−1 yr−1, respectively. Under the local rotation system, auto-irrigation could increase crop yields and N leaching. Compared with the WW-SM_ai, the alternative cropping systems, WW-SM-SEM, WW-SM-2SEM, and SEM, significantly decreased the net consumption of groundwater by 49.3%, 63.0%, and 97.8%, respectively (147.5–292.9 mm), and N leaching by 53.5%, 67.5%, and 89.6%, respectively (50.0–83.7 kg ha−1). However, the yields of the three alternative cropping systems were reduced by less than 30% (12.2%, 20.1%, and 29.7%, respectively). The simulated results indicated that appropriately decreasing the planting frequency of winter wheat is an effective approach to reduce groundwater overexploitation and N contamination with a relatively limited reduction in grain yields. The results could provide a scientific basis for cropping system adjustment in guaranteeing sustainable regional water and grain policy.

Highlights

The North China Plain (NCP) is a crucial area for grain production in China
The deviations of the simulated yields for the two years were 44 and −49 kg ha−1 (Table 4). These results suggest that the RZWQM2 model is suitable to simulate crop growth and yield in the NCP
The winter wheat–summer maize rotation system consumes a lot of groundwater and posed a serious environmental threat

Summary

Introduction

The North China Plain (NCP) is a crucial area for grain production in China. The plain supplies approximately 20% of national grain production [1], playing a significant role in guaranteeing regionalAgronomy 2020, 10, 1635; doi:10.3390/agronomy10111635 www.mdpi.com/journal/agronomyAgronomy 2020, 10, 1635 and national food security. The North China Plain (NCP) is a crucial area for grain production in China. The plain supplies approximately 20% of national grain production [1], playing a significant role in guaranteeing regional. The prevailing cropping system, the double rotation system of winter wheat and summer maize, meets the grain demand in this region, but gives rise to some adverse impacts, such as water table deline, rivers drying up, soil nitrate accumulation, and groundwater contamination [2,3]. Precipitation cannot meet the crop water requirement. In order to ensure the normal growth and development of the crop, irrigation is necessary to supplement the water deficit. During the past three decades, about 70% groundwater consumption was exploited for crop irrigation, resulting in a continuous decline in the groundwater level in the region [6,9,10]

Methods

Results

Conclusion