Fate of nitrogen fertilizer applied on two main arables crops, winter wheat (Triticum aestivum) and sugar beet (Beta vulgaris) in the loam region of Belgium

Abstract

Since 1986, the fate of fertilizer N (NH4NO3 or NaNO3) applied in field conditions on two main arable crops, winter wheat (Triticum aestivum) and sugar beet (Beta vulgaris), has been studied using 15N. Up to a rate of 200 kg ha-1 of N, mean recovery of fertilizer by winter wheat was 70%, provided it had been split applied. Single application (with or without dicyandiamid) was less effective. For sugar beet, in 1990, 1991 and 1992, 40% of fertilizer N was found in the crop at harvest when NH4NO3 had been broadcast at 100 to 160 kg N ha-1 at sowing time. For the same N rate, recovery was 50% when row applied near the seeds and 60% for 80 kg N ha-1. For the two experimental crops, residual fertilizer N in soil was exclusively organic. It ranged from 15 to 30% of applied N and was located in the 30 cm upper layer. Losses were generally lower with winter wheat (12%) than with sugar beet (20–40%) and could be ascribed to volatilization and denitrification. Soil derived N taken up by the plant was site and year dependent.