Abstract
Problem statements: Nitrogen fertilizer is recognized as an important factor in crop’s yield level, however more application of N fertilizers in the soil have some adverse effects on environment and especially on groundwater contamination. Perception and recognition the factors influencing nitrate transport through soil profile is helpful for fertilizer management to minimize adverse impacts on environment and nitrate leaching below the root zone. Approach: In this study, 9 large cylindrical lysimeters with 1 m height and 0.5 m diameter were filled with clay loam soil and planted with maize to investigate nitrate leaching under different types of N-fertilizer, chemical fertilizer, activated sludge and organic manure. Nitrate concentration in the soil and drainage water samples were analyzed by spectrophotometer method and the mass of nitrate was calculated in soil and drainage water. Crop productions for different treatments were compared too. Results: Results showed that cumulative mass of nitrate leaching from organic fertilizer was greater than the other treatments (229 kg ha-1). Organic manure had the greatest nitrate accumulation in soil (15.17 mg kg-1), which was significantly greater than chemical fertilizer. Conclusions/Recommendations: Experimental results showed that manure application could result in NO3--N accumulation increase in the deeper soil profiles compared with activated sludge. Results showed that maize production was significantly higher under activated sludge fertilizer. Observations made in the current study suggest activated sludge fertilizer due to a higher crop production with same level of groundwater contamination, especially in clay loam soils.
Highlights
Statistical data showed that nitrogen fertilizer consumption is growing rapidly in the developing countries[3]
Results of the present study show that application of organic fertilizer such as cattle manure further increased NO3− leaching than chemical fertilizers and nitrate leaching from activated sludge was significantly greater than chemical fertilizers but less than organic manure
The Nitrate-N concentrations were higher than 10 mg N L−1 in 48 and 51% of the samplings for the Chemical Fertilizer in clay loam soil (CFcl) and OFcl treatments, respectively
Summary
Statistical data showed that nitrogen fertilizer consumption is growing rapidly in the developing countries[3]. This has resulted in serious environmental consequences, such as nitrate (NO3−) accumulation in ground water, leaching and eutrophication. The leaching of nitrates happens when excess nitrogen fertilizer is applied, resulting in increased (NO3−) accumulation in soils when high amount of water is moved via soil pores and cracks and reach beyond the effective absorption by root zone[16]. Nitrogen is applied to agricultural systems in either inorganic or organic forms. Agricultural plants take it up mainly as inorganic N, which implies that mineralization of organic N precedes plant uptake[2,12]
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