Abstract
The primary mode of nitrogen (N) loss from tile-drained row-cropped land is generally nitrate-nitrogen (NO3-N) leaching. Although cropping, tillage, and N management practices can be altered to reduce the amount of leaching, there are limits as to how much can be done. Data are given to illustrate the potential reductions for individual practices such as rate, method, and timing of N applications. However, most effects are multiplicative and not additive; thus it is probably not realistic to hope to get overall reductions greater than 25 to 30% with in-field practices alone. If this level of reduction is insufficient to meet water quality goals, additional off-site landscape modifications may be necessary.
Highlights
The issue of nitrate-nitrogen (NO3-N) leaching and the resultant contamination of surface and groundwater resources is a continuing public concern
A variety of means are available to reduce nitrate leaching, and they are the subject of this paper, primarily with respect to corn and soybean row-crop agriculture common in the Midwestern U.S Corn Belt, where a major portion of the land has artificial subsurface drainage, a factor that has significant water quality impact[2]
That U.S corn producers generally only supply a little over half the crop N needs as inorganic fertilizer and/or manure, with the other half having to come from recycled N in the soil and crop residue, has implications for management practices to reduce NO3-N leaching
Summary
The issue of nitrate-nitrogen (NO3-N) leaching and the resultant contamination of surface and groundwater resources is a continuing public concern. A variety of means are available to reduce nitrate leaching, and they are the subject of this paper, primarily with respect to corn and soybean row-crop agriculture common in the Midwestern U.S Corn Belt, where a major portion of the land has artificial subsurface (or tile) drainage, a factor that has significant water quality impact[2]. Before considering management practices to reduce NO3-N leaching losses, two points should be made. That U.S corn producers generally only supply a little over half the crop N needs as inorganic fertilizer and/or manure, with the other half having to come from recycled N in the soil and crop residue, has implications for management practices to reduce NO3-N leaching. In considering management practices to reduce NO3-N leaching, we realize leaching loss is a product of NO3-N concentration and the volume of water drained. The rate of infiltration vs. the precipitation intensity will determine the volume of runoff, and the volume of infiltration, minus the capacity of the soil to store water, will determine the leaching volume
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
