Drip fertigation and plant hedgerows significantly reduce nitrogen and phosphorus losses and maintain high fruit yields in intensive orchards

A field experiment was carried out to evaluate the effects of drip fertigation combined with plant hedgerows on nitrogen and phosphorus runoff losses in intensive pear orchards in the Tai Lake Basin.Nitrogen and phosphorus runoff over a whole year were measured by using successional runoff water collection devices.The four experimental treatments were conventional fertilization(CK),drip fertigation(DF),conventional fertilization combined with plant hedgerows(C+H),and drip fertigation combined with plant hedgerows(D+H).The results from one year of continuous monitoring showed a significant positive correlation between precipitation and surface runoff discharge.Surface runoff discharge under the treatments without plant hedgerows totaled 15.86%of precipitation,while surface runoff discharge under the treatments with plant hedgerows totaled 12.82%of precipitation.Plant hedgerows reduced the number of runoff events and the amount of surface runoff.Precipitation is the main driving force for the loss of nitrogen and phosphorus in surface runoff,and fertilization is an important factor affecting the losses of nitrogen and phosphorus.In CK,approximately 7.36%of nitrogen and 2.63%of phosphorus from fertilization entered the surface water through runoff.Drip fertigation reduced the accumulation of nitrogen and phosphorus in the surface soil and lowered the runoff loss concentrations of total nitrogen(TN)and total phosphorus(TP).Drip fertigation combined with plant hedgerows significantly reduced the overall TN and TP losses by 45.38 and 36.81%,respectively,in comparison to the CK totals.Drip fertigation increased the vertical migration depth of nitrogen and phosphorus nutrients and reduced the accumulation of nitrogen and phosphorus in the surface soil,which increased the pear yield.The promotion of drip fertigation combined with plant hedgerows will greatly reduce the losses of nitrogen and phosphorus to runoff and maintain the high fruit yields in the intensive orchards of the Tai Lake Basin.

Characteristics of Nitrogen and Phosphorus Losses in Different Crop Rotation Systems in the North of Erhai Lake Basin

[Objective] Nitrogen and phosphorus losses of surface runoff in various crop rotation systems in the north of Erhai Lake basin were studied with the objective to provide references for risk evaluation of environmental pollution and formulating countermeasures to control the nonpoint source pollution from agriculture.[Method] Water samples collected in four typical crop rotation systems distributed in seven towns（townships） in the north of Erhai Lake basin were investigated,as well as the fertilizer input,to explore the dynamic change of nitrogen and phosphorus content in surface water of farmland and ditch water,and the correlation between fertilizer input and the concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus in the surface water of farmland and in the ditch water.[Result] The results showed that nitrogen loss in surface water of farmland in different crop rotation systems differed greatly,and the risk of nitrogen loss was 38% lower in broad bean-rice crop rotation than that in garlic-rice crop rotation.The water soluble nitrogen was the primary form of nitrogen loss.The content of water soluble nitrogen was significantly higher in garlic-rice crop rotation than that in the other rotation systems,and the concentrations of nitrogen in the surface water of farmland in different crop rotation systems followed the sequence below：garlic-rice crop rotationryegrass-rice crop rotationbroad bean-rice crop rotationrape-rice crop rotation.The loss of phosphorus in the surface water of farmland was relatively low and phosphorus combined with silt was the primary form for phosphorus loss.There was no significant difference of the loss of various forms of phosphorus in different crop rotation systems.The contents of total nitrogen and total phosphorus in the surface water of farmland were higher than that in ditch water,with increasing rates of total nitrogen and total phosphorus in ditch water of 72% and 82%,respectively.Topdressing was the critical reason for the high concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus in the surface water,which also caused the increasing load to the ditch water.[Conclusion] Both the nitrogen and phosphorus loss were the highest in garlic-rice crop rotation.Reasonable crop rotation systems should be established based on both the environmental and economic benefits.This study provided references for controlling the nonpoint source pollution of farmland and improving the water quality of Erhai Lake.

Nitrogen and Phosphorus Loss Law and Emission Reduction Effects Under Water and Fertilizer Management Integrated Mode in Dike Paddy Field

To achieve the purpose of reducing farm non-point source pollution, we integrated site specific nitrogen management precise irrigation, controlled drainage, and wetland eco-repair system in dike area of Taihu basin. During investigation, it had given prominence for the water and fertilizer coupling effects of precise irrigation and site specific nutrient management, the characteristics of integration on controlled irrigation, controlled drainage and wetland ecosystem non-point source pollution control. Then the water and fertilizer integrated management mode of paddy field was put forward in Taihu basin where the water production efficiency increased to 1.64 kg. m-3, water saved 37.8%, fertilizer use efficiency raised 15,4%, yield raised 10%, and N, P load decreased 26%-72%. The modern agricultural and farmland ecosystems that control and cut down the farm non-point source pollution came into being, which can be a reference by Taihu basin to control its agricultural non-point source pollution and eutrophicated water body.

Effects of Controlled Release Fertilizer on Loss of Nitrogen and Phosphorus from Farmland

[Objective] The aim was to study on effects of controlled release fertilizer on loss of nitrogen and phosphorus from farmland. [Method] Experiment was conducted in fields planted with rice and corn around Chao Lake and effects of compound fertilizer, controlled release fertilizer and controlled release fertilizer （reduced by 20%） on loss of nitrogen and phosphorus through runoff and leaching were analyzed. [Result] Loss of nitrogen and phosphorus mainly occurred in early stage of fertilizing; loss caused by runoff accounted for over 98% and caused by leaching was lower than 2%, indicating that nutrients of rice and corn mainly lost through runoff. As for controlled release fertilizers with 20% reduced, total loss of N and P decreased by 60% and 63% in rice field and reduced by 27.8% and 34% in corn field, respectively, indicating that controlled release fertilizer would maintain nutrients in soils high in later period of plant growth, improve use efficiency of N and P, reduce N and P loss in rice and corn fields in rainy season, and decrease non-point pollution. [Conclusion] The research suggested that controlled release fertilizer would slow down the loss of nutrients in farmlands, providing scientific references and technological support for extension of controlled release fertilizer and reduction of agricultural non-point pollution.

Output Characteristics of Non-point Nitrogen and Phosphorus from a Typical Small Watershed in Yimeng Mountainous Area during a Rainstorm

[ Objective] The study aimed to reveal the output characteristics of non-point nitrogen and phosphorus from a typical small watershed in Yimeng mountainous area during a rainstorm. [Method] The dynamic changes of pollutant concentration, precipitation and flow during the rainstorm on August 12, 2010 were monitored at the outlet of Menglianggu watershed. [ Result] During the rainstorm, the generation of runoff was sudden and ephemeral, and the peak of the runoff lagged behind that of rainfall intensity; the concentration of AN and TN increased firstly and then tended to be stable, while NN concentration had no significance change at the beginning of the rainfall, then improved gradually and tended to be stable fi- nally; DOP concentration had no obvious change during the rainstorm, but the concentration of DIP, DP, PP and TP rose firstly and then tended to be stable, and the peak values appeared before the peak of the flow. In addition, the output concentration of TN and TP was far higher than the standard concentration of water eutrophication. [ Conclusion] The study can provide scientific references for the reasonable control of non-point source pollution pollution in Yimeng mountainous area.