A ^(15)N-Labeling Study of the Capture of Deep Soil Nitrate from Different Plant Systems

The objective of this study was to determine the efficiency of different plant systems in capturing deep soil nitrate （NO3-） to reduce NO3- leaching in a field plot experiment using 15N labelling. The study was conducted on a calcareous alluvial soil on the North China Plains and the plant systems evaluated included alfalfa （Medicago sativa）, American black poplar （Populus nigra） and cocksfoot （Dactylis）. ^15N-labelled N fertilizer was injected to 90 cm depth to determine the recovery of ^15N by the plants. With conventional water and nutrient management, the total recovery of ^15N-labeled NO3--N was 23.4% by alfalfa after two consecutive growth years. The recovery was significantly higher than those by American black poplar （12.3%） and cocksfoot （11.4%）. The highest proportion of soil residual ~SN from the labeled fertilizer N （%Ndff） was detected around 90 cm soil depth at the time of the 1st year harvest and at 110-130 cm soil depth at time of the 2nd year harvest. Soil %Ndff in 0-80 cm depth was significantly higher in the alfalfa treatment than those in all the other treatments. The soil %Ndff below 100 cm depth was much lower in the alfalfa than those in all the other treatments. These results indicated that ^15N leaching losses in the alfalfa treatment were significantly lower than by those in the black poplar and cocksfoot treatments, due to the higher root density located in nitrate labeling zone of soil profile. In conclusion, alfalfa may be used as a plant to capture deep soil NO3- left from previous crops to reduce NO3- leaching in high intensity crop cultivation systems of North China Plain.

Effects of Soil Nitrate Nitrogen Residues and Leaching for Different Kinds of Slow-release Nitrogen Fertilizers in Tall-fescue Soil

ObjectiveThe aim was to explore the movement of nitrate nitrogen in tall-fescue soils by different kinds of slow release nitrogen fertilizers. MethodBased on infiltration-tanks and test plots, a new and environment friendly fertilizer was explored. ResultThe results show that compared with urea treatment, slow-release nitrogen fertilizer treatments could reduce nitrate nitrogen content and leaching amount in soils. Compared with PCU30 and IU treatments, the PCU60 treatment became more efficient in reducing nitrate content and leaching amount in 0-90 cm soil layer. ConclusionIn summary, slow-release nitrogen fertilizer, which can reduce soil nitrate content and leaching losses, is a kind of novel fertilizer with high environmental benefit and promising application.

Effect of N Fertilization on Grain Yield of Winter Wheat and Apparent N Losses

Excessive nitrogen (N) fertilizer application to winter wheat is a common problem on the North China Plain. To determine the optimum fertilizer N rate for winter wheat production while minimizing N losses, field experiments were conducted for two growing seasons at eight sites, in Huimin County, Shandong Province, from 2001 to 2003. The optimum N rate for maximum grain yield was inversely related to the initial soil mineral N content (Nmin) in the top 90 cm of the soil profile before sowing. There was no yield response to the applied N at the three sites with high initial soil mineral N levels (average 212 kg N ha-1). The average optimum N rate was 96 kg N ha-1 for the five sites with low initial soil Nmin (average 155 kg N ha-1) before sowing. Residual nitrate N in the top 90 cm of the soil profile after harvest increased with increasing fertilizer N application rate. The apparent N losses during the wheat-growing season also increased with increasing N application rate. The average apparent N losses with the optimum N rates were less than 15 kg N ha-1, whereas the farmers' conventional N application rate resulted in losses of more than 100 kg N ha-1. Therefore, optimizing N use for winter wheat considerably reduced N losses to the environment without compromising crop yields.