White clover or nitrogen fertiliser for dairying under nitrate leaching limits?

2020 ◽  
Vol 60 (1) ◽  
pp. 78 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Chapman ◽  
Ina Pinxterhuis ◽  
Stewart Ledgard ◽  
Tony Parsons
Keyword(s):  
Nitrate Leaching ◽  
Soluble Sugar ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
N Leaching ◽  
N Fixation ◽  
N Losses ◽  
Total N ◽  
Mixed Grass ◽  
Dairy Systems ◽  
N Use

As the pressure intensifies to reduce nitrogen (N) losses to the environment from pasture-based dairy systems, interest in reducing N-fertiliser inputs and returning to grass–clover mixtures, where more N for pasture growth is supplied by biological N fixation (BNF), have been revived. However, the following question then arises: is BNF fundamentally different from fertiliser N with respect to N losses, especially nitrate-N leaching risk? The present paper addresses this question by reviewing empirical evidence in the context of N-cycling processes and the efficiency of N use for herbage production. Nitrate leaching data from studies comparing different sward treatments at the same level of total N inputs (fertiliser plus BNF) provide no evidence to suggest that leaching differs when N is supplied solely by fixation in mixtures, by fixation plus fertiliser in mixtures, or solely as a fertiliser to grass monoculture. Increasing clover content in mixed grass–clover pastures is likely to increase N leaching due to a lower ratio of soluble sugar and starch to N in herbage than the common companion grass species perennial ryegrass, and, therefore, a higher partitioning of N eaten to urine. Counteracting this effect, mixed grass–clover pastures may offer some potential for increasing N-use efficiency and reducing the whole-farm N surplus compared with grass-dominant pasture receiving high rates of N fertiliser. While there are undeniable benefits for the productivity of dairy systems from maintaining strong grass–clover mixtures, it is the total amount of N entering the system, rather than the form of N (BNF or fertiliser), that influences nitrate leaching rates.

scholarly journals Residual effect of clover-rich leys on soil nitrogen and successive grain crops

2008 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 73 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. NYKÄNEN ◽  
A. GRANSTEDT ◽  
L. JAUHIAINEN
Keyword(s):  
Field Experiments ◽  
Clayey Soil ◽  
N Uptake ◽  
Residual Effect ◽  
Red Clover ◽  
N Leaching ◽  
N Fixation ◽  
Mineral N ◽  
Total N ◽  
Biological N Fixation

Legume-based leys form the basis for crop rotations in organic farming as they fix nitrogen (N) from the atmosphere for the succeeding crops. The age, yield, C:N, biological N fixation (BNF) and total N of red clover-grass leys were studied for their influence on yields, N uptake and N use efficiency (NUE) of the two sequential cereal crops planted after the leys. Mineral N in deeper soil (30-90 cm) was measured to determine N leaching risk. Altogether, four field experiments were carried out in 1994-1998 at two sites. The age of the ley had no significant effect on the yields and N uptake of the two subsequent cereals. Surprisingly, the residual effect of the leys was negligible, at 0–20 kg N ha-1yr-1. On the other hand, the yield and C:N of previous red clover-grass leys, as well as BNF-N and total-N incorporated into the soil influenced subsequent cereals. NUEs of cereals after ley incorporation were rather high, varying from 30% to 80%. This might indicate that other factors, such as competition from weeds, prevented maximal growth of cereals. The mineral N content deeper in the soil was mostly below 10 kg ha-1 in the sandy soil of Juva, but was 5-25 kg ha-1 in clayey soil of Mietoinen.;

The nitrogen footprint of food products in the European Union

2013 ◽  
Vol 152 (S1) ◽  
pp. 20-33 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. LEIP ◽  
F. WEISS ◽  
J. P. LESSCHEN ◽  
H. WESTHOEK
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
Essential Element ◽  
Mineral Fertilizer ◽  
N Leaching ◽  
The European Union ◽  
N Losses ◽  
Total N ◽  
Reactive N ◽  
Livestock Products

SUMMARYNitrogen (N) is an essential element for plants and animals. Due to large inputs of mineral fertilizer, crop yields and livestock production in Europe have increased markedly over the last century, but as a consequence losses of reactive N to air, soil and water have intensified as well. Two different models (CAPRI and MITERRA) were used to quantify the N flows in agriculture in the European Union (EU27), at country-level and for EU27 agriculture as a whole, differentiated into 12 main food categories. The results showed that the N footprint, defined as the total N losses to the environment per unit of product, varies widely between different food categories, with substantially higher values for livestock products and the highest values for beef (c. 500 g N/kg beef), as compared to vegetable products. The lowest N footprint of c. 2 g N/kg product was calculated for sugar beet, fruits and vegetables, and potatoes. The losses of reactive N were dominated by N leaching and run-off, and ammonia volatilization, with 0·83 and 0·88 due to consumption of livestock products. The N investment factors, defined as the quantity of new reactive N required to produce one unit of N in the product varied between 1·2 kg N/kg N in product for pulses to 15–20 kg N for beef.

scholarly journals Integration of measures to mitigate reactive nitrogen losses to the environment from grazed pastoral dairy systems

2014 ◽  
Vol 152 (S1) ◽  
pp. 45-56 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. M. MONAGHAN ◽  
C. A. M. DE KLEIN
Keyword(s):  
Nitrification Inhibitor ◽  
N Leaching ◽  
N Loss ◽  
N Losses ◽  
Mitigation Options ◽  
N Efficiency ◽  
Farm Systems ◽  
Dairy Systems ◽  
Autumn And Winter ◽  
The Impact

SUMMARYThe need for nitrogen (N) efficiency measures for dairy systems is as great as ever if we are to meet the challenge of increasing global production of animal-based protein while reducing N losses to the environment. The present paper provides an overview of current N efficiency and mitigation options for pastoral dairy farm systems and assesses the impact of integrating a range of these options on reactive N loss to the environment from dairy farms located in five regions of New Zealand with contrasting soil, climate and farm management attributes. Specific options evaluated were: (i) eliminating winter applications of fertilizer N, (ii) optimal reuse of farm dairy effluent, (iii) improving animal performance through better feeding and using cows with higher genetic merit, (iv) lowering dietary N concentration, (v) applying the nitrification inhibitor dicyandiamide (DCD) and (vi) restricting the duration of pasture grazing during autumn and winter. The Overseer®Nutrient Budgeting model was used to estimate N losses from representative farms that were characterized based on information obtained from detailed farmer surveys conducted in 2001 and 2009. The analysis suggests that (i) milk production increases of 7–30% were associated with increased N leaching and nitrous oxide (N2O) emission losses of 3–30 and 0–25%, respectively; and (ii) integrating a range of strategic and tactical management and mitigation options could offset these increased N losses. The modelling analysis also suggested that the restricted autumn and winter grazing strategy resulted in some degree of pollution swapping, with reductions in N leaching loss being associated with increases in N loss via ammonia volatilization and N2O emissions from effluents captured and stored in the confinement systems. Future research efforts need to include farm systems level experimentation to validate and assess the impacts of region-specific dairy systems redesign on productivity, profit, environmental losses, practical feasibility and un-intended consequences.

scholarly journals Field-scale monitoring of nitrate leaching in agriculture: assessment of three methods

2021 ◽  
Vol 194 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hannah Wey ◽  
Daniel Hunkeler ◽  
Wolf-Anno Bischoff ◽  
Else K. Bünemann
Keyword(s):  
Nitrate Leaching ◽  
Seasonal Pattern ◽  
N Uptake ◽  
In Situ Monitoring ◽  
Soil Conditions ◽  
N Leaching ◽  
Central Plateau ◽  
N Losses ◽  
Monitoring Method ◽  
Water Percolation

AbstractDeterioration of groundwater quality due to nitrate loss from intensive agricultural systems can only be mitigated if methods for in-situ monitoring of nitrate leaching under active farmers’ fields are available. In this study, three methods were used in parallel to evaluate their spatial and temporal differences, namely ion-exchange resin-based Self-Integrating Accumulators (SIA), soil coring for extraction of mineral N (Nmin) from 0 to 90 cm in Mid-October (pre-winter) and Mid-February (post-winter), and Suction Cups (SCs) complemented by a HYDRUS 1D model. The monitoring, conducted from 2017 to 2020 in the Gäu Valley in the Swiss Central Plateau, covered four agricultural fields. The crop rotations included grass-clover leys, canola, silage maize and winter cereals. The monthly resolution of SC samples allowed identifying a seasonal pattern, with a nitrate concentration build-up during autumn and peaks in winter, caused by elevated water percolation to deeper soil layers in this period. Using simulated water percolation values, SC concentrations were converted into fluxes. SCs sampled 30% less N-losses on average compared to SIA, which collect also the wide macropore and preferential flows. The difference between Nmin content in autumn and spring was greater than nitrate leaching measured with either SIA or SCs. This observation indicates that autumn Nmin was depleted not only by leaching but also by plant and microbial N uptake and gaseous losses. The positive correlation between autumn Nmin content and leaching fluxes determined by either SCs or SIA suggests autumn Nmin as a useful relative but not absolute indicator for nitrate leaching. In conclusion, all three monitoring techniques are suited to indicate N leaching but represent different transport and cycling processes and vary in spatio-temporal resolution. The choice of monitoring method mainly depends (1) on the project’s goals and financial budget and (2) on the soil conditions. Long-term data, and especially the combination of methods, increase process understanding and generate knowledge beyond a pure methodological comparison.

scholarly journals Reducing nitrate leaching losses from a Taupo pumice soil using a nitrification inhibitor eco-n

2007 ◽  
pp. 131-135 ◽  
Author(s):  
K.C. Cameron ◽  
H.J. Di ◽  
J.L. Moir ◽  
A.H.C. Roberts
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Nitrate Leaching ◽  
Nitrification Inhibitor ◽  
N Leaching ◽  
N Transfer ◽  
Management Options ◽  
N Losses ◽  
Leaching Losses ◽  
Significant Contributor ◽  
Annual Loss

The decline in water quality in Lake Taupo has been attributed to nitrogen (N) leaching from surrounding land areas. Pastoral agriculture has been identified as a significant contributor to this N transfer to the lake through animal urine deposition. There is therefore an immediate need for new management options to reduce N losses. The objective of this study was to measure the effectiveness of using a nitrification inhibitor (eco-n) to reduce nitrate leaching losses from a pasture soil of the Taupo region. A 3-year study was conducted using 20 lysimeters on Landcorp's 'Waihora' sheep and beef farm, within 10 km of Lake Taupo. The results show that animal urine patches were the main source of nitrate leaching (>95% of the total annual loss) and that eco-n significantly (P

Interaction of molybdenum, phosphorus and potassium on yield in Vicia faba

1991 ◽  
Vol 117 (1) ◽  
pp. 85-89 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Z. Xia ◽  
F. Q. Xiong
Keyword(s):  
Vicia Faba ◽  
Seed Weight ◽  
Field Experiments ◽  
Root Nodules ◽  
Soluble Sugar ◽  
N Fixation ◽  
Total N ◽  
Chlorophyll Contents ◽  
Phosphorus And Potassium ◽  
100 Seed Weight

SUMMARYIn pot and field experiments at Xichang, China, in 1984–85, (NH4)2MoO4 applied alone or with KH2PO4 to Vicia faba var. major increased total N, soluble sugar and chlorophyll contents and photosynthetic rate. The growth of root nodules and N fixation were stimulated, and more assimilate was distributed to seeds. Treatment with (NH4)2MoO4 combined with KH2PO4 gave the highest total N, soluble sugar and chlorophyll contents, the most root nodules, fruiting branches, fertile pods and seeds/plant and the highest 100-seed weight, and consequently produced the highest seed yield.

scholarly journals Nitrate leaching and growth of cereal crops following cultivation of contrasting temporary grasslands

2001 ◽  
Vol 136 (3) ◽  
pp. 271-281 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. ERIKSEN
Keyword(s):  
Nitrate Leaching ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Residual Effect ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Grassland Management ◽  
Dairy Farming ◽  
Residual Effects ◽  
Cereal Crops ◽  
N Losses ◽  
N Use

Intensive dairy farming with low N use efficiencies may have adverse environmental impact through nitrate leaching. The residual effects of six different temporary grasslands (1994–96) on yield and nitrate leaching in the following cereal crops (1997–99) were investigated on a loamy sand in central Jutland. The grasslands were unfertilized grass–clover and fertilized ryegrass subject to cutting or continuous grazing by dairy cows with two levels of N in feed supplements. In the first year there was sufficient residual effect of the grazed grasslands to obviate the need for supplementary fertilizer, but in the following years gradually more fertilizer N was required to obtain optimal yields. Nitrate leaching decreased as a function of time after cultivation of grassland, but grassland management had little effect on the subsequent nitrate leaching (6 to 36 kg N/ha in unfertilized plots). Application of cattle slurry to cereals influenced nitrate leaching more than the history of the grassland and caused the annual mean nitrate concentration to exceed the EU Drinking Water Directive upper limit in most cases. Presumably, large differences in N-input during the grassland phase of the crop rotation had relatively little effect on the subsequent N release because of variable N losses during grazing. Possibilities for further improvement of the utilization of grassland N following cultivation are limited when the current knowledge has been implemented. If the N use efficiency of dairy farming systems is to be further improved the utilization of N during the pasture phase is crucial.

scholarly journals Impacts of management on leaching of nitrate from pastures

1990 ◽  
pp. 207-210
Author(s):  
J.L. Brock ◽  
P.R. Ball ◽  
R.A. Carran
Keyword(s):  
Nitrate Leaching ◽  
Grazing Management ◽  
Quality Factors ◽  
Pasture Management ◽  
N Losses ◽  
Animal Products ◽  
Total N ◽  
Herbage Quality ◽  
Ammonia Volatilisation ◽  
Management Approaches

Clover-based grasslands as used in New Zealand, while considered "clean" relative to grasslands farmed intensively with fertiliser nitrogen (N), are nevertheless polluting. Recent measurements of nitrate-N down the soil profile below heavily stocked (22.5 ee/ha) pastures grazed by sheep, have shown that leaching losses under set stocking are 2-3 times those from rotational grazing (37 vs 16 kg N/ha/yr). As the input of N, its storage, and outgoings in animal products are similar in both systems, this indicates that considerably more urinary N is being lost to the aerial environment from rotationally grazed pastures, with nitrate leaching being the main avenue of loss under set stocking. Differences in sward structure are suggested as the major factor. Lower nitrate leaching from cocksfoot vs ryegrass-based pastures are thought to be associated with lower herbage quality factors reducing urinary N formation. While grazing management will not greatly influence total N losses to the environrnent, it can mfluence the avenues by which N enters the wider environment. Aquatically sensitive catchments may be better protected from leaching of nitrate by modification of the grazing management approaches. Keywords pasture management, nitrate leaching, ammonia volatilisation, pasture structure, herbage quality, groundwater pollution

N-leaching in hill country; farmer led research

2010 ◽  
pp. 55-60 ◽  
Author(s):  
A.N. Crofoot ◽  
E.W. Crofoot ◽  
C.J. Hoogendoorn ◽  
A.J. Litherland ◽  
C.B. Garland
Keyword(s):  
Nitrate Leaching ◽  
East Coast ◽  
Animal Production ◽  
N Leaching ◽  
Hill Country ◽  
Wise Use ◽  
Nitrate N ◽  
The Face ◽  
N Use

There is scant information on nitrate-N leaching in East Coast hill country. Castlepoint Station, a focus farm in the Wise Use of fertiliser Nitrogen (N) project and in the face of potential restrictions on fertiliser N use, ran a 3 year trial focused on the impacts of N fertiliser on pasture and animal production as well as nitrate leaching.

scholarly journals Hydrophilic Gel Amendments to Sand Soil Can Increase Growth and Nitrogen Uptake Efficiency of Citrus Seedlings

HortScience ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 39 (2) ◽  
pp. 267-271 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.P. Syvertsen ◽  
J.M. Dunlop
Keyword(s):  
Water Use ◽  
Seedling Growth ◽  
N Uptake ◽  
Poncirus Trifoliata ◽  
N Leaching ◽  
Sand Soil ◽  
N Losses ◽  
Total N ◽  
Uptake Efficiency ◽  
N Uptake Efficiency

We tested the hypothesis that amendments of two hydrophilic gels to a sand soil would reduce N leaching losses and increase growth of citrus seedlings. Three-month-old seedlings of `Swingle' citrumelo [Citrus paradisi Macf. × Poncirus trifoliata (L.) Raf.] were transplanted into containers of steam-sterilized Candler sand, amended with a linear acrylamide/acrylate copolymer (PAM), and/or a cross-linked copolymer agronomic gel (AGRO). Two rates of each amendment were applied either alone or together and were either mixed into dry sand prior to seedling transplant, used as a root-dip slurry at transplant or applied to the soil surface in a solution after transplant. Seedlings were grown in the greenhouse for 5 months and irrigated to container capacity with a dilute nutrient solution without leaching. Pots were leached every 2 weeks and total N losses from the soil were measured in the leachate. PAM amendments increased N retention in soil slightly but PAM had no effect on plant growth, water use, N uptake, or N leaching relative to unamended control plants. The AGRO amendments increased seedling growth, plant water use and uptake of N from 11% to 45% above that of the unamended control plants depending on application method. AGRO decreased N concentrations in the leachate to as low as 1 to 6 mg·L-1. Only 6% of the total applied N was leached from the AGRO treatments, which was about half that from the untreated control plants. There was no additional benefit of using both amendments together or of an additional AGRO root dip treatment. The largest plants used the most water, required the most N and had the greatest N uptake efficiency. AGRO amendments clearly enhanced seedling growth, increased their N uptake efficiency, and reduced N losses from this sand soil.

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