Reduction of Nutrient Leaching Losses by using a Catch Crop during a Fallow Period following Eggplant Production in a Greenhouse

Nutrient leaching losses from horticultural production threaten the quality of groundwater and freshwater systems worldwide. The objectives of this study were to (a) assess the effects of annual applications of ammonium sulfate fertilizer through fertigation (FERT) and broadcast (BROAD) on nutrient leaching losses and (b) determine the links among chemical property changes in leachates and soil with berry yields after 9 and 11 years of blueberry production. The long-term blueberry site was established in 2008 using seven combinations of treatments including an unfertilized control (CONT) and three N fertilizer rates (100%, 150%, 200% of recommended rates) using BROAD and FERT methods. Nutrients concentrations (NO3−-N, NH4+-N and SO42−-S) and chemical properties (pH and electrical conductivity (EC)) of leachate, sawdust and soil and berries were assessed. All FERT methods resulted in concentrations of NO3−-N in the leachates > 100 mg L−1 with a maximum of 200 mg L−1 for FERT-200 during the growing season due to the easy transport of dissolved nutrients with the irrigation water. All BROAD methods resulted into concentrations of NO3−-N in the leachates >10 mg L−1 with a maximum of 35 mg L−1 for BROAD-200 between April and July, as well as between November and April, indicating two periods of NO3−-N leaching losses. The pattern observed with BROAD indicates that irrigation water in the summer and heavy rainfall in the winter contribute to NO3−-N leaching losses. Concentrations of NH4+-N in the leachates >1 mg L−1 were measured under FERT with a peak at 64.78 mg L−1 for FERT-200, during the period April to August, due to NH4+’s ability to quickly move through the sawdust layer with irrigation water. Principal component analysis linked berry yield decrease with ammonium sulfate applications above recommended rates (FERT and BROAD) and with changes in soil pH and EC. Our results demonstrated that excess fertilizer applications above recommended rates using FERT and BROAD can threaten the sustainability of blueberry production by enhancing nutrient leaching losses and reducing berry yield.

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Legumes in catch crop mixtures: Effects on nitrogen retention and availability, and leaching losses

Journal of Environmental Management ◽

10.1016/j.jenvman.2019.03.077 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 239 ◽

pp. 324-332 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Iris Vogeler ◽

Elly M. Hansen ◽

Ingrid K. Thomsen ◽

Hans S. Østergaard

Keyword(s):

Nitrogen Retention ◽

Catch Crop ◽

Leaching Losses

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Comments on "Conversion of tropical forests to smallholder rubber and oil palm plantations impacts nutrient leaching losses and nutrient retention efficiency in highly weathered soils"

10.5194/bg-2018-221-rc2 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Kazumichi Fujii

Keyword(s):

Tropical Forests ◽

Oil Palm ◽

Nutrient Retention ◽

Nutrient Leaching ◽

Retention Efficiency ◽

Leaching Losses ◽

Weathered Soils ◽

Highly Weathered Soils

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Tree growth, mineral nutrition and nutrient leaching losses from soil of salinized citrus

Agriculture Ecosystems & Environment ◽

10.1016/0167-8809(93)90080-9 ◽

1993 ◽

Vol 45 (3-4) ◽

pp. 319-334 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

J.P. Syvertsen ◽

M.L. Smith ◽

B.J. Boman

Keyword(s):

Tree Growth ◽

Mineral Nutrition ◽

Nutrient Leaching ◽

Leaching Losses

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CO<sub>2</sub> enrichment increases nutrient leaching from model forest ecosystems in subtropical China

Biogeosciences Discussions ◽

10.5194/bgd-5-2679-2008 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 5 (3) ◽

pp. 2679-2706 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

J. X. Liu ◽

D. Q. Zhang ◽

G. Y. Zhou ◽

B. Faivre-Vuillin ◽

Q. Deng ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Elevated Co2 ◽

Forest Ecosystems ◽

Co2 Concentration ◽

Nutrient Leaching ◽

Mineral Nutrient ◽

N Addition ◽

Nutrient Losses ◽

Subtropical China ◽

Leaching Losses ◽

High Co2

Abstract. The effect of high atmospheric CO2 concentrations on the dynamics of mineral nutrient is not well documented, especially for subtropical China. We used model forest ecosystems in open-top chambers to study the effects of CO2 enrichment alone and together with N addition on the dynamics of soil cations and anions. Two years of exposure to a 700 ppm CO2 atmospheric concentration resulted in increased annual nutrient losses by leaching below 70 cm soil profile. Compared to the control, net Mg2+ losses increased by 385%, K+ by 223%, Ca2+ by 167% and N-NO3- by 108%, respectively. Increased losses following exposure to elevated CO2 were related to both faster soil weathering/organic matter decomposition and greater amounts of water leaching during high rainfall as a consequence of higher soil moisture. Net annual nutrient losses in the high CO2 concentration chambers reached 22.2 kg ha−1 year−1 for K+, 171.3 kg ha−1 year−1 for Ca2+, 8.2 kg ha−1 year−1 for Mg2+ and about 2 kg ha−1 year−1 for N-NO3-. The N addition alone had no significant effect on the mineral nutrient leaching losses. However, addition of N together with the high CO2 treatment significantly reduced mineral nutrient losses. We hypothesize that forests in subtropical China might suffer nutrient limitation and reduction in plant biomass under elevated CO2 concentration due to mineral leaching losses in the future.

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Does temperate agroforestry reduce nutrient leaching losses compared to cropland monocultures?

10.5194/egusphere-egu2020-8528 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Marcus Schmidt ◽

Marife D. Corre ◽

Xiaohong Duan ◽

Florian Heinlein ◽

Edzo Veldkamp

Keyword(s):

Large Scale ◽

Resource Competition ◽

Alley Cropping ◽

Safety Net ◽

Nutrient Leaching ◽

Environmental Benefits ◽

The European Union ◽

Leaching Losses ◽

Temperate Agroforestry ◽

Wide Range

<p>Over the past decades, excessive use of fertilizers in cropland monocultures in combination with a decrease in fertilizer use efficiency, have led to an increase in nutrient leaching losses, especially for nitrate. Consequently, ground water pollution is widespread and starting to be recognized and potentially sanctioned by the European Union. Unfertilized tree rows alternating with crop rows (e.g. alley-cropping agroforestry) are hypothesized to act as a safety net by taking up excess nutrients below the crop-rooting zone. Here, we measured leaching losses of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) during two growing seasons in agroforestry systems and adjacent monocultures at three sites in Germany, representing a wide range of soil characteristics. Leaching losses of N, P and K were generally lower under agroforestry tree rows at all sites compared to agroforestry crop rows or crop monocultures. Overall, agroforestry reduced nitrate leaching losses by up to 82% compared to monocultures, but showed comparable losses of P and K. Nutrient leaching losses were high in the agroforestry crop rows close to the tree rows where crop productivity is lowest due to resource competition with trees. An adjusted management, e.g. reduced fertilizer inputs close to the tree rows, may counteract these losses. Our results suggest that agroforestry has the potential to reduce nutrient leaching losses through the trees and the application of fertilizer should be reduced in the agroforestry crop row close to the trees. The reduction in nutrient leaching losses in agroforestry indicates an increase in the soil function of water filtration. In order to achieve large-scale implementation of temperate agroforestry, its environmental benefits need to be financially valued for farmers to adapt this widely applicable land use alternative. The presented project, SIGNAL (Sustainable intensification of agriculture through agroforestry) is part of the German research initiative BonaRes (Soil as a sustainable resource).</p>

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Nutrient leaching from Acerrubrum leaves by experimental acid rainfall

Canadian Journal of Forest Research ◽

10.1139/x91-027 ◽

1991 ◽

Vol 21 (2) ◽

pp. 222-229 ◽

Cited By ~ 19

Author(s):

Christopher S. Potter

Keyword(s):

North Carolina ◽

Base Cation ◽

Nutrient Leaching ◽

Tree Leaves ◽

Field Site ◽

Nutrient Pools ◽

Leaching Losses ◽

Foliar Nutrient ◽

Coweeta Hydrologic Laboratory ◽

Acid Rainfall

Freshly collected Acerrubrum L. leaves from a regenerating forest stand at the Coweeta Hydrologic Laboratory, North Carolina, were washed with experimental acid rainfall (pH 4.6). Nutrient leaching rates from undamaged leaves were significant for SO42−, K+, Ca2+, and Mg2+, whereas NO3−-N was absorbed from rainfall. Significantly greater leaching of SO42−, K+, Ca2+, and Mg2+, and significantly greater absorption of NO3−-N and NH4+-N, occurred in artificially damaged leaves than in undamaged leaves. Comparisons between leaching transfers and foliar nutrient pools showed that base cation (K+, Ca2+, and Mg2+) leaching losses account for up to 25% of foliar pools, whereas absorption of NO3−-N and NH4+-N from precipitation can increase total foliar N by almost 2%. Projected growing season cation leaching losses (expressed as a percentage of foliar pools) from damaged leaves were in agreement with previously reported whole-canopy leaching fluxes based on analysis of throughfall at the field site. These results suggest that nutrient leaching losses from young, rapidly growing tree leaves are lower than previously published leaching fluxes for more mature forest stands.

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