Publication | Closed Access
Soil Nitrate Concentrations under Corn as Affected by Tillage, Manure, and Fertilizer Applications
113
Citations
0
References
1993
Year
BiogeochemistryEngineeringSoil Nitrate ConcentrationsEnvironmental EngineeringSoil ScienceSustainable AgricultureAgricultural EconomicsSoil ManagementLand ApplicationFarming SystemsFertilizer N RatesSoil NitrateTillage ToolSoil CoresPublic HealthSoil FertilityFertilizer ApplicationsNutrient Management
Abstract A 3‐yr study was conducted to examine combination effects of tillage (no‐till, conventional‐till), manure, and inorganic fertilizer (ammonium nitrate) on leaching of nitrates from the root zone of corn ( Zea mays L.). Soil cores were collected every spring to a depth of 210 cm and analyzed for NO 3 ‐N. Leaching of NO 3 ‐N significantly increased as fertilizer N rates increased, especially when rates exceeded the crop's potential to assimilate N. The concentration of soil nitrate (averaged over depth and tillage) in Year 3 of the study under the unfertilized control plots was 2.5 mg NO 3 ‐N kg −1 , whereas the concentration under plots fertilized with 260 kg N ha −1 was 8.7 mg NO 3 ‐N kg −1 . Soil nitrate concentrations were consistently lower under no‐tillage when compared with conventional‐tillage. Tillage differences were greatest when high rates of N were added to soil. These results indicate that the use of no‐tillage cultivation may reduce the leaching of nitrates beyond the crop root zone.