Nitrate‐Nitrogen, Soluble, and Bioavailable Phosphorus Runoff from Simulated Rainfall After Fertilizer Application

Abstract

Abstract Runoff from crop land can enhance eutrophication of fresh water and hypoxia in sea water. We simulated rain at 25 mm hr ‐1 for 2 hr, 8 d prior and 1, 14, 29, 49 and 108 d after fertilization and planting of corn ( Zea mays L.). Experimental sites received 50 kg N, 45 kg P, and 125 kg K ha ‐1 as granulated fertilizer broadcast and incorporated to a depth of 150 mm. An additional 118 kg N ha ‐1 was surface‐banded as solution fertilizer at Day 28, which was 1 d prior to the Day 29 rain. The study was conducted for 2 yr on a Tifton loamy sand (fine‐loamy, siliceous, thermic Plinthic Kandiudults) with a slope of 4.5%, on micro‐ (5.57 m 2 ) and meso‐scale (622 m 2 ) plots. Runoff was equal for the two scales of plots. There were greater runoff losses of soluble‐P from meso‐ (1.4 kg ha ‐1 ) than from micro‐plots (1.0 kg ha ‐1 ). Nitrate‐N losses averaged 2.7 kg ha ‐1 and bioavailable‐P losses were 2.3 kg ha ‐1 . Greatest NO 3 ‐N and soluble‐P losses occurred the day after application of the soild fertilizer, whereas bioavailable‐P loss was greatest at Day 14 and 29. No increase in NO 3 ‐N losses was found 1 d after the application of urea ammonium nitrate solution, possibly indicating that liquid fertilizers are not as susceptible to runoff losses as solid fertilizers. Results of this study should encourage the use of small plots, thereby saving research time and expense and provide data useful for estimating losses at similar sites.