Alternative N fertilizer management strategies effects on subsurface drain effluent and N uptake

Bjorneberg, D.L. and Karlen, D.L. and Kanwar, R.S. and Cambardella, C.A. (1998) Alternative N fertilizer management strategies effects on subsurface drain effluent and N uptake. Applied Engineering in Agriculture. 14(5):469-473.

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Abstract

Demonstrating positive environmental benefits of alternative N fertilizer management strategies, without
adversely affecting crop growth or yield, was a major goal for the Midwest Management Systems Evaluation Areas
(MSEA) program. Our project objectives within this program were to quantify the effects of split- and single-N
fertilization strategies on NO3-N concentration and loss in subsurface drain effluent and N accumulation and yield of
corn (Zea mays L.) and soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.]. The study was conducted on glacial till derived soils in
northeast Iowa from 1993 through 1995 using no-till and chisel plow tillage treatments. One-third of the 2,611 effluent
samples had NO3-N concentrations greater than 10 mg L-1 . Split applying fertilizer N based on pre-sidedress soil nitrate
test (PSNT) results significantly increased corn yield for both tillage treatments in the extremely wet 1993 without
increasing NO3-N loss in drain effluent. Increased grain yield also resulted in significantly more N removal. When
fertilizer N was applied based on the PSNT, no-till and chisel treatments had similar NO 3-N losses and concentrations.
Average flow-weighted NO3-N concentrations in drain effluent were not increased when larger amounts of fertilizer were
applied based on PSNT. However, prior crop and tillage practices and differences in drain flow volume caused significant
differences in NO3-N losses and concentrations. These results suggest that spatial differences in flow volume are a major
factor determining NO3-N loss in drainage effluent. Significant differences suggest that combining no-tillage practices
with split N fertilizer management strategies can have positive environmental benefits without reducing corn yield.

Item Type:	Article
NWISRL Publication Number:	0960
Subjects:	Soil > Amendments > Fertilizer Mass Import - autoclassified (may be erroneous)
Depositing User:	Users 6 not found.
Date Deposited:	20 Nov 2010 21:54
Last Modified:	21 Nov 2016 19:35
Item ID:	692
URI:	https://eprints.nwisrl.ars.usda.gov/id/eprint/692