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Growing season nitrate leaching as affected by nitrogen management in irrigated potato production
Author(s) -
Clément ChedzerClarc,
Cambouris Athy.,
Ziadi Noura,
Zebarth Bernie J.,
Karam Antoine
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
agronomy journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.752
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1435-0645
pISSN - 0002-1962
DOI - 10.1002/agj2.20387
Subject(s) - leaching (pedology) , agronomy , sowing , lysimeter , nitrate , ammonium nitrate , fertilizer , environmental science , soil water , irrigation , growing season , chemistry , soil science , biology , organic chemistry
Nitrate leaching from potato ( Solanum tuberosum L.) production is of great concern because of its potential effects on water resources. Suction lysimeters were used in combination with a one‐dimensional flow model to quantify NO 3 –N leaching under irrigated potato produced on sandy soils near Québec City, QC, Canada. The 3‐yr (2010−2012) study compared a single application of polymer‐coated urea (PCU) and split‐applied soluble N fertilizers (ammonium nitrate, AN; ammonium sulfate, AS) at three N rates (120, 200, and 280 kg N ha −1 ) in addition to an unfertilized control. Fertilizer N application increased total seasonal NO 3 –N leaching. A single application of PCU increased total seasonal NO 3 –N leaching in 2011 compared with AN and AS, which was attributed to a greater soil NO 3 –N concentration under the PCU treatment in combination with increased rainfall during the tuber bulking phase (60−90 d after planting). Total seasonal NO 3 –N leaching in 2012 was reduced with PCU and AS compared with AN, which was attributed to reduced soil NO 3 –N concentrations between planting and hilling when rainfall was high. Regardless of the fertilizer N source, NO 3 –N leaching was primarily driven by precipitation, as leaching occurred when elevated soil NO 3 –N concentrations coincided with excess water in the soil. The results suggest that a single application of PCU is an effective strategy for reducing NO 3 –N leaching in years when there is significant rainfall during the period between planting and hilling.