Agroecosystems to Decrease Diffuse Nitrogen Pollution in Northern Lithuania

Abstract

The paper presents the research conducted at the Joniškėlis Experimental Station of the Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry on a clay loam Gleyic Cambisol during the period of 2006–2010. The research investigated the changes of mineral nitrogen in soil growing catch crops during the winter wheat post-harvest period and incorporating their biomass into the soil for green manure. Green manure implications for environmental sustainability were assessed. The studies were carried out in the soil with a low (1.90–2.00%) and moderate (2.10–2.40%) humus content in organic and sustainable cropping systems. The crop rotation, expanded in time and space, consisted of red clover (Trifolium pretense L.) → winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) → field pea (Pisum sativum L.) → spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) with undersown red clover. Investigations of mineral nitrogen migration were assessed in the crop rotation sequence: winter wheat + catch crops → field pea. Higher organic matter and nitrogen content in the biomass of catch crops were accumulated when Brassisaceae (white mustard, Sinapis alba L.) was grown in a mixture with buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench.) or as a sole crop, compared with oilseed radish (Raphanus sativus var. Oleiferus Metzg.) grown with the long-day legume plants blue lupine (Lupinus angustifolius L.). Mineral nitrogen concentration in soil depended on soil humus status, cropping system and catch crop characteristics. In late autumn there was significantly higher mineral nitrogen concentration in the soil with moderate humus content, compared with soil with low humus content. The lowest mineral nitrogen concentration in late autumn in the 0–40 cm soil layer and lower risk of leaching into deeper layers was measured using organic cropping systems with catch crops. The highest mineral nitrogen concentration was recorded in the sustainable cropping system when mineral nitrogen fertilizer (N30) was applied for winter wheat straw decomposition. In the organic cropping system, the incorporation of catch crop biomass into soil resulted in higher mineral nitrogen reserves in soil in spring than in the sustainable cropping system, (mineral nitrogen fertilizer (N30) applied for straw decomposition in autumn and no catch crop grown). Applying organic cropping systems with catch crops is an efficient tool to promote environmental sustainability.

Nitrogen cycles in terrestrial ecosystems: climate change impacts and mitigation

“…Overall, nitrogen is a critical element that primarily controls species composition, functions, and biological dynamics of many terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems (Vitousek et al 1997). Thus, stabilizing nitrogen levels within an appropriate range in terrestrial ecosystems D r a f t and watersheds by mitigation pathways for the N management is one priority of ecological and environmental research, and management policies and practices (Masilionytė et al 2014;Bechmann et al 2014;Meier et al 2015;Thomas et al 2015). Model.…”

“…Lithuania (Masilionytė et al 2014), the lowest soil mineral nitrogen concentration (0-40 cm soil layer) was observed, and the risk of leaching into deeper layers was lower in organic cropping systems with catch crops D r a f t (e.g. winter wheat + catch crops), which suggested that the agro-ecosystems using organic cropping systems with catch crops resulted in lower diffuse nitrogen pollution in some areas (Masilionytė et al 2014).…”

“…For these mechanisms, plant residue characteristics and field soil properties may play a critical role. Recent reports by have indicated that Nr losses could be limited in integrated soil-crop systems in China based on the local environmental conditions, appropriate varieties, regulated planting dates and densities, and improved nutrient management, which could increase productivity while reducing the environmental costs of intensive agriculture (Chen et al 2011aMasilionytė et al 2014). Through analyzing a set of results from simulations with two models, Durand et al (2015) indicated that the reducing N input and increasing grassland would efficiently mitigate nitrogen pollution in farming catchments.…”

“…4Extending more efficient cropping systems with low N use and decreased N pollution. For example, an agro-ecosystem that uses organic cropping systems with catch crops to decrease diffuse nitrogen pollution in some areas (Masilionytė et al 2014); wheat/maize systems with lower N loss rates relative to rice/wheat systems (Ju et al 2009); and an efficient integrated soil-crop management system for achieving sustainable intensification (Cui et al 2014;Chen et al 2014a). (5) Currently, biochemistry and genetic studies are alternative solutions for improving BNF in symbiotic systems, such as bean rhizobia, because they can employ biochemical technologies under climatic change conditions, such as elevated CO 2 and water deficits (Fowler et al 2013;Coleto et al 2014).…”

Effect of Coal Mining on Soil Nitrogen Distribution in Semi-Arid Mining Area of Western China

“…By the end of 2015, subsidence areas increased to 314 km 2 , accounting for 26.2% of the Shenfu-Dongsheng coal field . Underground mining is a widely used method for the exploitation of coal resources in China, however, this also cause other environment problem, such as eutrophication by the leaching of surface runoff and pollutants (Endale et al, 2017;Masilionytė, Maikštėnienė, Velykis, & Satkus, 2014;Kuter, Dilaver, & Gul, 2014).…”