Management Practices to Conserve Soil Nitrate in Maize Production Systems

Abstract

Residual soil N following maize (Zea mays L.) harvest is susceptible to leaching over winter. There is no available information regarding the combination of intercropping system and water table control to conserve soil N in maize production systems. A 2‐yr study was conducted to examine the effects of cropping systems (monocrop maize, and maize intercropped with annual Italian ryegrass [Lolium multiflorum Lam.]) and water table controls (free drainage, or subirrigation to establish water table depths at 70 and 80 cm below the soil surface) on conserving soil N, under climatic and soil conditions of southwestern Québec. The resulting six treatments were fertilized in the spring with 270 kg N ha−1. The effects of adding fertilizer at 0, 180, and 270 kg N ha−1 on monocrop maize with free drainage were also investigated. Soil cores of 1 m in depth were collected in the spring and fall of 1993 and 1994. In 1993, intercropping decreased the amount of NO−3‐N in the top 1 m of the soil profile by 47% (92.3 kg N ha−1) relative to monocropped maize at harvest time. Water table depth had less effect on soil NO−3‐N content than cropping system. Both increasing water table depth and monocrop maize enhanced downward movement of NO−3‐N during the growing season and following spring. More NO−3‐N was present in freely drained subsoil under maize given 270 kg N ha−1 than under maize given 180 kg N ha−1.

From Chemical Ecology to Agronomy: Cropping Systems in the Humid Northeast

“…Ϫ -N in the top 1 m of the soil profile by 47% (92.3 kg N ha Ϫ1 ) when ryegrass was well established in the system (Zhou et al, 1997b). Furthermore, fall-plowed intercropped ryegrass increased NO 3…”

“…Ϫ concentration in the subsoil due to decomposition over the winter (Zhou et al, 1997b); a following crop would benefit from the N released through this decomposition.…”

“…Sucrose injection reduced plant photosynthetic rates, causing premature leaf senescence in corn (Zhou et al, 1997b), but increased overall growth of corn (Zhou et al, 1997b), soybean , C 3 and C 4 weeds (Begna et al, 2002). Corn grain weight could be increased by as much as 30% (Zhou et al, 1999).…”

A conducting polymer/Ag nanoparticle composite as a nitrate sensor

“…The environmental monitoring of water is of special significance to both human life and livestock. Some inorganic species, such as PO 4 2-, SO 4 2-, Cl -, and NO 3 -influence the quality of environmental water and can lead to health risks. Currently, nitrate is the most common chemical contaminant in groundwater and soil, and its levels are increasing [1].…”

“…Currently, nitrate is the most common chemical contaminant in groundwater and soil, and its levels are increasing [1]. The fate of applied fertilizer nitrate has been well-documented in relation to its conservation and distribution in the soil profile and root zone, availability to the crop, effect on the crop yield during the cropping season, and its leaching after harvest [2,3]. Both nitrites and nitrates are continuously monitored because of their toxicity.…”