Nitrogen leaching and grey water footprint affected by nitrogen fertilization rate in maize production: a case study of Southwest China

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Effective nitrogen (N) management measures are required to control environmental problems caused by N fertilizer use in intensive maize production systems. Soil N losses associated with high precipitation and over-fertilization in maize production can cause substantial environmental problems, whereas there is a lack of quantitative data and effective study countermeasures. A 2-year field study was conducted in the subtropical maize production system in Southwest China to quantify N leaching under varying N application rates of 0, 90, 180, 270 and 360 kg N ha −1 yr −1 . RESULTS: The results indicated that N leaching accounted for 16-38% of N fertilizer input. For farmer practice treatment (360 kg N ha −1 yr −1 ), N leaching loss was high at 110 kg N ha −1 yr −1 and accounted for 31% of the N applied. As an indicator of the ambient water quality pollution, the grey water footprint across all treatments ranged from 376 to 1092 m 3 Mg −1 , with an average of 695 m 3 Mg −1 . Reducing N rate to agronomically optimized treatment (180 kg N ha −1 yr −1 ) significantly decreased N leaching by 77%, and maintained high grain yield of 8.1 Mg ha −1 . The grey water footprint was reduced by 52-63% with N rates from 270 or 360 kg N ha −1 yr −1 to 180 kg N ha −1 yr −1 . CONCLUSION: Nitrogen surplus (applied N rate minus N uptake by maize) resulted in higher soil residual nitrate concentration and consequently high N leaching. High precipitation and low soil pH were the main ecological factors leading to high N leaching.

Effects of timing and nitrogen fertilizer application rates on maize yield components and yield in eastern Ethiopia

“…Similarly, Anjum et al (2018) also reported the highest mean grain yield (4,100 kg ha −1 ) of maize at 180 N kg ha −1 applied in three split applications: 60 kg ha −1 before sowing, 60 kg ha −1 at vegetative stages, and 60 kg ha −1 at the tassel initiation stage. Consistent with this result, Yao et al (2021) reported that high rain during the pretasseling and postsilking stages of maize led to a high rate of N leaching and lower N uptake, which resulted in lower grain yields. Similarly, Jabloun et al (2015) also pointed out that excess water can cause root damage or restrict root development, which affects the absorption of water and nutrients by plants and causes N deficiency by leaching.…”

“…Consistent with this result, Yao et al. (2021) reported that high rain during the pretasseling and postsilking stages of maize led to a high rate of N leaching and lower N uptake, which resulted in lower grain yields. Similarly, Jabloun et al.…”

Comparative phenomics of root architecture and anatomy in Phaseolus species

“…This trend might be explained by areas with greater precipitation being associated with more weathered, infertile soils. In environments with heavy rainfall, the loss of nutrients from surface runoff and leaching often serve as a major limitation to soil health (Yao et al., 2021). It has been shown that Phaseolus accessions with longer, denser root hairs have enhanced phosphorus acquisition in phosphorus deficient soil, and many of the species displaying long root hair phenotypes are endemic to regions with soils that are volcanic in origin with inherently low phosphorus availability (Singh Gahoonia & Nielsen, 2004; Lynch, 2011).…”

Interplanting of Corn (Zea mays L.) Shifts Nitrogen Utilization by Promoting Rhizosphere Microbial Nitrogen Nitrification

“…Over-fertilization results in a low N use efficiency and low economic benefits. It also exacerbates nitrogen leaching and volatilization, and causes a range of environmental problems, such as soil acidification and the eutrophication of water bodies [4,5]. Meanwhile, corresponding shifts in soil microbial properties have been widely reported, including the depletion of soil microbial biomass, alterations in species composition, and decreases in diversity [6,7].…”