Accumulation of nitrate N in the soil profile and its implications for the environment under dryland agriculture in northern China: A review

2010 ◽  
Vol 90 (3) ◽  
pp. 429-440 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Fan ◽  
M. Hao ◽  
S S Malhi
Keyword(s):  
Ground Water ◽  
Best Management Practices ◽  
Soil Profile ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
Northern China ◽  
Vegetable Crops ◽  
Water Leaching ◽  
Nitrate Accumulation ◽  
Dryland Farming

Nitrate (NO3-) leaching and water contamination have become a worldwide concern. In this review, some examples are presented to show the extent and magnitude of NO3- accumulation in the soil profiles and its potential effects on contamination of ground water and surface water under dryland farming in northern China. Climatic and management factors affecting NO3- leaching are also discussed. In northern China, rainfall is relatively sparse, but the high intensity of precipitation and porous soils play an important role in the accumulation of NO3N in soil and its subsequent leaching in the soil profile. There is a risk of nitrate accumulation and leaching when high rates of fertilizer N are applied to improve crop yields, and it becomes even worse when conventional land use is changed from cereal crops to vegetable crops and fruit orchards. Under such conditions, shallow ground water might be polluted by NO3-. This suggests that more attention should be paid to prevent this problem by using best management practices, especially by controlling the amount of N fertilizer input, balanced fertilization, split N application, inclusion of crops with deep taproots in the rotation and minimizing summer fallow (especially tilled) frequency. Key words: Accumulation, contamination, dryland farming, ground water, leaching, nitrate, northern China

Adapting Nitrogen Fertilization to Unpredictable Seasonal Conditions with the Least Impact on the Environment

2006 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 408-412 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicolas Tremblay ◽  
Carl Bélec
Keyword(s):  
Best Management Practices ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Saturation Index ◽  
N Fertilization ◽  
Soil Conditions ◽  
Vegetable Crops ◽  
N Budget ◽  
Reference Plot ◽  
Weather Events ◽  
Primary Driver

Weather is the primary driver of both plant growth and soil conditions. As a consequence of unpredictable weather effects on crop requirements, more inputs are being applied as an insurance policy. Best management practices (BMPs) are therefore about using minimal input for maximal return in a context of unpredictable weather events. This paper proposes a set of complementary actions and tools as BMP for nitrogen (N) fertilization of vegetable crops: 1) planning from an N budget, 2) reference plot establishment, and 3) crop sensing prior to in-season N application based on a saturation index related to N requirement.

scholarly journals Using a modified DNDC biogeochemical model to optimize field management of a multi-crop (cotton, wheat, and maize) system: a site-scale case study in northern China

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (14) ◽  
pp. 2905-2922 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wei Zhang ◽  
Chunyan Liu ◽  
Xunhua Zheng ◽  
Kai Wang ◽  
Feng Cui ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Best Management Practices ◽  
Process Model ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Gross Primary Production ◽  
Northern China ◽  
Biogeochemical Model ◽  
No Production ◽  
Field Management ◽  
Crop System

Abstract. It is still a severe challenge to optimize the field management practices for a multi-crop system when simultaneously aiming at yield sustainability and minimum negative impacts on climate as well as atmosphere and water quality. This site-scale case study was devoted to developing a biogeochemical process model-based approach as a solution to this challenge. The best management practices (BMPs) of a three-crop system growing cotton and winter wheat–summer maize (W–M) in rotation, which is widely adopted in northern China, were identified. The BMPs referred to the management alternatives with the lowest negative impact potentials (NIPs) among the scenarios satisfying all given constraints. The independent variables used to determine the NIPs and those utilized as constrained criteria were simulated by the DeNitrification-DeComposition model, which was modified in this study. Due to the unsatisfactory performance of the model in daily simulations of nitric oxide (NO) emission and net ecosystem exchange of carbon dioxide (NEE), the model was modified to (i) newly parameterize the soil moisture effects on NO production during nitrification, and (ii) replace the original NEE calculation approach with an algorithm based on gross primary production. Validation of the modified model showed statistically meaningful agreements between the simulations and observations in the cotton and W–M fields. Three BMP alternatives with overlapping uncertainties of simulated NIPs were screened from 6000 management scenarios randomly generated by Latin hypercube sampling. All of these BMP alternatives adopted the baseline (currently applied) practices of crop rotation (3 consecutive years of cotton rotating with 3 years of W–M in each 6-year cycle), the fraction of crop residue incorporation (100 %), and deep tillage (30 cm) for cotton. At the same time, these BMP alternatives would use 18 % less fertilizer nitrogen and sprinkle or flood-irrigate ∼23 % less water than the baseline while adopting reduced tillage (5 cm) for W–M. Compared with the baseline practices, these BMP alternatives could simultaneously sustain crop yields, annually enlarge the soil organic carbon stock by 4 ‰ or more, mitigate the aggregate emission of greenhouse gases, NO release, ammonia volatilization, and nitrate leaching by ∼7 %, ∼25 %, ∼2 %, and ∼43 %, respectively, despite a ∼5 % increase in N2O emission. However, further study is still necessary for field confirmation of these BMP alternatives. Nevertheless, this case study proposed a practical approach to optimize multi-crop system management to simultaneously achieve multiple United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Size of subsoil clods affects soil-water availability in sand–clay mixtures

Soil Research ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 54 (3) ◽  
pp. 276 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giacomo Betti ◽  
Cameron D. Grant ◽  
Robert S. Murray ◽  
G. Jock Churchman
Keyword(s):  
Hydraulic Conductivity ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Best Management Practices ◽  
Water Availability ◽  
Water Retention ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
Root Zone ◽  
Soil Water Availability ◽  
Application Rates

Clay delving in strongly texture-contrast soils brings up subsoil clay in clumps ranging from large clods to tiny aggregates depending on the equipment used and the extent of secondary cultivation. Clay delving usually increases crop yields but not universally; this has generated questions about best management practices. It was postulated that the size distribution of the subsoil clumps created by delving might influence soil-water availability (and hence crop yield) because, although the clay increases water retention in the root-zone, it can also cause poor soil aeration, high soil strength and greatly reduced hydraulic conductivity. We prepared laboratory mixtures of sand and clay-rich subsoil in amounts considered practical (10% and 20% by weight) and excessive (40% and 60% by weight) with different subsoil clod sizes (<2, 6, 20 and 45 mm), for which we measured water retention, soil resistance, and saturated hydraulic conductivity. We calculated soil water availability by traditional means (plant-available water, PAW) and by the integral water capacity (IWC). We found that PAW increased with subsoil clay, particularly when smaller aggregates were used (≤6 mm). However, when the potential restrictions on PAW were taken into account, the benefits of adding clay reached a peak at ~40%, beyond which IWC declined towards that of pure subsoil clay. Furthermore, the smaller the aggregates the less effective they were at increasing IWC, particularly in the practical range of application rates (<20% by weight). We conclude that excessive post-delving cultivation may not be warranted and may explain some of the variability found in crop yields after delving.

scholarly journals Non-Point Source Pollution Simulation and Best Management Practices Analysis Based on Control Units in Northern China

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 868 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yang Ding ◽  
Fei Dong ◽  
Jinyong Zhao ◽  
Wenqi Peng ◽  
Quchang Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Point Source ◽  
Best Management Practices ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Cost Benefit ◽  
Northern China ◽  
Main Stream ◽  
Source Areas ◽  
Best Management ◽  
Nps Pollution ◽  
Control Units

Non-point source (NPS) pollution simulation in control units can identify critical pollution source areas and make Best Management Practices (BMPs) more effective for the responsible parties. In this study, the control unit division method is introduced, and the spatial and temporal distribution characteristics of NPS pollution in the Guishui River Basin of Northern China are analyzed using the Soil Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model. In addition, five BMP scenarios were designed for environmental and cost-benefit analyses. The results show that the loss of total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) is concentrated in the rainy season, and the loss of TN and TP is mainly distributed in the middle and lower reaches of the main stream of the Guishui River. This area accounts for 22.34% of the basin area. The vegetated filter strips (VFS) scenario had the best environmental benefits with average TN and TP reduction efficiencies of 63.4% and 62.6%, respectively. The Grassed Waterway was the most cost-effective scenario measure, cost-benefit (CE) values of TN and TP were 1798.13 g/€ and 601.56 g/€. Generally, research on NPS pollution using control units can more clearly identify the critical source areas of pollution than other methods, and provides technical support for watershed management decision makers.

Changes in pore structure in a no-till chronosequence of silt loam soils, southern Ontario

1999 ◽  
Vol 79 (1) ◽  
pp. 149-160 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. J. VandenBygaart ◽  
R. Protz ◽  
A. D. Tomlin
Keyword(s):  
Soil Profile ◽  
Soil Structure ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
Morphological Properties ◽  
Root Penetration ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Physical Chemical ◽  
No Till ◽  
Pore Properties

Many research studies have dealt with the influences of minimum or no-till soil management practices on the major physical, chemical, biological and morphological properties in the soil profile. However little work has been done on the assessment of the rates of changes in pore properties as management practices are converted from conventional to no-till (NT) methods. Short-term changes in soil micromorphology attributed to conversion to no-till from conventionally tilled management are evaluated in this paper. As the number of years in no-till increased there was a decrease in the number pores of 30- to 100-µm diameter in the no-till soils. However, pores from 100- to 500-µm diameter increased in number only after 4 yr of NT. The pores of this size are important for water storage, transmission and root development. The decline in the number of these pores after no-till initiation followed by the increase after 4 yr may explain why crop yields tend to be lower only after the first few years after implementing no-till. The 100- to 500-µm diameter pores may be crucial for the proper development of roots in wheat and corn. The no-till soils had greater numbers of horizontally oriented elongated macropores in the top 5 to 15 cm of the soil profile due to the lack of tillage and annual freeze-thaw processes. These pores may inhibit proper drainage and root penetration. Rounded macropores increased with the number of years the soil was in no-till as these pores were maintained each year due to the lack of tillage and greater faunal activity in the no-till soils. Key words: Micromorphology, image analysis, earthworms, no-till, soil structure

scholarly journals (215) From Recommendation to Implementation: Involving Vegetable Growers in Best Management Practices

HortScience ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 40 (4) ◽  
pp. 1072D-1073
Author(s):  
Eric Simonne ◽  
David Studstill ◽  
Robert Hochmuth ◽  
Justin Jones ◽  
Cynthia Stewart
Keyword(s):  
Best Management Practices ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Cultural Practices ◽  
Water Movement ◽  
Root Zone ◽  
Average Rate ◽  
Irrigation Management ◽  
Educational Process ◽  
Adoption Process ◽  
Vegetable Crops

The Federal Clear Water Act and Florida legislation have mandated the clean-up of impaired water bodies. The BMP manual for vegetable crops lists the cultural practices that could maintain productivity while minimizing environmental impact. BMPs focus on increased fertilizer and irrigation efficiency, but growers must be involved in the demonstration and adoption process if this voluntary program is to be successful. Three commercial vegetable fields from farms recognized as leaders in fertilizer and irrigation management were selected to demonstrate how irrigation and fertilizer management are linked together and how management may prevent water movement below the root zone of melons grown with plasticulture. In Spring 2004, dye (Brilliant blue FCF) was injected into the irrigation water three times during the growing season and soil profiles were dug to determine the depth of dye movement. Similar results were found at all three locations as the dye moved below at an average rate of 1.9 to 3.6 cm per day. Water movement was greater early in the season as irrigation was applied for transplant establishment. These results suggest that some leaching is likely to occur on light-textured soils, even when sophisticated irrigation and fertilization practices are followed. Based on these observations, cooperators spontaneously proposed to use two drip tapes, reduce preplant fertilizer, use a 100% injected N/K program, and/or add organic matter to the soil as attempts to slow water movement below the root zone of their crops. This project shows that growers are more likely to try and adopt sustainable practices when they actively participate in the educational process than when production changes are mandated through legislation.

Restoring the productivity of marginal soils with organic amendments

1987 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 64-68 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sharon B. Hornick ◽  
James F. Parr
Keyword(s):  
Best Management Practices ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
Conservation Tillage ◽  
Organic Amendments ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Marginal Soils ◽  
Considerable Benefit ◽  
High Level

AbstractThe mining of sand and gravel deposits and excavation oftopsoil in urban areas have left extensive tracts of exposed subsoils that do not support plant growth because of adverse soil chemical and physical properties. Such degraded and marginal soils, or spoils, are infertile, low in organic matter, often acidic, and subject to severe erosion and surface runoff Many of these lands are owned by small and part-time farmers who wish to restore their aesthetic value and agricultural productivity. Research has shown that with liming and the proper use of organic amendments such as animal manures and sewage sludge compost, these lands can be restored to a high level of productivity in as little as three years. The methods and techniques for improving the productivity of marginal soils described in this paper can be of considerable benefit to some farmers in developed and developing countries where there is no other choice but to farm marginal soils because of the lack of highly productive agricultural lands. With increased efforts to restore the productivity of degraded and marginal soils through the use of organic amendments, conservation tillage, and crop rotations, future research should address the effect of best management practices on crop yields, the nutritional quality of crops, and the bioavailability of plant nutrients to both animals and humans.

scholarly journals Current Progress and Future Prospects of Agriculture Technology: Gateway to Sustainable Agriculture

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (9) ◽  
pp. 4883
Author(s):  
Nawab Khan ◽  
Ram L. Ray ◽  
Ghulam Raza Sargani ◽  
Muhammad Ihtisham ◽  
Muhammad Khayyam ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Agriculture ◽  
Best Management Practices ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
Cropping System ◽  
Radical Change ◽  
Review Article ◽  
Comprehensive Review ◽  
Land Preparation ◽  
Advanced Technologies

The agricultural industry is getting more data-centric and requires precise, more advanced data and technologies than before, despite being familiar with agricultural processes. The agriculture industry is being advanced by various information and advanced communication technologies, such as the Internet of Things (IoT). The rapid emergence of these advanced technologies has restructured almost all other industries, as well as advanced agriculture, which has shifted the industry from a statistical approach to a quantitative one. This radical change has shaken existing farming techniques and produced the latest prospects in a series of challenges. This comprehensive review article enlightens the potential of the IoT in the advancement of agriculture and the challenges faced when combining these advanced technologies with conventional agricultural systems. A brief analysis of these advanced technologies with sensors is presented in advanced agricultural applications. Numerous sensors that can be implemented for specific agricultural practices require best management practices (e.g., land preparation, irrigation systems, insect, and disease management). This review includes the integration of all suitable techniques, from sowing to harvesting, packaging, transportation, and advanced technologies available for farmers throughout the cropping system. Besides, this review article highlights the utilization of other tools such as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for crop monitoring and other beneficiary measures, such as optimizing crop yields. In addition, advanced programs based on the IoT are also discussed. Finally, based on our comprehensive review, we identified advanced prospects regarding the IoT, which are essential tools for sustainable agriculture.

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