Effect of Cropping, Summerfallow and Fertilizer Nitrogen on Nitrate-Nitrogen Lost by Leaching on a Brown Chernozemic Loam

“…We suggest that the higher requirement for N fertilizer during the last decade was due to greater N loss by leaching and/or dentrification during the fallow period (Campbell et al 1984) as a result of the more favourable growing conditions prevalent in this period ( Table 2). The lower fertilizer N rates for fallow-grown wheat in the Old than in the New Rotation experiment may also reflect greater net N mineralization due to the more frequent tillage in the conventionally tilled Old Rotation experiment compared to the minimum-and zero-tilled New Rotation experiment.…”

Section: Fertilizer N Usementioning

confidence: 99%

Cropping frequency, wheat classes and flexible rotations: Effects on production, nitrogen economy, and water use in a Brown Chernozem

Zentner¹,

Campbell²,

Selles³

et al. 2003

Can. J. Plant Sci.

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Producers in the semiarid Canadian prairies rely on frequent summerfallowing (F) to conserve water, control weed infestations, and maximize soil mineral N reserves, but this practice often results in soil degradation. A crop rotation experiment was initiated in 1987 on a medium-textured, Orthic Brown Chernozem at Swift Current, Saskatchewan, to determine the most ideal cropping frequency for wheat in this region and whether a fixed rotation such as fallow-wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) - wheat (F-W-W) or F-W-W-W would be more effective than flexible rotations in which fallowing is decided each spring based on criteria such as available soil water (if water), or the need to control perennial weed infestations (if weeds). The study also compared the production of traditional Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS) wheat class with the newer higher-yielding (Hy), Canada Prairie Spring (CPS) wheat class. We analyzed results of six rotations over the first 12 yr of the study. The rotations included F-W-W, F-W-W-W, F-Hy-Hy, Continuous wheat (Cont W), Cont W (if weeds), and Cont W (if water). Reduced tillage management was used and stubble was cut tall to enhance snowtrap. Fertilizer N was applied based on soil tests and fertilizer P was applied based on the general recommendations for the region. Over the 1988–1999 period, weather conditions were generally favourable and yields were above average for this region. Canada Prairie Spring wheat outyielded CWRS by 32% when grown on fallow and by 17% when grown on stubble; however, straw yields of the two wheat classes were similar on fallow and CPS was 11% less than CWRS on stubble. Harvest index (HI) averaged 44% for CPS and 37% for CWRS wheat. Water use efficiency for CWRS wheat grown on fallow averaged 7.2 kg ha-1 mm-1 and for CPS 9.4; when grown on stubble the respective values were 6.3 and 7.5 kg ha-1 mm-1. Grain N concentration for CWRS was slightly higher for wheat grown on fallow (25.7 g kg-1) than on stubble (24.5 g kg-1), but was similar for CPS wheat on grown on fallow and stubble (21.9 g kg-1). Straw N concentration averaged 3.8 g kg-1 for CWRS and 4.4 g kg-1 for CPS. Nitrogen yield for grain from CPS was 9% greater than from CWRS when grown on fallow, but there was no effect of wheat class when grown on stubble. Nitrogen yield of CPS straw was 15% greater than for CWRS when grown on fallow, but on stubble N yield was generally not affected by wheat class. Nitrogen harvest index (NHI) averaged about 80% for both wheat classes, whether grown on fallow or stubble. On a rotation basis, grain produced with F-W-W was 1502 kg ha-1 yr-1. The F-W-W-W and Cont W (if weeds) rotations produced 9% more grain than F-W-W, while Cont W (if water) produced 24% more, F-Hy-Hy produced 26% more, and Cont W produced 30% more than F-W-W. Nitrogen production in the grain, straw and aboveground plant material was lowest in F-W-W, highest in Cont W, and intermediate for other rotations. Although the economic and soil quality assessments have yet to be completed, a preliminary conclusion based on crop production characteristics alone suggests that a flexible cropping system in which available soil water in spring is used as the determining criterion is superior to a fixed F-W-W or F-W-W-W rotation. Key words: Yield, N concentration, N yield, water deficit, wheat classes, regressions

show abstract

“…Campbell et al (1984) reported that NO3-N content between the 90-and 240-cm soil depths was higher in a wheat-fallow rotation than under continuous wheat. In the current study, after winter wheat production, NO3-N was concentrated in the upper 30 cm of the soil profile, with relatively low levels of NO3-N in the 60-120 cm depth of the soil.…”

Section: Grant and Lafond _ Tillage And Botation Effects On So't Chemmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Therefore, the potential for deep movement of NO3-N and the associated risk of movement below the rooting zone were reduced under a winter wheat cropping system, compared with a fallow system or non-fertilized field pea production. Based on results in the Brown soil zone, Campbell et al (1984) suggested that reduced NO3-N leaching could be expected under fall-seeded crops such as rye. In the more humid Black soil zone, similar reductions in NO3-N leaching may be expected under fall-seeded winter wheat, which may be produced successfully in this region using ZT management.…”

Section: Grant and Lafond _ Tillage And Botation Effects On So't Chemmentioning

confidence: 99%

The effects of tillage systems and crop rotations on soil chemical properties of a Black Chernozemic soil

Grant¹,

Lafond²

1994

Can. J. Soil. Sci.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The effects of zero (ZT), minimum (MT) and conventional tillage (CT) systems and three 4-yr crop rotations on soil total C and N, mineralizable N, NO3-N, P, K and SO4-S accumulation and distribution in the soil profile were determined after one 4-yr cycle of crop production on Black Chernozemic Indian Head heavy clay soil. The distributions of available P and K in the profile were not affected by tillage or rotation. Total C and N in the 0–5 cm depth was higher in the reduced tillage systems than in CT, but differences in the 5–10 cm and 10–15 cm depths were not significant. Nitrate concentration was higher in the 15–30 cm and 30–60 cm depths under CT than under reduced tillage. Inclusion of fallow increased accumulation of NO3-N in the deeper soil depths, while inclusion of winter wheat in the rotation reduced deep movement of NO3-N. Nitrate-nitrogen accumulation after field pea production was comparable to that after winter wheat, but a greater proportion of the NO3-N was present near the soil surface after winter wheat, reducing the potential for leaching below the rooting zone. Potential for movement of NO3-N below the rooting zone may be increased by fallow and decreased by production of winter wheat and by reduced tillage systems. Key words: Tillage, rotations, nitrate, sulphate

show abstract

Effect of Cropping, Summerfallow and Fertilizer Nitrogen on Nitrate-Nitrogen Lost by Leaching on a Brown Chernozemic Loam

Cited by 73 publications

References 9 publications

Regressions for Estimating Straw Yields and N and P Contents of Spring Wheat and N Mineralization in a Brown Loam Soil

Regressions for Estimating Straw Yields and N and P Contents of Spring Wheat and N Mineralization in a Brown Loam Soil

Cropping frequency, wheat classes and flexible rotations: Effects on production, nitrogen economy, and water use in a Brown Chernozem

The effects of tillage systems and crop rotations on soil chemical properties of a Black Chernozemic soil

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About