Onion Irrigation and Nitrogen Leaching in the Arkansas Valley of Colorado 1990-1991

Ells, James E.; McSay, Ann E.; Soltanpour, P. N.; Schweissing, Frank; Bartolo, Michael E.; Kruse, E. Gordon

doi:10.21273/horttech.3.2.184

Cited by 24 publications

(21 citation statements)

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“…Based on this 1‐yr result, the authors would not recommend this level of N fertilization with the high level of soil NO 3 –N present at onion seeding. Other studies have shown that no response to N fertilization would be expected with the high level of soil NO 3 –N present at seeding in this study (Ells et al, 1993). Assuming that the entire increased fresh weight with N application was marketable onion, the estimated value of the increased onion yield with N application in 1998 was about $3325 ha −1 based on a 5‐yr average value of onion in Colorado (Colorado Agricultural Statistics Service, 2000).…”

Section: Resultscontrasting

confidence: 71%

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Nitrogen Fertilizer Use Efficiency of Furrow‐Irrigated Onion and Corn

Halvorson¹,

Follett²,

Bartolo

et al. 2002

Agronomy Journal

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Furrow‐irrigated onion (Allium cepa L.) production, with high N fertilization rates, may be contributing NO3–N to ground water in southeastern Colorado. This study determined the growth and N uptake patterns of onion grown on a silty clay soil, N fertilizer use efficiency (NFUE) of onion, and recovery of residual N fertilizer by corn (Zea mays L.) following onion in rotation. Onion was sampled biweekly from 18 May to 15 Sept. 1998 from plots receiving 0 and 224 kg N ha−1. Nonlabeled N and labeled 15N fertilizer were band‐applied near the onion row in split applications of 112 kg N ha−1 each on 18 May and 25 June. Onion dry matter accumulation was slow from planting to about late May, followed by a rapid increase in biomass production and N uptake. Because residual soil NO3–N was high, N fertilization resulted in only a small increase in bulb yield. Greatest demand for N by onion occurred during bulb development. Fertilizer N recovery by onion was 11 and 19% for May and June N applications (average 15%), respectively. Much of the fertilizer N remained in the upper 60‐cm soil profile at harvest and had moved toward the onion bed center. Fertilizer 15N detected at 180‐cm soil depth indicated leaching losses from the root zone. The unfertilized 1999 corn crop recovered 24% of fertilizer N applied to onion for a total fertilizer N uptake by the two crops of 39%. Delaying N fertilizer application until onion bulbing begins may improve NFUE. Planting corn directly on the previous onion bed may result in greater N fertilizer recovery by corn.

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Section: Resultscontrasting

confidence: 71%

“…Onion is produced in this area with high N fertilizer rates (100–300 kg N ha −1 ) applied by growers to optimize yields without regard for soil test NO 3 –N levels (Bartolo et al, 1995, 1997). Ells et al (1993) reported no response of onion to N fertilization in southeastern Colorado and found that N was lost from the root zone with furrow irrigation.…”

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confidence: 99%

Nitrogen Fertilizer Use Efficiency of Furrow‐Irrigated Onion and Corn

Halvorson¹,

Follett²,

Bartolo

et al. 2002

Agronomy Journal

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“…Onion has a shallow rooting depth (<60 cm) and requires frequent irrigation to maintain market grade and quality (Schwartz and Bartolo, 1995). High N fertilization rates, shallow water tables, and frequent irrigation to establish and maintain an onion crop all contribute to a high NO 3 –N leaching potential (Ells et al, 1993).…”

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confidence: 99%

Nitrogen Effects on Onion Yield Under Drip and Furrow Irrigation

et al. 2008

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Onion (Allium cepa L.) is a high cash value crop with a very shallow root system that is frequently irrigated and fertilized with high N rates to maximize yield. Converting from furrow-irrigated to drip-irrigated onion production may reduce N fertilizer needs, water inputs, and NO 3 -N leaching potential. Onion growth and N uptake, fresh yield, and residual soil NO 3 -N were determined under drip and furrow irrigation on a clay loam soil with N fertilizer rates from 0 to 224 kg N ha -1 . Onions were sampled bi-weekly from 25 May to 30 August in 2005 and 2006 from each treatment. In 2005, 72% less water was applied with the drip system compared with furrow system, and 57% less in 2006. Onion yields were signifi cantly greater with the drip system. Total marketable fresh onion yield increased with increasing N rate in 2005 only. Th e drip system had more colossal and jumbo sized onions and less medium sized onions than the furrow system. Biomass production and N accumulation accelerated in mid-June each year with an average total N accumulation (leaves + bulbs) of 121 kg N ha -1 at fi nal harvest. Irrigation water use effi ciency (IWUE) and N use effi ciency (NUE) were higher with the drip system than with the furrow system. Residual soil NO 3 -N levels were greater in the drip-irrigated treatments aft er onion harvest in 2005 than in the furrow-irrigated treatments, but soil NO 3 -N levels were similar aft er harvest in 2006. Adjusted gross economic returns (less the cost of N, water, and drip system) were greater with drip irrigation than with furrow irrigation. Th is study demonstrates that fresh onion yields, potential economic returns, IWUE, and NUE can be improved in Colorado by using drip irrigation for onion production rather than furrow irrigation.

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“…japonica) followed by onion and receiving furrow irrigation. Excess applications of chemical fertilizers, furrow irrigation, and rotation with paddy rice can cause environmental concerns, such N and P leaching or runoff (Ells et al, 1993;Halvorson et al, 2008;Hayshi and Hatano, 1999). Overfertilization by onion farmers has been mainly due to poor onion root development, characterized by short, unbranched lateral roots, affecting lateral spread and degree of branching (Weaver and Bruner, 1927).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Nutrient uptake is directly affected by available nutrients in soil. Ells et al (1993) concluded that when >42 mg·kg −1 of NO 3 -N was initially present in the top 33 cm of soil and up to 1120 mm of irrigation water was applied, bulb yields higher than 50 Mt·ha −1 could be obtained without N fertilizer. J. T.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Excessive Fertilization is Detrimental to Yield and Quality for Onion Grown on High Organic Matter Content Paddy Soils

Song

Lee

2012

International Journal of Vegetable Science

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Excess chemical fertilizer applications in historical onion (Allium cepa L.) cultivation areas in Korea may be detrimental to onion yield and quality. A field study was performed to evaluate the effects of chemical fertilizer rates and split applications on intermediate-day onion growth, yield, storage quality, and soil chemical properties in plants established in a paddy soil with high organic matter (OM) content. Rates of chemical fertilization, based on a soil test recommendation (192-13-213 kg·ha −1 N-P-K), and twice the recommended rate were applied and compared to a control treatment not receiving fertilizer. Treatments with twice the recommended rate were applied in three, four, or five splits. Preplant soil contained 46.3 g·kg −1 OM, 728 mg·kg −1 available phosphorus, and 17.3 mg·kg −1 nitrate nitrogen. The highest marketable yield, 58.1 Mt·ha −1 , was achieved at the recommended rate, 7.3%-20.0% more than the double rates and the control. Increased fertilizer beyond the recommended rates and delayed split application times had no positive effect on onion growth or yield but increased culls and accumulated soil electric conductivity, OM, exchangeable K, and NO 3 -N content in soil at harvest. Soil NO 3 -N contents ranged from 110 to 316 mg·kg −1 for split applications at the double rates. The control yielded 40.8 Mt·ha −1 , which was 70.2% of the highest yield. Storage quality was not affected due to treatment, although there were slight increases in bulb rot and physiological disorders at the double rate. Fertilizer applied at higher than the recommended rate for onion is not beneficial.

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Onion Irrigation and Nitrogen Leaching in the Arkansas Valley of Colorado 1990-1991

Cited by 24 publications

References 1 publication

Nitrogen Fertilizer Use Efficiency of Furrow‐Irrigated Onion and Corn

Nitrogen Fertilizer Use Efficiency of Furrow‐Irrigated Onion and Corn

Nitrogen Effects on Onion Yield Under Drip and Furrow Irrigation

Excessive Fertilization is Detrimental to Yield and Quality for Onion Grown on High Organic Matter Content Paddy Soils

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