Best management practices for minimizing nitrate leaching from container-grown nurseries.

Area of Science:

• Horticulture
• Environmental Science
• Agricultural Science

Background:

• Containerized plant production uses intensive agricultural practices with high fertilizer application rates.
• Current fertilizer rates exceed plant needs, leading to significant nutrient runoff and leaching.
• Nitrogen (N) is a primary nutrient of concern due to its abundance in runoff and potential for water pollution.

Purpose of the Study:

• To discuss current nitrogen fertilizer application rates in container-grown ornamental plants.
• To quantify nitrate leaching and runoff from containers.
• To assess the potential for nitrate contamination of ground and surface water.

Main Methods:

• Review of current nitrogen fertilizer application rates and their environmental impact.
• Analysis of nutrient runoff and leaching from containerized plant production systems.
• Evaluation of best nitrogen management practices for reducing environmental contamination.

Main Results:

• Recommended fertilizer rates often exceed plant requirements, causing substantial nutrient loss.
• Nitrogen is the most prevalent nutrient lost through runoff and leaching.
• Potential for significant nitrate contamination of water resources exists.

Conclusions:

• Optimizing nitrogen management is crucial for sustainable containerized plant production.
• Best practices include species-specific fertilization, improved potting media, controlled-release fertilizers, and advanced irrigation systems.
• Implementing these strategies can drastically reduce nitrate leaching and runoff, mitigating water pollution.