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Phosphorus and nitrogen leaching before and after tillage and urea application
Journal of Environmental Quality
|May 30, 2015
Summary
Tillage had mixed results in reducing nutrient leaching from agricultural soils. While it altered water flow, phosphorus (P) leaching remained unaffected, but nitrogen (N) losses were reduced in some soils.
Area of Science:
- Agricultural Science
- Soil Science
- Environmental Science
Background:
- Nutrient leaching from agricultural soils is a major water quality issue on the Atlantic Coastal Plain.
- Previous no-till management characterized the soils of the Delmarva Peninsula studied.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess how tillage and urea application impact phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) leaching.
- To determine if tillage can mitigate nutrient loss by altering water flow pathways.
Main Methods:
- Intact soil columns were subjected to simulated tillage (0-20 cm) after an initial irrigation period.
- Urea was applied, followed by an 8-week irrigation period to measure leachate.
- Leachate was analyzed for P and N, comparing tilled and untilled soil columns.
Main Results:
- Tillage altered water flow fractions, impeding macropore flow in finer-textured soils.
- Despite P stratification, tillage did not significantly reduce P leaching losses, possibly due to subsoil P sources.
- Tillage reduced applied urea losses in leachate from two of three soils studied.
Conclusions:
- Tillage's effectiveness in reducing nutrient leaching is soil-dependent and may be limited by existing soil nutrient levels.
- Altering macropore flow with tillage shows potential but did not universally prevent P or N leaching.
- Further research is needed to optimize tillage practices for nutrient management and water quality protection.
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