<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Vegetable production may be the source of excessive residual nitrate that is prone to leaching to waters. To ascertain the risk of nitrate leaching in water collection area, the content of soil mineral nitrogen (Nmin = N-NO3− + N-NH4+) down to 120 cm depth was monitored in the years 2013–2016 on vegetable farms along lower Jizera river (in the Czech Republic). The risk of nitrate leaching below 30, 60, 90 and 120 cm during winter period was simulated with a simple model. The depths represent the limits of effective root depth and N depletion of groups of vegetables and field crops. The average autumn mineral nitrogen content in the fields, during experimental years, ranged from 101 kg to 134 kg N·ha−1 in the 0–120 cm soil layer, 85 to 92% of which was in the form of nitrate. The calculated leaching of nitrate from the topsoil (0–30 cm) and shallow subsoil (0–60 cm) ranged from 27 to 41%, and from 7 to 14% of autumn content, respectively. The risk of leaching below 60 cm and 90 cm was near to none during the experimental years due to the exceptionally low precipitation. High nitrate content in subsoil layers below 60 cm constitutes risk of leaching and water pollution due to shallow root systems of many vegetables and potatoes in seasons with normal weather and higher water percolation.</abstract>

Vegetable production may be the source of excessive residual nitrate that is prone to leaching to waters. To ascertain the risk of nitrate leaching in water collection area, the content of soil mineral nitrogen (Nmin = N-NO3− + N-NH4+) down to 120 cm depth was monitored in the years 2013–2016 on vegetable farms along lower Jizera river (in the Czech Republic). The risk of nitrate leaching below 30, 60, 90 and 120 cm during winter period was simulated with a simple model. The depths represent the limits of effective root depth and N depletion of groups of vegetables and field crops. The average autumn mineral nitrogen content in the fields, during experimental years, ranged from 101 kg to 134 kg N·ha−1 in the 0–120 cm soil layer, 85 to 92% of which was in the form of nitrate. The calculated leaching of nitrate from the topsoil (0–30 cm) and shallow subsoil (0–60 cm) ranged from 27 to 41%, and from 7 to 14% of autumn content, respectively. The risk of leaching below 60 cm and 90 cm was near to none during the experimental years due to the exceptionally low precipitation. High nitrate content in subsoil layers below 60 cm constitutes risk of leaching and water pollution due to shallow root systems of many vegetables and potatoes in seasons with normal weather and higher water percolation.

Distribution of Mineral Nitrogen in Soil in Relation to Risk of Nitrate Leaching in Farms with Irrigated Vegetables and Early Potatoes

Journal of Horticultural Research

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Vegetable production may be the source of excessive residual nitrate that is prone to leaching to waters. To ascertain the risk of nitrate leaching in water...

Distribution of Mineral Nitrogen in Soil in Relation to Risk of Nitrate Leaching in Farms with Irrigated Vegetables and Early Potatoes

Published Online: Dec 31, 2018

Page range: 47 - 54

Received: Mar 01, 2018

Accepted: Feb 01, 2019

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/johr-2018-0015

Keywords
losses, nitrogen depletion, root depth, soil water capacity, subsoil

© 2019 Jan Haberle et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Distribution of Mineral Nitrogen in Soil in Relation to Risk of Nitrate Leaching in Farms with Irrigated Vegetables and Early Potatoes

Published Online: Dec 31, 2018

Page range: 47 - 54

Received: Mar 01, 2018

Accepted: Feb 01, 2019

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/johr-2018-0015

Keywordslosses, nitrogen depletion, root depth, soil water capacity, subsoil

© 2019 Jan Haberle et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Keywords
losses, nitrogen depletion, root depth, soil water capacity, subsoil