Nitrogen loss by surface runoff from different cropping systems
2012
Jiao, P. | Xu, D. | Wang, S. | Wang, Y. | Liu, K. | Tang, G.
Reducing nitrogen (N) loss from agricultural soils as surface runoff is essential to prevent surface water contamination. The objective of 3-year study, 2007–09, was to evaluate surface runoff and N loss from different cropping systems. There were four treatments, including one single-crop cropping system with winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) followed by summer fallow (wheat/fallow), and three double-cropping systems: winter wheat/corn (Zea mays L.), wheat/cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.), and wheat/soybean (Glycine max L. Merrill). The wheat/fallow received no fertiliser in the summer fallow period. The four cropping systems were randomly assigned to 12 plots of 5m by 2m on a silty clay soil. Lower runoff was found in the three double-cropping systems than the wheat/fallow, with the lowest runoff from the wheat/soybean. The three double-cropping systems also substantially reduced losses of ammonium-N (NH4+-N), nitrate-N (NO3--N), dissolved N (DN), and total N (TN) compared with the wheat/fallow. Among the three double-cropping systems, the highest losses of NO3--N, DN, and TN were from the wheat/cotton, and the lowest losses were from the wheat/soybean. However, the wheat/soybean increased NO3--N and DN concentrations compared with wheat/fallow. The losses in peak events accounted for >64% for NH4+-N, 58% for NO3--N, and 41% for DN of the total losses occurring during the 3-year experimental period, suggesting that peak N-loss events should be focussed on for the control of N loss as surface runoff from agricultural fields.
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