Movement of nitrogen in a sandy loam soil under a continuous maize-wheat cropping system

R. K. Setia; K. N. Sharma; V. K. Verma

doi:10.1556/AAgr.54.2006.4.10

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Acta Agronomica Hungarica

Volume/Issue:: Volume 54: Issue 4

Movement of nitrogen in a sandy loam soil under a continuous maize-wheat cropping system

Authors:

R. K. Setia

R. K. Setia Department of Soils, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab, India

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K. N. Sharma

K. N. Sharma Department of Soils, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab, India

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V. K. Verma

V. K. Verma Department of Soils, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab, India

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Pages:: 487–497

Online Publication Date:: 13 Dec 2006

Publication Date:: 01 Dec 2006

Article Category:: Research Article

DOI:: https://doi.org/10.1556/AAgr.54.2006.4.10

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Nitrogen (N) movement in the soil resulting from the long-term application of fertilizer N is an environmental concern when it reaches the groundwater. The distribution of N in the profile of an alkaline sandy loam soil (Typic Haplustept) and its relationship with N uptake by plants was studied after 22 years of continuous cultivation in an annual crop rotation involving maize (Zea mays L.) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Soil samples were collected to a depth of 1.2 m from the 0-0.15, 0.15-0.30, 0.30-0.45, 0.45-0.60, 0.60-0.90 and 0.90-1.20 m layers and analysed for alkaline KMnO₄-oxidisable N (available N) and mineral N (NH₄-N and NO₃-N). The continuous addition of increasing levels of N resulted in an increase in N content, whereas the combined application of N, P and K caused a decline in its availability. Mineral N (2 M KCl-extractable NH₄-N and NO₃-N) was the lowest in the N₁₂₀P₃₅K_33.2 treatment plot. The available N and NH₄-N decreased with increasing soil depth. However, variations in NO₃-N concentration due to differential rates of fertilizer application were observed only to a depth of 0.45 m. This effect was more pronounced in the N₁₈₀P_17.5K_33.2 plot. Regression equations were used to predict N uptake by wheat using the N status in different soil layers as independent variables. Multiple regression analysis indicated that the predictability of the relationship between N uptake and available N improved considerably when its status to a soil depth of 0.45 m was included. In the case of NH₄-N, a noticeable increase in the coefficient of determination (R²) occurred to a depth of 0.90 m. The R²value of NO₃-N with the N uptake by wheat was quite low in the top layers (to a depth of 0.30 m). However, an increase in the R²value was observed when lower depths (beyond 0.30 m) were included in the regression analysis, suggesting that the inclusion of subsoil N status is important to achieve better and profitable N supply systems in crop production.

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Acta Agronomica Hungarica

Print ISSN:: 0238-0161

Online ISSN:: 1588-2527

Acta Agronomica Hungarica
Language	English Russian German French
Size
Year of Foundation	1950
Publication Programme	ceased
Volumes per Year
Issues per Year
Founder	Magyar Tudományos Akadémia
Founder's Address	H-1051 Budapest, Hungary, Széchenyi István tér 9.
Publisher	Akadémiai Kiadó
Publisher's Address	H-1117 Budapest, Hungary 1516 Budapest, PO Box 245.
Responsible Publisher	Chief Executive Officer, Akadémiai Kiadó
ISSN	0238-0161 (Print)
ISSN	1588-2527 (Online)