Seasonal and crop rotational effects of manure management on nitrate–nitrogen leaching in Nova Scotia

• Published in: Agriculture, ecosystems & environment Vol. 137; no. 3; pp. 267 - 275
• Main Authors: Fuller, K.D., Gordon, R., Grimmett, M., Fillmore, S., Madani, A., VanRoestel, J., Stratton, G.W., MacLeod, J., Embree, C., George, E. St
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier B.V 15.05.2010; Elsevier
• Subjects: Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Animal productions; Biological and medical sciences; Crop rotations; Cropping systems. Cultivation. Soil tillage; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General agroecology; General agroecology. Agricultural and farming systems. Agricultural development. Rural area planning. Landscaping; General agronomy. Plant production; Generalities. Agricultural and farming systems. Agricultural development; Glycine max; Liquid dairy manure; Nitrate concentrations; Nitrate leaching; Nitrate loads; Soil tillage; Terrestrial animal productions; Tile drainage; Tillage practices; Tillage. Tending. Growth control; Triticum aestivum; Vertebrates; Zea mays; Canada; Nova Scotia; North America; America; Canada, Nova Scotia; Nitrate leaching; Tile drainage; Nitrate concentrations; D; CSW; MT; Liquid dairy manure; NO 3–N; Nitrate loads; P; CT; Tillage practices; LDM; Crop rotations; PF; ZT; Farming animal; Underground leaching; Soil tillage; Dairy cattle; Subsurface drainage; Animal slurry; Ecology; Nitrates; Nitrogen; Leaching; Waste management; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Seasonal variation; Crop rotation; Artiodactyla; Ungulata
• ISSN: 0167-8809; 1873-2305
• DOI: 10.1016/j.agee.2010.02.012

High nitrate–nitrogen (NO 3–N) concentrations and loads in tile drainage waters in response to crop fertility and other land management practices are a major cause of concern to the health of humans, animals and the environment. The study, conducted at Kentville, Nova Scotia (NS), examined the effect of renovating fallowed land with the introduction of either manure amended permanent forage (PF) or manure amended corn ( Zea mays L.) – soybean ( Glycine max L.) – wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) Corn–soybean–wheat (CSW) rotations on growing season (GS) and non-growing season (NGS) nitrate (NO 3–N) concentrations and loads of tile drainage water. Treatments included (i) PF rotation established with conventional tillage (CT) practices; (ii) CSW-CT rotation; (iii) minimum tillage in a CSW rotation (CSW-MT) and (iv) zero tillage in a CSW rotation (CSW-ZT). NGS drainage was significantly higher and flow-weighted NO 3–N concentrations significantly lower in all years when compared with GS. There were no consistent differences observed in GS or NGS NO 3–N concentrations and loads between the three levels of tillage in the CSW rotation with loads ranging between 7.1 and 28.2 kg N L −1 and 18.7 and 77.0 kg N L −1 for GS and NGS, respectively. PF rotation was significantly more efficient in N utilization when compared with a CSW rotation, resulting in significantly lower loads. Decreasing nitrate loads over time appeared to be related to increasing evapo-transpiration and N uptake as the forage matured. Although differences in the amount of N removed by corn, soybean and spring wheat in the CSW rotation were observed, these were not significant in determining the magnitude of NO 3–N loads. The correlation between LDM application and NO 3–N losses in tile water under this rotation in a particular season proved difficult to define. The study showed that the biological response time of the manured, soil system for NO 3–N loading is longer than one seasonal cycle and demonstrates the need to evaluate the long-term impacts of these rotations.