Wet deposition N and its runoff flow during wheat seasons in the Tai Lake Region, China

• Published in: Agriculture, ecosystems & environment Vol. 141; no. 1; pp. 224 - 229
• Main Authors: Tian, Yuhua, Yang, Linzhang, Yin, Bin, Zhu, Zhaoliang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier B.V 01.04.2011; Elsevier
• Subjects: agricultural land; Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Biological and medical sciences; crop production; Deposition; Ecosystems; environmental hazards; Fertilizers; 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; Lakes; NH 4+–N; nitrogen content; nitrogen fertilizers; NO 3––N; rain; Rainfall; Runoff; Runoff flow; Seasons; temporal variation; Triticum aestivum; Wet deposition; Wheat; winter wheat; Asia; China; China, People's Rep; Runoff flow; NH 4 +–N; Wet deposition; NO 3 ––N; NO; Monocotyledones; Ammonium; Ecology; Nitrates; Runoff water; N; Triticum; Gramineae; Angiospermae; Lakes; Spermatophyta; NH
• ISSN: 0167-8809; 1873-2305
• DOI: 10.1016/j.agee.2011.02.012

► During wheat seasons wet deposition N ranges from 11 to 15 kg ha −1 (average, 13 kg ha −1), 61% of which is in the form of NH 4 +–N. ► NH 4 +–N in wet deposition is prone to immobilization by the soil–crop system, whereas NO 3 −–N is relatively easily lost to runoff. ► N loss through runoff accounts for 14% of wet deposition N. ► The contribution of wet deposition N should be adjusted in fertilizer recommendations for winter wheat cultivation. Interest in the study of wet deposition N continues to grow for its impact on terrestrial ecosystems. Assessing the contribution of wet deposition N to intensive croplands is significant for recommending N fertilizers and minimizing environmental hazards. NH 4 +–N, NO 3 −–N, and total N concentrations in wet deposition, seasonal deposition N fluxes, and N loads in event-based runoff were determined for four consecutive wheat seasons in the Tai Lake Region. Wet deposition N during wheat seasons ranges from 11 to 15 kg ha −1 (average, 13 kg ha −1), 61% of which is in the form of NH 4 +–N. NH 4 +–N concentrations range from 0.3 to 8.5 mg N L −1 (average, 1.7 mg N L −1), showing greater temporal variations than do those of NO 3 ––N, which range from 0.2 to 4 mg N L −1 (average, 0.8 mg N L −1). NH 4 +–N concentration in event-based runoff from wheat fields is much lower than that in rainfall, whereas that of NO 3 ––N is equal to or higher than that in rainfall. N loss through runoff reaches 1.8 kg N ha −1, accounting for 14% of wet deposition N. Results indicate that NH 4 +–N in wet deposition is prone to immobilization by the soil–crop system, whereas NO 3 ––N is relatively easily lost to runoff. The contribution of 11 kg ha −1 wet deposition N should be adjusted in fertilizer N recommendations for winter wheat cultivation in this region.