Fertilization and Catch Crop Strategies for Improving Tomato Production in North China

• Published in: Pedosphere Vol. 25; no. 3; pp. 364 - 371
• Main Authors: YUAN, Hui-Min, BLACKWELL, Martin, RAHN, Clive, CHEN, Qing
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.06.2015; College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University, 2 Yuanmingyuan West Road, Beijing 100193 China%Rothamsted Research, North Wyke, Okehampton EX20 2SB UK%Warwick Crop Centre, School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Warwick CV35 9EF UK
• Subjects: Lycopersicon esculentum; maize; nutrient surplus; nutrient uptake; reduced fertilization; soil mineral N; soil nutrient balance; Zea mays; 中国北方; 作物生产; 土壤养分平衡; 常规施肥; 捕获; 果实产量; 水体富营养化; 番茄; China, People's Rep; nutrient surplus; soil nutrient balance; reduced fertilization; maize; soil mineral N; nutrient uptake
• ISSN: 1002-0160; 2210-5107
• DOI: 10.1016/s1002-0160(15)30004-7

Overuse of fertilizers and the resultant pollution and eutrophication of surface and groundwater is a growing issue in China. Consequently, improved management strategies are needed to optimize crop production with reduced nutrient inputs. Conventional fertilization （CF）, reduced fertilization （RF）, and reduced fertilization with maize （Zea mays L.） as a summer catch crop （RF＋C） treatments were evaluated in 2008 and 2009 by quantifying tomato （Lycopersieon esculentum） fruit yield and soil nutrient balance in a greenhouse tomato double-cropping system. Fertilizer nitrogen （N） application was reduced by 37% in the RF and RF＋C treatments compared to the CF treatment with no significant reduction in fruit yield. Mean soil mineral N （Nmin） content to a depth of 180 cm following tomato and maize harvest was lower in the RF and RF＋C treatments than in the CF treatment. Residual soil Nmin content was reduced by 21% and 55% in the RF and RF＋C treatments, respectively, compared to the CF treatment. Surplus phosphorus （P） and potassium （K） contents in the RFWC treatment were significantly lower than those in the RF treatment, mainly due to additional P and K uptake by the catch crop. We concluded that for intensive greenhouse production systems, the RF and RF＋C treatments could maintain tomato fruit yield, reduce the potential for nitrate （NO3^--N） leaching, and with a catch crop, provide additional benefits through increased biomass production.