Evaluation of different agronomic strategies to reduce nitrate leaching after winter oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) using a simulation model.
Abstract
Winter oilseed rape (OSR) demands high levels of N fertilizer, often exceeding 200 kg N ha⁻¹. Large amounts of residual soil mineral nitrogen (SMN) after harvest are regularly observed, and therefore N leaching during the percolation period over winter is increased. In this study agronomic strategies (fertilization level, crop rotation, tillage intensity) to control nitrate leaching after OSR were investigated by combining field measurements (soil mineral nitrogen, soil water content, crop N uptake) of a 2-year trial and another 5-year field trial with simulation modeling. The crop-soil model uses a daily time step and was built from existing and partly refined submodels for soil water dynamics, mineralization processes, and N uptake. It was used to reproduce the complex processes of the N dynamics and to calculate N concentration in the leachate and total volume of percolation water. Some parameters values were thereby newly identified based on the agreement between measured data and model results. Although SMN in the 60-90 cm layer was overestimated, the model could reproduce the measured data with an acceptable degree of accuracy. Overfertilization of OSR increased N leaching and therefore the precise calculation of N fertilizer doses is a first step towards prevent N leaching. Compared to ploughing, minimum tillage decreased N leaching when winter wheat was grown as the subsequent crop. Volunteer OSR and Phacelia tanacetifolia were grown as catch crops after OSR harvest. N leaching could be decreased especially when Phacelia was grown, but nitrate concentrations in the drainage water were higher and exceeded the European Union (EU) threshold for drinking water when volunteer OSR was grown. The results of this study provide strong evidence that reduced tillage or growing of noncruciferous catch crops decrease N leaching and may be used as an agricultural measure to prevent N pollution.
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Soil mineral N content after oilseed rape harvest sometimes exceeds 100 kg N ha-1.
“In contrast, soil mineral N content after oilseed rape harvest sometimes exceeds 100 kg N ha-1 (Henke et al., 2008).”
From Potential of Wheat Straw, Spruce Sawdust, and Lignin as High Organic Carbon Soil Amendments to Improve Agricultural Nitrogen Retention Capacity: An Incubation Study (2018) · cites this paper as Henke et al., 2008
Winter wheat N uptake (30 kg N ha-1) is rather low during the winter season, but might be large enough to buffer the release of approximately 27 kg N ha-1 from the wheat straw-derived microbial biomass during 4 months and under conditions optimal for microbial activity.
“In contrast, winter wheat N uptake (30 kg N ha-1) is rather low during the winter season (Henke et al., 2008), but might be large enough to buffer the release of approximately 27 kg N ha-1 from the wheat straw-derived microbial biomass during 4 months and under conditions optimal for microbial activity.”
From Potential of Wheat Straw, Spruce Sawdust, and Lignin as High Organic Carbon Soil Amendments to Improve Agricultural Nitrogen Retention Capacity: An Incubation Study (2018) · cites this paper as Henke et al., 2008
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References 33 · Cited by 48
- Authors
- Henke, J., Böttcher, U., Neukam, D., Sieling, K., & Kage, H.
- Affiliations
- Syngenta (Switzerland) (CH)
- Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel (DE)
- Corresponding author
- Kage, H.
- Venue
- Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems
- Published
- 2008-08-20
- Volume
- 82
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 299-314
- ISSN
- 1385-1314 (ISSN-L)
- 1573-0867
- OpenAlex
- W1989271131
- Cited by
- 48
- References
- 33
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 1 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 3 · 2015: 6 · 2014: 2 · 2013: 3
- FWCI
- 1.69
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
- Locations
- Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Environmental Chemistry › Soil and Water Nutrient Dynamics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Nitrogen and Sulfur Effects on Brassica
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Soil Science › Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics
- Keywords
- nitrate leaching, winter oilseed rape, Brassica napus, soil mineral nitrogen, crop rotation, tillage intensity, reduced tillage, catch crops, Phacelia tanacetifolia, volunteer crops, nitrogen fertilization, winter wheat, drainage water, nitrate contamination, nitrogen dynamics
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