Nitrogen Management Strategies to Reduce Nitrate Leaching in Tile‐Drained Midwestern Soils
Abstract
Balancing the amount of N needed for optimum plant growth while minimizing the NO3 that is transported to ground and surface waters remains a major challenge for everyone attempting to understand and improve agricultural nutrient use efficiency. Our objectives for this review are to examine how changes in agricultural management practices during the past century have affected N in midwestern soils and to identify the types of research and management practices needed to reduce the potential for nonpoint NO3 leakage into water resources. Inherent soil characteristics and management practices contributing to nonpoint NO3 loss from midwestern soils, the impact of NO3 loading on surface water quality, improved N management strategies, and research needs are discussed. Artificial drainage systems can have a significant impact on water quality because they behave like shallow, direct conduits to surface waters. Nonpoint loss of NO3 from fields to water resources, however, is not caused by any single factor. Rather, it is caused by a combination of factors, including tillage, drainage, crop selection, soil organic matter levels, hydrology, and temperature and precipitation patterns. Strategies for reducing NO3 loss through drainage include improved timing of N application at appropriate rates, using soil tests and plant monitoring, diversifying crop rotations, using cover crops, reducing tillage, optimizing N application techniques, and using nitrification inhibitors. Nitrate can als…
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Water table management is only economically feasible on fields that have a 1% slope or less.
“Water table management is only economically feasible on fields that have a 1% slope or less (Dinnes et al., 2002).”
From Long-term nitrate removal in a denitrification wall (2011) · cites this paper as Dinnes et al., 2002
Drainage systems are typically shallow, direct pipelines to surface waters, discharging high nutrient water directly to streams and downstream ecosystems.
“Drainage systems are typically shallow, direct pipelines to surface waters, discharging high nutrient water directly to streams and downstream ecosystems (Dinnes et al., 2002).”
From Long-term nitrate removal in a denitrification wall (2011) · cites this paper as Dinnes et al., 2002
The rate and time of N fertilizer application are critical components of N fertilizer management.
“The rate and time of N fertilizer application are critical components of N fertilizer management (Dinnes et al. 2002) and followed standard recommendations in this study.”
From LIFE-CYCLE ASSESSMENT OF NET GREENHOUSE-GAS FLUX FOR BIOENERGY CROPPING SYSTEMS (2007) · cites this paper as Dinnes et al. 2002
Soil NO3 concentrations tend to be higher under conventional tillage but the volume of water flowing through the soil tends to be higher under no-till, leading to variable results on the effect of tillage on NO3 leaching.
“Soil NO3 concentrations tend to be higher under conventional tillage but the volume of water flowing through the soil tends to be higher under no-till, leading to variable results on the effect of tillage on NO3 leaching (Dinnes et al. 2002).”
From LIFE-CYCLE ASSESSMENT OF NET GREENHOUSE-GAS FLUX FOR BIOENERGY CROPPING SYSTEMS (2007) · cites this paper as Dinnes et al. 2002
Cites
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Denitrification across landscapes and waterscapes: a synthesis
Seitzinger, S., Harrison, J. A., Böhlke, J. K., Bouwman, A. F., Lowrance, R., Peterson, B., Tobias, C., & Drecht, G. V. (2006) · Ecological Applications · doi:10.1890/1051-0761(2006)016[2064:dalawa]2.0.co;2 · Cited by 1,679 · see citing works
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Fageria, N. K., & Baligar, V. C. (2005) · Advances in Agronomy · doi:10.1016/s0065-2113(05)88004-6 · Cited by 1,436 · see citing works
Biochar impact on nutrient leaching from a Midwestern agricultural soil
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Self-citationLIFE-CYCLE ASSESSMENT OF NET GREENHOUSE-GAS FLUX FOR BIOENERGY CROPPING SYSTEMS
Adler, P. R., Grosso, S. J. D., & Parton, W. J. (2007) · Ecological Applications · doi:10.1890/05-2018 · Cited by 652 · see citing works
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Self-citationConservation agriculture as a sustainable system for soil health: a review
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Self-citationJaynes, D. B., Kaspar, T. C., Moorman, T. B., & Parkin, T. B. (2008) · Journal of Environmental Quality · doi:10.2134/jeq2007.0279 · Cited by 137 · see citing works
Self-citationTechnical Note: Hydraulic Property Determination of Denitrifying Bioreactor Fill Media
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Long-term nitrate removal in a denitrification wall
Long, L. M., Schipper, L. A., & Bruesewitz, D. A. (2011) · Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment · doi:10.1016/j.agee.2011.02.005 · Cited by 66 · see citing works
- Authors
- Dinnes, D. L., Karlen, D. L., Jaynes, D. B., Kaspar, T. C., Hatfield, J. L., Colvin, T. S., & Cambardella, C. A.
- Affiliations
- Agricultural Research Service (US)
- Corresponding author
- Dinnes, Dana L.
- Venue
- Agronomy Journal
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2002-01
- Volume
- 94
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 153-171
- ISSN
- 0002-1962 (ISSN-L)
- 1435-0645
- OpenAlex
- W2023720317
- Cited by
- 1,010
- References
- 1
- Citations by year
- 2026: 16 · 2025: 32 · 2024: 28 · 2023: 40 · 2022: 35 · 2021: 55 · 2020: 61 · 2019: 61 · 2018: 64 · 2017: 59 · 2016: 50 · 2015: 46 · 2014: 52 · 2013: 61 · 2012: 46
- FWCI
- 17.57
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Agronomy Journal (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Environmental Chemistry › Soil and Water Nutrient Dynamics
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Soil Science › Soil Management and Crop Yield
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Soil Science › Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics
- Keywords
- nitrogen management, nitrate leaching, tile drainage, non-point source pollution, surface water quality, nitrogen application timing, soil analysis, crop rotation diversification, cover crops, reduced tillage, nitrification inhibitors, constructed wetlands, biofilter
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