Please wait a minute...
Journal of Integrative Agriculture  2012, Vol. 12 Issue (9): 1555-1565    DOI: 10.1016/S1671-2927(00)8688
SOIL & FERTILIZER · AGRI-ECOLOGY & ENVIRONMENT Advanced Online Publication | Current Issue | Archive | Adv Search |
Nitrate Leaching from Maize Intercropping Systems with N Fertilizer Over-Dose
 NIE  Sheng-wei, A  Egrinya Eneji, CHEN  Yuan-quan, SUI  Peng, HUANG  Jian-xiong,   HUANG Shao-min
1.Research Center of Circular Agriculture, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, P.R.China
2.Key Field Scientific Observation Station of Zhengzhou Fluvo-Aquic Soils Ecology Environment, Ministry of Agriculture/Institute of Plant Nutrition, Resources and Environment, Henan Academy of Agricultural Science, Zhengzhou 450002, P.R.China
3.Soil Science Research Center, University of Calabar, PMB 1115, Nigeria
Download:  PDF in ScienceDirect  
Export:  BibTeX | EndNote (RIS)      
摘要  A 2-yr field experiment was conducted on a calcareous alluvial soil with four summer maize intercropping systems at Shangzhuang Experiment Station (116.3°E, 39.9°N) in the North China Plain. The objective was to determine nitrate leaching from intercropping systems involving maize (Zea mays L.): sole maize (CK), maize + soybean (CST), maize + groundnut (CGT), maize+ ryegrass (CHM), and maize + alfalfa (CMX). Intercropping greatly reduced nitrate accumulation in the 100-200 cm soil layers compared with maize monoculture. Nitrate accumulation under intercropping systems decreased significantly at the 140-200 cm soil depth; the accumulation varied in the order CK>CST>CMX>CHM>CGT. However, compared to the CK treatment, nitrate leaching losses during the maize growing period were reduced by 20.9- 174.8 (CGT), 35.2-130.8 (CHM), 60.4-122.0 (CMX), and 30.6-82.4 kg ha-1 (CST). The results also suggested that intercropping is an effective way to reduce nitrogen leaching in fields with N fertilizer over-dose.

Abstract  A 2-yr field experiment was conducted on a calcareous alluvial soil with four summer maize intercropping systems at Shangzhuang Experiment Station (116.3°E, 39.9°N) in the North China Plain. The objective was to determine nitrate leaching from intercropping systems involving maize (Zea mays L.): sole maize (CK), maize + soybean (CST), maize + groundnut (CGT), maize+ ryegrass (CHM), and maize + alfalfa (CMX). Intercropping greatly reduced nitrate accumulation in the 100-200 cm soil layers compared with maize monoculture. Nitrate accumulation under intercropping systems decreased significantly at the 140-200 cm soil depth; the accumulation varied in the order CK>CST>CMX>CHM>CGT. However, compared to the CK treatment, nitrate leaching losses during the maize growing period were reduced by 20.9- 174.8 (CGT), 35.2-130.8 (CHM), 60.4-122.0 (CMX), and 30.6-82.4 kg ha-1 (CST). The results also suggested that intercropping is an effective way to reduce nitrogen leaching in fields with N fertilizer over-dose.
Keywords:  NO3-N leaching      maize      intercropping      over-dose Received  
Received: 11 August 2011   Accepted:
Fund: 

This study was funded by the Key Technologies R&D Program of China during the 11th Five-Year Plan period (2007BAD89B01), the Key Technologies R&D Program of China during the 12th Five-Year Plan period (2011BAD16B15) and the Project of Collaboration between Henan Province and Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences Program (102106000034).

Corresponding Authors:  Correspondence SUI Peng, Tel/Fax: +86-10-62731163, E-mail: suipengye@cau.edu.cn   
About author:  NIE Sheng-wei, E-mail: nsw2007@cau.edu.cn; A Egrinya Eneji, E-mail: aeeneji@yahoo.co.uk; CHEN Yuan-quan, E-mail: rardc@163.com

Cite this article: 

NIE Sheng-wei, A Egrinya Eneji, CHEN Yuan-quan, SUI Peng, HUANG Jian-xiong, HUANG Shao-min. 2012. Nitrate Leaching from Maize Intercropping Systems with N Fertilizer Over-Dose. Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 12(9): 1555-1565.

[1]Allaire-leung S E, Wu L, Mitchell J P, Sanden B L. 2002. Nitrate leaching and soil nitrate content as affected by irrigation uniformity in a carrot field. Agricultural Water Management, 48, 37-50.

[2]Angle J S, Gross C M, McIntosh M S. 1989. Nitrate concentrations in percolate and groundwater under conventional and no-till zeamays watersheds. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment, 25, 279-286.

[3]Asadi M E, Clemente R S, Gupta A D, Loof R, Hansen G K. 2002. Impacts of fertigation via sprinkler irrigation on nitrate leaching and corn yield in an acid-sulphate soil in Thailand. Agricultural Water Management, 52, 197-213.

[4]Basso B, Ritchie J T. 2005. Impact of compost, manure and inorganic fertilizer on nitrate leaching and yield for a 6-year maize-alfalfa rotation in Michigan. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment, 108, 329-341.

[5]Bremner J M. 1965. Inorganic forms of nitrogen. In: Black C A, Evans D D, White J L, Ensminger L E, Clark F E, eds., Methods of Soil Analysis, Part 2, Chemical and Microbiological Properties (Number 9 in the Series, Agronomy). American Society of Agronomy, Madison, Wisconsin, USA. pp. 1179-1237.

[6]Catt J A, Howse K R, Christian D G, Lane P W, Harris G L, Goss M J. 2000. Assessment of tillage strategies to decrease nitrate leaching in the brimstone farm experiment, oxfordshire, UK. Soil and Tillage Research, 53, 185-200.

[7]Delgado J A, Shaffer M J, Brodahl M K. 1998. New NLEAP for shallow and deep rooted rotations. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation, 53, 338-340.

[8]Delgado J A, Mosier A R. 1996. Mitigation alternatives to decrease nitrous oxides emissions and urea-nitrogen loss and their effect on methane flux. Journal of Environmental Quality, 25, 1105-1111.

[9]Delgado J A, Riggenbach R R, Sparks R T, Dillon M A, Kawanabe L M, Ristau R J. 2001. Evaluation of nitratenitrogen transport in a potato barley rotation. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 65, 878-883.

[10]Diez JA, Roman R, Cartagena M C, Vallejo A, Bustos A, Caballero R. 1994. Controlling nitrate pollution of aquifers by using different nitrogenous controlled release fertilizers in maize crop. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, 48, 49-56.

[11]Ferguson R B, Shapiro C A, Hergert G W, Kranz W L, Klocke N L, Krull D H. 1991. Nitrogen and irrigation management practices to minimize nitrate leaching from irrigated corn. Journal of Production Agriculture, 4, 186-192.

[12]Hansen E M, Djurhuus J. 1997. Nitrate leaching as influenced by soil tillage and catch crop. Soil and Tillage Research, 41, 203-209.

[13]Hu C S, Delgado J A, Zhang X, Ma L. 2005. Assessment of groundwater use by wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in the Luancheng Xian Region and potential implications for water conservation in the Northwestern North China Plain. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation, 60, 80-88.

[14]Islam T, Hasegawa I, Ganno K, Kihou N, Momonoki T. 1994. Vinyl-film mulch: a practice for sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas Lam. vat. Edulis Makino) cultivation to reduce nitrate leaching. Agricultural Water Management, 26, 1-11.

[15]Joshi J R, Moncrief J F, Swan J B, Malzer G L. 1994. Longterm conservation tillage and liquid dairy manure effects on corn II. Nitrate concentration in soil water. Soil and Tillage Research, 31, 225-233.

[16]Ju X T, Xin G X, Chen X P, Zhang S L, Zhang L J, Liu X J, Cui Z L, Yin B, Christie P, Zhu Z L, et al. 2009. Reducing environmental risk by improving N management in intensive Chinese agricultural systems. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 106, 3041-3046.

[17]Kitchen N R, Hughes D F, Donald W W, Alberts E E. 1998. Agrichemical movement in the root-zone of clay pan soils: ridge-and mulch-tillage systems compared. Soil and Tillage Research, 48, 179-193.

[18]Liu X J, Ju X T, Zhang F S, Pan J R, Christie P. 2003. Nitrogen dynamics and budgets in a winter wheat-maize cropping system in the North China Plain. Field Crops Research, 83, 111-124.

[19]Long W J. 2008. Analysis on China’s chemical fertilizer market in 2007 and prospects for the trend in 2008. Phosphate and Compound Fertilizer, 23, 1-5. (in Chinese).

[20]Maeda M, Zhao B Z, Ozaki Y, Yoneyama T. 2003. Nitrate leaching in an anisole treated with deferent types of fertilizers. Environmental Pollution, 121, 477-487.

[21]Martin E C, Loudon T L, Ritchie J T, Werner A. 1994. Use of drainage lysimeters to evaluate nitrogen and irrigation management strategies to minimize nitrate leaching in maize production. Transactions of the American Society of Agricultural Engineers, 37, 79-83.

[22]Miburn P, Richards J E, Gartley C, Pollock T, O’Neill H, Bailey H. 1990. Nitrate leaching from systematically tiled potato fields in New Brunswick, Canada. Journal of Environmental Quality, 19, 448-454.

[23]Nie S W, Gao W S, Chen Y Q, Sui P, Eneji A E. 2009. Review of current status and research approaches for nitrogen pollution in farmlands. Agricultural Sciences in China, 8, 843-849.

[24]Nie S W, Gao W S, Chen Y Q, Sui P, Eneji A E. 2010. Use of life cycle assessment methodology for determining phytoremediation potentials of maize-based cropping systems in fields with nitrogen fertilizer over-dose. Journal of Cleaner Production, 18, 1530-1534.

[25]Nie S W, Chen Y Q, Sui P, Gao W S, Huang J X, Li Y Y, Xiong J, Shi X P, Wu X M, Sun Z G. 2011. Ammonia volatilization in intercropping field of maize with different crops. Scientia Agricultura Sinica, 44, 634-640. (in Chinese)

[26]Nie S W. 2010. Effects of maize intercropping with different plants on preventing & controlling soil nitrogen leaching. Ph D thesis, China Agricultural University. (in Chinese) Oenema O, van Liere L, Schoumans O. 2005. Effects of lowering nitrogen and phosphorus surpluses in agriculture on the quality of groundwater and surface water in the Netherlands. Journal of Hydrology, 304, 289-301.

[27]Romic D, Romic M, Borosic J, Poljak M. 2003. Mulching decreases nitrate leaching in bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) cultivation. Agricultural Water Management, 60, 87-97.

[28]Roth G W, Fox R H. 1990. Soil nitrate accumulations following nitrogen fertilized corn in Pennsylvania. Journal of Environmental Quality, 19, 243-248.

[29]Shipley P R, Meisinger J J, Decker A M. 1992. Conserving residual corn fertilizer nitrogen with winter cover crops. Agronomy Journal, 84, 869-876.

[30]Schepers J S, Varvel G E, Watts D G. 1995. Nitrogen and water management strategies to reduce nitrate leaching irrigated maize. Journal of Contaminant Hydrology, 20, 227-239.

[31]Shoji S, Delgado J A, Mosier A, Miura Y. 2001. Use of controlled release fertilizers and nitrification inhibitors to increase nitrogen use efficiency and to conserve air and water quality. Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis, 32, 1051-1070.

[32]Weil R R, Weaismiller R A, Turner R S. 1990. Nitrate contamination of groundwater under irrigated Coastal Plain soils. Journal of Environmental Quality, 19, 441-448.

[33]Xie H M, Zhu B, Zhu Z L. 2006. Temporal-spatialed variations of soil ammonia and nitrate under application of inorganic and fertilizers in purple soil-summer corn season. Chinese Journal of Eco-Agriculture, 14, 103-106. (in Chinese)

[34]Zhou S L, Wu Y C, Wang Z M, Lu L Q, Wang R Z. 2008. The nitrate leached below maize root zone is available for deep-rooted wheat in winter wheat-summer maize rotation in the North China Plain. Environment Pollution, 152, 723-730.

[35]Zhou S L, Zhang F S, Wang X R. 2002. The spatial-temporal variations of soil NO3-N and apparent budget of soil nitrogen II. Summer maize. Acta Ecological Sinica, 22, 79-84. (in Chinese)

[36]Zhu A N, Zhang J B, Zhao B Z, Cheng Z H, Li L P. 2005. Water balance and nitrate leaching losses under intensive crop production with Ochric Aquic Cambosols in North China Plain. Environment Pollution, 31, 904-912.
[1] Lichao Zhai, Shijia Song, Lihua Zhang, Jinan Huang, Lihua Lv, Zhiqiang Dong, Yongzeng Cui, Mengjing Zheng, Wanbin Hou, Jingting Zhang, Yanrong Yao, Yanhong Cui, Xiuling Jia. Subsoiling before winter wheat alleviates the kernel position effect of densely grown summer maize by delaying post-silking root–shoot senescence[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2025, 24(9): 3384-3402.
[2] Ling Ai, Ju Qiu, Jiuguang Wang, Mengya Qian, Tingting Liu, Wan Cao, Fangyu Xing, Hameed Gul, Yingyi Zhang, Xiangling Gong, Jing Li, Hong Duan, Qianlin Xiao, Zhizhai Liu. A naturally occurring 31 bp deletion in TEOSINTE BRANCHED1 causes branched ears in maize[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2025, 24(9): 3322-3333.
[3] Dan Lü, Jianxin Li, Xuehai Zhang, Ran Zheng, Aoni Zhang, Jingyun Luo, Bo Tong, Hongbing Luo, Jianbing Yan, Min Deng. Genetic analysis of maize crude fat content by multi-locus genome-wide association study[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2025, 24(7): 2475-2491.
[4] Hanting Li, Zhilong Fan, Falong Hu, Wen Yin, Qiming Wang, Guocui Wang, Weidong Cao, Wei He, Qiang Chai, Tuo Yao. Intercropping maize with leguminous green manure can compensate for the losses in grain yield and N uptake caused by a reduced N supply[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2025, 24(7): 2826-2840.
[5] Lihua Xie, Lingling Li, Junhong Xie, Jinbin Wang, Zechariah Effah, Setor Kwami Fudjoe, Muhammad Zahid Mumtaz. A suitable organic fertilizer substitution ratio stabilizes rainfed maize yields and reduces gaseous nitrogen loss in the Loess Plateau, China[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2025, 24(6): 2138-2154.
[6] Chunxiang Li, Yongfeng Song, Yong Zhu, Mengna Cao, Xiao Han, Jinsheng Fan, Zhichao Lü, Yan Xu, Yu Zhou, Xing Zeng, Lin Zhang, Ling Dong, Dequan Sun, Zhenhua Wang, Hong Di. GWAS analysis reveals candidate genes associated with density tolerance (ear leaf structure) in maize (Zea mays L.)[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2025, 24(6): 2046-2062.
[7] Huairen Zhang, Tauseef Taj Kiani, Huabang Chen, Juan Liu, Xunji Chen. Genome wide association analysis reveals multiple QTLs controlling root development in maize [J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2025, 24(5): 1656-1670.
[8] Lanjie Zheng, Qianlong Zhang, Huiying Liu, Xiaoqing Wang, Xiangge Zhang, Zhiwei Hu, Shi Li, Li Ji, Manchun Ji, Yong Gu, Jiaheng Yang, Yong Shi, Yubi Huang, Xu Zheng. Fine mapping and discovery of MIR172e, a candidate gene required for inflorescence development and lower floret abortion in maize ear[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2025, 24(4): 1372-1389.
[9] Xiaoxia Guo, Wanmao Liu, Yunshan Yang, Guangzhou Liu, Bo Ming, Ruizhi Xie, Keru Wang, Shaokun Li, Peng Hou. Matching the light and nitrogen distributions in the maize canopy to achieve high yield and high radiation use efficiency[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2025, 24(4): 1424-1435.
[10] Yang Wang, Chunhua Mu, Xiangdong Li, Canxing Duan, Jianjun Wang, Xin Lu, Wangshu Li, Zhennan Xu, Shufeng Sun, Ao Zhang, Zhiqiang Zhou, Shenghui Wen, Zhuanfang Hao, Jienan Han, Jianzhou Qu, Wanli Du, Fenghai Li, Jianfeng Weng. A genome-wide association study and transcriptome analysis reveal the genetic basis for the Southern corn rust resistance in maize[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2025, 24(2): 453-466.
[11] Yulong Wang, Aizhong Yu, Pengfei Wang, Yongpan Shang, Feng Wang, Hanqiang Lü, Xiaoneng Pang, Yue Li, Yalong Liu, Bo Yin, Dongling Zhang, Jianzhe Huo, Keqiang Jiang, Qiang Chai. No-tillage with total green manure mulching increases maize yield through improved soil moisture and temperature environment and enhanced maize root structure and photosynthetic capacity[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2025, 24(11): 4211-4224.
[12] Hong Ren, Zheng Liu, Xinbing Wang, Wenbin Zhou, Baoyuan Zhou, Ming Zhao, Congfeng Li. Long-term excessive nitrogen application decreases spring maize nitrogen use efficiency via suppressing root physiological characteristics[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2025, 24(11): 4195-4210.
[13] Tianqi Wang, Jihui Tian, Xing Lu, Chang Liu, Junhua Ao, Huafu Mai, Jinglin Tan, Bingbing Zhang, Cuiyue Liang, Jiang Tian. Soybean variety influences the advantages of nutrient uptake and yield in soybean/maize intercropping via regulating root-root interaction and rhizobacterial composition[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2025, 24(10): 4048-4062.
[14] Fei Bao, Ping Zhang, Qiying Yu, Yunfei Cai, Bin Chen, Heping Tan, Hailiang Han, Junfeng Hou, Fucheng Zhao. Response of fresh maize yield to nitrogen application rates and  characteristics of nitrogen-efficient varieties[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2025, 24(10): 3803-3818.
[15] Wen Yin, Qiang Chai, Zhilong Fan, Falong Hu, Lianhao Zhao, Hong Fan, Wei He, Cai Zhao, Aizhong Yu, Yali Sun, Feng Wang. Review on physiological and ecological characteristics and agronomic regulatory pathways of intercropping to delay root and canopy senescence of crops[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2025, 24(1): 1-22.
No Suggested Reading articles found!