Distribution of nitrate and ammonium under furrow and ridge and nitrogen uptake by maize in Different Rates of Urea Fertilizer

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

University of Tehran

Abstract

Nitrate leaching under furrow irrigation is one of the main reasons of underground water contamination. In order to use fertilizer efficiently and reduce loss of nitrogen, more detailed studies should be done about distribution of different forms of nitrogen under ridges and furrows because the solute movement is not same in those positions. The main objective of this study was to scrutiny effects of different rate of urea on nitrogen uptake and accumulation of nitrate and ammonium under ridge and furrow during growing season. So that maize was planted in the treatments with nitrogen rates of 0, 150 and 250 kg ha-1 by Randomized Complete Block design with three replications. The amounts of dry aboveground biomass and nitrogen uptake during growing season plus concentration of nitrate and ammonium in soil before and after fertilizing and after harvesting were measured over different depth under ridges and furrows. Results showed that depth and rate of nitrogen were two effective factors on accumulation of nitrate and ammonium under ridges and furrows. More nitrate concentration was observed under ridges in comparison with furrows. After fertilizing, nitrate concentration under ridges and furrows was decreased and increased respectively along with raising depth. Also, it was demonstrated that nitrogen uptake were increased and agronomic nitrogen efficiency were reduced by more nitrogen application. Furthermore, most nitrate accumulation was observed below roots area, especially under ridge, after harvesting therefore the probability of nitrate leaching was very high.

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