Nitrogen distribution in apple orchard soil profile under fertilization with different water and fertilizer coupling techniques
Keywords:
apple orchard, water-nitrogen coupling, nitrogen fertilization, soil profile, yieldAbstract
Optimization of water and fertilizer coupling management approaches could not only increase apple yield and quality, but also reduce the potential negative impacts of such management activities on the environment. The aim of the present study was to determine the optimal water-nitrogen (WN) coupling management strategy in an apple orchard in the Weibei Dryland, Shaanxi Province, China, under limited irrigation. A randomized complete block design was adopted to test the effects of three drip irrigation levels (W1, 300 m3/hm2; W2, 600 m3/hm2; W3, 900 m3/hm2) and four N application levels (N0, 0 kg/hm2; N1, 200 kg/hm2; N2, 400 kg/hm2; and N3, 600 kg/hm2) on N distribution in the 0-100 cm soil profile. Apple yield and economic benefits under different treatments were also evaluated over a three-year period (2012-2014). Compared with the N0W1 treatment, soil N contents were higher and exhibited distinct trends in the soil profile under other treatments. Overall, total N contents exhibited a downward trend from the surface to the subsurface layers (0.11-2.34 g/kg); however, the total N contents of the lower soil layer increased with an increase in irrigation amount. NO3-N contents were the lowest in the 40- 60 cm soil layer and then increased with an increase in soil depth. The highest NO3-N contents of different soil layers were observed under the N3W3 treatment, ranging from 124.7 mg/kg (0-20 cm) to 90.9 mg/kg (80-100 cm). NH4+-N contents were low (<10 mg/kg), mainly accumulating in the surface layer and decreasing toward the deeper layers>20 cm. Different water-N coupling treatments also increased apple yield by 7.30%-41.62% when compared with the N0W1 treatment. The highest apple yield (three-year mean: 41.01 t/hm2) was observed under the N2W2 treatment, with an output value of 237 900 RMB yuan/hm2 and a net income of 232 000 RMB yuan/hm2. Considering fruit yield, partial productivity of N fertilizer, and economic and environmental benefits, the N2W2 treatment is the optimal water-N fertilizer coupling drip irrigation scheme for apple production in the study area and other similar dryland areas. Keywords: apple orchard, water-nitrogen coupling, nitrogen fertilization, soil profile, yield DOI: 10.25165/j.ijabe.20221505.7257 Citation: Zhao Z P, Yan S, Hu S Y, Qu K J, Tong Y A. Nitrogen distribution in apple orchard soil profile under fertilization with different water and fertilizer coupling techniques. Int J Agric & Biol Eng, 2022; 15(5): 146–154.References
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[20] Cappelli A, Guerrini L, Parenti A, Palladino G, Cini E. Effects of wheat tempering and stone rotational speed on particle size, dough rheology and bread characteristics for a stone-milled weak flour. J Cereal Sci, 2020; 91: 102879. doi: 10.1016/j.jcs.2019.102879.
[21] Cappelli A, Oliva N, Cini E. Stone milling versus roller milling: A systematic review of the effects on wheat flour quality, dough rheology, and bread characteristics. Trends Food Sci Technol, 2020; 97: 147–155.
[22] Cappelli A, Bettaccini L, Cini E. The kneading process: A systematic review of the effects on dough rheology and resulting bread characteristics, including improvement strategies. Trends Food Sci Technol, 2020; 104: 91–101.
[23] Cappelli A, Guerrini L, Cini E, Parenti A. Improving whole wheat dough tenacity and extensibility: A new kneading process. J Cereal Sci, 2019; 90: 102852. doi: 10.1016/j.jcs.2019.102852.
[24] Bao S D. Soil and agriochemstry analysis science. 3rd Eds. Beijing: China Agriculture Press, 2000; pp.302– 316. (in Chinese).
[25] Jin Z, Wu F Q, Yang Z, Min X. Survey and evaluation of soil nutrients in the apple production regions in Weibei Highland. Acta Agriculturae Boreali-occidentalis Sinica, 2011; 20(1): 102–108.
[26] Jian W, Tong Y A. Study on absorption, utilization and storage of nitrogen of kiwifruit tree. Journal of Plant Nutrition and Fertilizers, 2008; 14(6): 1170–1177.
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[28] Ran W, Xie Y S, Hao M D. Study on accumulation and distribution of soil mineral nitrogen in apple orchard in Weibei Dryland, Agricultural Research in the Arid Areas, 2008; 26(3): 157–160.
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[34] Lu H Y, Hu Z Y, Zhang R J, Pang Y W, Yin X F, Wu Y H. Spatial variability of nitrogen in soils in farmland adjacent suburban villages at northern bank of Dianchi Lake. Journal of Agro-Environment Science, 2010; 29(8): 1618–1623.
[35] Xia S, Chai Z P, Jiang P A. Effects of water and nitrogen coupling on quality of red Fuji Apple under drop irrigation condition in the south of Xinjiang. Journal of Nuclear Agricultural Sciences, 2011; 25(5): 1042–1046. (in Chinese)
[36] Sun W T, Sun Z X, Wang C X, Liang G. Coupling effect of water and fertilizer on corn yield under drip fertigation. Scientia Agricultura Sinica, 2006; 39(3): 563–568.
[37] Lei W, Zhang F C, Zou H Y, Lu J S, Guo J J, Xue Z Q. Effect of water deficit and nitrogen rate on the growth, water and nitrogen use of spring wheat. Journal of Triticeae Crops, 2019; 39(4): 478–486.
[38] Hamouda Y A, Guo X P, Wang Z C, Shaghaleh H, Hassan S C A, Bakour A. Effects of irrigation regime and soil clay content and their interaction on the biological yield, nitrogen uptake and nitrogen-use efficiency of rice grown in southern China. Agricultura Water Management, 2019; 213: 934–946.
[2] Luo L G, Qin L H, Wang Y, Wang Q. Environmentally-friendly agricultural practices and their acceptance by smallholder farmers in China—A case study in Xinxiang County, Henan Province. Sci Total Environ, 2016; 571: 737–743.
[3] Ministry of Environmental Protection of the People’s Republic of China (MEP). National Bureau of Statistics of the People’s Republic of China (NBS); Ministry of Agriculture of the People’s Republic of China (MOA). The First National Survey of Pollution Sources Bulletin, 2010. (in Chinese)
[4] Zhu Z L, Chen D L. Nitrogen fertilizer use in China—Contributions to food production, impacts on the environment and best management strategies. Nutr Cyc Agroecosystem, 2002; 63: 117–127.
[5] Shen Z Y, Liao Q, Hong Q, Gong Y W. An overview of research on agricultural non-point source pollution modelling in China. Sep. Purif Technol, 2012; 84: 104–111.
[6] Fan J, Shao M G, Hao M D, Wang Q J. Desiccation and nitrate accumulation of apple orchard soil on the Weibei dryland. Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology, 2004; 7: 1213–1216. (in Chinese)
[7] Peng F, Jun L, Zhang L N, Yu C, Kasimu J. Soil nitrogen contents and deep profile distributions in apple orchards of the Loess Plateau. Journal of Plant Nutrition and Fertilizers, 2013; 19(2): 420–429.
[8] Zhao Z P, Duan M, Yan S, Liu Z F, Wang Q, Fu J, et al. Effects of different fertilizations on fruit quality, yield and soil fertility in field-grown kiwifruit orchard. Int J Agric & Biol Eng, 2017; 10(2): 163–172.
[9] Li J S, Zhang J J. Nitrogen distributions in soil under fertigation from a point source. Transactions of the CSAE, 2002; 18(5): 61–62.
[10] Sigua G C, Stone K C, Bauer P J, Szogi A A. Efficacy of supplemental irrigation and nitrogen management on enhancing nitrogen availability and urease activity in soils with sorghum production. Sustainability 2020; 12: 8358. doi: 10.3390/SU12208358.
[11] Sigua G C, Stone K C, Bauer P J, Szogi A A. Biomass and nitrogen-use efficiency of grain sorghum with nitrogen and supplemental irrigation. Agron J, 2018; 110: 1119–1127.
[12] Gholamhoseini M, Alikhani M A, Sanavy S A M, Mirlafiti S M. Interaction of irrigation, weed and nitrogen on corn yield, nitrogen use efficiency and nitrate leaching. Agric Water Manag, 2013; 126: 9–18.
[13] Li X, Hu C, Delgado J A, Zhang Y, Ouyang Z. Increase nitrogen use efficiency as a key mitigation alternative to reduce nitrate leaching in north China plain. Agric. Water Manag, 2007; 89: 137–147.
[14] Fang Q, Yu E, Wang Y, Chen G, Zhang J, Wang J, Li L. Soil nitrate accumulation, leaching and crop nitrogen use as influenced by fertilization and irrigation in an intensive wheat-maize double cropping system in the North China Plain. Plant Soil, 2006; 284: 335–350.
[15] Katterer T, Hansson A C, Andren O. Wheat root biomass and nitrogen dynamics-effects of daily irrigation and fertilization. Plant Soil, 1993; 151: 21–30.
[16] Zougmore R, Mando A L, Stroosnijder S. Effect of soil and water conservation and nutrient management on the soil-plant water balance in semi-arid Burkina Faso. Agric Water Manag, 2004; 65: 103–120.
[17] McDonald R I, Girvetz E H. Two challenges of U.S. irrigation due to climate change: Increasing irrigated area in wet states and increasing irrigation rates in dry states. PLoS One, 2013; 8(6): e65589. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0065589.
[18] Stone K C, Sigua G C, Bauer P J. Supplemental irrigation for grain sorghum production in the US eastern coastal plain. Appl Eng Agric, 2018; 34: 395–402.
[19] Liu X J, Ju X T, Zhang F S. Nitrogen dynamics and budgets in a winter-maize cropping system in the North China Plain. Field Crop Res, 2003; 83: 111–124.
[20] Cappelli A, Guerrini L, Parenti A, Palladino G, Cini E. Effects of wheat tempering and stone rotational speed on particle size, dough rheology and bread characteristics for a stone-milled weak flour. J Cereal Sci, 2020; 91: 102879. doi: 10.1016/j.jcs.2019.102879.
[21] Cappelli A, Oliva N, Cini E. Stone milling versus roller milling: A systematic review of the effects on wheat flour quality, dough rheology, and bread characteristics. Trends Food Sci Technol, 2020; 97: 147–155.
[22] Cappelli A, Bettaccini L, Cini E. The kneading process: A systematic review of the effects on dough rheology and resulting bread characteristics, including improvement strategies. Trends Food Sci Technol, 2020; 104: 91–101.
[23] Cappelli A, Guerrini L, Cini E, Parenti A. Improving whole wheat dough tenacity and extensibility: A new kneading process. J Cereal Sci, 2019; 90: 102852. doi: 10.1016/j.jcs.2019.102852.
[24] Bao S D. Soil and agriochemstry analysis science. 3rd Eds. Beijing: China Agriculture Press, 2000; pp.302– 316. (in Chinese).
[25] Jin Z, Wu F Q, Yang Z, Min X. Survey and evaluation of soil nutrients in the apple production regions in Weibei Highland. Acta Agriculturae Boreali-occidentalis Sinica, 2011; 20(1): 102–108.
[26] Jian W, Tong Y A. Study on absorption, utilization and storage of nitrogen of kiwifruit tree. Journal of Plant Nutrition and Fertilizers, 2008; 14(6): 1170–1177.
[27] Yuan L, Dang T H, Qi C. Distribution characteristics of soil moisture and mineral nitrogen in soil profile of apple orchard in gully region of loess plateau. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation, 2021; 35(2): 106–112.
[28] Ran W, Xie Y S, Hao M D. Study on accumulation and distribution of soil mineral nitrogen in apple orchard in Weibei Dryland, Agricultural Research in the Arid Areas, 2008; 26(3): 157–160.
[29] Lin C, Zhang J B, Zhao B Z, Ping H. Dynamics of nitrogen in topsoil related to integrated water and nitrogen management. Acta Pedologica Sinica, 2013; 50(3): 459–468.
[30] Zhang W L, Wu S X, Ji H J, Kolbe H Z. Estimation of agricultural non-point source pollution in China and the alleviating strategies. Scientia Agricultura Sinica, 2004; 37(7): 1008–1017.
[31] Kou C L, Ju X T, Zhang F S. Nitrogen balance and its effects on nitrate-N concentration of groundwater in three intensive cropping systems of North China. Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology, 2005, 16(4): 660–667. (in Chinese)
[32] Zhang J B, Yi C, Cai Z C. The mechanisms of soil regulating nitrogen dynamics. Advances in Earth Science, 2019; 34(1): 11–19.
[33] Ju X T, Zhang F S. The accumulation of soil nitrate nitrogen in northern China and its environmental impact. Ecological Environment, 2003; 12(1): 24–28.
[34] Lu H Y, Hu Z Y, Zhang R J, Pang Y W, Yin X F, Wu Y H. Spatial variability of nitrogen in soils in farmland adjacent suburban villages at northern bank of Dianchi Lake. Journal of Agro-Environment Science, 2010; 29(8): 1618–1623.
[35] Xia S, Chai Z P, Jiang P A. Effects of water and nitrogen coupling on quality of red Fuji Apple under drop irrigation condition in the south of Xinjiang. Journal of Nuclear Agricultural Sciences, 2011; 25(5): 1042–1046. (in Chinese)
[36] Sun W T, Sun Z X, Wang C X, Liang G. Coupling effect of water and fertilizer on corn yield under drip fertigation. Scientia Agricultura Sinica, 2006; 39(3): 563–568.
[37] Lei W, Zhang F C, Zou H Y, Lu J S, Guo J J, Xue Z Q. Effect of water deficit and nitrogen rate on the growth, water and nitrogen use of spring wheat. Journal of Triticeae Crops, 2019; 39(4): 478–486.
[38] Hamouda Y A, Guo X P, Wang Z C, Shaghaleh H, Hassan S C A, Bakour A. Effects of irrigation regime and soil clay content and their interaction on the biological yield, nitrogen uptake and nitrogen-use efficiency of rice grown in southern China. Agricultura Water Management, 2019; 213: 934–946.
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Published
2022-11-01
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Zhao, Z., Yan, S., Hu, S., Qu, K., & Tong, Y. (2022). Nitrogen distribution in apple orchard soil profile under fertilization with different water and fertilizer coupling techniques. International Journal of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, 15(5), 146–154. Retrieved from https://ijabe.migration.pkpps03.publicknowledgeproject.org/index.php/ijabe/article/view/7257
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