Nutrients removed by pipe drains in two cropping systems

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Abstract

The outflows from two pipe-drained plots in north-eastern Italy were monitored for 6 and 3 years to detect the content of soluble nutrients (NO3-N, P and K) in waters and to calculate mass nutrient losses by drainage. The plots were subjected to two different cropping systems : in the first, conversion from fertilized arable crops and meadow to unfertilized meadow and in the second, rotation of fertilized arable crops.

Annual mean losses of NO3-N were 32.4 and 28.6 kg ha−1 in the conventionally cultivated plots, while in the unfertilized meadow they fell to 20.5 kg −1. Cultivation practices did not greatly affect P and K losses (about 0.2 kg ha−1 year−1 and 1–1.5 kg ha−1 year−1, respectively). N, P and K losses mainly occurred during winter and spring months, and were only slightly influenced by management practices.

Data on apparent nitrogen balance are also presented, which indicate an approximate balance between input and output in the fertilized plots.

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