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- Title
4R Water Quality Impacts: An Assessment and Synthesis of Forty Years of Drainage Nitrogen Losses.
- Authors
Christianson, L. E.; Harmel, R. D.
- Abstract
The intersection of agricultural drainage and nutrient mobility in the environment has led to multiscale water quality concerns. This work reviewed and quantitatively analyzed nearly 1,000 site-years of subsurface tile drainage nitrogen (N) load data to develop a more comprehensive understanding of the impacts of 4R practices (application of the right source of nutrients, at the right rate and time, and in the right place) within drained landscapes across North America. Using drainage data newly compiled in the "Measured Annual Nutrient loads from AGricultural Environments" (MANAGE) database, relationships were developed across N application rates for nitrate N drainage loads and corn (Zea mays L.) yields. The lack of significant differences between N application timing or application method was inconsistent with the current emphasis placed on application timing, in particular, as a water quality improvement strategy (p = 0.934 and 0.916, respectively). Broad-scale analyses such as this can help identify major trends for water quality, but accurate implementation of the 4R approach will require site-specific knowledge to balance agronomic and environmental goals.
- Subjects
DRAINAGE; WATER quality; NITROGEN in water; CROPPING systems; SOIL composition; NITROGEN compound synthesis
- Publication
Journal of Environmental Quality, 2015, Vol 44, Issue 6, p1852
- ISSN
0047-2425
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.2134/jeq2015.03.0170