ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Nitrogen Utilization Characteristics and Their
Influence on Groundwater in the Weishan
Irrigation Region
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1
School of Water and Environment, Chang’an University, Xi’ an 710054, China
2
Key Laboratory of Subsurface Hydrology and Ecological Effects in Arid Region, Ministry of Education,
Chang’an University, Xi’ an 710054, China
3
Institute of Water and Development, Chang’an University, Xi’ an 710054, China
Submission date: 2020-01-04
Final revision date: 2020-03-15
Acceptance date: 2020-03-16
Online publication date: 2020-06-22
Publication date: 2020-08-05
Corresponding author
Zhifeng Jia
School of Water and Environment, Chang’an University;
Institute of Water and Development, Chang’an University;
Key Laboratory of Subsurface Hydrology and Ecological Effects in Arid Region, Ministry of Education, Chang’an University, China
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2020;29(6):4425-4435
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ABSTRACT
In agricultural production, the main cause of groundwater pollution has been the leakage of total
Nitrogen (TN) caused by excessive water and fertilizer application. In this study, an experiment
combining a field and indoors was used to seek optimal coupling scheme and prevent groundwater
pollution caused by excessive fertilization. Results showed that in recent years, groundwater quality has
been deteriorating, and nitrate levels have increased by approximately three times (2014-2016). The TN
accumulated significantly in a different soil layer, along with crop growth. The N accumulated mainly
in the bottom of the studied soil layer (80-160 cm) over time. Under different water fertilizer treatments,
the crop yield, leakage, and N use efficiency (NUE) were obviously various. The effect of irrigation
water quantity was more significant for N leakage than fertilizer (P<0.05), and more water resulted
in more N leakage. Additionally, considering the comprehensive benefits for winter wheat, medium
fertilizer (N, 225 kg ha-1) is an optimal scheme with medium water (3150 m3 ha-1). For summer maize,
medium water (1350 m3 ha-1) and high fertilizer (N, 162 m3 ha-1) were optimal treatment. The above
schemes have the best comprehensive benefits for agricultural production in the case area.