Author(s): Maria Birone Oncsik; Laszlo Nagy
Linked Author(s):
Keywords: Nitrate; Soil solution; Fertilizer; Fertigation
Abstract: Nitrogen is an essential plant nutrient and influences the yields and quality of agriculture and horticulture plants, but potentially has a negative impact on water quality. Application of fertilizers by irrigation water has several advantages over the traditional methods. By fertigation, the time and rate of fertilizer applied can be regulated precisely. This will also ensure the application of the proper amount of N to the particular growth stage. This will improve the N use efficiency, decrease leaching and volatilisation losses and minimize ground water contamination. The objective of this study was to measure the nitrate concentration of soil solution under N fertilization. It was observed, that the nitrate concentration of soil solution was increased under conventional fertilization. Results showed, that nitrate concentration of water samples were above 400 mg l-1. The lowest nitrate levels occurred in fertigation treatments.
Year: 2005