Modeling the effects of long-term reduced N application on soil N losses and yield in a greenhouse tomato production system

Hao Liang, Qing Chen, Bin Liang and Kelin Hu

Agricultural Systems, 2020, vol. 185, issue C

Abstract: Overuse of N fertilizer in intensive greenhouse vegetable production systems (GVPS) seriously affects soil and water environment. Quantifying soil N dynamics and plant growth is crucial for developing sustainable N management practices. A long-term greenhouse tomato experiment, including 13 tomato growth seasons (2004–2010) and three different nitrogen (N) management practices (conventional N management, CN; reduced N management, RN; and manure N management, MN), was conducted in this study. Agricultural system model (WHCNS_Veg) was adopted to simulate and analyze the effects of different long-term N fertilization regimens on N loss and tomato yield. The calibration and evaluation of the model showed fairly satisfactory simulation in soil water content, soil nitrate concentration, crop N uptake, and fresh marketable tomato yield; the values of the normalized root mean square error (NRMSE) were 15.4%, 42.9%, 21.2%, and 7.7%, respectively, and the values of index of agreement (IA) were 0.85, 0.62, 0.96, and 0.97, respectively. Different N management practices did not significantly affect the tomato yield. However, the long-term high rates of chemical N application in CN treatment significantly increased soil N accumulation, thereby increasing N loss. The simulated N losses caused by leaching, denitrification, and ammonia volatilization under the reduced N treatments (RN and MN) were decreased by 66.8%, 56.8%, and 83.2% compared to those of CN treatment, respectively. Among different N management practices, manure N management showed a relatively high N use efficiency and maintained a high tomato yield. And the optimal manure N application rate approximately 400 kg N ha−1 yr−1 was recommended to maximize farmers' income. The results not only provide decision supports for local farmers' N management, but also policy making of government for sustainable development of greenhouse tomato production in the region.

Keywords: Greenhouse tomato; N management practice; N fate; Tomato yield; WHCNS_Veg model (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:agisys:v:185:y:2020:i:c:s0308521x2030812x

DOI: 10.1016/j.agsy.2020.102951

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