Utilization of soil and fertilizer nitrogen supply under mulched drip irrigation with various water qualities in arid regions

Chao Ma, Jun Wang and Jiusheng Li

Agricultural Water Management, 2023, vol. 280, issue C

Abstract: Upgrading the efficiency of native soil nitrogen (N) and balancing the N derived from soil and fertilizers under drip irrigation with low-quality water is crucial for reducing N application and curtailing environmental degradation in arid regions. In this study, a control experiment with four N (15N-labeled urea) rates of 0 (F0), 255 (F1), 315 (F2) and 375 kg·ha−1 (F3) was established by applying groundwater (Q1, 1.27 g·l−1), brackish water (Q2, 3.03 g·l−1) and saline water (Q3, 4.90 g·l−1) to differentiate cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) uptake from native soil N and fertilizer N by 15N tracer technology. The results indicated that increasing water salinity increased the soil salt content and significantly reduced cotton biomass. The cumulative utilization percentages of soil N (CUSN) and fertilizer N (CUFN) ranged from 7.4% to 14.1% and 35.9–54.5%, respectively, during the growing season. The CUFN decreased with increasing irrigation water salinity. Appropriate nitrogen fertilizer alleviated the salt stress on N uptake. The N rate of 315 kg·ha−1 promoted soil N and fertilizer N uptake and produced higher percentages of utilization of soil N (PUSN) and fertilizer N (PUFN) during the squaring and flower boll stage under Q1 and Q2 irrigation. An N rate of 375 kg·ha−1 significantly increased PUSN under Q3 irrigation, particularly during the mature stage. In addition, high salinity water and N rates caused a larger fertilizer N loss. Considering cotton growth and balance between soil N and fertilizer N, an N rate of 315 kg·ha−1 was suitable for cotton under mulched drip irrigation when applying Q1 and Q2 in arid regions, and 375 kg·ha−1 was recommended for Q3 irrigation. The appropriate addition of nitrogen fertilizer during the flower boll stage will promote cotton growth under brackish water.

Keywords: Fertigation; 15N-labeled urea; Nitrogen balance; Brackish water (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:agiwat:v:280:y:2023:i:c:s0378377423000847

DOI: 10.1016/j.agwat.2023.108219

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