2013 journal article

Nitrate Leaching from Two Kentucky Bluegrass Cultivars as Affected by Nitrate Uptake Capacity and Subsurface Soil Compaction

CROP SCIENCE, 53(4), 1722–1733.

By: C. Zhang n, G. Miller n, T. Rufty n & D. Bowman n

topics (OpenAlex): Turfgrass Adaptation and Management; Seedling growth and survival studies; Rangeland and Wildlife Management
UN Sustainable Development Goals Color Wheel
UN Sustainable Development Goal Categories
2. Zero Hunger (Web of Science)
13. Climate Action (Web of Science)
15. Life on Land (OpenAlex)
Source: Web Of Science
Added: August 6, 2018

ABSTRACT There are a number of strategies to minimize NO 3 – leaching from turfgrass, including planting turfgrass cultivars with higher NO 3 – absorption abilities. This column lysimeter study was conducted to examine NO 3 – leaching from two Kentucky bluegrass ( Poa pratensis L.) cultivars differing in NO 3 – uptake capacity. Subsurface soil compaction was included as a second factor. Tillers of Julia and Midnight Kentucky bluegrass, previously identified as having high and low NO 3 – uptake capacity, respectively, were grown in column lysimeters. Each column was filled with Wagram loamy sand with or without a subsurface compaction layer 8.5 cm below the surface. The two cultivars were established and then treated to impose moderate N deficiency. Potassium nitrate was applied in solution at 49 kg N ha –1 followed by daily heavy irrigation. Leachate was collected and analyzed for NO 3 – ‐N. Cumulative N leaching loss of applied N ranged from 2.6 to 19% and 2.8 to 21% for Julia and Midnight, respectively. In two out of three trials, both cultivars absorbed NO 3 – very efficiently in noncompacted soil, with only trace amounts of NO 3 – leaching. While NO 3 – ‐N loss averaged 4.7% of applied N in noncompacted soil across all trials, subsurface soil compaction increased that to 8.9%. Results indicated that despite being identified as more efficient for NO 3 – uptake, NO 3 – leaching from Julia was generally similar to that from Midnight. Soil conditions and differences in root morphology and/or architecture may played a more important role than root uptake capacity in determining NO 3 – leaching from these Kentucky bluegrass genotypes.