Abstract
Evidence is growing that grassland intensification increases the risk of nitrogen (N) pollution of groundwater aquifers and surface water. For water quality management purposes, it is necessary to quantify the relationship between rates and times of fertilizer applications and resulting N loading of waters. Different techniques for quantification are available and the merits and drawbacks of some of these techniques are discussed. A strong correlation exists between nitrate leaching losses to groundwater and the level of N fertilization. The most important factors which influence nitrate leaching at a particular level of fertilization are soil type, soil use and hydrological situation. The highest nitrate concentrations are usually observed below grazed grassland. Surface runoff waters from fertilized grassland soils can contain high concentrations of ammonium and organic N, not only in hilly areas but also on land with gentle slopes. The amount of animal manure and the time interval between spreading and a surface runoff event are principle factors influencing concentrations of N in surface runoff. Reduction of N losses via leaching and surface runoff can be achieved by measures which influence the amount of mineral N in and on the soil and the hydrological situation.
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© 1986 Martinus Nijhoff Publishers, Dordrecht
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Steenvoorden, J., Fonck, H., Oosterom, H.P. (1986). Losses of nitrogen from intensive grassland systems by leaching and surface runoff. In: Van Der Meer, H.G., Ryden, J.C., Ennik, G.C. (eds) Nitrogen Fluxes in Intensive Grassland Systems. Developments in Plant and Soil Sciences, vol 23. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-4394-0_8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-4394-0_8
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