419-2
Using An Exchange Frequency Index to Identify Sites At Risk for Over-Winter Leaching.

Poster Number 2717

Wednesday, November 6, 2013
Tampa Convention Center, East Hall, Third Floor

Patrick J Forrestal, Teagasc, Johnstown Castle, Wexford, Ireland, John J. Meisinger, USDA-ARS, Beltsville, MD and Robert J. Kratochvil, University of Maryland, College Park, MD
Loss of nitrate-N (NO3-N) present in the fall through over-winter leaching in humid climates can affect starter-N decisions for winter cereals or the deployment of cover crops to improve water quality. A multi-year series of studies were conducted on Maryland’s Atlantic Coastal Plain and Piedmont that followed the loss of fall residual NO3-N or fall applied bromide (Br) from the 0-60 cm depth of a group of well-drained soils with a wide range of textures.  A simple soil solution exchange frequency index (EFI) was calculated for each sample where:  EFI over time interval Dt = (Precipitation, mm)Dt  * [soil available water holding capacity (AWHC), mm]-1. This index assumes: i) surface runoff is negligible, ii) the AWHC approximates the active soil pore-volume participating in leaching, and iii) the initial soil moisture is near field capacity. The quadratic relationship between EFI and the percent loss of Br or NO3-N was highly significant (P<0.001), while the linear and quadratic coefficients for Br loss vs. NO3-N loss were not different (P > 0.05).  An EFI >2.5 (Dt = 15 Oct. – 30 Nov.) successfully identified conditions with very high (> 60%) NO3-N loss potential. Based on a 141-year precipitation dataset from Maryland a loamy sand, sandy loam, and silt loam soil will fall into this very-high category in 21, 1, and 0% of years, respectively. These findings show that the EFI can categorize soil and weather conditions that put NO3-N at risk for leaching. This index could be used to identify sites for alternative winter wheat N management or for deployment of cover crops.
See more from this Division: SSSA Division: Soils & Environmental Quality
See more from this Session: Nutrient Loss As Affected By Management: Posters

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