Nitrate Leaching and Corn Yield Under Current and Future Climate in Sardinia (Italy).

Estimation of nitrate leaching from agricultural systems is critical to environment impact studies. Simulation models can help to assess and understand the dynamics of nitrates in the soil and in relation to fertilizer types and agronomical management. The main objectives of this research were then to quantify inorganic N concentration in soil layers affected by mineral and organic N and to test the SALUS crop simulation model to identify the best N management strategy able to minimize NO3 leaching without compromising crop growth and yields. A first set of rotational simulations were carried out for the 2010 and 2011 with the goal of comparing measured and simulated results. A second set of rotational simulations were carried out for a long term future climate scenarios and compare N management strategies. The model was able to closely reproduce the measured results. Nitrate leaching can be reduced using best management strategy under future climate predictions.