[Nitrate leaching characteristics of wheat-corn rotation farmland in Guanzhong area of Shaanxi].

By using in situ leaching device, a field experiment was conducted to study the effects of nitrogen fertilization rate and straw mulching on the nitrate leaching at 90 cm soil depth, nitrate accumulation in soil profile (0-100 cm), crop yield, and nitrogen balance of wheat-corn rotation farmland in Guanzhong area of Shaanxi. Six treatments were installed, i. e., no fertilization (N1, 0 kg x hm(-2) x a(-1)), conventional fertilization (N2, 471 kg x hm(-2) x a(-1)), recommended fertilization (N3, 330 kg x hm(-2) x a(-1)), reduced N application (N4, 165 kg x hm(-2) x a(-1)), increased N application (N5, 495 kg x hm(-2) x a(-1)), and recommended fertilization plus straw mulching (N3 + S). The nitrate leaching loss was increased with increasing N fertilization rate. Excessive N fertilization and straw mulching could easily cause nitrate leaching. In treatment N3 + S, the annual NO3(-) -N loss at 90 cm soil depth was the greatest (22.32 kg N x hm(-2)), and the NO3(-) -N loss from N fertilization was 16.44 kg N x hm(-2) x a(-1), being 158.9% higher than that in treatment N3. Nitrate mainly accumulated in 20-60 cm soil layer. When the N application rate was 330 kg N x hm(-2) x a(-1), straw mulching had less effect on the NO3(-) -N distribution in soil profile. No significant difference was observed in the crop yield among the treatments, but reduced N application (N4) tended to decrease the yield. Under our experimental condition, a fertilization rate of 150 kg N x hm(-2) x a(-1) for wheat and 180 kg N x hm(-2) x a(-1) for maize could ensure the crop production and reduce the soil nitrate leaching and accumulation.