Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Nitrogen leaching and indirect nitrous oxide emissions from fertilized croplands in Zimbabwe

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Agricultural efforts to end hunger in Africa are hampered by low fertilizer-use-efficiency exposing applied nutrients to losses. This constitutes economic losses and environmental concerns related to leaching and greenhouse gas emissions. The effects of NH4NO3 (0, 60 and 120 kg N ha−1) on N uptake, N-leaching and indirect N2O emissions were studied during three maize (Zea mays L.) cropping seasons on clay (Chromic luvisol) and sandy loam (Haplic lixisol) soils in Zimbabwe. Leaching was measured using lysimeters, while indirect N2O emissions were calculated from leached N using the emission factor methodology. Results showed accelerated N-leaching (3–26 kg ha−1 season−1) and N-uptake (10–92 kg ha−1) with N input. Leached N in groundwater had potential to produce emission increments of 0–94 g N2O-N ha−1 season−1 on clay soil, and 5–133 g N2O-N ha−1 season−1 on sandy loam soil following the application of NH4NO3. In view of this short-term response intensive cropping using relatively high N rate may be more appropriate for maize in areas whose soils and climatic conditions are similar to those investigated in this study, compared with using lower N rates or no N over relatively larger areas to attain a targeted food security level.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • ARI (2002) Simplified production factsheets on selected crops grown in Zimbabwe. Agronomy Research Institute, Dept Agric Res Ext Publication, Harare

    Google Scholar 

  • Bahmani O, Nasab SB, Belizad M, Naseri AA (2009) Assessment of nitrogen accumulation and movement in soil profile under different irrigation and fertilization regime. Asian J Agric Res 3:38–46

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bennett JG (1985) A guide to soil and site description in Zimbabwe. Technical Handbook 6. Chemistry and Soil Research Institute. Dept Agric Res Spec Ser Publication, Harare

  • Bremner JM, Mulvaney CS (1982) Nitrogen–total. In: Page AL et al. (eds) Methods of soil analysis, 2nd edn. Agron Monogr 9. ASA and SSSA, Madison, WI, pp 595–624

  • Bruulsema TW, Fixen PE, Snyder CS (2004) Fertilizer nutrient recovery in sustainable cropping systems. In: Armstrong DL (ed) Better crops with plant food. USA, Potash and Phosphate Institute, Norcross, Georgia, pp 15–17

    Google Scholar 

  • Burneya JA, Davis SJ, Lobella DB (2010) Greenhouse gas mitigation by agricultural intensification. In: Robertson GP, Kellogg WK (eds) Proceedings of the national academy of science of the United States of America, MI, pp 12052–12057

  • Chikowo R, Mapfumo P, Nyamugafata P, Giller KE (2004) Mineral N dynamics, leaching and nitrous oxide losses under maize following two-year improved fallows on a sandy loam soil in Zimbabwe. Plant Soil 259:315–330

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • de Klein C, Novoa RSA, Ogle S, Smith KA, Rochette P, Wirth TC et al (2006) N2O emissions from managed soils, and CO2 emissions from lime and urea application. In: Eggleston H, Buendia L, Miwa K, Ngara T, Tanabe K (eds) 2006 IPCC guidelines for national greenhouse gas inventories. Institute for Global Environmental Strategies, Japan

    Google Scholar 

  • Derby EN, Knighton ER, Montgomery RB (2002) Construction and performance of large soil core lysimeters. Soil Sci Soc Am J 66:1446–1453

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • FAO (2000) Crop evapotranspiration (guidelines for computing crop water requirements). FAO irrigation and drainage paper no. 56. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome

  • Flynn HC, Smith P (2010) Greenhouse gas budgets of crop production–current and likely future trends. International Fertilizer Industry Association, Paris. http://www.fertilizer.org/ifacontent/download/35735/516582/version/1/file/2010_ifa_greenhouse_gas.pdf, Accessed 23 Aug 2010

  • Goss MJ, Ehlers W (2009) The role of lysimeters in the development of our understanding of soil water and nutrient dynamics in ecosystems. Soil Use Man 25:213–223

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hansen JB, Holm PE, Hansen EA, Hjelmar O (2000) Use of lysimeters for characterisation of leaching from soil and mainly inorganic waste materials. Nordtest Technical Report 473. http://www.nordicinnovation.net/nordtestfiler/tec473.pdf. Accessed 21 Sept 2009

  • IPCC (2000) Good practice guidance and uncertainty management in national greenhouse gas inventories. National Greenhouse Gas Inventories Publication, Japan. http://www.ipcc-nggip.iges.or.jp/public/gp/bgp/4_6_Indirect_N2O_Agriculture.pdf. Accessed 21 Aug 2010

  • Kamukondiwa W, Bergstrom L (2007) Nitrate leaching in field lysimeters at an agricultural site in Zimbabwe. Soil Use Man 10:118–124

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kimetu JM, Mugendi DN, Bationo A, Palm CA, Mutuo PK, Kihara J, Nandwa S, Giller K (2006) Partial balance of nitrogen in a maize cropping system in humic nitisol of Central Kenya. Nutr Cycl Agroecosyst 76:261–270

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kuikman PJ, Velthof GL, Oenema O (2003) Controlling nitrous oxide emissions from agriculture: experiences in the Netherlands. In: Proceedings of the 3rd international methane and nitrous oxide mitigation conference. Beijing, China, pp 415–422

  • Lemaire G, Charrier X, Hebert Y (1996) Nitrogen uptake capacities of maize and sorghum crops in different nitrogen and water supply conditions. Agronomie 16:231–246

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mapanda F, Wuta M, Nyamangara J, Rees RM (2011) Effects of organic and mineral fertilizer nitrogen on greenhouse gas emissions and plant-captured carbon under maize cropping in Zimbabwe. Plant Soil 343:67–81

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mapiki A, Reddy GB, Singh BR (1993) Fate of fertilizer-15 N to a maize crop grown in Northern Zambia. Acta Agric Scand Sect B 43:231–237

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mushiri SM, Chifamba W (1998) Soil survey laboratory methods manual. Chemistry and Soil Research Institute, Dept Agric Res Spec Ser Publication, Harare

    Google Scholar 

  • Nevison C (1999) Indirect N2O emissions from agriculture. In: Background paper for IPCC expert group meeting on good practice in inventory preparation–agricultural sources of methane and nitrous oxide. IPCC, Wageningen, Netherlands, pp 381–397

  • Nyamadzawo G, Nyamugafata P, Chikowo R, Chirwa T, Mafongoya PL (2006) Soil and carbon losses under rainfall simulation from two contrasting soils under maize-improved fallows rotation in Eastern Zambia. In: Roose EJ, LAl R, Feller C, Barthes B, Stewart BA, Francis (eds) Soil erosion and carbon dynamics. CRC Press LLC, Boca Raton, pp 197–206

    Google Scholar 

  • Nyamangara J (2007) Mineral N distribution in the soil profile of a maize field amended with cattle manure and mineral N under humid sub-tropical conditions. In: Bationo A, Waswa B, Kihara J, Kimetu J (eds) Advances in integrated soil fertility management in Sub-Saharan Africa: challenges and opportunities. Springer, The Netherlands, pp 737–748

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Nyamangara J, Mugwira LM, Mpofu SE (2000) Soil fertility status in the communal areas of Zimbabwe in relation to sustainable crop production. J Sustain Agric 16:15–29

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nyamangara J, Bergstrom LF, Piha MI, Giller KE (2003) Fertilizer use efficiency and nitrate leaching in a tropical sandy soil. J Environ Qual 32:599–606

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Okalebo JR, Gathua KW, Woomer PL (1993) Laboratory methods of soil and plant analysis: a working manual. Tropical soil biology and fertility programme. soil society of east africa technical publication no. 1. Marvel EPZ (Kenya), Nairobi

  • Piha M (1995) Soil fertility handbook. Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zimbabwe, Harare 93 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • Power AG (2010) Ecosystem services and agriculture: tradeoffs and synergies. Phil Trans R Soc B 365:2959–2971

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rao ACS, Smith JL, Papendick RI, Parr JF (1991) Influence of added nitrogen interactions in estimating recovery efficiency of labelled nitrogen. Soil Sci Soc Am 55:1616–1621

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Raun WR, Johnson GV (1999) Improving nutrient-use-efficiency for cereal production. Agron J 91:357–363

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reay DS, Edwards AC, Smith KA (2009) Importance of indirect nitrous oxide emissions at the field, farm and catchment scale. Agric Ecosyst Environ 133:163–169

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ritchie SW, Hanway JJ, Benson GO (1992) How a corn plant develops. Special report 48. Iowa State University of Science and Technology. Cooperative Ext Service Ames, Iowa

  • Seed-Co (1998) Productive farming seed manual 1998/99. Seed-Co Company, Harare

    Google Scholar 

  • Silva MM, Libardi PL, Fernandes FCS (2009) Nitrogen doses and water balance components at phenological stages of corn. Sci Agric 66:515–521

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith M (2000) The application of climatic data for planning and management of sustainable rainfed and irrigated crop production. Agric Forest Met 103:99–108

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Webster CP, Shepherd MA, Goulding KWT, Lord E (1993) Comparisons of methods for measuring the leaching of mineral nitrogen from arable land. J Soil Sci 44:49–62

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This study was sponsored through grants from the European Union (NitroEurope Project No. 017841) for which the authors are extremely grateful. We are also grateful for the technical assistance from the Department of Physics (University of Zimbabwe).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Engineering, University of Zimbabwe, Mt. Pleasant Drive, P.O. Box MP167, Mt. Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe

    F. Mapanda, M. Wuta & J. Nyamangara

  2. Department of Research and Specialist Services, Chemistry and Soil Research Institute, Fifth Street Extension, P.O. Box CY550, Causeway, Harare, Zimbabwe

    F. Mapanda

  3. International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics, Matopos Research Station, P.O. Box 776, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe

    J. Nyamangara

  4. Scottish Agricultural College, West Mains Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3JG, UK

    R. M. Rees

Authors
  1. F. Mapanda
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. M. Wuta
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. J. Nyamangara
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. R. M. Rees
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to F. Mapanda.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Mapanda, F., Wuta, M., Nyamangara, J. et al. Nitrogen leaching and indirect nitrous oxide emissions from fertilized croplands in Zimbabwe. Nutr Cycl Agroecosyst 94, 85–96 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10705-012-9528-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10705-012-9528-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation