A ¹⁵N tracing technique-based analysis of the fate of fertilizer N: a 4-year case study in eastern China

ABSTRACT

The fate of fertilizer N applied with different irrigation amounts in tobacco fields was quantitatively studied by applying ¹⁵N double-labelled NH₄NO₃ in lysimeters. The ¹⁵N (fertilizer N originating from the fertilizer applied in 2011) in tobacco plants, ¹⁵N in soils and ¹⁵N loss were observed continuously from 2011 to 2014. The results showed that 21.6% of ¹⁵N was utilized by tobacco plants, 72.1% remained in the 0–60 cm soil layer and 6.3% was lost from the soil–plant system after the first season’s harvest (2011) of flue-cured tobacco. During the four seasons from 2011 to 2014, cumulative utilization of ¹⁵N by tobacco plants was 34.3%, while 54.2% remained in the 0–60 cm soil layer, and 11.5% was lost via mechanisms such as leaching and volatilization. The fate of ¹⁵N in terms of accumulation in plants and soils or losses from the soil–plant system from 2012 to 2014 was greatly affected by the fertilizer and irrigation management strategies in 2011. The results of this investigation suggest that the major amount of fertilizer N applied during the first season remains available in the soil for utilization by tobacco plants after 4 years.

KEYWORDS:

• Flue-cured tobacco
• ¹⁵N
• fate
• fertilizer N
• loss

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Fujian Province [2016J05069]; Natural Science Foundation of China [51409086]; Key technology on high-effecient use of rainwaters in Qianxinan tobacco cultivation area [(2015(41))]; Young Talent Project of Horticultural College of Fujian A&F University [(received by Hou Maomao)].