To what extent does adjusting tillage depth influence the vertical distribution of nitrogen in the soil profile, and how does this affect root architecture, nitrogen uptake efficiency, and crop yield under varying fertilization regimes?
Changing tillage depth doesn't just turn the soil ... it redraws the map of nitrogen distribution vertically in the soil profile.
The deeper the tillage, the more the surface nitrogen gets mixed into lower layers. This reduces its immediate availability to plants but improves its storage and reduces leaching over time. Shallow tillage keeps nitrogen concentrated in the top layers, making it more quickly available to crops but more prone to loss during rainfall.....I mean or in other words...tillage depth is the tool that decides ... is nitrogen for now... or for later?
Adjusting tillage depth significantly influences the vertical distribution of nitrogen in soil:
- Shallow tillage keeps nitrogen concentrated in the topsoil, benefiting shallow rooted crops but increasing risk of nitrogen loss (e.g., volatilization).
- Deep tillage redistributes nitrogen deeper into the soil profile, improving availability for deep rooted crops and reducing surface nitrogen loss.
The vertical distribution of nitrogen in the soil is affected by several factors, including annual rainfall and annual temperatures. This amount is also affected by the type of plants grown and the method of cultivation. Because plants grow their roots in the surface layer of the soil, they increase the amount of nitrogen in the upper soil layers through root absorption of nitrogen. They also increase the amount of nitrogen by fixing atmospheric nitrogen in the bacterial nodules of leguminous plants. When rainfall falls, nitrogen is washed down to deeper layers.
nitrogen loss through leaching is higher in sandy soils than clay well drained soil, whereas heavy, poorly drained soils can lose nitrogen through denitrification. Leaching in sandy soils caused the loss of high amount of soluble nitrate with the soil water below the root zone compared to clay soils. . Soils with a coarse texture (sandy soils) have a lower water-holding capacity and therefore a higher potential for nitrate loss through leaching than soils with a fine texture (silt or clay soils).
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