Nitrogen and phosphorus leaching losses from intensively managed paddy fields with straw retention

Abstract A field experiment was carried out for three years to examine the concentrations of NH 4 + -N, NO 3 − -N and dissolved total phosphorus (TP) in leachates and cumulative leaching losses in rice fields with straw retention under different rates of fertilizer N application. With straw retention, the percolation rate had a significant ( p −1 . NH 4 + -N and NO 3 − -N concentration in percolation increased with increasing of N fertilizer application rate. Compared to the control (without straw or fertilizer), the wheat straw incorporation with nil N fertilizer decreased the concentration of NH 4 + -N and NO 3 − -N but promoted TP concentration. Cumulative inorganic N (NH 4 + -N + NO 3 − -N) and P losses were about 14.4 and 0.53 kg ha −1 , accounting for 5.6% and 3.5% of N and P fertilizer applied. NH 4 + -N leaching losses accounted for 62–97% of the total leaching of inorganic N. Nitrogen leaching losses occurred mainly at the basal fertilizer application stage, accounting for 76.8% of total N leaching. Straw retention reduced the N leaching losses because the straw can enhance microbial N immobilization due to its high C:N ratio. However, the mechanism of straw incorporation impacts on N and P leaching requires more detailed study.