Althaus, Kimberley and McKeering, Loretta M. and McHugh, Allen and Raine, Steven R. (2009) Effect of irrigation management on nitrate movement under a drip irrigated lettuce crop. In: SEAg 2009: Agricultural Technologies In a Changing Climate, 13-16 Sep 2009, Brisbane, Australia.
Irrigation management practices have a significant impact on the leaching of nutrients and salts within a soil profile. Crops such as lettuce, which are highly dependent on irrigation water for their effective growth and high quality yield, are particularly susceptible to high levels of nutrient leaching below the root zone. To ascertain the effect of irrigation management on nitrate movement soil, water and solute data was collected from a sprinkler and drip irrigated field of lettuce grown on a Ferrosol. This work has shown that deep drainage did occur during the season and that nitrate did leach below the root zone. Substantial spatial and temporal variations in nitrate and EC in the soil solution were observed which appear to be related to the pattern of water movement associated with the irrigation applications. Significant differences in nitrate concentration and EC were also found depending on the type and depth of placement of soil solution extractor used.
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