Nitrogen leaching from tile‐drained fields and lysimeters receiving contrasting rates and sources of nitrogen

Leaching of nitrogen from arable land can lead to pollution groundwater and surface water. Various measures have been implemented in agriculture reduce leaching, but there is still potential do more. To find the best agricultural management regime limit problem, leaching soils under different must be measured. Different methods estimate are available, they not thoroughly evaluated. This study compared (a) five fertilizer treatments differing amount source (mineral organic) (b) two for measuring (tile-drained field plots lysimeters). Nitrogen was studied three years a tile-drained facility also 16 months lysimeter facility. organic mineral sources similar three-year study. Mineral input above economic optimum tended give greater (by 24%–43%) than at expected optimum. Measurements lysimeters gave results, although values slightly higher 18%–25%) field. Overall, both facilities reliable estimates suitable studies.