Praktijkpilot druppelirrigatie ter vermindering van nitraatuitspoeling in snijmaïsteelt op hoge zandgrond: Effect druppelirrigatie op stikstofbodemoverschot en gewasopbrengst van snijmaïs in het gebied 't Klooster Hengelo

In 2022, a practical pilot study without repetitions was conducted in 't Klooster, where drip irrigation was applied with the aim of reducing nitrogen soil surplus and minimizing the risk of nitrate leaching in the area. Drip irrigation was implemented on six plots, each of which was divided into two treatments: drip irrigation and no irrigation (reference). The drip lines were placed at a depth of 5 cm below the ground and between the maize rows. Nitrogen uptake in the drip irrigation treatment was 115 kg per hectare higher than in the reference treatment, with 254 kg and 139 kg of nitrogen per hectare, respectively. This resulted in a negative nitrogen soil surplus of -90 kg of nitrogen per hectare for the drip irrigation treatment, indicating that 90 kg more nitrogen per hectare was absorbed than was fertilized. In the reference treatment, the nitrogen soil surplus was positive (25 kg per hectare). Nonetheless, this resulted in a minor difference of 5 kg of mineral nitrogen after harvest in the 0-30 cm soil layer between the drip irrigation and reference treatments, with 34 kg and 39 kg N-min per hectare, respectively. On average, 178 mm of water was applied through drip irrigation, with factors such as wind, wireworms damage, and iron deposits causing significant challenges during the growing season.In 2022, a practical pilot study without repetitions was conducted in 't Klooster, where drip irrigation was applied with the aim of reducing nitrogen soil surplus and minimizing the risk of nitrate leaching in the area. Drip irrigation was implemented on six plots, each of which was divided into two treatments: drip irrigation and no irrigation (reference). The drip lines were placed at a depth of 5 cm below the ground and between the maize rows. Nitrogen uptake in the drip irrigation treatment was 115 kg per hectare higher than in the reference treatment, with 254 kg and 139 kg of nitrogen per hectare, respectively. This resulted in a negative nitrogen soil surplus of -90 kg of nitrogen per hectare for the drip irrigation treatment, indicating that 90 kg more nitrogen per hectare was absorbed than was fertilized. In the reference treatment, the nitrogen soil surplus was positive (25 kg per hectare). Nonetheless, this resulted in a minor difference of 5 kg of mineral nitrogen after harvest in the 0-30 cm soil layer between the drip irrigation and reference treatments, with 34 kg and 39 kg N-min per hectare, respectively. On average, 178 mm of water was applied through drip irrigation, with factors such as wind, wireworms damage, and iron deposits causing significant challenges during the growing season.