Reducing Nitrogen Loss in Subsurface Tile Drainage Water with Managed Drainage and Polymer-Coated Urea in a River Bottom Soil

Abstract

Poorly-drained, river bottom soils can be high corn (Zea mays L.) yielding environments, but saturated soil conditions often reduce corn yields. Wabash soils located in river bottoms in Northeast Missouri have not been traditionally tile drained due to high clay content which requires narrow tile drain spacings. Increased land prices in the region have increased interest in tile draining poorly-drained bottom land soils to increase corn yields which could have a deleterious effect on water quality. The objectives of the three-year study were to determine whether use of managed subsurface drainage (MD) in combination with a controlled release N fertilizer could reduce the annual amount of -N loss through tile drainage water compared to free subsurface drainage (FD) with a non-coated urea application. Annual -N loss through tile drainage water with FD ranged from 28.3 to 90.1 kg·N·ha−1. Nitrogen fertilizer source did not affect -N loss through tile drainage water, which was likely due to limited corn uptake over the three-year study due to adverse weather conditions. Averaged over three years, MD reduced tile water drained 52% and -N loss 29% compared to FD. Reduction in -N loss through tile drainage water with MD compared to FD was due to reduced tile flow during the non-cropping period. Annual flow-weighted mean concentration of -N in the tile water was 5.8 mg·N·L−1 with FD and 8.1 mg·N·L−1 with MD. Tile draining river bottom soils at this location for continuous corn production may not pose a health risk over the evaluated duration.