Nitrogen leaching under corn cultivation stabilized after four years application of pig manure to red soil in subtropical China

The impact of long-term pig manure application to a red soil in subtropical China on nitrate leaching was investigated in a field lysimeter experiment from 2002 to 2009. Simultaneously, nitrate leaching was simulated by water and nitrogen management model (WNMM) basing on these observed data to determine the environmental threshold of manure application. Nitrate concentrations in the drainage and nitrate leaching under low manure application (150 kg N ha−1 y−1) did not increase during the study period. Interestingly, the nitrate concentrations in drainage water following high manure application (600 kg N ha−1 y−1) increased exponentially in the first four years and then remained at 13 mg l−1 for the next four years. Addition of lime based on high manure application had no significant effect on nitrate concentrations or total nitrate leaching. WNMM simulated the variation in corn yields and nitrate leaching well. The environmentally safe threshold for long-term application of pig manure was 360 kg N ha−1.

► Nitrate leaching under long-term pig manure application on a red soil in subtropical China was investigated.
► Nitrate concentrations in drainage and nitrate leaching under low manure application did not increase compared with no manure application.
► Nitrate concentration under continuous application of high amounts of manure stabilized at a high level after 4-year exponential increase.
► The environmental threshold for long-term application of pig manure was 360 kg N ha−1 on red soil in subtropical China.