EFFECTS OF SPLIT APPLICATION OF FERTILIZERS ON SOIL NUTRIENT TRANSPORT AND WATER QUALITY PARAMETERS UNDER LABORATORY CONDITIONS

SOURABH NEMA¹*, AKHILESH KUMAR^2
1Department of Soil & Water Engineering, Jawaharlal Nehru Agricultural University, Krishinagar, Adhartal, Jabalpur, 482004, Madhya Pradesh, India
²Department of Soil & Water Conservation Engineering, Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, U.K. 263145, India
* Corresponding Author : sourabh.nema@gmail.com

Received : 23-06-2016     Accepted : 23-07-2016     Published : 24-10-2016
Volume : 8     Issue : 50       Pages : 2120 - 2123
Int J Agr Sci 8.50 (2016):2120-2123

Keywords : - Rainfall simulator, Nutrient transport, Water quality, Water pollution, Split application of fertilizers
Academic Editor : Dr. Jitendra Sinha
Conflict of Interest : None declared
Acknowledgements/Funding : None declared
Author Contribution : None declared

The study demonstrate the effects of split application of fertilizers on soil nutrient transport (i.e. Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P) and Potassium (K) at different slopes under simulated rainfall conditions and subsequent impact of nutrient transport on runoff water quality parameters were also assessed. The study was conducted on experimental plots under laboratory conditions by using a rainfall simulator to produce the desired range of rainfall intensities of 9.00 cm/h, 13.20 cm/h and 17.00 cm/h at two selected land slopes of 2.00% and 4.00%.The soil nutrients transport due to surface runoff were found higher on one-step application of fertilizer, followed by two step applications and three step application of fertilizer respectively under 9.00 cm/h, 13.20 cm/h and 17.00 cm/h rainfall intensities for selected land slopes. The rainfall intensity was found to have a principal factor affecting nutrient transport as compared to steepness of land for all selected split application of fertilizer. The observed values of electrical conductivity (EC) and pH of runoff water indicated a negative correlation with increase in steps of fertilizer applications. The scenario of three-step split application of fertilizers was found the most efficient method for Nutrient loss management.