Average Fertiliser Nitrogen Use and Estimates of Nitrogen Uptake by Major Arable Crops in England and Wales

摘要

Average amounts of fertiliser nitrogen applied are compared with estimates of crop uptake calculated using average yields and typical average nitrogen content in whole crops prior to harvest for wheat, barley, oilseed rape, main crop potatoes and sugar beet grown in England and Wales during the period 1974 to 1995. Soil nitrogen is not included in these estimates. The records show that there is some scope for reducing fertiliser nitrogen application to wheat and main crop potatoes thereby limiting the accumulation of nitrate in soils. The nitrogen status of soils with barley and oilseed rape was not increased by general fertiliser usage while fertiliser treated sugar beet soils had soil nitrogen levels lower than untreated soils.