Fertilizer Management Effects on Nitrate Leaching and Indirect Nitrous Oxide Emissions in Irrigated Potato Production.

The article presents a study on the effects of nitrate leaching and indirect nitrous oxide emissions in irrigated potato production on fertilizer management. Potato is a nitrogen (N)-intensive crop with high potential for nitrate leaching contributing to water contamination and indirect nitrous oxide emissions. Approaches considered for the reduction of N losses include conventional split application (CSA) of soluble fertilizers and polymer-coated urea (PCU). The study compares leaching using CSA and two PCUs to demonstrate how more robust models are needed in accounting off-site conversion of nitrous oxide because emission factor models have higher degree of uncertainty.