Alfalfa In Rotation With Annual Crops Reduced Nitrate Leaching Potential.

Rotation of perennial alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) with annual crops has the potential to reduce nitrate-nitrogen (NO 3 -N) in the vadose zone and increase soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration. The objective of this study was to determine the long-term effects on SOC, NO 3 -N, ammonium-N (NH 4 -N), and soil water in the 7.2-m depth with an alfalfa rotation compared with continuous corn (Zea mays L.). Soils from six pairs of alfalfa rotation versus continuous corn observation points were sampled to 7.2 m depth in 0.3 m increments. The upper-most 0.3 m was divided into 0 - 0.15 and 0.15 - 0.30 m. For the 0-7.2 m depth, the alfalfa rotation compared with continuous corn had 26% less soil water (0.29 vs. 0.39 g cm -3 ), and 55% less NO 3 -N (368 vs. 824 kg ha -1 ). The cropping system and NO 3 -N concentration did not affect NH 4 -N in the vadose zone. The alfalfa rotation compared with continuous corn had 47% higher SOC (105.96 Mg ha -1 vs. 72.12 Mg ha -1 ) and 23% higher total soil N (TSN) (11.99 Mg ha -1 vs. 9.73 Mg ha -1 ) in the 0-1.2 m depth. The greater depletion of soil water and NO 3 -N with alfalfa rotation was primarily below the rooting zone of corn, suggesting no negative implications for corn following alfalfa but greatly reduced potential of NO 3 -N leaching to the aquifer with the alfalfa rotation. Alfalfa rotation compared with continuous corn is a means to greatly reduce the leaching of NO 3 -N to the aquifer and improve the surface soil with the potential to increase SOC sequestration. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.