Nitrogen Management in Field Vegetables - A guide to efficient fertilisation

by Nicolas Tremblay, Hans-Christoph Scharpf, Ulrike Weier, Hélène Laurence and Josée Owen. 2001.

In collaboration with Nutrite and Hannover.

This document is available in HTM version or PDF version.

Table of contents

1. Introduction
2. Nitrogen cycle
   • 2.1 Inputs
     • 2.1.1 Soil mineral nitrogen in spring (SMNS)
     • 2.1.2 Mineralisation of organic matter
     • 2.1.3 Precipitation
     • 2.1.4 Irrigation
     • 2.1.5 Mineral fertilisation
   • 2.2 Outputs
     • 2.2.1 Plant needs
     • 2.2.2 Mineral nitrogen not absorbed by the plant
3. Methods of estimating the nitrogen fertiliser requirements of vegetable crops
   • 3.1 Methods based on experience and observation
     • 3.1.1 Experiences
     • 3.1.2 Observation
   • 3.2 Calculation-based methods
     • 3.2.1 Expert systems
     • 3.2.2 Simulation models
   • 3.3 Methods based on soil and plant analyses
     • 3.3.1 Soil
     • 3.3.2 Plants
     • 3.3.3 Using soil and sap nitrate measurements
4. Nitrogen balance
   • 4.1 Using the nitrogen balance when fertilising
     • 4.1.1 Where do the values come from?
     • 4.1.2 Sample calculation
5. Prevention of nitrogen leaching
   • 5.1 Improved fertiliser management
     • 5.1.1 Quantity of fertiliser
     • 5.1.2 Fertiliser handling
   • 5.2 Crop growth
   • 5.3 Green manures
   • 5.4 Organic fertiliser
   • 5.5 Other fertiliser sources
   • 5.6 Crop residues
     • 5.6.1 Methods of incorporation
   • 5.7 Choice of crop
   • 5.8 Irrigation
   • 5.9 Sub-optimal nitrogen fertilisation
6. Reduction of nitrates in the edible parts of vegetables
   • 6.1 Factors influencing the nitrate in edible parts of vegetables
     • 6.1.1 Fertilisation
     • 6.1.2 Sunlight
     • 6.1.3 Variety
   • 6.2 Maturity at harvest
   • 6.3 Controls
     • 6.3.1 Avoid over-fertilisation
     • 6.3.2 Sub-optimal nitrogen fertilisation
     • 6.3.3 Multiple applications of fertilisers
     • 6.3.4 Ammonium fertilisers
     • 6.3.5 Slow-release fertilisers
     • 6.3.6 Harvest
7. Conclusion
8. References
9. Appendix I
   Appendix II