NITRATE LEACHING AND STRAWBERRY PRODUCTION UNDER DRIP IRRIGATION MANAGEMENT

The aim of the present study is the understanding of N leaching and up take in an experimental crop. The experiment was carried out in one of the European aquifers most polluted by agricultural practices (Maresm e area, Barcelona, Spain) and performed on a widespread crop in the ar ea. The study aimed to determine the effect of continuous fertigation regimes through drip irrigation on N uptake and leaching as well as on the yield of strawberries. Irrigation regimes were imposed by waterin g when suction was -0.01 MPa (wet) and -0.07 MPa (dry) in the root zon e. The nutrient solution was the same for both treatments. Foliage and fruit N concentration did not differ between the treatments, but N up take was higher in the wet treatment; as a result, plant production an d biomass increased. Nitrate nitrogen (NO3-N) leachates under the root zone were 1535 and 471 kg N ha(-1), respectively; N uptake was 12% an d 23% of the total applied. The wet irrigation regime resulted in sign ificantly increased yields, Experimental conditions revealed a slow tr ansit time through the vadose zone. Management practices should be imp roved to account for crop needs and thus, improve N uptake efficiency and reduce N leaching.