Soil & Water Res., 2025, 20(3):206-217 | DOI: 10.17221/28/2025-SWR

Effects of variable rate fertiliser application on selected macronutrients leaching from the ploughed layerOriginal Paper

Jan Vopravil1,2, Pavel Formánek1*, Ondřej Holubík1, Pavel Svoboda3, Tomáš Khel1
1 Research Institute for Soil and Water Conservation, Prague, Czech Republic
2 Department of Land Use and Improvement, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
3 Czech Agrifood Research Center, Prague, Czech Republic

In this study, the effects of standard fertilisation versus variable fertilisation with mineral and organomineral fertilisers on N, P, K, Ca and Mg leaching from the ploughed layer and yields of winter wheat and spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) were studied. The losses of calcium were the highest, and phosphorus from phosphates was the lowest of all studied nutrients when simulated rainfall and lysimeters were used after the crops were harvested. The use of variable rate fertilisation reduced nitrates leaching in all the studied plots. Nevertheless, leaching of calcium, which is present in higher concentrations in soils (and also magnesium leaching), seems to be more dependent on the used fertilisers (or their combinations) and doses. As found in different studies, we proved that variable rate fertilisation may not increase grain yields.

Keywords: ammonium nitrogen; chemical soil properties; Chernozem; precision farming; texture

Received: March 17, 2025; Revised: May 30, 2025; Accepted: June 2, 2025; Prepublished online: June 25, 2025; Published: July 1, 2025  Show citation

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Vopravil J, Formánek P, Holubík O, Svoboda P, Khel T. Effects of variable rate fertiliser application on selected macronutrients leaching from the ploughed layer. Soil & Water Res. 2025;20(3):206-217. doi: 10.17221/28/2025-SWR.
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