N Use Efficiency and Nitrate Leaching by Fertilization Level and Film Mulching in Sesame Cultivated Upland

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of slow release fertilizers (SRF), crotonylidene diurea (CDU) and latex coated urea (LCU), on nitrogen (N) use efficiency (NUE) and nitrate-N leaching in a silty clay loam soil under polyethylene film mulching (PFM) for sesame cultivation. In PFM plot, concentrations of NO3-N and NH4-N in SRF applied soils were less than that in the urea plot during the whole growing period. However, NO3-N and NH4-N in all the non-mulched plots (NM) were not significantly different. Urea-N in soil treated with SRF was higher than urea plot until 50 days after application and was comparable in all the treatments after 50 days. NO3-N concentrations in leached solution in 21 days after urea fertilization in PFM and NM were 26 mg L-1 and 83 mg L-1, respectively. However, NO3-N in leached solution at applied CDU and LCU was less than that of urea similar to nitrate concentration in soil. NO3-N in leached solution in applied CDU and LCU in 44 days after application was about 25% lower than that urea plot and PFM, while the NO3-N concentration of CDU and LCU treatment in NM did not changed. Application of SRF increased the yield of sesame and N recovery compared to urea and there was a little difference between SRF and N levels. In conclusion, application of 80% N level with SRF increased N recovery and reduced nitrate leaching without reduction of yields compared with urea application.