Nitrate Leaching in the Meadows of Western Lithuania with Different Liming and Fertilisation Levels

Investigations of recent decades in the Baltic region including Lithuania showed that intensive liming and mineral fertilisation are the main factors achieving maximum crop yield. However, this farming method had a negative effect on soil quality and nutrient leaching became more intensive. Grassland fertilisation with nitrogen (N) helps plants to assimilate P, K, Ca, Na, but it may increase leaching of nutrients (Niczyporuk & Jankowska, 1995). Nitrate leaching is usually low from grasslands, primarily due to their long growing season compared to arable crops (Korsaeth et.al., 2003). The objective of this research was to determine the effect of liming and N fertilisation on lysimeter water contamination by nitrate (NO3)