National Features of the Nitrate Directive Implementation in Agricultural Practice
Abstract
Aim. To substantiate the approach towards the identification of zones, vulnerable to nitrate accumulation, based on the data of mineral nitrogen content in soil according to the requirements of the Nitrate Directive. Methods. The study was conducted on arable soils of humus-accumulative genesis on six land plots in the Forest-Steppe of Ukraine with the rate of applying nitrogen-containing fertilizers from 0 to 170 kg/ha. The content of mineral nitrogen (Nmin), nitrates and productive moisture reserves was determined layer-wise down to the depth of 120 cm, in dynamics during the vegetative periods of 2021, 2024, and 2025. Crops: grain corn, winter wheat, spring barley, oil flax. Results. A considerable variability in the content of Nmin and nitrates proper was determined in soil depending on terms, ways, and norms of applying nitrogen-containing fertilizers. The maximal concentrations were observed in the arable soil layer immediately after the application of nitrogen fertilizers, but these parameters gradually decreased with time and depth. In June–July, the highest accumulation of nitrates in deep soil layers was noted when, at the norm of the application of fertilizers of over N100, the content of nitric nitrogen at the depth from 80 to 120 cm was from 15.6 to 35.8 mg/kg. The accumulation of nitrates in deep layers of soil decreases in the course of the vegetation period, and at the time of harvesting, the content of nitric nitrogen at the depth of 80–120 cm did not exceed 10 mg/kg in a year with normal moisturization conditions and 4 mg/kg in a dry year. At the norm of applying fertilizers up to 100 kg/ha, the accumulation of Nmin and nitrates in deep soil layers is minimal. Conclusions. The use of Nmin as an indicator corresponds to the requirements of the Nitrate Directive regarding the identification of zones, vulnerable to the accumulation of nitrates. It is reasonable to take measurements after harvesting the crops. The application of nitrogen-containing fertilizers for the crops of rotations on arable soils of the humus-accumulative genesis in the plains of Ukraine with non-flushing or periodically flushing type of the water regime at the norm, not exceeding 100 kg/ha, does not pose any threat of leaching mineral nitrogen and its nitrate forms from soil and further pollution of the underground waters.References
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