Experimental study on the distribution of soil nitrate and ammonium nitrogen under controlled drainage

A field experimental project was set up to assess the effects of controlled drainage on the distribution and concentration of nitrogen in the soil at the Irrigation and Drainage Experimental Station under Four-Lake Engineering Administration of Jingzhou City, Hubei Province. Two plots drain runoff by controlled drainage system, with an area of 0.1 hm² (20 m×50 m) each. The third one with an area of 0.04 hm² (8 m×50 m) has a conventional subsurface drainage system. Under this experimental condition, the study draws the following conclusions: ① The controlled drainage system has a remarkable effect on the diminishing ratios of nitrate nitrogen between neighboring layers. It is presented that the diminishing ratio increases with the raising height of drain outlet. Controlled drainage system also reduces the transference of nitrate nitrogen in topsoil. ② Different from nitrate nitrogen, the concentration of ammonium nitrogen is stable along the longitudinal section of soil, which is little affected by the controlled drainage system. It indicates that the concentration of ammonium nitrogen decreases according to the lowering of controlling height of the drain outlet.