Measures for reducing nitrate leaching in orchards:A review.

Abstract Nitrogen (N) is one of the most important nutrients for plant growth. However, improper management of N fertilization in agriculture has led to a large amount of nitrate leaching, which is especially the case in fruit production systems. Studies have shown that high levels of nitrate in drinking water can cause harm to the human body. Excessive nitrate in rivers leads to eutrophication and damage to the ecological environment of the water. This study reviewed the measures and methods for reducing nitrate leaching in orchards. Some approaches for reducing nitrate leaching in orchards were evaluated, such as using grass cover, applying controlled-release N fertilizer, adding nitrification inhibitors, etc. These methods play important roles in reducing nitrate leaching in orchards, but more importantly, integrated measures are required to achieve agricultural sustainability and environmental protection goals.