Spatial variability of soil properties, nitrogen balance and nitrate leaching using digital methods on heterogeneous arable fields in southern Germany

In this study, the spatial variability of nitrogen (N) balances and potential nitrate leaching were determined in heterogeneous arable fields in southern Germany using digital methods (tractor-mounted multispectral sensor, satellite data, vegetation indices and models) and measurements of nitrate stocks in deeper zones (1−2.5 m soil depth) with deep drilling. The aim of this study was to achieve precise localisation of N losses at high spatial resolution (sub field level; 10 × 10 m grid). The spatial variability of plant parameters within uniformly fertilised fields (crop yield, N uptake) was determined for the calculation of the N balances. The spatial variability of soil properties (e.g. soil organic carbon content, soil total nitrogen content) were determined to identify the causes of high or low N surpluses and nitrate leaching in sub-fields. N surplus determined using different digital methods and measured nitrate stocks showed similar spatial patterns. Site-specific N balancing identified zones with high N loss potential (N surplus up to 86 kg ha⁻¹). Deep drilling showed zones with high nitrate loss (nitrate N up to 94 kg ha⁻¹). N surplus and nitrate loss correlated with r = 0.49. This relationship could be impacted by many other soil and management factors. Soil properties showed considerable spatial variation within the fields. Soil organic carbon (SOC) and soil total nitrogen (TN) content were closely correlated in all fields (up to r = 0.96) and were most closely positively correlated with crop yield and N uptake (up to r = 0.74) and negatively correlated with N surplus (up to r = − 0.73). The sensor data and satellite data (crop yield, N uptake, N surplus) showed similar distribution patterns. Based on these results, digital technologies are suitable for the calculation of site-specific N surplus and estimation of nitrate leaching risk. Satellite or sensor based site-specific and yield-oriented fertilization is one approach to reduce N surplus on sub fields with low yield potential and high nitrate leaching risk.