# Nitrate Leaching and threat of Ground Water Contamination in Sugarcane Based Cropping System of Bihar

Sayan Chattopadhyay, Ajeet Kumar, Sanjay Kumar Singh

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Sayan Chattopadhyay, Ajeet Kumar, Sanjay Kumar Singh. Nitrate Leaching and threat of Ground Water Contamination in Sugarcane Based Cropping System of Bihar. Agriculture & Food: E-Newsletter, 2021, pp.369-372. hal-04935232

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# Nitrate Leaching and threat of Ground Water Contamination in Sugarcane Based Cropping System of Bihar

Article ID: 35126

Sayan Chattopadhyay¹, Ajeet Kumar², Sanjay Kumar Singh³

¹M.Sc. (Ag.) Research Scholar, Department of Soil Science, Faculty of Agriculture, DRPCAU, Pusa (Samastipur), Bihar-848125, India.

²Assistant Professor-cum-Scientist, Department of Soil Science, Sugarcane Research Institute, DRPCAU, Pusa (Samastipur), Bihar-848125, India.

³Assistant Professor-cum-Scientist, Department of Soil Science, Tirhut College of Agriculture, Muzaffarpur, DRPCAU, Pusa (Samastipur), Bihar.

## Abstract

Sugarcane is a tropical plant and grown as cash crop. In India it is the main source of sugar. To pursue high yield, farmers of Bihar generally use heavy dose of nitrogenous fertilizer (300-400 kg N ha⁻¹) which is much more than the recommended dose (150 kg N ha⁻¹). The applied N fertilizer either absorbed by the crops or stored in the root zone, and lost by ammonia volatilization, nitrogen leaching, N₂O and N₂ emissions. The NO₃⁻ N accumulated in the root zone move downward by percolated soil water, and eventually enters the groundwater. The overuse of nitrogen fertilizer, heavy rain in monsoon and abundant irrigation caused severe nitrogen leaching and increases the risk of groundwater contamination with nitrate. Therefore, it is necessary to manage the water and nitrogen fertilizer to ensure optimum yield potential, sustainable use of groundwater resources and maintain the health of human as well other animals. The aim of the present status paper is to provide insight regarding nitrate contamination in groundwater in the sugarcane growing areas of Bihar. It is essential to develop strategies to control accumulation of NO₃⁻ in soil and their leaching from the soil and also maintain the yield potential of sugarcane.

## Introduction

Sugarcane and sugar beet are the main sources of sugar. Out of total sugar produced in the world 60 per cent is obtained only from sugarcane. Sugarcane is a tropical plant and grown as cash crop. Asia is the largest producer of sugar followed by Europe. Most of the sugar in Asia comes from sugarcane. The global production of raw sugar is 112 mt. India stands second in area (5.01 m. ha) and production (352.14 m.t) among the sugarcane growing countries of the world. Uttar Pradesh has the largest area almost 50 per cent of the cane area in the country, followed by Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Bihar, Haryana and Punjab. Sugarcane is a long duration crop that requires a high quantity of nutrients. Moreover, continuous planting of sugarcane in the same field depletes the soil nutrients. A crop having yield of 100 t ha⁻¹ removes 207 kg N, 30 kg P₂O₅ and 233 kg K₂O from the soil (Jagtap et al., 2006). Therefore, these elements must be added in adequate quantities to obtain higher yield. Among these elements N is the primary nutrient limiting sugarcane production (Wiedenfeld and Enciso, 2008). Differences in soils, environmental factors and sugarcane cultivars limit the usefulness of research from other areas. World recommended rates of N fertilizer for sugarcane production vary between 45 and 300 kg ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ (Srivastava and Suarez, 1992) Dry matter accumulation increased significantly when a high N rate (225 kg ha⁻¹) was compared with 175 or 150 kg N ha⁻¹ (Lal, 1991). The large amounts of N fertilizer applied to most cropping systems support high yields but may result in excessive N levels in groundwater or surface water (Robinson et al., 2007). Nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) has been well studied in many crop species, especially grain crops, where kernel N content is a key harvest index. In contrast NUE in sugarcane has not been properly understood, since N is an insignificant component of the harvested product. However, increasing concerns about pollution from N run off due to excessive fertilization demand an improved understanding of NUE in sugarcane, so that applied N is effectively utilized (Whan et al., 2007). Moreover, unlike in cereals, the longer span of sugarcane growth presents different challenges for efficient N use. For
many locations, the depletion of plant-available soil N over time justifies the need for split application of the yearly total N rate. Wiedenfeld (1997) observed a progressive decline in soil NO₃ concentration with delay in soil sampling after N fertilizer application. Proper land management programs should include the establishment of fertilization regimes that optimize growth with minimum nutrient leaching (Van Miegroet *et al.*, 1994). These involve adjusting fertilizer application rates and frequencies to maximize N utilization while minimizing N leaching from the rooting zone (Lee and Jose, 2005).

## Sugarcane Production in Bihar

In sub-tropical region, Bihar is second largest sugar producing state next to Uttar Pradesh with an area of about 3.15 lakh hectares, but its share in area under sugarcane is only 4.90 percent and in production is 4.31 percent of all India production which is very low, with an average yield of 65.0 tonnes/ha, which is below the national average (70.10 tonnes/ha). North Bihar is suitable for producing good quality sugarcane with minimum inputs as compared to other states. The district of West Champaran, East Champaran, Gopalganj, Sitamarhi, Siwan and Samsatipur are the main area of sugarcane production in the state, which do not only account for nearly 70 percent cane area but 60 percent of annual cane production of the state. It also accounts for 10 sugar factories out of 28 sugar factories of state.

## Fate of Nitrogenous Fertilizers in Soil

Nitrate is a polyatomic ion and a common component of fertilizers. Almost all inorganic nitrates are soluble in water. Beside nitrate containing fertilizers ammonium containing fertilizers also contribute towards the nitrate content of soil. NH₄⁺ from ammoniacal nitrogenous fertilizers readily oxidized to NO₃⁻ through nitrification. Hence, there is always accumulation of NO₃⁻ ions, which are either taken up by the crop, immobilized by soil microbes or undergo leaching to the lower soil horizons as they are readily soluble by water. Nitrate ions, being more mobile than NH₄⁺ ions, are more prone to leaching loss.

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Application rates of nitrogenous fertilizer by the local farmers in this area often exceed crop requirements, resulting in high accumulation of nitrate in the soil. The impact of downstream nutrient export from agricultural lands continues to be of much more concern. Nitrate-nitrogen is particularly troublesome as it leaches through the soil into subsurface or groundwater, which ultimately leads to surface waters. Permeable soils make the region susceptible to groundwater pollution by NO₃⁻ N, which is applied to fields in large amounts as fertilizer. Nitrate that has accumulated in soils is highly prone to leaching, which is directly threatening the quality of groundwater. Traditional farming practices within this region typically involve application of significant amounts of nitrogenous fertilizer (300-400 kg N/ha) Combined with abundant supplies of irrigation water and annual rainfall (1236 mm/year) received as large events during a distinct wet season, the potential exists for farm related nitrate flux to rivers via both runoff and deep-drainage to ground water.

## Use of Nitrogenous Fertilizer

The range of recommended dose of nitrogen for Sugarcane cultivation in Bihar is 150 kg N ha⁻¹. One of the main problems with nitrogen fertilization in sugarcane is the low N recovery by the crop, between 10 to 40% as measured in the field using ¹⁵N tracer isotope (Chapman *et al.*, 1994). Traditional farming practices
within this region typically involve application of significant amounts of nitrogenous fertilizer (300-400 kg N/ha) Combined with abundant supplies of irrigation water and annual rainfall (1236 mm/year) received as large events during a distinct wet season, the potential exists for farm related nitrate flux to rivers via both runoff and deep-drainage to ground water. The leaching of nitrate below the rooting zone represents a loss of plant nutrient and can contribute to pollution of groundwater aquifers and eutrophication of surface waters (Pyerzynski et al., 1994).

## N-fertilizer and Ground Water Pollution

Agricultural land use represents the largest diffuse pollution threat to groundwater quality on a global scale (Haller, 2013). Nitrate is one of the main groundwater pollutants, with one part nitrogen and three parts oxygen. This form of nitrogen is usually found in water. High nitrate concentrations in groundwater can cause health risk and environmental pollution that have already become a common problem in many parts of the country. In a recent year, more than 1.1 worldwide billion people lack of safe drinking water (Prasad, 2006). Water quality around the agricultural areas has deteriorated by the leaching of fertilizers and pesticides due to the intensive agricultural practices (Scanlon et al; 2007). Nitrate, considered as common contaminant, leading toxic algal blooms, decreasing dissolved oxygen leading to loss of several species in aquatic systems. It is found that $NO_3^-$ lost from soils and eventually accumulates in groundwater which people use for drinking water, due to intensive use of nitrogen fertilizers. Drinking water with high $NO_3^-$ concentration can cause methemoglobinemia. In general, nitrate concentrations occurring in groundwater are naturally less than 2 mg/L. The safe limit of nitrate in drinking water is up to 10 mg/L (WHO standard). As a result of Agricultural activities, the Nitrate concentration can easily reach several hundred milligrams per L (WHO, 1985b). For example, concentration of up to 1500 mg/L was found in ground water in agricultural area of India (Jacks & Sharma, 1983).

## Human Health Associated with Nitrate Contamination

Nitrate concentration in drinking water starts affecting the health of the populace at levels in the range of 100 to 200 mg/L of water. Consuming too much nitrate can be harmful especially for babies. It can affect blood carries oxygen and cause Methemoglobinemia/blue baby syndrome that eventually leads to developing an intestinal cancer. Actually, Blood contains hemoglobin, which carries oxygen. When nitrate is present, hemoglobin can be converted to methemoglobin, which cannot carry oxygen. In the blood of adults, certain enzymes continually convert methemoglobin back to hemoglobin, and methemoglobin levels normally do not exceed 1%, while infants have lower levels of these enzymes, and their methemoglobin level is usually rise up to 1% to 2 % which is fatal to infants.

## Conclusion

Strategies should be made to improve fertilizer and water use efficiency, reduce nitrate leaching and contamination of groundwater without reduction in yield. The quantification, nitrate uptake by sugarcane, nitrate leaching in soil profile and its contamination in ground water under sugarcane based cropping system in cane belt of Bihar is essentially, so that resident of the area may get rid of the nitrate problems.

## References

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