Review on role of soil quality in nitrate leaching

Soil quality is linked intrinsically to soil organic matter (SOM), because it is important in maintaining good soil physical conditions (e.g. soil structure, aeration and water holding capacity), and contributes to soil fertility being an important nutrient reserve. Organic matter contains most of the soil reserve of N and large proportions of other nutrients. The amount of SOC in soils of India is relatively low, ranging from 0.1 to 1% and typically about 0.5%. With increase in global population and agriculture intensification, there is a global concern of decrease in SOC and overall soil quality which impairs the critical soil functions. Nitrate being an anion is easily lost from the soil through leaching due to the overall negative charge of the clay micelle. Nitrate is the primary form of leached N and is also the highly leached fertilizer nutrient in agricultural soils. SOC content has a vital role in regulating nitrate leaching.