N and P runoff losses in China's vegetable production systems: Loss characteristics, impact, and management practices

Abstract

Vegetable production systems involve the use of high rates of fertilizer application, leading to significant losses of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) to the environment, resulting in water body eutrophication through surface runoff and leaching. We here quantify, at the national level, total N and P runoff losses and the key factors controlling runoff in open-field vegetable systems in China, by summarizing data from 151 publications pertaining to 13 Chinese provinces using literature dating back to 1990. Rank analysis was employed to clarify the impact of N and P runoff losses in vegetable systems, and different strategies for controlling N and P entering into water bodies are being compar..