Abstract:Large accumulation of mineral nitrogen (N) in agric ultural eco systems is concerned to have potential risks to environment. This s tudy was aimed toward better understanding on the mechanisms in the accumulation and movement of mineral N in cropping soils in semi arid regions, based on a l ong term field experiment established in 1984 to monitor semi arid agro syste ms in the Loess Plateau. The annual means of rainfalls at the experimental site were 580 mm (about 70% received between July and Oct.) an...