Reactive N emissions from cropland and their mitigation in the North China Plain

A - Papers appearing in refereed journals

Wang, J., Sha, Z., Zhang, J., Kang, J., Xu, W., Goulding, K. W. T. and Liu, X. 2022. Reactive N emissions from cropland and their mitigation in the North China Plain. Environmental Research. 214 (3), p. 114015. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2022.114015

AuthorsWang, J., Sha, Z., Zhang, J., Kang, J., Xu, W., Goulding, K. W. T. and Liu, X.
Abstract

Excessive application of chemical nitrogen (N) fertilizer and inefficient N management are still common in the North China Plain, leading to large reactive N (Nr) losses and pollution, threatening environmental security and public health. Three improved N management practices (33% reduction in N applied (OU), OU combined with partial organic fertilizer substitution (UOM) and the urea in UOM amended with a urease inhibitor (ULOM)) together with no N application (CK) and farmers’ conventional practice (CU) were tested on a maize-wheat rotation at Quzhou, Hebei, North China Plain (NCP). Nr emissions were related to WFPS (Water Filled Pore Space), soil mineral N (NH4+-N and NO3􀀀 -N) and soil temperature. Nr emissions and yield-scaled Nr emissions were significantly reduced by partial substitution of organic fertilizer for chemical fertilizer: NH3 emissions were reduced by 55.8–62.4%. Using a urease inhibitor (Limus®), further reduced NH3 emissions by 40.2–64.5%. Yield-scaled NH3 emissions were, on average, reduced by 60.0% and 55.2% in the maize and wheat growing season, respectively, relative to the UOM treatment. Long-term application of organic fertilizer had a significant
positive effect on N use efficiency (NUE). Overall, the study shows that appropriated N management such as reducing the N application rate, partial substitution of chemical N by organic N and using a urease inhibitor can reduce Nr emissions and promote NUE in the North China Plain. The methods corresponding to the ULOM and UOM treatments were the most and second most effective, respectively, with high net economic benefits.

KeywordsReactive N emissions Mitigation ; Organic fertilizer; N stabilizer; Maize-wheat rotation; Nitrogen
Year of Publication2022
JournalEnvironmental Research
Journal citation214 (3), p. 114015
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2022.114015
Web address (URL)https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2022.114015
Open accessPublished as non-open access
Funder project or codeUK - China Virtual Joint Centre for Improved Nitrogen Agronomy (CINAG)
Output statusPublished
Publication dates
Online06 Aug 2022
Publication process dates
Accepted27 Jul 2022
PublisherAcademic Press Inc Elsevier Science
ISSN0013-9351

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