Exploring optimal crop management practices for high nitrogen fertilizer recovery efficiency of rice in 15N-labeled field studies

IF 6.4 1区农林科学 Q1 AGRONOMY

Field Crops Research Pub Date : 2025-09-27 DOI:10.1016/j.fcr.2025.110164

Zhangyi Xue , Tianyang Zhou , Zhikang Li , Yajun Zhang , Kuanyu Zhu , Weiyang Zhang , Zhiqin Wang , Junfei Gu , Jianchang Yang

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Abstract

Context and problem

Split nitrogen (N) fertilization strategy is popularly adopted in rice cultivation to synchronize soil N supply with crop N demand. Although N fertilizer applied at earlier stages is essential for promoting vigorous early plant growth, it is subject to leaching or volatilization, which may lead to nutrient loss and environmental pollution. Therefore, understanding the fates of basal and topdressing N fertilizers benefits in determining the right amount and timing of N application.

Objective

This study aimed to explore the integration of knowledge about nitrogen fertilizer fate with other crop management practices to improve recovery efficiency (RE).

Methods

There were five treatments: zero nitrogen input (0 N); local farmers’ practices (LFP); and three integrated crop management (ICM) strategies with stepwise additions: ICM1 (increased planting density plus optimized nitrogen rate and ratio); ICM2 (ICM1 + employing alternate wetting and moderate soil drying); and ICM3 (ICM2 + adding organic fertilizers). ¹⁵N-labelled fertilizer was applied at four growth stages: pre-transplanting (PT), early tillering (ET), panicle initiation (PI), and spikelet differentiation (SD). The total RE of nitrogen fertilizer was measured, and the REs of N fertilizers applied at PT, ET, PI and SD were analyzed by applying ¹⁵N-labelled urea.

Results

The 2-year field results showed that the RE of fertilizer N was 23.6–41.3 %, with 23.8–31.2 % of the applied ¹⁵N remaining in the 0–20 cm soil layer at crop maturity. Ammonia volatilization (53.2–76.6 kg N ha⁻¹) is the main source of nitrogen losses, accounting for 47.8–56.1 % of the total nitrogen loss. The RE of N applied at PT, ET, PI, and SD was 17.3–35.1 %, 22.3–35.8 %, 36.0–55.0 %, and 31.9–45.5 %, respectively. Meanwhile, at each of these growth stages, 20.0–28.2 %, 21.0–29.3 %, 29.1–36.6 %, and 28.9–39.3 % of the applied nitrogen fertilizer remained residual in the soil. Significant nitrogen losses occurred during the initial growth phases, leading to lower RE. ICMs improved overall RE by 19.1–43.7 % compared to LFP, mainly by improving the RE of N fertilizer applied at earlier stages (for PT, 29.6–61.3 %; for ET, 15.4–60.3 %) through enhanced root development and soil quality.

Conclusion

There is considerable potential to enhance the application and utilization of nitrogen fertilizer during the early growth stages. Integrating multiple crop management practices can effectively enhance RE of N fertilizer, particularly for N fertilizers applied at earlier growth stages.

Implication

This study provides novel insights into enhancing RE of nitrogen fertilizer through optimized crop management practices.

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在15n标记田间试验中探索水稻高氮肥回收率的最佳作物管理措施

背景与问题为了使土壤氮供应与作物氮需求同步，水稻种植普遍采用分施氮肥策略。尽管早期施氮对促进植物早期旺盛生长至关重要，但氮肥容易发生淋失或挥发，可能导致养分流失和环境污染。因此，了解基肥和追肥的命运有利于确定适当的施氮量和施氮时机。目的探讨氮肥命运知识与其他作物管理方法的整合，以提高氮肥恢复效率。方法5个处理：零氮输入（0 N）；当地农民实践（LFP）；三种作物综合管理（ICM）策略：ICM1（增加种植密度+优化氮肥用量和比例）；ICM2 （ICM1 +采用交替湿润和适度土壤干燥）；ICM3 （ICM2 +添加有机肥）。在移栽前（PT）、分蘖早期（ET）、穗形成（PI）和小穗分化（SD）四个生长阶段施用15n标记肥。测定了氮肥总稀土含量，并通过施用15n标记尿素，分析了PT、ET、PI和SD阶段氮肥的稀土含量。结果2年田间试验结果表明，施肥氮素的RE值为23.6 ~ 41.3 %，作物成熟时施用的15N有23.8 ~ 31.2 %残留在0 ~ 20 cm土层。氨挥发（53.2-76.6 kg N ha⁻¹）是氮损失的主要来源，占总氮损失的47.8-56.1 %。PT、ET、PI、SD的氮素利用率分别为17.3 ~ 35.1 %、22.3 ~ 35.8 %、36.0 ~ 55.0 %和31.9 ~ 45.5 %。各生育期氮肥残留量分别为20.0 ~ 28.2 %、21.0 ~ 29.3 %、29.1 ~ 36.6 %和28.9 ~ 39.3 %。与LFP相比，ICMs使总RE提高了19.1-43.7 %，主要是通过促进根系发育和土壤质量提高了早期施用氮肥的RE （PT为29.6-61.3 %；ET为15.4-60.3 %）。结论在水稻生长早期加强氮肥的施用和利用具有较大的潜力。综合多种作物管理措施可有效提高氮肥的可再生利用率，特别是在生育期早期施用氮肥。本研究为通过优化作物管理措施提高氮肥的可再生利用率提供了新的见解。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Field Crops Research 农林科学-农艺学

CiteScore

9.60

自引率

12.10%

发文量

307

审稿时长

46 days

期刊介绍： Field Crops Research is an international journal publishing scientific articles on: √ experimental and modelling research at field, farm and landscape levels on temperate and tropical crops and cropping systems, with a focus on crop ecology and physiology, agronomy, and plant genetics and breeding.