Yanqi Li , Xuanming Wang , Yu Guan , Qi Wu , Daocai Chi , Nanthi S. Bolan , Kadambot H.M. Siddique
{"title":"Nano-biochar-based struvite with urea reduces ammonia emission and warming potential, promotes nitrogen utilization balance, and improves net ecosystem economic benefits of paddy fields","authors":"Yanqi Li , Xuanming Wang , Yu Guan , Qi Wu , Daocai Chi , Nanthi S. Bolan , Kadambot H.M. Siddique","doi":"10.1016/j.fcr.2025.109872","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Context or problem</h3><div>This study explores the development of an efficient, eco-friendly nano-biochar-based struvite (NBS) fertilizer by enhancing slow-release properties and nanocolloid content of biochar-based fertilizers through ultrasound-assisted magnesium modification.</div></div><div><h3>Objective or research question</h3><div>The NBS fertilizer is designed to partially replace urea at low doses, reducing the environmental impact of fast-release fertilizers while promoting nitrogen (N) balance in the soil–crop system.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A two-year field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of different NBS substitution rates (0 %: CF, 10 %: B<sub>1</sub>N<sub>9</sub>, 30 %: B<sub>3</sub>N<sub>7</sub>) on soil aggregate stability, ammonia (NH<sub>3</sub>) volatilization, warming potential, soil apparent N balance, crop N uptake, yield, and net ecosystem economic benefits (NEEB). The critical N concentration dilution curve model and N nutrition index (NNI) were used for assessment.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The results showed that the treatments of replacing partial urea with NBS (BN treatments) significantly reduced cumulative NH<sub>3</sub> emissions by 19.64–35.20 %, lowering the warming potential by 14.85–31.93 kg CO<sub>2</sub>-eq ha<sup>–1</sup>. Floodwater NH<sub>4</sub><sup>+</sup>-N concentration played a stronger role in influencing NH<sub>3</sub> volatilization than floodwater pH. Increasing NBS application improved soil aggregate stability by enhancing the proportion of > 250 μm water-stable aggregates, thereby improving N retention. The BN treatments reduced soil apparent N loss by 21.32–41.84 %, and resulted in NNI values between 0.88 and 1.00, indicating balanced crop N utilization. Replacing 10 % urea with NBS (B<sub>1</sub>N<sub>9</sub>) led to displayed stronger N assimilation than the 30 % substitution (B<sub>3</sub>N<sub>7</sub>) under identical dry matter conditions. The B<sub>1</sub>N<sub>9</sub> treatment also increased yields by 15.02 %, and improved NEEB by 4.38 % (two-year average).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Based on these findings, we recommend applying NBS to replace 10 % of urea to enhance agricultural sustainability and profitability.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12143,"journal":{"name":"Field Crops Research","volume":"326 ","pages":"Article 109872"},"PeriodicalIF":5.6000,"publicationDate":"2025-03-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Field Crops Research","FirstCategoryId":"97","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378429025001376","RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"AGRONOMY","Score":null,"Total":0}
Nano-biochar-based struvite with urea reduces ammonia emission and warming potential, promotes nitrogen utilization balance, and improves net ecosystem economic benefits of paddy fields
Context or problem
This study explores the development of an efficient, eco-friendly nano-biochar-based struvite (NBS) fertilizer by enhancing slow-release properties and nanocolloid content of biochar-based fertilizers through ultrasound-assisted magnesium modification.
Objective or research question
The NBS fertilizer is designed to partially replace urea at low doses, reducing the environmental impact of fast-release fertilizers while promoting nitrogen (N) balance in the soil–crop system.
Methods
A two-year field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of different NBS substitution rates (0 %: CF, 10 %: B1N9, 30 %: B3N7) on soil aggregate stability, ammonia (NH3) volatilization, warming potential, soil apparent N balance, crop N uptake, yield, and net ecosystem economic benefits (NEEB). The critical N concentration dilution curve model and N nutrition index (NNI) were used for assessment.
Results
The results showed that the treatments of replacing partial urea with NBS (BN treatments) significantly reduced cumulative NH3 emissions by 19.64–35.20 %, lowering the warming potential by 14.85–31.93 kg CO2-eq ha–1. Floodwater NH4+-N concentration played a stronger role in influencing NH3 volatilization than floodwater pH. Increasing NBS application improved soil aggregate stability by enhancing the proportion of > 250 μm water-stable aggregates, thereby improving N retention. The BN treatments reduced soil apparent N loss by 21.32–41.84 %, and resulted in NNI values between 0.88 and 1.00, indicating balanced crop N utilization. Replacing 10 % urea with NBS (B1N9) led to displayed stronger N assimilation than the 30 % substitution (B3N7) under identical dry matter conditions. The B1N9 treatment also increased yields by 15.02 %, and improved NEEB by 4.38 % (two-year average).
Conclusions
Based on these findings, we recommend applying NBS to replace 10 % of urea to enhance agricultural sustainability and profitability.
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.