Abstract
Assessment and control of nitrogen loss from paddy fields is important to protect quality of water and atmosphere in China. A 2-year field study was carried out to investigate the effect of controlled release nitrogen fertilizer management on nitrogen loss from paddy fields under water saving irrigation. The results showed that both controlled irrigation and controlled release nitrogen fertilizer management were effective in maintaining rice yield, increasing nitrogen recovery and reducing nitrogen losses from paddy fields, but controlled release nitrogen fertilizer was more effective, halving nitrogen loss to the environment, however, the combination of controlled release nitrogen fertilizer and controlled irrigation did not provide significantly advantage in comparison with either technology used alone, except for leaching loss of ammonium, dissolved organic and total nitrogen in 2009. Nitrogen export to the environment from paddy fields with different water and nitrogen management accounted for 13.1–31.7 % of the nitrogen input. The application of controlled release nitrogen fertilizer reduced nitrogen export to the environment from paddy fields by 36.3 kg N ha−1 in comparison with farmer practice fertilizer. The application of controlled irrigation reduced nitrogen export to the environment in comparison with flooding irrigation management by 17.1 kg N ha−1. Ammonia volatilization was the major proportion accounting for 69.6–83.5 % of nitrogen loss. Ammonium and dissolved organic nitrogen also contributed significantly to nitrogen losses through runoff and leaching. The application of controlled irrigation and controlled release nitrogen fertilizer were efficient methods for the reduction of agricultural non-point pollution by nitrogen loss from paddy fields.
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The research was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 50839002) and ministry of water resources’ special funds for scientific research on public causes of China (200901039-03).
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Yang, S., Peng, S., Xu, J. et al. Effects of water saving irrigation and controlled release nitrogen fertilizer managements on nitrogen losses from paddy fields. Paddy Water Environ 13, 71–80 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10333-013-0408-9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10333-013-0408-9