Abstract
Aims
Reduction of the nitrogen (N) footprint of agroecosystems is currently a hot topic in various research disciplines and fields. However, the effect of machine-planted rice with side-deep fertilization (MRSF) on N loss and footprint of double-cropping rice fields in Hunan is still unclear.
Methods
We established a field experiment in which we applied various N compositions (N 135/148.5–90/99 kg ha-1) to early-season rice (ESR) and late-season rice (LSR). The loss of different N forms during the whole growth period of double cropping rice was measured. The N footprint of double cropping rice in the red soil region of Dongting Lake area was calculated using the life cycle assessment method.
Results
Compared with the conventional fertilizer, with a N level of 150/160 kg ha-1, the MRSF treatments significantly decreased both NH4+-N and NO3−-N runoff by 26.2–40.9% and 9.0–36.5%, respectively, for ESR, and by 54.4–79.0% and 6.6–40.7%, respectively, for LSR. Moreover, relative to the conventional fertilization (CF) treatment, the MRSF treatments significantly reduced leaching loss by 21.8–41.2% and 20.5%–42.1%, respectively, for ESR, and 26.7–41.8% and 20.9%–51.0%, respectively, for LSR. While urease activity decreased with increasing soil depth, MRSF treatments increased relative soil urease activity in the later rice growth stages. Compared with the CF treatment, they also decreased the total N footprint by 42.3–53.5% and 45.1–57.1% for ESR and LSR, respectively. Correlation analysis further showed that mineral N loss and total N footprint increased exponentially with the N-application rate under the MRSF strategy.
Conclusions
Overall, MRSF reduced environmental risks associated with N loss caused by paddy field leaching and runoff while maintaining the topsoil N content. In this manner, MRSF can attenuate the total N footprint of double-cropping rice systems in the Dongting Lake area.
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Data Availability
The data used to support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon request.
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Acknowledgements
This study was supported by the National Key Research and Development Project—the Development and Application of Slow Controlled-release Fertilizer Coating with Polyether Polyurethane (2017YFD200703-3), the National Technical System of Rice Industry (CARS-01-26), the Hunan Innovation Fund of Agricultural Science and Technology (2019LS03-3) and the Hunan General Fund of Natural Science Foundation (2023JJ30353).
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Zhong, X., Zhou, X., Luo, G. et al. Soil mineral nitrogen, soil urease activity, nitrogen losses and nitrogen footprint under machine-planted rice with side-deep fertilization. Plant Soil 494, 185–202 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-023-06263-5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-023-06263-5