Abstract
Aim
Nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) in subtropical cropping systems is low causing a large quantity of reactive N loss to the environment. However, the mechanisms and pathways of such losses are poorly understood. The objectives of the research were to quantify N volatilization rates and corresponding NUE in a biochar and nitrapyrin-treated cabbage field using N-control as well as a 15N-based approach.
Methods
The treatments consisted of: N-control, urea alone, urea with nitrapyrin (UN), urea with biochar (UB), and urea with biochar and nitrapyrin (UNB). In each plot, 15N-labeled urea was applied in 1 m2 micro-plots to repeat the treatments.
Results
The UNB had higher (p < 0.001) crop yields than other treatments by 29, 23 and 16% over the urea, UN and UB treatments, respectively, while the UN and UB were also higher than the urea alone. The estimated 15N-based NUE was higher (p < 0.01) in the UNB (40%) than in the urea alone (32%) but similar to the UN (36%) and UB (38%). The N-control based calculation overestimated NUE by 2–13% relative to the 15N-based approach. The UNB treatment reduced NH3 volatilization by 37, 22, and 33% over urea alone, UB and UN, respectively (p < 0.01). Post-harvest soil organic carbon (SOC) and total N were higher (p < 0.001) in the UNB and UB treatments than the other treatments.
Conclusion
Our results with a subtropical crop suggest that biochar alone or co-applied with nitrapyrin improves NUE and mitigates NH3 volatilization while increasing SOC and TN contents.
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Data Availability
The datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
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Acknowledgements
Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC) administered the research project funded by the Krishi Gobeshona Foundation (KGF) in association with the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR, Project LWR 2016/136) and the Soil and Water Management Section of IAEA.
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• Mohammad Jahiruddin, PhD, as Professor of Dept. of Soil Science, Bangladesh Agricultural University, worked on research planning and paper editing.
• Mohammad Rafiqul Islam, PhD, Professor of Dept. of Soil Science, Bangladesh Agricultural University, worked on research planning.
• Christoph Müller, PhD, Professor of Institute of Plant Ecology (IFZ), Justus-Liebig University Giessen, Germany and School of Biology and Environmental Science and Earth Institute, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, Ireland worked on research planning, and paper editing.
• Mohammad Zaman, Technical Officer, Soil and Water Management and Crop Nutrition, Joint FAO/IAEA Division of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture, Vienna, Austria. He had contribution in methodological development.
• Richard Bell, PhD, is a Professor of Land Management, Centre for Sustainable Farming Systems, Future Foods Institute, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Australia. Worked on planning, proofreading and paper editing.
• Rozina Parvin, a post-graduate student at Bangladesh Agricultural University, conducted laboratory work.
• Jannatul Ferdous, Lecturer, Dept. of Soil Science, Bangladesh Agricultural University, conducted field and laboratory work, data processing, analysis and paper draft preparation.
• Mohammad Mofizur Rahman Jahangir, Professor of Dept. of Soil Science, Bangladesh Agricultural University, worked on research planning, data interpretation and paper editing.
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Ferdous, J., Parvin, R., Islam, M.R. et al. Biochar with nitrapyrin reduces ammonia volatilization and increases nitrogen use efficiency of cabbage: A 15N tracer study. Plant Soil 498, 471–485 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-023-06448-y
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-023-06448-y