Reduced fertilizer rates enhanced nitrogen use efficiency and decreased
nitrogen loading in paddy rice - wheat long-term rotational cropping in
Chao Lake watershed, East China
Abstract
Fertilizer application in excess of plant nitrogen requirements, leading
to nitrogen use inefficiency has become main culprit of nitrogen
surplus, posing nonpoint pollution threats. Chao Lake has been recipient
of nitrogen loadings, mainly coming from the agroecosystem surrounding
it. This study was conducted in Chao Lake watershed to assess nitrogen
use efficiency, crop yield and nitrogen loading, using reduced and
conventional fertilizer rates, based on ten years field monitoring and
experiment. Paddy rice - wheat rotational tillage arranged in a
completely randomized design using 30m2 treatment plots was employed to
study hypothesis. Three indicators namely agronomic efficiency (kgkg-1),
recovery efficiency (%) and partial factor productivity (kgkg-1) were
considered for nitrogen use efficiency. For nitrogen loading, nitrogen
loading (kg ha-1yr-1), nitrogen runoff loss ratio (%) and net nitrogen
runoff loss ratio (%) were taken. Results revealed, empirical formula
of an exponential model explains the relationship. Reduced fertilizer
levels produced high nitrogen use efficiency, high economic yield and
less nitrogen loading. Nitrogen use efficiency was in order of: reduced
> high > conventional fertilization
treatments, while it decreased in ten years (2008 -2018) across all
treatments. Nitrogen loading increased in ten years, both for rice and
wheat growing seasons. Runoff volume influenced nitrogen loading more
than other environmental factors considered. Such strategies that
further reduce fertilizer levels by accounting for excessive supplies
are critically important to consolidate effective nitrogen management
measures.