Short-term effects of maize straw return with nitrogen fertilization on ammonia and nitrous oxide emissions in Northeast China

Minglei Cheng; Wenjie Zhan; Zhiming Liu; Yujun Cao; Wenwen Wei; Yanjie Lv; Lichun Wang; Yongjun Wang

Crop and Environment (Dec 2023)

Short-term effects of maize straw return with nitrogen fertilization on ammonia and nitrous oxide emissions in Northeast China

Minglei Cheng,
Wenjie Zhan,
Zhiming Liu,
Yujun Cao,
Wenwen Wei,
Yanjie Lv,
Lichun Wang,
Yongjun Wang

Affiliations

Minglei Cheng: MARA Key Laboratory of Crop Ecophysiology and Farming System in Northeast China, Institute of Agricultural Resource and Environment, Jilin Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 1363 Shengtai St., Changchun, Jilin 130033, China; College of Agronomy, Jilin Agricultural University, 2888 Xincheng St., Changchun, Jilin 130118, China; Key Laboratory of Organic-based Fertilizers of China and Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory for Solid Organic Waste Utilization, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210095, China
Wenjie Zhan: Key Laboratory of Organic-based Fertilizers of China and Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory for Solid Organic Waste Utilization, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210095, China
Zhiming Liu: MARA Key Laboratory of Crop Ecophysiology and Farming System in Northeast China, Institute of Agricultural Resource and Environment, Jilin Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 1363 Shengtai St., Changchun, Jilin 130033, China
Yujun Cao: MARA Key Laboratory of Crop Ecophysiology and Farming System in Northeast China, Institute of Agricultural Resource and Environment, Jilin Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 1363 Shengtai St., Changchun, Jilin 130033, China
Wenwen Wei: MARA Key Laboratory of Crop Ecophysiology and Farming System in Northeast China, Institute of Agricultural Resource and Environment, Jilin Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 1363 Shengtai St., Changchun, Jilin 130033, China
Yanjie Lv: MARA Key Laboratory of Crop Ecophysiology and Farming System in Northeast China, Institute of Agricultural Resource and Environment, Jilin Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 1363 Shengtai St., Changchun, Jilin 130033, China; Corresponding author.
Lichun Wang: MARA Key Laboratory of Crop Ecophysiology and Farming System in Northeast China, Institute of Agricultural Resource and Environment, Jilin Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 1363 Shengtai St., Changchun, Jilin 130033, China; College of Agronomy, Jilin Agricultural University, 2888 Xincheng St., Changchun, Jilin 130118, China
Yongjun Wang: MARA Key Laboratory of Crop Ecophysiology and Farming System in Northeast China, Institute of Agricultural Resource and Environment, Jilin Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 1363 Shengtai St., Changchun, Jilin 130033, China; College of Agronomy, Jilin Agricultural University, 2888 Xincheng St., Changchun, Jilin 130118, China; Corresponding author.

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 2, no. 4
pp. 209 – 220

Abstract

Read online

The annual degradation of biological soil health within Northeast China (NC), specifically in the context of spring maize (Zea mays L.) cultivation, has been a growing concern. Improving straw management is a potential strategy to ameliorate this ongoing deterioration. This study aimed to determine the responses of soil gaseous nitrogen (N) losses to deep-plowed maize straw into the surface soil layer. The field experiment was conducted from 2019 to 2021 with six treatments: no straw (S0N0), half straw (7.5 t ha−1, S0.5N0), and full straw return (15 t ha−1, S1N0) without N fertilizer; no straw (S0N200), half straw (S0.5N200), and full straw return (S1N200) with 200 kg N ha−1. The results indicated that the cumulative ammonia (NH3) volatilization increased by 74.6% and 120.0% in S0.5N200 and S1N200 compared with S0N200, respectively. The cumulative nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions were lower in S0.5 and S1 than in S0 by 48.8% and 45.3%, respectively. The soil NO3−-N content in the 0−80 cm layer was reduced by 48.5% and 56.5% in S0.5 and S1, respectively, compared with S0. However, the agronomic efficiency of N (AEN) decreased by 5.4% and 17.6% in S0.5 and S1, respectively, compared with S0 in 2021. Overall, the deep incorporation of maize straw into farmland in NC primarily increased the NH3 emission in the short term. However, it was beneficial for reducing the N2O emission and avoiding N leaching into deeper soil layers. An increase in N fertilization would better meet the demand for maize growth, thus enhancing the yield. In the future, controlling the NH3 emission to improve N use efficiency can further unleash the potential of the straw return to increase soil N reservoirs, enhance ecological benefits, and maintain food security.

Published in Crop and Environment

ISSN: 2773-126X (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Agriculture: Agriculture (General); Social Sciences: Industries. Land use. Labor: Special industries and trades: Agricultural industries
Website: https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/crop-and-environment

About the journal

Abstract

Keywords