Achieving sustainable goals in agroecosystems through the optimization of agricultural resources integrating the water-nitrogen-carbon nexus
Mo Li,
Pingan Zhang,
Aizheng Yang,
Xiaofang Wang,
Yan Sha,
Qiang Fu
Affiliations
Mo Li
School of Water Conservancy and Civil Engineering, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150030, China; Heilongjiang Province Key Laboratory of Smart Water Network, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, Heilongjaing 150030, China; National Key Laboratory of Smart Farm Technology and System, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150030, China; International Cooperation Joint Laboratory of Health in Cold Region Black Soil Habitat of the Ministry of Education, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150030, China; Key Laboratory of Effective Utilization of Agricultural Water Resources of Ministry of Agriculture, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150030, China; Corresponding author
Pingan Zhang
School of Water Conservancy and Civil Engineering, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150030, China; Heilongjiang Province Key Laboratory of Smart Water Network, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, Heilongjaing 150030, China
Aizheng Yang
School of Water Conservancy and Civil Engineering, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150030, China; Heilongjiang Province Key Laboratory of Smart Water Network, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, Heilongjaing 150030, China
Xiaofang Wang
School of Water Conservancy and Civil Engineering, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150030, China; Heilongjiang Province Key Laboratory of Smart Water Network, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, Heilongjaing 150030, China
Yan Sha
School of Water Conservancy and Civil Engineering, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150030, China; Heilongjiang Province Key Laboratory of Smart Water Network, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, Heilongjaing 150030, China
Qiang Fu
School of Water Conservancy and Civil Engineering, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150030, China; Heilongjiang Province Key Laboratory of Smart Water Network, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, Heilongjaing 150030, China; Corresponding author
Summary: This study investigates the synergistic utilization of straw, water, and nitrogen resources in agricultural ecosystems to optimize sustainable management practices. Focusing on a tomato-corn-soybean agroecosystem, the research quantifies the interactions within the water-nitrogen-carbon nexus and evaluates various straw utilization strategies. Results show that, under optimized water (196-157-123 mm) and nitrogen (207-236-84 kg/ha) conditions, the water and carbon footprints decreased by 2.25–5.46% and 3.37–13.82%, respectively, compared to local practices. Economic benefits and overall quality improved by 8.27–21.06% and 4.06–7.63%, respectively. Prioritizing straw return to the field and straw biochar preparation scenarios enhanced system coordination by 1.41–9.62%. These findings offer valuable insights for decision-makers, providing strategies for sustainable agriculture that balance resource optimization, food security, and environmental protection.
