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Effect of Nitrogen Fertilizer on Soil CO 2 Emission Depends on Crop Rotation Strategy

Author

Listed:
  • Dejie Kong

    (College of Agronomy, Northwest A & F University, Yangling 712100, China
    Agricultural Biotechnology Center of NingXia Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Yinchuan 750002, China
    Research Center for Recycling Agriculture Engineering Technology of Shaanxi Province, Yangling 712100, China)

  • Nana Liu

    (Ningxia Agricultural Institute of Survey Design, Yinchuan 750002, China)

  • Chengjie Ren

    (College of Agronomy, Northwest A & F University, Yangling 712100, China
    Research Center for Recycling Agriculture Engineering Technology of Shaanxi Province, Yangling 712100, China)

  • Huiying Li

    (Research Center for Recycling Agriculture Engineering Technology of Shaanxi Province, Yangling 712100, China
    Forest and Desert Control Research Institute of Alxa League, Alxa League 750306, China)

  • Weiyu Wang

    (College of Agronomy, Northwest A & F University, Yangling 712100, China
    Research Center for Recycling Agriculture Engineering Technology of Shaanxi Province, Yangling 712100, China)

  • Na Li

    (College of Agronomy, Northwest A & F University, Yangling 712100, China
    Research Center for Recycling Agriculture Engineering Technology of Shaanxi Province, Yangling 712100, China)

  • Guangxin Ren

    (College of Agronomy, Northwest A & F University, Yangling 712100, China
    Research Center for Recycling Agriculture Engineering Technology of Shaanxi Province, Yangling 712100, China)

  • Yongzhong Feng

    (College of Agronomy, Northwest A & F University, Yangling 712100, China
    Research Center for Recycling Agriculture Engineering Technology of Shaanxi Province, Yangling 712100, China)

  • Gaihe Yang

    (College of Agronomy, Northwest A & F University, Yangling 712100, China
    Research Center for Recycling Agriculture Engineering Technology of Shaanxi Province, Yangling 712100, China)

Abstract

Developing environmentally friendly and sustainable nitrogen (N) fertilizer management strategies is crucial in mitigating carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) emission from soil. How N fertilizer management practices influence soil CO 2 emission rates under different crop rotations remains unclear. The aim of this study was to assess the impact on soil CO 2 emission and soil physicochemical properties of three N fertilizer treatments including traditional rate (TF), optimized rate (0.8TF), and no fertilizer (NF) under three different crop rotation treatments: wheat-fallow (WF), wheat-soybean (WS), and wheat-maize (WM) over two years in a field experiment in northwest China. The rates were 5.51, 5.60, and 5.97 μmol·m −2 ·s −1 of mean soil CO 2 emission under the TF, 0.8TF, and NF treatments, respectively. Mean soil CO 2 emission rates were 21.33 and 26.99% higher under the WM rotation compared with the WF and WS rotations, respectively. The WS rotation showed higher soil nutrient content and lower soil CO 2 emissions, and reduced fertilizer application. Importantly, soil organic carbon (SOC) concentration in the topsoil can be maximized by including either a summer legume or a summer maize crop in winter wheat rotations, and by applying N fertilizer at the optimal rate. This may be particularly beneficial in the dryland cropping systems of northern China.

Suggested Citation

  • Dejie Kong & Nana Liu & Chengjie Ren & Huiying Li & Weiyu Wang & Na Li & Guangxin Ren & Yongzhong Feng & Gaihe Yang, 2020. "Effect of Nitrogen Fertilizer on Soil CO 2 Emission Depends on Crop Rotation Strategy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(13), pages 1-14, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:13:p:5271-:d:377899
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Andrew P. Whitmore & Keith W. T. Goulding & Margaret J. Glendining & A. Gordon Dailey & Kevin Coleman & David S. Powlson, 2012. "Nutrient Management in Support of Environmental and Agricultural Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 4(10), pages 1-12, October.
    2. Ma, Wenqi & Li, Jianhui & Ma, Lin & Wang, Fanghao & Sisák, István & Cushman, Gregory & Zhang, Fusuo, 2008. "Nitrogen flow and use efficiency in production and utilization of wheat, rice, and maize in China," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 99(1), pages 53-63, December.
    3. Xin Zhang & Eric A. Davidson & Denise L. Mauzerall & Timothy D. Searchinger & Patrice Dumas & Ye Shen, 2015. "Managing nitrogen for sustainable development," Nature, Nature, vol. 528(7580), pages 51-59, December.
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    1. Liliana Salinas-Alcántara & Rocio Vaca & Pedro del Águila & Nadia de la Portilla-López & Gustavo Yáñez-Ocampo & Laura A. Sánchez-Paz & Jorge A. Lugo, 2022. "Impact of Tillage and Fertilization on CO 2 Emission from Soil under Maize Cultivation," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-12, April.

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