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Long-Term Fertilizer Reduction in Greenhouse Tomato-Cucumber Rotation System to Assess N Utilization, Leaching, and Cost Efficiency

Author

Listed:
  • Yucong Geng

    (Key Laboratory of Nonpoint Source Pollution Control, Ministry of Agriculture, Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Beijing 100081, China
    The authors contributed equally and should be considered co-first authors.)

  • Muhammad Amjad Bashir

    (Key Laboratory of Nonpoint Source Pollution Control, Ministry of Agriculture, Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Beijing 100081, China
    College of Agriculture, Bahadur Sub-Campus Layyah, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan 60800, Pakistan
    The authors contributed equally and should be considered co-first authors.)

  • Ying Zhao

    (Institute of Agricultural Resources and Environment, NingXia Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, 590 Huanghe Donglu Road, Yinchuan 750002, China)

  • Jianhang Luo

    (Institute of Agricultural Resources and Environment, NingXia Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, 590 Huanghe Donglu Road, Yinchuan 750002, China)

  • Xiaotong Liu

    (Institute of Agricultural Resources and Environment, NingXia Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, 590 Huanghe Donglu Road, Yinchuan 750002, China)

  • Feng Li

    (Institute of Agricultural Economy and Information Technology, NingXia Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, 590 Huanghe Donglu Road, Yinchuan 750002, China)

  • Hongyuan Wang

    (Key Laboratory of Nonpoint Source Pollution Control, Ministry of Agriculture, Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Beijing 100081, China)

  • Qurat-Ul-Ain Raza

    (Department of Soil Science, FAS&T, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan 60800, Pakistan)

  • Abdur Rehim

    (College of Agriculture, Bahadur Sub-Campus Layyah, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan 60800, Pakistan
    Department of Soil Science, FAS&T, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan 60800, Pakistan)

  • Xuejun Zhang

    (Institute of Agricultural Resources and Environment, NingXia Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, 590 Huanghe Donglu Road, Yinchuan 750002, China)

  • Hongbin Liu

    (Key Laboratory of Nonpoint Source Pollution Control, Ministry of Agriculture, Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Beijing 100081, China)

Abstract

Technology-oriented approaches to reduce chemical fertilization in agroecosystems without influencing the vegetable yield is a proficient method for sustainable agriculture and environmental safety. However, short-term studies are not capable to indicate the effects of various inputs in a long run; therefore, a six-year experiment was conducted in Ningxia, China. The experimental units were: no fertilizer control (CK: 0 kg N ha −1 ), chicken manure (M: organic N 362 kg ha −1 ), reduced chemical fertilizer (RCF: chemical N 992 kg ha −1 + organic N 362 kg ha −1 ), and conventional fertilizer (CF: chemical N 1515 kg ha −1 + organic N 362 kg ha −1 ). The study aimed to assess the effects of reduced fertilization on yield, nitrogen (N) use efficiency (NUE), N leaching, and the economic benefits. The results achieved herein indicate that RCF has significantly improved the NUE, reduced N leaching (23.7%), and improved the N economic benefit (NEB, 41.8%) as compared to the CF. Based on yield, net benefit, and NUE conditions, the optimum N application range was 634–821 kg N ha −1 for tomato and 556–778 kg N ha −1 for cucumber. The study concluded that reduced chemical application of N is an important factor to control environmental pollution and improve fertilizer use efficiency. Further experiments are suggested to examine the optimum N rate provision from chemical fertilizer and its ratio with organic fertilization.

Suggested Citation

  • Yucong Geng & Muhammad Amjad Bashir & Ying Zhao & Jianhang Luo & Xiaotong Liu & Feng Li & Hongyuan Wang & Qurat-Ul-Ain Raza & Abdur Rehim & Xuejun Zhang & Hongbin Liu, 2022. "Long-Term Fertilizer Reduction in Greenhouse Tomato-Cucumber Rotation System to Assess N Utilization, Leaching, and Cost Efficiency," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-15, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:8:p:4647-:d:793013
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    Cited by:

    1. Qu, Feng & Zhang, Qi & Jiang, Zhaoxi & Zhang, Caihong & Zhang, Zhi & Hu, Xiaohui, 2022. "Optimizing irrigation and fertilization frequency for greenhouse cucumber grown at different air temperatures using a comprehensive evaluation model," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 273(C).
    2. Qurat-Ul-Ain Raza & Muhammad Amjad Bashir & Abdur Rehim & Yucong Geng & Hafiz Muhammad Ali Raza & Sajjad Hussain & Ijaz Ahmad & Muhammad Wasif, 2023. "Identifying the Role of Biostimulants in Turnip ( Brassica rapa L.) Production Compared with Chemical Fertilization," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-15, August.
    3. Limin Chuan & Jiang Zhao & Jingjuan Zhao & Nan Shan & Hui Zhang & Ailing Wang, 2023. "Agrochemical Input Behavior and Cleaner Production Adoption Willingness of Farmers in Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-19, May.

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