Interactions of fertilisation and crop productivity in soil nitrogen cycle microbiome and gas emissions
<p>Fertilised soils are a significant source of nitrous oxide (N<span class="inline-formula"><sub>2</sub></span>O), a highly active greenhouse gas and a stratospheric ozone depleter. Nitrogen (N) fertilisers, while boosting crop yield, also lead to N<span c...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Copernicus Publications
2025-01-01
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| Series: | SOIL |
| Online Access: | https://soil.copernicus.org/articles/11/1/2025/soil-11-1-2025.pdf |
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| Summary: | <p>Fertilised soils are a significant source of nitrous oxide (N<span class="inline-formula"><sub>2</sub></span>O), a highly active greenhouse gas and a stratospheric ozone depleter. Nitrogen (N) fertilisers, while boosting crop yield, also lead to N<span class="inline-formula"><sub>2</sub></span>O emissions into the atmosphere, impacting global warming. We investigated relationships between mineral N fertilisation rates and additional manure amendment with different crop types through the analysis of abundances of N cycle functional genes, soil N<span class="inline-formula"><sub>2</sub></span>O and N<span class="inline-formula"><sub>2</sub></span> emissions, nitrogen use efficiency (NUE), soil physicochemical analysis and biomass production. Our study indicates that N<span class="inline-formula"><sub>2</sub></span>O emissions are predominantly dependent on the mineral N fertilisation rate and enhance with an increased mineral N fertilisation rate. Crop type also has a significant impact on soil N<span class="inline-formula"><sub>2</sub></span>O emissions. Higher N<span class="inline-formula"><sub>2</sub></span>O emissions were attained with the application of manure in comparison to mineral fertilisation. Manure amendment also increased the number of N cycle genes that are significant in the variations of N<span class="inline-formula"><sub>2</sub></span>O. The study indicates that N<span class="inline-formula"><sub>2</sub></span>O emissions were mainly related to nitrification in the soil. Quantification of nitrogen cycle functional genes also showed the potential role of denitrification, comammox (complete ammonia oxidation) and dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium (DNRA) processes as a source of N<span class="inline-formula"><sub>2</sub></span>O. Our study did not find soil moisture to be significantly linked to N<span class="inline-formula"><sub>2</sub></span>O emissions. The results of the study provide evidence that, for wheat, a fertilisation rate of 80 kg N ha<span class="inline-formula"><sup>−1</sup></span> is closest to the optimal rate for balancing biomass yield and N<span class="inline-formula"><sub>2</sub></span>O emissions and achieving a high NUE. Sorghum showed good potential for cultivation in temperate climates, as it showed a similar biomass yield compared to the other crop types and fertilisation rates but maintained low N<span class="inline-formula"><sub>2</sub></span>O emissions and N losses in a mineral N fertilisation rate of 80 kg N ha<span class="inline-formula"><sup>−1</sup></span>.</p> |
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| ISSN: | 2199-3971 2199-398X |