Fertilizer Application Method Provides an Environmental-Friendly Nitrogen Management Option for Sugarcane

Autor: Quassi de Castro, Sérgio Gustavo, Costa, Vladimir Eliodoro, Quassi de Castro, Saulo Augusto, Carvalho, João Luis Nunes, Borges, Clovis Daniel, de Castro, Rosilaine Araldi, Kölln, Oriel Tiago, Franco, Henrique Coutinho Junqueira
Zdroj: Journal of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition; 20240101, Issue: Preprints p1-14, 14p
Abstrakt: Purpose: Nitrogen fertilizer management is an important agricultural tool that must be optimized to promote sustainable practices since the nitrogen-fertilizer recovery by plants (NRP) is low, leading to nitrogen losses to the environment. In sugarcane, N-fertilization has been investigated over the years but little attention has been given to N-fertilizer application methods. Sugarcane crop production and environmental impact regarding N-fertilizer application methods (i.e., applied onto the sugarcane straw layer and incorporated into the soil) were investigated in the present study aiming to achieve an environmental-friendly cropping system. Methods: Sugarcane yield and NRP, N2O emissions, relevant components of the soil microbiological community and N-fertilizer retention in soil layers were quantified. The experiment was carried out in field conditions where N-fertilizer application methods using 15N-labelled ammonium nitrate (15NH415NO3) were compared to a control treatment with no N-fertilization. Results: Incorporation of N-fertilizer into the soil increased the sugarcane yield by 17% (two-year average) compared to N-fertilizer applied onto the sugarcane straw layer, which was similar to control treatment. There was an increase in NRP-fertilizer of 79% due to the application of N-fertilizer incorporated into the soil. Furthermore, soil incorporation of N-fertilizer decreased N2O emission by 22% with the fertilizer N emission factor reduced four-fold. The N2O emissions were mostly associated with ammonium-oxidizing bacteria (AOB). Conclusions: Our results show that application of N-fertilizer incorporated into the soil is an environmental-friendly N-fertilization management which will improve agricultural sustainability and reduce environmental impacts. Graphical Abstract:
Databáze: Supplemental Index