Journal article

Publication year: 2023

Journal: Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems

Volume number: 6

eISSN: 2571-581X

Open access status: Gold

DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2022.1067112

Publisher: Frontiers Media

Abstract: 
Ammonia (NH3) emission from rice fields is a dominant nitrogen (N) loss pathway causing negative impacts on farm profitability and the environment. Reducing N fertilizer application to compensate for N inputs in organic amendments was evaluated for effects on N loss via volatilization, rice yields and post-harvest soil properties in an annual irrigated rice (Boro) - pre-monsoon rice (Aus) - monsoon (Aman) rice sequence. That experiment was conducted using the integrated plant nutrition system (IPNS; nutrient contents in organic amendments were subtracted from the full recommended fertilizer dose i.e., RD of chemical fertilizers) where six treatments with four replications were applied in each season: (T-1) no fertilizer (control), (T-2) RD, (T-3) poultry manure biochar (3 t ha(-1); pyrolyzed at 450 degrees C) + decreased dose of recommended fertilizer (DRD), (T-4) rice husk ash (3 t ha(-1)) + DRD, (T-5) compost (3 t ha(-1)) + DRD, and (T-6) compost (1.5 t ha(-1))+ biochar (1.5 t ha(-1)) + DRD. The N loss via volatilization varied twofold among seasons being 16% in irrigated rice and 29% in the pre-monsoon rice crop. In irrigated rice, T-6 had significantly lower NH3 emissions than all other treatments, except the control while in pre-monsoon and monsoon seasons, T-6 and T-3 were alike. Pooling the three seasons together, biochar (T-3) or biochar plus compost (T-6) reduced NH3 loss via volatilization by 36-37% while compost alone (T-5) reduced NH3 loss by 23% relative to RD. Biochar (T-3) and biochar plus compost mixture (T-6) reduced yield-scaled NH3 emissions by 40 and 47% relative to the RD of chemical fertilizer (T-2). The organic amendments with IPNS reduced the quantity of N fertilizer application by 65, 7, 24, and 45% in T-3, T-4, T-5, and T-6 treatments, respectively, while rice yields and soil chemical properties in all seasons were similar to the RD. This study suggests that incorporation of biochar alone or co-applied with compost and decrease of N fertilizer on an IPNS basis in rice-based cropping systems can reduce N application rates and NH3 emissions without harming yield or soil quality.

Harvard Citation style: Ferdous, J., Mumu, N., Hossain, M., Hoque, M., Zaman, M., Müller, C., et al. (2023) Co-application of biochar and compost with decreased N fertilizer reduced annual ammonia emissions in wetland rice, Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 6, Article 1067112. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2022.1067112

APA Citation style: Ferdous, J., Mumu, N., Hossain, M., Hoque, M., Zaman, M., Müller, C., Jahiruddin, M., Bell, R., & Jahangir, M. (2023). Co-application of biochar and compost with decreased N fertilizer reduced annual ammonia emissions in wetland rice. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems. 6, Article 1067112. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2022.1067112