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An Integrated Nitrogen Management Strategy Promotes Open-Field Pepper Yield, Crop Nitrogen Uptake, and Nitrogen Use Efficiency in Southwest China

Author

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  • Xiao Ma

    (College of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
    Interdisciplinary Research Center for Agriculture Green Development in Yangtze River Basin, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China)

  • Fen Zhang

    (College of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
    Interdisciplinary Research Center for Agriculture Green Development in Yangtze River Basin, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China)

  • Fabo Liu

    (College of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
    Interdisciplinary Research Center for Agriculture Green Development in Yangtze River Basin, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China)

  • Guangzheng Guo

    (College of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
    Interdisciplinary Research Center for Agriculture Green Development in Yangtze River Basin, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China)

  • Taihong Cheng

    (College of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
    Interdisciplinary Research Center for Agriculture Green Development in Yangtze River Basin, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China)

  • Junjie Wang

    (College of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
    Interdisciplinary Research Center for Agriculture Green Development in Yangtze River Basin, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China)

  • Yuanpeng Shen

    (College of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
    Interdisciplinary Research Center for Agriculture Green Development in Yangtze River Basin, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China)

  • Tao Liang

    (College of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
    Interdisciplinary Research Center for Agriculture Green Development in Yangtze River Basin, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
    Chongqing Academy of Agriculture Sciences, Chongqing 400000, China)

  • Xinping Chen

    (College of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
    Interdisciplinary Research Center for Agriculture Green Development in Yangtze River Basin, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China)

  • Xiaozhong Wang

    (College of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
    Interdisciplinary Research Center for Agriculture Green Development in Yangtze River Basin, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China)

Abstract

Excessive nitrogen (N) fertilizer application is a serious issue in intensive vegetable production and can negatively affect vegetable productivity and N use efficiency (NUE). The optimization of the N fertilizer rate and application of enhanced efficiency N fertilizers (EENFs), including nitrification inhibitors (Nis) and controlled-release fertilizer (CRF), are widely recognized as feasible N management strategies to resolve the problem of unreasonable N fertilizer input. Therefore, we conducted a 2-year field experiment (2019–2020) in an open-field vegetable system (pepper, Capsicum annuum L.) in southwest China to investigate the effects of an optimized N application rate and EENFs on vegetable yield, NUE, and crop N uptake. The following N management treatments were established: control without N fertilizer input (CK); optimized N fertilizer rate as urea (OPT); farmers’ fertilizer practice (FP); application of a nitrification inhibitor (NI) within the optimized N fertilizer rate; and application of controlled-release fertilizer (CRF) within the optimized N fertilizer rate. The results showed that the OPT treatment based on root zone N management achieved a 37.5% reduction in the N application rate without compromising vegetable yield and increased the recovery efficiency of N (REN) by 31.5% compared to the FP treatment. Furthermore, the combined application of the NI or CRF treatments with the OPT treatment resulted in greater vegetable yields, fruit N uptake, and REN (9.54%, 26.8%, and 27.6%, respectively, for NI; 10.5%, 28.7%, and 28.8%, respectively, for CRF) than the OPT treatment alone. The absorption ratio of fruit N uptake to total crop N uptake was also increased. Our results clearly showed that the combined application of EENFs with the OPT treatment could achieve the win–win benefits of a yield increase and improved REN in Chinese vegetable production.

Suggested Citation

  • Xiao Ma & Fen Zhang & Fabo Liu & Guangzheng Guo & Taihong Cheng & Junjie Wang & Yuanpeng Shen & Tao Liang & Xinping Chen & Xiaozhong Wang, 2022. "An Integrated Nitrogen Management Strategy Promotes Open-Field Pepper Yield, Crop Nitrogen Uptake, and Nitrogen Use Efficiency in Southwest China," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-11, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jagris:v:12:y:2022:i:4:p:524-:d:788672
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Shan, Linan & He, Yunfeng & Chen, Jie & Huang, Qian & Lian, Xu & Wang, Hongcai & Liu, Yili, 2015. "Nitrogen surface runoff losses from a Chinese cabbage field under different nitrogen treatments in the Taihu Lake Basin, China," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 159(C), pages 255-263.
    2. Badr, M.A. & Abou-Hussein, S.D. & El-Tohamy, W.A., 2016. "Tomato yield, nitrogen uptake and water use efficiency as affected by planting geometry and level of nitrogen in an arid region," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 169(C), pages 90-97.
    3. Wopereis, Marco, 2018. "Tapping the nutritional power of vegetables," 2018: Reshaping Agriculture for Better Nutrition-The Agriculture, Food, Nutrition, Health Nexus, 13-14 August 2018 283198, Crawford Fund.
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