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Data-driven strategies to improve nitrogen use efficiency of rice farming in South Asia

Author

Listed:
  • Sam Coggins

    (Australian National University)

  • Andrew J. McDonald

    (Cornell University)

  • João Vasco Silva

    (International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT-Zimbabwe))

  • Anton Urfels

    (International Rice Research Institute (IRRI)
    Wageningen University & Research)

  • Hari Sankar Nayak

    (Cornell University)

  • Sonam Rinchen Sherpa

    (International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT))

  • Mangi Lal Jat

    (International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT))

  • Hanuman Sahay Jat

    (ICAR—Indian Institute of Maize Research (IIMR))

  • Tim Krupnik

    (Sustainable Agrifood Systems Program)

  • Virender Kumar

    (International Rice Research Institute (IRRI))

  • Ram. K. Malik

    (International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT))

  • Tek B. Sapkota

    (International Maize and Wheat Improvement center (CIMMYT))

  • Amaresh Kumar Nayak

    (ICAR—National Rice Research Institute)

  • Peter Craufurd

    (NARC Research Station)

Abstract

Increasing nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) in agricultural production mitigates climate change, limits water pollution and reduces fertilizer subsidy costs. Nevertheless, strategies for increasing NUE without jeopardizing food security are uncertain in globally important cropping systems. Here we analyse a novel dataset of more than 31,000 farmer fields spanning the Terai of Nepal, Bangladesh’s floodplains and four major rice-producing regions of India. Results indicate that 55% of rice farmers overuse nitrogen fertilizer, and hence the region could save 18 kg of nitrogen per hectare without compromising rice yield. Disincentivizing this excess nitrogen application presents the most impactful pathway for increasing NUE. Addressing yield constraints unrelated to crop nutrition can also improve NUE, most promisingly through earlier transplanting and improving water management, and this secondary pathway was overlooked in the IPCC’s 2022 report on climate change mitigation. Combining nitrogen input reduction with changes to agronomic management could increase rice production in South Asia by 8% while reducing environmental pollution from nitrogen fertilizer, measured as nitrogen surplus, by 36%. Even so, opportunities to improve NUE vary within South Asia, which necessitates sub-regional strategies for sustainable nitrogen management.

Suggested Citation

  • Sam Coggins & Andrew J. McDonald & João Vasco Silva & Anton Urfels & Hari Sankar Nayak & Sonam Rinchen Sherpa & Mangi Lal Jat & Hanuman Sahay Jat & Tim Krupnik & Virender Kumar & Ram. K. Malik & Tek B, 2025. "Data-driven strategies to improve nitrogen use efficiency of rice farming in South Asia," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 8(1), pages 22-33, January.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:natsus:v:8:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41893-024-01496-3
    DOI: 10.1038/s41893-024-01496-3
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