Journal article

Authors list: Ferdous, J; Parvin, R; Islam, MR; Jahiruddin, M; Zaman, M; Müller, C; Bell, RW; Jahangir, MMR

Publication year: 2024

Pages: 471-485

Journal: Plant and Soil

Volume number: 498

Issue number: 1-2

ISSN: 0032-079X

eISSN: 1573-5036

DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-023-06448-y

Publisher: Springer

Abstract: 

Aim: Nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) in subtropical cropping systems is low causing a large quantity of reactive N loss to the environment. However, the mechanisms and pathways of such losses are poorly understood. The objectives of the research were to quantify N volatilization rates and corresponding NUE in a biochar and nitrapyrin-treated cabbage field using N-control as well as a N-15-based approach.Methods: The treatments consisted of: N-control, urea alone, urea with nitrapyrin (UN), urea with biochar (UB), and urea with biochar and nitrapyrin (UNB). In each plot, N-15-labeled urea was applied in 1 m(2) micro-plots to repeat the treatments.Results: The UNB had higher (p < 0.001) crop yields than other treatments by 29, 23 and 16% over the urea, UN and UB treatments, respectively, while the UN and UB were also higher than the urea alone. The estimated N-15-based NUE was higher (p < 0.01) in the UNB (40%) than in the urea alone (32%) but similar to the UN (36%) and UB (38%). The N-control based calculation overestimated NUE by 2-13% relative to the N-15-based approach. The UNB treatment reduced NH3 volatilization by 37, 22, and 33% over urea alone, UB and UN, respectively (p < 0.01). Post-harvest soil organic carbon (SOC) and total N were higher (p < 0.001) in the UNB and UB treatments than the other treatments.Conclusion: Our results with a subtropical crop suggest that biochar alone or co-applied with nitrapyrin improves NUE and mitigates NH3 volatilization while increasing SOC and TN contents.

Harvard Citation style: Ferdous, J., Parvin, R., Islam, M., Jahiruddin, M., Zaman, M., Müller, C., et al. (2024) Biochar with nitrapyrin reduces ammonia volatilization and increases nitrogen use efficiency of cabbage: A 15N tracer study, Plant and Soil, 498(1-2), pp. 471-485. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-023-06448-y

APA Citation style: Ferdous, J., Parvin, R., Islam, M., Jahiruddin, M., Zaman, M., Müller, C., Bell, R., & Jahangir, M. (2024). Biochar with nitrapyrin reduces ammonia volatilization and increases nitrogen use efficiency of cabbage: A 15N tracer study. Plant and Soil. 498(1-2), 471-485. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-023-06448-y