Enhanced-efficiency fertilizers are not a panacea for resolving the nitrogen problem

Tingyu Li, Weifeng Zhang, Jiao Yin, David Chadwick, David Norse, Yuelai Lu, Xuejun Liu, Xinping Chen, Fusuo Zhang, David Powlson, Zhengxia Dou
2017 Global Change Biology  
Peer reviewed version Cyswllt i'r cyhoeddiad / Link to publication Dyfyniad o'r fersiwn a gyhoeddwyd / Citation for published version (APA): Dou, Z. (2018). Enhanced-efficiency fertilizers are not a panacea for resolving the nitrogen problem. Global Change Biology, 24(2), e511-e521. https://doi.Abstract Improving nitrogen (N) management for greater agricultural output while minimizing unintended environmental consequences is critical in the endeavor of feeding the growing population sustainably
more » ... amid climate change. Enhanced-efficiency fertilizers (EEFs) have been developed to better synchronize fertilizer N release with crop uptake, offering the potential for enhanced N use efficiency (NUE) and reduced losses. Can EEFs play a significant role in helping address the N management challenge? Here we present a comprehensive analysis of worldwide studies published in 1980-2016 evaluating four major types of EEFs (polymer-coated fertilizers PCF, nitrification inhibitors NI, urease inhibitors UI, and double inhibitors DI, i.e. urease and nitrification inhibitors combined) regarding their effectiveness in increasing yield and NUE and reducing N losses. Overall productivity and environmental efficacy depended on the combination of EEF type and cropping systems, further affected by biophysical conditions. Best scenarios include: (i) DI used in grassland (n=133), averaging 11% yield increase, 33% NUE improvement, and 47% decrease in aggregated N loss (sum of NO 3 -, NH 3 , and N 2 O, totaling 84 kg N ha -1 ); (ii) UI in rice-paddy systems (n=100), with 9% yield increase, 29% NUE improvement, and 41% N-loss reduction (16 kg N ha -1 ). EEF efficacies in wheat and maize systems were more complicated and generally less effective. In-depth analysis indicated that the potential benefits of EEFs might be best Accepted Article This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. achieved when a need is created, for example, by downward adjusting N application from conventional rate. We conclude that EEFs can play a significant role in sustainable agricultural production but their prudent use requires firstly eliminating any fertilizer mismanagement plus the implementation of knowledge-based N management practices.
doi:10.1111/gcb.13918 pmid:28973790 fatcat:arogftuspfbobltzq67x6eeg7i