Effects of Water-Fertilizer-Tillage Management on NH₃ Volatilization and Nitrogen Deposition in a Typical South China Agricultural System
摘要
In the nitrogen cycle of agricultural ecosystems, ammonia volatilization is an important way of nitrogen loss and makes a significant contribution to nitrogen deposition. In South China, high nitrogen deposition threatens both ecological balance and food security. This study assessed the effects of organic fertilizer substitution, optimized irrigation, and reduced tillage on crop yield, crop nitrogen use efficiency (NUEc), and NH₃ volatilization in rice, maize, and vegetables. We also examined the relationship between NH₃ volatilization and nitrogen deposition. Organic fertilizer substitution improved agricultural performance, increasing crop yields by 3.0–5.3%, enhancing NUEc by 2.2–3.6%, and reducing NH₃ emissions by 7.9–21.8%. Optimized irrigation resulted in a 1.8–4.2% increase in yield, a 1.4–5.1% improvement in NUEc, and an 8.4–13.7% reduction in NH₃ volatilization. Conversely, reduced tillage had no significant impact on crop productivity, yet it was associated with reduced NUEc and increased NH₃ emissions. Wet deposition accounted for 80.0–83.3% of the total nitrogen deposition flux in the experimental area, with ammonium nitrogen as the dominant form. NH₃ volatilization was positively correlated with nitrogen deposition (R2 = 0.278, p < 0.05) (Fig.