Organic Manure with Reduced Nitrogen Supply Increases Rice Productivity and Decreases Nitrous Oxide Emissions by Improving Nitrogen Metabolism, Plant Physiology, and Nutrients Retention
摘要
Chemical fertilizers (CF) are an important nutrient source; however, they negatively impact soil fertility, environmental quality, and ecosystem stability. The integrated use of CF and organic fertilizer can improve crop productivity and mitigate pollution-related problems. The present study assessed the impact of organic manure (OM) and chemical fertilizer (urea) on nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions, rice physiology, nitrogen metabolizing enzymes, rice yield, and soil fertility. The study comprised different treatment combinations: T1: control, T2: 100% CF, T3: 100% OM, T4: 30% CF + 70% OM, T5: 40% CF + 60% OM, and T6: 50% CF and 50% OM. The results indicated that application of 50% CF + 50% OM triggered the soil nitrogen transformation, and increased the soil carbon availability, thereby resulting in a significant decrease in N2O emissions (22.07%) than the sole chemical fertilizer. The application of 50% CF and 50% OM increased grain and biomass yield, harvest index (HI), grain protein, amylase, and starch contents by 59.29, 36.76,16.40, 25.79, 59.81, and 34.45% respectively than the control. The same treatment combination also increased the chlorophyll synthesis (50%), relative water contents (RWC: 38.05), soluble proteins (41.82), soil nitrogen (N: 52.83%), phosphorus (P: 100%), potassium (38.94%) contents, soil organic carbon (SOC: 10.82%), microbial biomass carbon (MBC: 6.20%), urease (80%) and catalase activity (97%). Interestingly, co-applied CF and OM also increased nitrate reductase (NR), glutamine synthetase (GS), and glutamate oxoglutarate aminotransferase (GOGAT) activity by 48.13%, 55.26%, and 60.21%. In conclusion, a balanced integration of CF and OM (50:50) is an effective approach to achieve agronomic and environmental benefits. This combination significantly enhanced rice growth and yield by improving nitrogen metabolism and soil fertility. It concurrently reduced the N2O emissions, showcasing a viable pathway to enhance rice production and mitigate climate change.