Targeting high nutrient efficiency to reduce fertilizer input in wheat production of China
Saibin Hou, Haiyan Dang, Tingmiao Huang, Qiannan Huang, Chao Li, Xiaohan Li, Yingying Sun, Hongxin Chu, Weihong Qiu, Jinshan Liu, Mei Shi, Gang He, Kadambot H. M. Siddique and Zhaohui Wang
Field Crops Research
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fcr.2023.108809
Abstract
Content: Excessive fertilization reduces fertilizer efficiency and farm economic benefits, and causes various environmental problems.Objectives: This study aimed to produce high grain yield and protein content for wheat production in China using a High Nutrient-use efficiency Based Fertilizer Recommendation method (High NUFER) and limits for crop nutrient physiological efficiency and partial factor productivity of fertilizer.Methods: A farm survey covering 1575 fields was carried out in 17 major wheat production provinces in China from 2015 to 2019. The on-farm information included wheat planting area, varieties, field management, soil nutrient status and fertilization status, and wheat plant and soil samples were also collected from farmers' fields for measurement and analysis. The High NUFER proposed in this paper was verified in 46 sites in 7 major wheat production provinces from 2020 to 2021.Results: For the average grain yields > 6.0 t ha(-1) and protein content similar to 13.0% in major wheat production regions of China, the nutrient physiological efficiency of wheat should range from 36.5 - 36.8 kg kg(-1) nitrogen (N), 261.3-273.9 kg kg(-1) phosphorus (P), and 53.0-54.3 kg kg(-1) potassium (K), and partial factor productivity of N, P, and K fertilizers should range from 35.9 - 41.9, 153.5-177.9, and 132.5-158.9 kg kg(-1), respectively, when soil available nutrients ranged from 19.0 to 21.8 mg kg(-1) available N (nitrate-N (+) ammonia-N), 22.4-26.1 mg kg(-1) available P, and 153.9-157.3 mg kg(-1) available K. Using the High NUFER, China should save 0.62 MT yr-1 N fertilizer, 0.36 MT yr-1 P fertilizer, and 0.22 MT yr(-1) K fertilizer, with an additional economic benefit of 1.1 billion USD yr(-1) and reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of 8.91 MT CO2 eq yr(-1) in major wheat production regions.Conclusions: The High NUFER can reduce farmers' fertilizer input, thereby increasing economic benefits and decreasing GHG emissions.Implications: The High NUFER proposed in this paper has practical value for nutrient management in China and is a potential reference for other wheat-growing countries.