Abstract
Fertilizer-induced CO2 emission is a primary driver of global warming. The experiment was used to study whether controlled-release urea (CRU) application in winter oilseed rape can play a positive role in mitigating CO2 emission and promoting C utilization by soil microorganisms. Five fertilizer types consisted of N0 (0 g N plant−1), conventional CRU application (CRU100%), monotypic CRU at the 80% of conventional rate (CRU80%), co-application of CRU with uncoated urea (CRC), and organic fertilizer (CRO). Results showed that soil CO2 fluxes were significantly affected by N fertilizer types after the start of the stem growing (P < 0.05). CO2 emissions typically peaked during the seed filling period, with the highest emission of 1.99 μmol m−2 s−1 being registered for CRU100%. CRU100% had 25.00%, 30.60%, and 4.17% greater CO2 emissions than CRU80%, CRC, and CRO practices by harvest, respectively. Compared to the conventional CRU treatment, CRU80% led to a lower root volume and root mass ratio than CRU100%, which could partly contribute to the reduced CO2 emission. Conversely, CRU80% performed better in N agronomic efficiency than that of CRU100% treatment. Also, C source utilization by soil microbiomes as well as microbial diversity indices following CRU80% along with CRO applications was substantially higher than that under the conventional CRU supply. These observations suggest that opportunity exists to maintain N balance by N fertilization practices to mitigate CO2 emission from cropland. Further, a close and positive relationship between soil total nitrogen and CO2 emission also supports this. CRO-treated soils substantially elevated the contents of total carbon and readily oxidation carbon over CK. Moreover, the enzyme activity of β-glucosidase in CRO soil was about twice as high as the CRU100%. Consequently, CRU amendments by decreasing CRU rate application and the incorporation of organic fertilizer into CRU have the potential for mitigating of CO2 emission and positive effect on the soil microbial functional diversity to improve nitrogen use efficiency of rapeseed.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Baattrup-Pedersen A, Madsen TV, Riis T, Cavalli G (2013) Photosynthetic performance of submerged macrophytes from lowland stream and lake habitats with contrasting CO2 availability. New Phytol 198:1135–1142. https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.12203
Bandick AK, Dick RP (1999) Field management effects on soil enzyme activities. Soil Biol Biochem 31:1471–1479. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0038-0717(99)00051-6
Blair GJ, Lefroy RD, Lisle L (1995) Soil carbon fractions based on their degree of oxidation, and the development of a carbon management index for agricultural systems. Aust J Agric Res 46:1459–1466. https://doi.org/10.1071/AR9951459
Chang EH, Chung RS, Tsai YH (2007) Effect of different application rates of organic fertilizer on soil enzyme activity and microbial population. Soil Sci Plant Nutr 53:132–140. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1747-0765.2007.00122.x
Chu H, Hosen Y, Yagi K (2007) NO, N2O, CH4 and CO2 fluxes in winter barley field of Japanese andisol as affected by N fertilizer management. Soil Biol Biochem 39:330–339. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2006.08.003
Ding W, Meng L, Yin Y, Cai Z, Zheng X (2007) CO2 emission in an intensively cultivated loam as affected by long-term application of organic manure and nitrogen fertilizer. Soil Biol Biochem 39:669–679. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2006.09.024
Eivazi F, Tabatabai MA (1988) Glucosidases and galactosidases in soils. Soil Biol Biochem 20:601–606. https://doi.org/10.1016/0038-0717(88)90141-1
Fernández-Luqueño F, Reyes-Varela V, Martínez-Suárez C, Reynoso-Keller RE, Méndez-Bautista J, Ruiz-Romero E, López-Valdez F, Luna-Guido ML, Dendooven L (2009) Emission of CO2 and N2O from soil cultivated with common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) fertilized with different N sources. Sci Total Environ 407:4289–4296. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2009.04.016
Frey SD, Drijber R, Smith H, Melillo J (2008) Microbial biomass, functional capacity, and community structure after 12 years of soil warming. Soil Biol Biochem 40:2904–2907. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2008.07.020
Gaju O, DeSilva J, Carvalho P, Hawkesford MJ, Griffiths S, Greenland A, Foulkes MJ (2016) Leaf photosynthesis and associations with grain yield, biomass and nitrogen-use efficiency in landraces, synthetic-derived lines and cultivars in wheat. Field Crop Res 193:1–15. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fcr.2016.04.018
Gallardo A, Schlesinger WH (1994) Factors limiting microbial biomass in the mineral soil and forest floor of a warm-temperate forest. Soil Biol Biochem 26:1409–1415. https://doi.org/10.1016/0038-0717(94)90225-9
Gammelvind LH, Schjoerring JK, Mogensen VO, Jensen CR, Bock JGH (1996) Photosynthesis in leaves and siliques of winter oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.). Plant Soil 186:227–236. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02415518
Gao X, Li C, Zhang M, Wang R, Chen B (2015) Controlled release urea improved the nitrogen use efficiency, yield and quality of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) on silt loamy soil. Field Crop Res 181:60–68. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fcr.2015.07.009
Geng J, Sun Y, Zhang M, Li C, Yang Y, Liu Z, Li S (2015) Long-term effects of controlled release urea application on crop yields and soil fertility under rice-oilseed rape rotation system. Field Crop Res 184:65–73. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fcr.2015.09.003
Geng J, Ma Q, Chen J, Zhang M, Li C, Yang Y, Yang X, Zhang W, Liu Z (2016) Effects of polymer coated urea and sulfur fertilization on yield, nitrogen use efficiency and leaf senescence of cotton. Field Crop Res 187:87–95. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fcr.2015.12.010
Gentile R, Vanlauwe B, Chivenge P, Six J (2008) Interactive effects from combining fertilizer and organic residue inputs on nitrogen transformations. Soil Biol Biochem 40:2375–2384. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2008.05.018
Grant B, Smith WN, Desjardins R, Lemke R, Li C (2004) Estimated N2O and CO2 emissions as influenced by agricultural practices in Canada. Clim Chang 65:315–332. https://doi.org/10.1023/B:CLIM.0000038226.60317.35
Grant CA, Wu R, Selles F, Harker KN, Clayton GW, Bittman S, Zebarth BJ, Lupwayi NZ (2012) Crop yield and nitrogen concentration with controlled release urea and split applications of nitrogen as compared to non-coated urea applied at seeding. Field Crop Res 127:170–180. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fcr.2011.11.002
Guan S, Zhang D, Zhang Z (1986) Soil enzyme and its research methods. China Agricultural Press, Bei**g
Guo L, Ning T, Nie L, Li Z, Lal R (2016) Interaction of deep placed controlled-release urea and water retention agent on nitrogen and water use and maize yield. Eur J Agron 75:118–129. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eja.2016.01.010
Hu J, Lin X, Wang J, Dai J, Chen R, Zhang J, Wong MH (2011) Microbial functional diversity, metabolic quotient, and invertase activity of a sandy loam soil as affected by long-term application of organic amendment and mineral fertilizer. J Soils Sediments 11:271–280. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-010-0308-1
Iovieno P, Morra L, Leone A, Pagano L, Alfani A (2009) Effect of organic and mineral fertilizers on soil respiration and enzyme activities of two Mediterranean horticultural soils. Biol Fertil Soils 45:555–561. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00374-009-0365-z
Islam MR, Chauhan PS, Kim Y, Kim M, Sa T (2011) Community level functional diversity and enzyme activities in paddy soils under different long-term fertilizer management practices. Biol Fertil Soils 47:599–604. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00374-010-0524-2
Jia S, Wang Z, Li X, Sun Y, Zhang X, Liang A (2010) N fertilization affects on soil respiration, microbial biomass and root respiration in Larix gmelinii and Fraxinus mandshurica plantations in China. Plant Soil 333:325–336. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-010-0348-8
Jung JY, Lal R (2011) Impacts of nitrogen fertilization on biomass production of switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) and changes in soil organic carbon in Ohio. Geoderma 166:145–152. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2011.07.023
Kramer AW, Doane TA, Horwath WR, Van Kessel C (2002) Combining fertilizer and organic inputs to synchronize N supply in alternative crop** systems in California. Agric Ecosyst Environ 91:233–243. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0167-8809(01)00226-2
Kumar U, Shahid M, Tripathi R, Mohanty S, Kumar A, Bhattacharyya P, Lal B, Gautam P, Raja R, Panda BB, Jambhulkar NN, Shukla AK, Nayak AK (2017) Variation of functional diversity of soil microbial community in sub-humid tropical rice-rice crop** system under long-term organic and inorganic fertilization. Ecol Indic 73:536–543. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2016.10.014
Kuzyakov Y, Domanski G (2000) Carbon input by plants into the soil. Review J Plant Nutr Soil Sci 163:421–431. https://doi.org/10.1002/1522-2624(200008)163:4<421::AID-JPLN421>3.0.CO;2-R
Kuzyakov Y, Larionova AA (2005) Root and rhizomicrobial respiration: a review of approaches to estimate respiration by autotrophic and heterotrophic organisms in soil. J Plant Nutr Soil Sci 168:503–520. https://doi.org/10.1002/jpln.200421703
Li F, Yu J, Nong M, Kang S, Zhang J (2010) Partial root-zone irrigation enhanced soil enzyme activities and water use of maize under different ratios of inorganic to organic nitrogen fertilizers. Agric Water Manag 97:231–239. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2009.09.014
Liljeroth E, Van Veen JA, Miller HJ (1990) Assimilate translocation to the rhizosphere of two wheat lines and subsequent utilization by rhizosphere microorganisms at two soil nitrogen concentrations. Soil Biol Biochem 22:1015–1021. https://doi.org/10.1016/0038-0717(90)90026-V
Liu M, Hu F, Chen X, Huang Q, Jiao J, Zhang B, Li H (2009) Organic amendments with reduced chemical fertilizer promote soil microbial development and nutrient availability in a subtropical paddy field: the influence of quantity, type and application time of organic amendments. Appl Soil Ecol 42:166–175. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsoil.2009.03.006
Lupwayi NZ, Lafond GP, Ziadi N, Grant CA (2012) Soil microbial response to nitrogen fertilizer and tillage in barley and corn. Soil Tillage Res 118:139–146. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2011.11.006
Malhi SS, Soon YK, Grant CA, Lemke R, Lupwayi N (2010) Influence of controlled-release urea on seed yield and N concentration, and N use efficiency of small grain crops grown on dark gray luvisols. Can J Soil Sci 90:363–372. https://doi.org/10.4141/CJSS09102
Manzoni S, Taylor P, Richter A, Porporato A, Ågren GI (2012) Environmental and stoichiometric controls on microbial carbon-use efficiency in soils. New Phytol 196:79–91. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-8137.2012.04225.x
Marty C, Lamaze T, Pornon A (2010) Leaf life span optimizes annual biomass production rather than plant photosynthetic capacity in an evergreen shrub. New Phytol 187:407–416. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-8137.2010.03290.x
Meier IC, Finzi AC, Phillips RP (2017) Root exudates increase N availability by stimulating microbial turnover of fast-cycling N pools. Soil Biol Biochem 106:119–128. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2016.12.004
Mtambanengwe F, Mapfumo P (2006) Effects of organic resource quality on soil profile N dynamics and maize yields on sandy soils in Zimbabwe. Plant Soil 281:173–191. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-005-4182-3
Pang J, Zhao H, Bansal R, Bohuon E, Lambers H, Ryan MH, Siddique KH (2018) Leaf transpiration plays a role in phosphorus acquisition among a large set of chickpea genotypes. Plant Cell Environ 41:2069–2079. https://doi.org/10.1111/pce.13139
Ramirez KS, Craine JM, Fierer N (2010) Nitrogen fertilization inhibits soil microbial respiration regardless of the form of nitrogen applied. Soil Biol Biochem 42:2336–2338. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2010.08.032
Saha S, Prakash V, Kundu S, Kumar N, Mina BL (2008) Soil enzymatic activity as affected by long term application of farm yard manure and mineral fertilizer under a rainfed soybean–wheat system in NW Himalaya. Eur J Soil Biol 44(3):309–315. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejsobi.2008.02.004
Silva CC, Guido ML, Ceballos JM, Marsch R, Dendooven L (2008) Production of carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide in alkaline saline soil of Texcoco at different water contents amended with urea: a laboratory study. Soil Biol Biochem 40:1813–1822. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2008.03.004
Tao R, Liang Y, Wakelin SA, Chu G (2015) Supplementing chemical fertilizer with an organic component increases soil biological function and quality. Appl Soil Ecol 96:42–51. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsoil.2015.07.009
Tian X, Li C, Zhang M, Li T, Lu Y, Liu L (2018) Controlled release urea improved crop yields and mitigated nitrate leaching under cotton-garlic intercrop** system in a 4-year field trial. Soil Tillage Res 175:158–167. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2017.08.015
Wang QK, Wang SL, Liu YX (2008) Responses to N and P fertilization in a young Eucalyptus dunnii plantation: microbial properties, enzyme activities and dissolved organic matter. Appl Soil Ecol 40:484–490. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsoil.2008.07.003
Wilson HM, Al-Kaisi MM (2008) Crop rotation and nitrogen fertilization effect on soil CO2 emissions in central Iowa. Appl Soil Ecol 39:264–270. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsoil.2007.12.013
Zhang K, **ng Y, Wang G, Shemi R, Duan M, Wang L, **e X (2019) Ridge-furrow with film mulching practice ameliorates soil microbial metabolic activity and carbon utilization in rhizosphere soil of rapeseed (Brassica napus L.). J Soils Sediments 19:2764–2776. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-019-02243-4
Zheng W, Sui C, Liu Z, Geng J, Zhang M (2016) Long-term effects of controlled-release urea on crop yields and soil fertility under wheat–corn double crop** systems. Agron J 108:1703–1716. https://doi.org/10.2134/agronj2015.0581
Zheng W, Liu Z, Zhang M, Shi Y, Zhu Q, Sun Y, Zhou H, Li C, Yang Y, Geng J (2017) Improving crop yields, nitrogen use efficiencies, and profits by using mixtures of coated controlled-released and uncoated urea in a wheat-maize system. Field Crop Res 205:106–115. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fcr.2017.02.009
Zhou Q, Chen J, ** Chinese milk vetch on the soil microbial community in rhizosphere of rape. Plant Soil 440:85–96. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-019-04040-x
Acknowledgments
This work was financially supported by the Special Fund for Agroscientific Research in the Public Interest (No. 201503127) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 31271673, No. 31700364, No. 31871583).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Responsible Editor: Gangrong Shi
Publisher’s note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Zhang, K., Wang, Z., Xu, Q. et al. Effect of controlled-release urea fertilizers for oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) on soil carbon storage and CO2 emission. Environ Sci Pollut Res 27, 31983–31994 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-09440-6
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-09440-6