Optimizing Fertilization Strategies to Reduce Carbon Footprints and Enhance Net Ecosystem Economic Benefits in Ratoon Rice Systems

Strategic Insights -

Researchers at Yangtze University have conducted a two-year field experiment to evaluate the effects of different fertilization strategies on greenhouse gas emissions, yield, carbon footprints, and ecosystem net economic benefits in the ratoon rice system. The study, funded by the National Key Research and Development Program of China and the National Natural Science Foundation of China, aimed to explore optimized fertilization strategies that can balance ratoon rice yield and environmental benefits.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study found that optimized fertilization treatments reduced CH4 and N2O emissions by 28.69% to 55.27% and 25.08% to 40.32%, respectively, compared to the conventional fertilization strategy.
  • The optimized fertilization treatments increased annual rice yields by 2.22% to 19.52% (except for the OF + CRF3 treatment).
  • The optimized fertilization treatments reduced annual carbon footprint, carbon footprint (Y), and carbon footprint (EC) by 26.66% to 49.59%, 34.11% to 51.12%, and 25.35% to 41.47%, respectively.
  • The optimized fertilization treatments increased net ecosystem economic benefits (NEEBs) by 8.27% to 34.23%.
  • The CRF treatments (one-time side deep application) and CRF with 20% N replaced by organic fertilizer (OF + CRF1) achieved the highest NEEB.
  • Optimizing fertilization treatments can balance ratoon rice yield and environmental benefits by using controlled-release fertilizer (CRF) and replacing part of the nitrogen with organic fertilizer.

Statistics:

  • 28.69% to 55.27% reduction in CH4 emissions using optimized fertilization treatments.
  • 25.08% to 40.32% reduction in N2O emissions using optimized fertilization treatments.
  • 2.22% to 19.52% increase in annual rice yields using optimized fertilization treatments.
  • 26.66% to 49.59% reduction in annual carbon footprint using optimized fertilization treatments.
  • 34.11% to 51.12% reduction in carbon footprint (Y) using optimized fertilization treatments.
  • 25.35% to 41.47% reduction in carbon footprint (EC) using optimized fertilization treatments.
  • 8.27% to 34.23% increase in net ecosystem economic benefits (NEEBs) using optimized fertilization treatments.

Sources:

  • "Optimizing Fertilization Strategies to Reduce Carbon Footprints and Enhance Net Ecosystem Economic Benefits in Ratoon Rice Systems." Agriculture, 2025, 15(16): 1715. (Agriculture - http://www.mdpi.com/journal/agriculture)
  • National Key Research and Development Program of China
  • National Natural Science Foundation of China