The potential capability of substituting chemical fertilizers with crop straw and human-livestock-poultry manure in areas with different topographic characteristics

Lei Chen; Jingyu Zhang; Xiaolin Xia; Zhi Yang; Bangwen Wang; Changyu Long

doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e18845

The potential capability of substituting chemical fertilizers with crop straw and human-livestock-poultry manure in areas with different topographic characteristics

Heliyon. 2023 Aug 1;9(8):e18845. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e18845. eCollection 2023 Aug.

Authors

Lei Chen^{1

2}, Jingyu Zhang^{1

2}, Xiaolin Xia^{1

2}, Zhi Yang^{1

2}, Bangwen Wang^{1

2}, Changyu Long¹

Affiliations

¹ Key Laboratory of Water Conservancy and Water Resources in Anhui Province, Heifei 230088, China.
² Anhui and Huaihe River Institute of Hydraulic Research, Heifei 230088, China.

Abstract

Agricultural production and lifestyle are constrained by topography, causing notable under disparities in the composition, distribution, and environmental benefits of crop straw and human-livestock-poultry manure (CSHLPM) in areas with different topographic characteristics. Under the premise of the international consensus on sustainable development, it has become an objective requirement to improve the use of CSHLPM as fertilizer, and minimize the use of chemical fertilizers. Thus, an investigation was conducted to assess the difference in the quantity and composition of CSHLPM in plain, hill, and mountainous areas, taking Anhui Province of China as a case study, to evaluate the potential contribution of CSHLPM to farmland and identify the environmental benefits. The results show that the composition of CSHLPM in plain, hill, and mountainous areas varied greatly, and the reuse of CSHLPM in farmland could supplement, but not completely replace the use of chemical fertilizer to meet the needs of nutrients. In plain areas, CSHLPM did not provide the necessary amount of N and P₂O₅ for crop growth, whereas in mountainous areas, P₂O₅ was not available in adequate amounts for crop growth. Only in hilly areas can CSHLPM be used to completely replace chemical fertilizers and supply the necessary amounts of nutrients for crop growth. Based on the characteristics of different topographies, two constructive suggestions for improving the management strategy of CSHLPM were put forward: adjust the industrial structure of husbandry and planting, and specify the recommended ratios for mixing organic chemical fertilizers.

Keywords: Nutrient contents; Potential for alternative fertilizers; Quantity and composition; Straw and manure; Structural differences; Topography.