Effects of five-year field aged zeolite on grain yield and reactive gaseous N losses in alternate wetting and drying paddy system

Qing Zhao; Taotao Chen; Shu Wang; Yan Sha; Feng Zhang; Yidi Sun; Daocai Chi

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.166279

Effects of five-year field aged zeolite on grain yield and reactive gaseous N losses in alternate wetting and drying paddy system

Sci Total Environ. 2023 Dec 15:904:166279. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.166279. Epub 2023 Aug 14.

Authors

Qing Zhao¹, Taotao Chen², Shu Wang³, Yan Sha¹, Feng Zhang¹, Yidi Sun⁴, Daocai Chi⁵

Affiliations

¹ College of Water Conservancy, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang 110866, China.
² College of Water Conservancy, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang 110866, China; National Biochar Institute, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang 110866, China; Key Laboratory of Biochar and Soil Improvement, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shenyang 110866, China. Electronic address: taotao-chen@syau.edu.cn.
³ College of Agronomy, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang 110866, China.
⁴ College of Hydraulic Science and Engineering, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009, China.
⁵ College of Water Conservancy, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang 110866, China. Electronic address: chidaocai@syau.edu.cn.

PMID: 37586506
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.166279

Abstract

Clinoptilolite zeolite has been widely used in agricultural production systems for enhancing water and fertilizer savings, mitigating greenhouse gas emissions, and increasing yield. However, there is little information on field-aged effects of zeolite on reactive gaseous N losses under alternate wetting and drying irrigation (AWD). We conducted a five-year field experiment to investigate field-aged effect of natural zeolite addition at 0 (Z₀), 5 (Z₅), and 10 (Z₁₀) t ha^-1 on reactive gaseous N losses (NH₃, N₂O), N-related global warming potential (GWP_N), soil properties and grain yield under two irrigation regimes (CF: continuous flooding irrigation; AWD) in the 4^th (2020) and 5^th (2021) years since its initial application in 2017. As compared with CF, AWD did not significantly affect grain yield and NH₃ volatilization but increased seasonal N₂O emissions by 46 %-71 % over two years. Zeolite increased rice yield for five consecutive years. Z₁₀ reduced averaged cumulative NH₃ volatilization and GWP_N by 23 % and 26 %, compared to zeolite-free treatment, respectively, in the 4^th and 5^th years. Soil NH₄⁺-N was increased with the increased rate of Z application under both CF and AWD. Z₁₀ increased soil NH₄⁺-N by 27 %-38 % and NO₃^--N by 14 %-22 % in five years, compared to Z₀, respectively. Compared to AWD without zeolite, the addition of 10 t ha^-1 zeolite under AWD lowered NH₃ volatilization, cumulative N₂O emissions, and GWP_N by an average of 28 %, 29 %, and 30 % in two years, respectively. I_AWDZ₁₀ did not differ from I_CFZ₀ on reactive gaseous N losses but significantly lowered reactive gaseous losses relative to I_AWDZ₀. Therefore, zeolite addition could mitigate the reactive gaseous N losses and GWP_N for at least five years after initial application, which is beneficial to promoting zeolite application and ensuring sustainable agriculture.

Keywords: Alternate wetting and drying irrigation; N(2)O emission; NH(3) volatilization; Paddy field; Reactive gaseous N losses; Zeolite.