Decomposition of Fertilizer Use Intensity and Its Environmental Risk in China’s Grain Production Process

The North China Plain (NCP) is experiencing serious groundwater level decline and groundwater nitrate contamination due to excessive water pumping and application of nitrogen (N) fertilizer. In this study, grain yield, water and N use efficiencies under different cropping systems including two harvests in 1 year (winter wheat-summer maize) based on farmer (2H1Y) FP and optimized practices (2H1Y) OPT , three harvests in 2 years (winter wheat-summer maize-spring maize, 3H2Y), and one harvest in 1 year (spring maize, 1H1Y) were evaluated using the water-heat-carbon-nitrogen simulator (WHCNS) model. The 2H1Y FP system was maintained with 100% irrigation and fertilizer, while crop water requirement and N demand for other cropping systems were optimized and managed by soil testing. In addition, a scenario analysis was also performed under the interaction of linearly increasing and decreasing N rates, and irrigation levels.Results showed that the model performed well with simulated soil water content, soil N concentration, leaf area index, dry matter, and grain yield. Statistically acceptable ranges of root mean square error, Nash-Sutcliffe model efficiency, index of agreement values close to 1, and strong correlation coefficients existed between simulated and observed values. We concluded that replacing the prevalent 2H1Y FP with 1H1Y would be ecofriendly at the cost of some grain yield decline. This cropping system had the highest average water use (2.1 kg m −3 ) and N use efficiencies (4.8 kg kg -1 ) on reduced water (56.64%) and N (81.36%) inputs than 2H1Y FP . Whereas 3H2Y showed insignificant results in terms of grain yield, and 2H1Y FP was unsustainable. The 2H1Y FP system consumed a total of 745 mm irrigation and 1100 kg N ha -1 in two years. When farming practices were optimized for two harvests in 1 year system (2H1Y) OPT , then grain yield improved and water (18.12%) plus N (61.82%) consumptions were minimized. There was an ample amount of N saved, but water conservation was still unsatisfactory. However, considering the results of scenario analyses, it is recommended that winter wheat would be cultivated at <200 mm irrigation by reducing one irrigation event.Since the 1970s, the annual use of the two-harvest cropping system greatly increased the total grain output. However, it has also caused severe groundwater decline [7,8], because both crops generally have high water requirements to complete their life cycle [9,10]. Crop water requirement does not meet the balance between groundwater recharge through rain and evapotranspiration (ET) loss from plant and soil [11]. An estimated amount of more than 450 mm yr −1 irrigation water is required to maintain high crop yield under the conventional double cropping system [12], which dominatingly depends on pumping of groundwater, and there is no access to irrigation from the river source. Thus, the groundwater is almost the only source of irrigation [13]. In the last 20 years, sustained water pumping has adversely affected aquifers. Consequently, the groundwater leve...

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“…Fertilizers are highly used with inefficiency in the study area. A recent research of Cai et al [35] and Ling et al [36] reported an…”

mentioning

confidence: 96%

Modeling Water and Nitrogen Balance of Different Cropping Systems in the North China Plain

Leghari

Liang

et al. 2019

Agronomy

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“…Through this a prolonged environment pollution is constantly created (Hasan. K.Md et al 2019;Cai.J et al 2018;Wu.H and Ge.Y 2019). Furthermore, consistent addition of chemical fertilizer leads in threatening the microbial living, in soil.…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Hence, they for sure overuse the chemical fertilizer and does not have standard utility for their own over usage behavior (Provincial Director DOA Anuradhapura). Overusing chemical fertilizer has its own contribution for it (Cai.J et al 2018). Inorganic or chemical fertilizer has become a nutrient that the farmers cannot live without (Dharshani.S 2020).…”

Section: Interview Series; Consultant Nephrologists and Doa Provincial Directorsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Resource Optimization in Paddy Cultivation, for Developing Countries; A Sector Synergetic Approach

Madhavika¹,

Nagendrakumar²,

Colombathanthri³

et al. 2021

Alinteri

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The misleading fallacy of, higher the chemical fertilizer higher the yield therefore, better the income be. Have triggered in an over usage of chemical fertilizer more than the recommend standard. This has created in a self-pressuring situation among farmers in developing countries. This vulnerability occasionally leads into a decision-making situation where both life and death are seen as viable options. Hence in order to safeguard the farmer, with the aims of educating these disobedient farmers, through the process of validating the existing chemical fertilizer standard. This research was carried forth in Sri Lanka, for the paddy farmer. The data were collected in a data triangulation, where a controlled experiment, two series of interviews and two sets of questioners were utilized. Both, quantitative as well as qualitative data and, primary as well as secondary data were collected. Depending on the nature of the data collection instrument, an experiment, thematic, descriptive and a correlation analysis were performed through statistical software applications. Further, a yield and a soil test was performed for the controlled experiment plots. By adjusting the parameters accordingly, this study could be used as a model by other countries, regions or crops. Finally concluding on a policy implication, to eliminate or reducing the chemical fertilizer over usage in developing countries. Further avenues for a managerial implication where the Balance of Payment could be used to positively stimulating a developing countries Gross Domestic Product to achieve sustainable economic growth in the long run are discussed.

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“…[ 102 ] Actually, the efficient use rate of fertilizer in China is still no more than 50%, however, the fertilizer use efficiency has increased positively from 2004 to 2015 due to the cumulative contribution rate of the fertilizer use intensity caused by the regional grain planting structure adjustment. [ 103 ] Therefore, adopting nutrient management strategies, such as ensuring effective nutrient use efficiency, happens to be a promising way to combat water pollution from planting fields in China.…”

Section: The Way Forward and Future Prospects To Reduce Nps Pollutionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Planting Field on Groundwater and Surface Water Pollution in China

Opoku‐Kwanowaa

Furaha

et al. 2020

CLEAN Soil Air Water

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Water forms an essential resource for life on earth because all living things on earth depend on water for life activities. However, with the increase in the human population, which is coupled with intense urbanization and agricultural activities, global water pollution has increased over the past decades. In China, agricultural activities that occure mainly in the planting fields have been listed as the main source of surface water and groundwater pollution. This review focuses on the major factors that influence pollution from planting fields in China mainly as a result of farming activities such as flood irrigation, excessive application of fertilizers and pesticides, and poor management practices. At present, good results are achieved by adopting soil fertilization test formula, biodegradable pesticides, proper irrigation, and agroforestry interventions. In the future, pollution from planting fields as a non‐point source of water pollution can be improved and resolved by perfect nutrient management, best management practices, organic amendments, restoring water environment, and intelligent assessment management.

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Decomposition of Fertilizer Use Intensity and Its Environmental Risk in China’s Grain Production Process

Cited by 25 publications

References 34 publications

Modeling Water and Nitrogen Balance of Different Cropping Systems in the North China Plain

Modeling Water and Nitrogen Balance of Different Cropping Systems in the North China Plain

Resource Optimization in Paddy Cultivation, for Developing Countries; A Sector Synergetic Approach

Effects of Planting Field on Groundwater and Surface Water Pollution in China

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