Abstract
Incredible accomplishments have been achieved in agricultural production in China, but many demanding challenges for ensuring food security and environmental sustainability remain. Field experiments were conducted from 2011–2013 at three different sites, including Honghu, Shayang, and Jingzhou in China, to determine the effects of fertilization on enhancing crop productivity and indigenous nutrient-supplying capacity (INuS) in a rice (Oryza sativa L.)-rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) rotation. Four mineral fertilizer treatments (NPK, NP, NK and PK) were applied in a randomized complete block design with three replicates. Crop yields were increased by 19–41% (rice) and 61–76% (rapeseed) during the two years of rice-rapeseed rotation under NPK fertilization compared to PK fertilization across the study sites. Yield responses to fertilization were ranked NPK > NP > NK > PK, illustrating that N deficiency was the most limiting condition in a rice-rapeseed rotation, followed by P and K deficiencies. The highest and lowest N, P and K accumulations were observed under NPK and PK fertilization, respectively. The INuS of the soil decreased to a significant extent and affected rice-rapeseed rotation productivity at each site under NP, NK, and PK fertilization when compared to NPK. Based on the study results, a balanced nutrient application using NPK fertilization is a key management strategy for enhancing rice-rapeseed productivity and environmental safety.
Highlights
Agriculture farming, previously dominated by production, currently has diverse objectives
The highest rice and oilseed rape yield was observed under NPK application followed by N and P fertilization (NP) and N and K fertilization (NK), while the lowest yield was observed under P and K fertilization (PK) fertilization
Compared to NPK fertilization, the highest yield reduction was observed under PK followed by NK and NP, at all three sites
Summary
Agriculture farming, previously dominated by production, currently has diverse objectives. The Yangtze River basin in China is a major planting area for the rice-oilseed rape rotation system, contributing 70% of the total rice[9] and 91% of the total oilseed rape production[10] Oilseed rape in this area is usually cultivated under the single rice-oilseed rape system or the double rice-oilseed rape system, which limits the crop duration and the soil nutrient supply accessible for increasing yield[11]. On-farm experiments were conducted at three sites across the Hubei province in central China from May 2011 to May 2013 to study the influence of different mineral fertilizer applications on rice and oilseed rape yield and on the nutrient-supplying capacity of soil during a rice-oilseed rape rotation.
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