Context or problemClinoptilolite zeolite has been studied as a means to optimize water and fertilizer use, mitigate potassium (K) loss, increase grain yield, and maintain positive K balances. However, there is limited information on field-aged effects of zeolite, especially under alternate wetting and drying irrigation (AWD). Objective or research questionThis study aimed to determine field-aged effects of zeolite on soil exchangeable K (SEK) and soil non-exchangeable K (NEK), K leaching, aboveground K uptake, water use efficiency (WUE), apparent K balance (AKB), soil K balance (SKB) and income of paddy field were analyzed under continuous flooding irrigation (CF) and AWD. MethodsWe conducted a six-year (2017–2022) field experiment with two irrigation regimes (CF and AWD) as main plots and zeolite addition at the rate of 0 (Z0) and 10 (Z10) t ha-1 as subplots. ResultsThe results showed that AWD significantly increased soil NEK (0.65kgha-1 in 2022) and decreased AKB2017-2019 (75.11%), AKB2017-2022 (76.26%), SKB2017-2019 (4.75kgha-1) and SKB2017-2022 (11.25kgha-1), respectively. Zeolite addition to paddy fields could decrease K leaching loss, increase soil exchangeable K, K balances and net income endured for six years, especially under AWD. Compared to ICFZ0, IAWDZ0 respectively decreased apparent K balance (AKB2017-2022) and soil K balance (SKB2017-2022) by 19.73% and 15.09%. Compared to Z0, Z10 respectively increased AKB2017-2019 and SKB2017-2019 by 48.51% and 243.61% and respectively increased AKB2017-2022 and SKB2017-2022 by 47.47% and 112.87%. IAWDZ10 has the highest AKB both in 3-yr aged field and 6-yr aged field, the highest soil NEK in 6-yr aged field. ConclusionsOverall, the combination of zeolite and AWD technology improved K balances and addressed the accelerated deficit of effective K in paddy fields under AWD. These positive effects persisted for 6 years, exceeding the originally observed 3-yr duration, suggesting zeolite has a long-life cycle and potential in rice production systems. IMplications or significancezeolite application can mitigate K depletion for at least six years, especially under AWD, promoting sustainable agriculture development and income of paddy field.
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