Optimizing Nitrogen Fertilization for Enhanced Rice Straw Degradation and Oilseed Rape Yield in Challenging Winter Conditions: Insights from Southwest China

Hongni Wang, Farhan Nabi, Sumbal Sajid, Rakhwe Kama, Syed Muhammad Mustajab Shah and Xuechun Wang ()
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Hongni Wang: College of Life Science and Engineering, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang 621010, China
Farhan Nabi: College of Life Science and Engineering, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang 621010, China
Sumbal Sajid: College of Life Science and Engineering, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang 621010, China
Rakhwe Kama: College of Natural Resources and Environment, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
Syed Muhammad Mustajab Shah: College of Life Science and Engineering, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang 621010, China
Xuechun Wang: College of Life Science and Engineering, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang 621010, China

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 13, 1-22

Abstract: The crop straw returning to the field is a widely accepted method to utilize and remediate huge agricultural waste in a short period. However, the low temperatures and dry conditions of the winter season in Southwest China can be challenging for the biodegradation of crop straw in the field. With a similar aim, we designed a short-term study where rice straw was applied to the field with different concentrations of nitrogen (N) fertilizer while keeping phosphorus (P) constant; CK, (N0P0); T1, (N0P90); T2, (N60P90); T3, (N120P90); and T4, (N180P90) were added to evaluate its impact on straw degradation during cold weather. We found that high fertilization (T4) significantly improved crop yield, organic matter, and lignocellulose degradation under cold temperatures (21.5–3.2 °C). It also significantly improved soil nitrogen agronomic efficiency, nitrogen use efficiency, and nitrogen physiological efficiency. The yield was highest in T4 (1690 and 1399 kg/ha), while T3 acted positively on soil lignocellulolytic enzyme activity, which in turn resulted in higher degradation of OM and lignocellulosic material. Pearson’s correlation analysis revealed that total nitrogen, total phosphorus, available nitrogen, and available phosphorus were important variables that had a significant impact on soil EC, bulk density, water holding capacity, and soil enzymes. We found that nitrogen application significantly changed the soil bacterial community by increasing the richness and evenness of lignocellulolytic bacteria, which aided the degradation of straw in a short duration. This study’s finding indicates that the decomposition of crop straw in the field under cold weather stress was dependent on nutrient input, and N, in an appropriate amount (N120-180), was suitable to achieve higher yield and higher decomposition of straw in such an environment.

Keywords: nitrogen using efficiency; oilseed rape; straw degradation; soil enzymes; winter season (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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