Optimizing Fertilization Strategies to Reduce Carbon Footprints and Enhance Net Ecosystem Economic Benefits in Ratoon Rice Systems

Zijuan Ding, Jin Zeng, Zhilong He, Bo Zhu, Jiangwen Nie, Yong Zhou, Mengdie Jiang () and Zhangyong Liu
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Zijuan Ding: Engineering Research Center of Ecology and Agricultural Use of Wetland, Ministry of Education, College of Agriculture, Yangtze University, Jingzhou 434025, China
Jin Zeng: Tongxin Huahai Agricultural Tourism Development Co., Ltd., Zhijiang 443202, China
Zhilong He: Sanya Institute of China Agricultural University, Sanya 572000, China
Bo Zhu: Engineering Research Center of Ecology and Agricultural Use of Wetland, Ministry of Education, College of Agriculture, Yangtze University, Jingzhou 434025, China
Jiangwen Nie: Engineering Research Center of Ecology and Agricultural Use of Wetland, Ministry of Education, College of Agriculture, Yangtze University, Jingzhou 434025, China
Yong Zhou: Hubei Key Laboratory of Resource Utilization and Quality Control of Characteristic Crops, College of Life Science and Technology, Hubei Engineering University, Xiaogan 432000, China
Mengdie Jiang: Engineering Research Center of Ecology and Agricultural Use of Wetland, Ministry of Education, College of Agriculture, Yangtze University, Jingzhou 434025, China
Zhangyong Liu: Engineering Research Center of Ecology and Agricultural Use of Wetland, Ministry of Education, College of Agriculture, Yangtze University, Jingzhou 434025, China

Agriculture, 2025, vol. 15, issue 16, 1-18

Abstract: Ratoon rice is a planting system that efficiently utilizes temperature and light resources. However, multiple fertilization applications are typically required to maintain stable rice yields. Improper fertilization not only poses challenges to scarce labor resources but also increases carbon footprints (CFs). Research on the effects of different fertilization strategies on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, yield, CF, and ecosystem net economic benefits (NEEBs) in ratoon rice systems remains limited. A two-year field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of one conventional fertilization strategy and four optimized fertilization strategies on GHG emissions, yield, CF, and NEEBs in the ratoon rice system. The conventional fertilization strategy applied urea in five splits (FFP, 280 kg N·ha −1 ). The optimized strategies included (1) one-time side deep application controlled-release fertilizer (CRF, 280 kg N·ha −1 ); (2) CRF with 20% N replaced by organic fertilizer (OF + CRF1); (3) the same as (2) with a 10% N reduction (OF + CRF2, 252 kg N·ha −1 ); and (4) the same as (2) with a 20% N reduction (OF + CRF3, 224 kg N·ha −1 ). The results showed that compared with FFP, optimized fertilization treatments reduced CH 4 and N 2 O emissions by 28.69% to 55.27% and 25.08% to 40.32%, respectively. They also increased the annual rice yields by 2.22% to 19.52% (except OF + CRF3). Optimizing fertilization treatments reduced annual CF, CF Y , and CF EC by 26.66% to 49.59%, 34.11% to 51.12%, and 25.35% to 41.47%, respectively. These treatments also increased NEEBs by 8.27% to 34.23%. Among them, OF + CRF1 and OF + CRF2 treatments achieved the highest NEEB. In summary, CRF treatments can balance ratoon rice yield and environmental benefits. Replacing part of the N with organic fertilizer further enhances annual yield and NEEBs.

Keywords: ratoon rice; controlled-release fertilizer; greenhouse gas emissions; carbon footprints; net ecosystem economic benefits (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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